Shifters (Published-Sample Only)

Chapter 3-Lies

Chapter 3-Lies

As soon as we stepped into the house Kari signaled to two men who were standing across the room to come over to us. She whispered something to them that I couldn't hear and the redheaded one stepped out onto the patio and slid the door closed behind him. He stood directly in front of the door guarding it. The other man who had black hair moved in the opposite direction and went out the front door to do what I assume was guard that as well.

Now why they were doing this I wasn't sure. Were they some kind of security guards or something? I looked around and saw Kari at the edge of the kitchen on the phone. Good, she was calling the police. I started to feel a little better and headed toward her. By the time I'd gotten there she'd hung up the phone. When she turned around she almost ran right into me.

"Oh, Cassie, I just called the authorities. They should be here soon. They advised me to keep everyone in the house until they can get out here and search the woods."

"Kari, did you tell them Mary and Ayden were out there alone and we need people with guns here right away?" I didn't understand how she could be so calm when they could be out there getting mauled at this very moment.

"Yes I did. They will be here in just a few minutes don't worry. Can you tell me exactly what you saw? What happened?"

"Well, yes it was just about the most horrible thing I've ever seen in my life. The hanging body anyway, I didn't see what was chasing us. I'm sure it wasn't a bear though. It was something else...bears don't leave mutilated bodies hanging in trees." I paused quietly for a moment and then went over everything with her.

I finished explaining everything but before she could respond the front door opened and the Sheriff and three other men came in. The three men weren't wearing uniforms but I assumed they were off duty deputies or possibly even fish and game officers. Kari excused herself and went to talk to them.

She walked them to the back door and pointed at the forest and she recanted the events that I had just told her about. They all disappeared out the backdoor and I followed to a nearby window to watch. The four men vanished into the forest. Kari stood near the edge where they'd entered and waited.

It was close to an hour before anyone came back out. Kari had waited at the edge of the forest the entire time. I had been at the window the entire time as well. I couldn't pull myself away. When they came out of the forest there were seven people, the sheriff, his three deputies, Mary and to my relief Ayden. After seeing that body in the trees I was afraid the creature had gotten him. He must have shot it in just the right spot to stop it from attacking him.

As soon as they all came inside the house I rushed over to them and threw my arms around Ayden's' neck. I was so relieved he was alive. If he'd died because he was trying to save me I wouldn't have been able to live with myself. "What happened? Are you ok Ayden? Is it dead or did it get away?"

He returned the hug giving me a gentle squeeze before reluctantly backing away. "Cassie, I'm fine. I'm still alive." He waved his hands up and down in front of himself. "See I still have all my limbs as well."

The Sheriff spoke up next as he raised his hand to shake mine, "I'm Sheriff Dearborn. You're Cassie, right? You were out there with Ayden?"

"Yes I was." I glanced back at Ayden as I let go of the Sheriffs hand and noticed a gash on his right arm. It looked like it had gushed blood as his arm was covered in blood. But it didn't appear to be actively bleeding anymore. It dawned on me that it may not be all his blood so it might not be quite as bad as it looks. I looked back at the Sheriff "What's going on?"

"Well Ayden was able to kill the animal. It looks like some kind of wolf. They are pretty common around here although this one is a bit larger than normal. You're lucky that Ayden happened to be out there Cassie. That wolf could have shredded you to pieces as it did that other poor soul. Ayden is such a good hunter it only took a few well placed shots to take down that animal."