Jessica Coulter Smith (3 page)

***

At the end of the day, Brianna pulled the money from the drawer and took it into the back room.  She’d had a very profitable day for a Wednesday, making well over three-thousand dollars.  Wednesdays and Thursdays were usually her slowest days.

Putting the money into the safe, she went through her daily ritual for closing down the store and prepping it for the next day. At eight-thirty, she turned off the lights, grabbed her purse, and headed out the door. Locking up, she promptly went to her apartment.  The night before was still fresh in her mind, and she wasn’t about to tempt fate.  Whether she liked it or not, it was a frozen dinner night for her.

Brianna slowly climbed the stairs to her apartment and sat her purse down on the kitchen table.  Pulling out her laptop, she decided to check her email and catch up with her friends.  She’d been working so hard lately that she hadn’t gone out on the town with them in a while.

Brianna booted up the laptop and opened her email.  She had over one-hundred unread messages.  She shook her head, wondering how they could've piled up so quickly. She’d just checked it… well she was fairly sure she'd checked it last week.

One in particular caught her eye. “Enjoy an evening in the woods!  Guided tours through Mercy Woods, nine o’clock to midnight every night this week!”

Glancing at the clock, she saw that it was almost nine o’clock.  If she hurried, she could just make it. While it probably be more romantic if she had someone, like Logan for instance, with her, she bet the woods were beautiful at night. It wasn’t the first time she’d heard about the tours, but she’d never been able to go before. Maybe what she really needed was to get out of the apartment for a little bit. Despite her scare the other night, a moonlit walk sounded like just the thing.

Running into the bedroom, she changed into a pair of jeans and some tennis shoes before dashing out the door. After locking the apartment door behind her, she hurried down to her car.  She quickly drove down the street, trying to get to Mercy Woods before nine o’clock.

 
Chapter Four

Brianna pulled into the parking lot on the edge of Mercy Woods at precisely nine o’clock.  Stepping out of her car, she locked it and walked toward the crowd gathered on the grass a few feet away.

“Hi, are all of you here for the guided tour?” Brianna asked, stepping up to the group.

“You bet,” answered a guy who looked to be in his late teens. “I’ve already been on this tour twice before, but it’s worth seeing again and again.”

“Really? What do you see out there?”

“Oh, all kinds of night creatures, plus you can hear the crickets and frogs.  It’s really peaceful.  And the full moon tonight should make it even more spectacular!”

Two large men walked over to the group. The larger of the two addressed them. “Thank you for joining me this evening.  Are we ready to begin?”

Brianna hadn’t seen a man as big as this one.  He was easily six-and-one-half feet tall and looked like he weighed about two-hundred-seventy-five pounds.  He wasn’t fat, just heavily muscled. He made Brianna think of the strong man from the circus.

“My name is Wade and I’m in charge of the guided tour through Mercy Woods. This,” he said motioning to the man beside him, “is my partner, Trent.  Everyone should stick together during our walk.  The wooded paths are only lit by moonlight, and there are wild animals.  Keeping that in mind, we ask that you please turn off your cell phones and refrain from flash photography."

The teen leaned closer to Brianna. “Want to be partners for the walk?”

“Oh, um, sure…” she said, not wanting to offend him.  “I’m Brianna by the way.”

“Stephen,” he replied, sticking out a hand. Brianna shook hands with him.

The crowd started moving forward, and Brianna and Stephen fell in line.  As the group headed into the woods, Brianna reached into her pocket and turned off her cell phone.  She hadn’t thought to bring a camera so she didn’t have to worry about the flash photography part of Wade’s speech.

As the group meandered through the woods, Brianna stayed at the back of the crowd.  The woods were beautiful at night.  The full moon hung heavy in the night sky with the twinkling stars surrounding it, shining brightly.  Just as Stephen had said, you could hear the crickets and the frogs.

Brianna stopped and closed her eyes for a moment.  She breathed in deep, loving the scent of the foliage.  Smiling contentedly to herself, she opened her eyes and discovered that the group had left her behind; she must have closed her eyes longer than she'd thought.  She hurried down the path, but soon came to a fork. 
Which way did they go
?

A rustling sound behind her made Brianna turn around.  At first, she thought it was a sweet little bunny or something, but the large bush that was moving indicated a much larger animal.

“Hello? Is anyone there?” She hoped it was someone from her group.

A low growl came from within the bush, elevating Brianna’s heart rate.  She gasped and took off down the path on the right, hoping it was the right one. As she ran, she tripped over the root of a tree.  Landing on her knees, she looked behind her, terrified of what she might see.   She had no clue where she was.  Just when she thought she was safe, there was a rustling beside her.  Peering into the bushes, she could only make out a shadowy shape – a
large
shadowy shape.

Taking off once more, she ran for all she was worth.  Her lungs ached with every breath, and her heart felt like it was going to beat right out of her chest.  Sprinting through the woods, she prayed as she never had before. 
Please God, let me make it out of this alive! Don’t let that thing catch me!

Brianna felt a sharp pain in her left side and knew she couldn’t run much further.  Sweat dripped from her body; her limbs shook.  Stopping, she dropped to her hands and knees.  She couldn’t run another step. As she gasped for air, she heard the beast growl behind her again.  She closed her eyes and prayed for strength.  Looking over her shoulder, she wasn’t sure what she was seeing.  It stood like a man, but was covered in fur and had the head and feet of a wolf.  If she hadn’t seen Logan in wolf form the other night, she'd have sworn she was seeing a werewolf.  But how could there be two kinds?

A whimper escaped before she could stop it.  She scrambled to her feet, but knew that running was futile.  As she backed up, the wolf-like creature advanced.  Saliva dripped from his partially open jaws, his sharp teeth gleaming in the moonlight.  His eyes were cold and hard, the eyes of a killer.  His brawny arms ended in paws that were tipped with razor sharp claws.  Every move made his muscles ripple; giving Brianna no doubt that she was facing her death.

Brianna backed into a tree and grasped the trunk for support.  No matter what happened, she wouldn’t cower; she'd try her best to show no fear.  Her throat convulsed as she tried to swallow down her screams.  She was going to die, and there was nothing she could do to stop it.

***

Logan cursed as he stared into Mercy Woods.  He’d stopped by Brianna’s store to see her and had followed her scent here. He shouldn’t have left Brianna without an explanation this morning.  The last thing the fool woman needed to do was take a moonlit walk through the woods – especially during a full moon!  Was she insane?

Having been born a werewolf, Logan had control over his beast.  While he felt the pull of the moon, he was able to fight the urge to change, but there were others who couldn’t.  Logan had no doubt that a rogue werewolf was in town.  Judging by the reports of witnesses, the wolf in question was bitten and not born.  A bitten werewolf was a whole new ball game.  They tended to be meaner, more aggressive, and couldn’t be reasoned with; if Brianna ran into the monster tonight, she'd be dinner for sure.

Catching her scent, he quickly followed in her footsteps.  It didn’t take long for the scent of another wolf and Brianna's fear to reach him.  His heart kicked started, and his breathing quickened.  His mate was in danger, of that there was no doubt.

Racing through the woods, Logan only hoped that he could reach Brianna in time.

 
Chapter Five

Trembling, Brianna stared down the werewolf.  She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of crying or begging for her life.  Never had she been so scared in her life, but she wasn’t about to let the beast know that.

The werewolf took a step closer, leaning over her menacingly.  A drop of saliva fell from its lips and trailed down her cheek.

Brianna fought the urge to wipe it off.  She stood still, as still as she possibly could, and stared up into the creature’s eyes.  Finding her voice, she asked, “What do you want?”

The werewolf threw back his head and howled; the sound sent goose bumps along Brianna’s flesh and made her skin crawl.

The wolf looked at her again, a sinister grin forming on his lupine face.  He advanced even closer, only inches separated them now. 

Brianna could smell its musky scent, like wet dog.  As the beast crowded her against the tree, she tried not to gag.  Its fetid breath blew across her face, and she fought the urge to turn away.  Regardless of what happened, she wouldn’t cower.

She felt its cold, wet nose skim her forehead as the creature sniffed her hair. 
Why isn’t he killing me already? Just get it over with!

***

Logan burst into the clearing and stopped in his tracks.  The werewolf had backed Brianna against a tree and was looming over her.  Oddly, it didn’t seem intent on attacking her, if anything the beast seemed to be checking her out. 

Shifting into his wolf form, Logan let loose a growl.

The beast turned from Brianna to face the threat behind him.

Logan circled the man-like werewolf, waiting for the right opportunity.  When the beast turned to look at Brianna, Logan struck, lunging for the creature’s throat.  His jaws latched onto the thick, furry column.  Growling, Logan pulled; intent on ripping the flesh. 

The werewolf placed his hand-like paws against Logan and shoved, dislodging him.  Lunging forward, he snapped his jaws, missing Logan’s hind leg by mere inches.  Throwing back his head, he raised a bone-chilling howl.  Drool dripped from his open jaws as the werewolf watched Logan.  Growling, he lunged for Logan again, this time clamping down on a foreleg. 

Logan yelped and tried to pull away.  The beast’s jaws were just too strong.  Realizing his only option was to hurt the monster, he twisted his head up toward the werewolf’s throat and snapped his jaws.  He missed. The werewolf picked Logan up by the foreleg still clasped in his jaws and shook him, flinging him towards a group of large rocks.

Logan hit the rocks with a sickening thud and a soft yelp.  Dazed, he looked in the general direction of Brianna.  The werewolf had her backed against the tree again.  Logan struggled to his feet and stumbled.  Picking himself back up, he managed to make his way over to Brianna. 

Logan watched as the beast terrorized his mate.  He looked around the small clearing. 
Where’s a weapon when you need one
? Remembering the solid silver blade he kept in his pants, he dashed toward his clothes.  Shifting back to human form, Logan quickly threw on his pants.

Reaching into his pocket, Logan pulled out the four-inch silver blade.  Quietly walking up behind the werewolf, he decided a surprise attack was his best option.

With a powerful thrust, Logan lodged the blade between the werewolf’s ribs.

The creature threw back its head and howled.  His massive paws were no use against the silver blade.  Every attempt he made to dislodge the knife only dug the blade in deeper. While the beast was distracted, Logan pulled Brianna to safety.  With her securely behind him, he whispered, “Make your way out of the clearing – slowly.  Try to find the group you were with.”

“I’m not leaving you.”

“Brianna, just do as I said… please.  I can handle myself."

Brianna slowly crept toward the bushes.  When Logan wasn’t looking, she ducked behind a tree, obscuring her body from his vision.

***

The werewolf grabbed for the knife.  Every time his claws slid along the metal, the blade rammed further into his flesh. 
How did a worthless man get the better of me?

Turning to face his adversary once more, he realized the woman was gone.  Sniffing the air, he detected her scent not far away; gone, but not far. 
Good, she can watch me tear her mate to pieces.
The werewolf growled at Logan and stalked toward him.  Being in human form put the other wolf at a disadvantage.  Growling, the werewolf swung one of its massive arms toward Logan, claws extended.

Logan jumped back, the wolf’s razor-sharp talons barely missing him. 

“Why don’t you face me, man to man?” Logan taunted, hoping the beast would shift.

The werewolf threw back his head and howled.  Watching Logan, he stalked toward him again.  Throwing his arms wide, he planned on capturing the infuriating man, then ripping him apart.

When the creature loomed in close, with its arms spread wide, Logan reached in and jerked the knife free, causing the creature to howl in pain again.  While the beast was distracted, Logan lunged forward, slicing the knife down the werewolf’s torso.  Blood dripped from the blade, proving his aim had been true.  Now to finish it.

The werewolf had blood dripping from the wound in its side and down its muscular torso, the red rivulets leaving tracks in his fur.  He stared down at himself in shock. 
How did that happen?
His rage renewed, he lunged for Logan again.

Logan was prepared for the beast.  The beast lunged again, but Logan sidestepped him.  Thrusting the blade into the beast’s neck, the sliver blade slid in like butter. The werewolf swiped at the knife, but his clawed hands prevented him from grabbing the blade.  He sank to his knees, choking on his own blood.  Unable to control his body any longer, he shifted to his human form before sinking sightlessly to the ground.

Logan stood over the man, panting heavily.  Behind him, he heard the bushes rustle.  Going on alert, he tensed and turned toward the sound, ready to fight another attacker if necessary.