Hamrammr: Book One 6i6011

Hamrammr

BOOK ONE

Written and Illustrated By

Katrina Trujillo

Copyright © 2016 by Katrina Trujillo.

ISBN: Softcover 978-1-5245-4761-5 eBook 978-1-5245-4760-8

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only. Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 09/28/2016

Xlibris 1-888-795-4274 www.Xlibris.com

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Contents

Part One The Nevermores

Prologue

Chapter One Two Hours later…

Chapter Two Two Hours Later at the start of the breakout in Hospital…

Chapter Three Two Hours Later at the point of breakout in Hospital…

Chapter Four Five hours after the breakout…

Chapter Five Five hours after the Breakout…

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven Break out Began…

Chapter Twelve A couple of hours after the breakout…

Chapter Thirteen Five Hours after Break out…

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen Break out at the End… Will the Leader of the Gang please stand up!

Chapter Seventeen Break out at an End… All creatures please return to the ashes

Chapter Eighteen Can’t Kill a Werewolf with a normal bullet honey!

Part Two Homo Demens

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Part Three Leviathan

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Chapter Thirty

Chapter Thirty-One

Chapter Thirty-Two

Chapter Thirty-Three

Chapter Thirty-Four

Chapter Thirty-Five

Part Four Slenderman

Chapter Thirty-Six

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Chapter Thirty-eight

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Chapter Forty

Chapter Forty-One Two weeks later…

I want to dedicate this novel to my Nephew and Godson, Phoenix Freedom Collins. May all the monsters and beasts that you meet in life be slain with your imagination, and may you that not all of the men and monsters that you meet will be as they appear to seem.

Part One

THE NEVERMORES

Falling Star

To catch a fallen star is often similar to catching sight of a fallen angel, a guardian still present in the time of dire need shall rise once more, wings spread farther and shining brighter than any northern star could ever hope to achieve. Let them be your strength to guide you home to the pack. Lean on them and they will show you hope, and dreams that you never knew you could accomplish. Allow them to guide you like a true star across your universe. Find peace and happiness, and enjoy life while it lasts.

Prologue

The jagged lines on the monitoring system for the test subject bleeped then went straight, the assistants and scientists all ran around the room looking for medical supplies to help start the subjects heart back up. It was all in vain, as the subjects heart rate plummeted past a living being’s normal heart rate. He was dead, another subject wasted due to the overly disorganized rooms of the underground bunker facility located in a boxed mountain range in Montana, with only a major highway being the only exit out of the town. This was the perfect place to work on the virus for the biochemical warfare. Yet, so far all of the test subjects kept on dying on them. The virus was not working as well as they had hoped it would. In fact it was almost at a mutating point, but they hoped that one of these subjects were the winners and make the virus work. They were about ready to put a cloth over the subjects face and move him out of the lab when the heart monitor started beeping once more, the scientist looked at one another before looking at the clock hanging on the wall. The subject had been dead for more than fifteen minutes. An assistant came closer to the subject reaching to grasp one of the subject’s wrists to check for a pulse, and that’s when the subject’s eyes opened and the other hand shot out. Breaking free from the restraints that had been placed upon the subject during the procedure, and pulled the assistant onto the subject’s chest. Jaws opened and the assistant screamed as her shoulder was bitten into, blood started to seep out, a stain of crimson spreading across the once bleached white uniform. Everything that happened after words was the cause of the slow reaction time of the others, and the disorder that should not have been seen in such a laboratory… The other of the project were slow to react to the attack, the nurse still screaming loudly and horribly struggled within the creature’s grasp. The creature for his point made no view of holding the struggling nurse, eyes bleeding black and the stench of black ooze started to bubble from the orifices that obscured the subjects face. The jagged wounds oozed the black goo as well, and the black mass seemed to be living. Because it rose up slowly and launched itself at the gaping, bleeding wound on the nurse’s neck. The woman fell to the floor, her shrieking muffled and then stopped as the ooze infiltrated the veins. Her eyes

bleed black and the ooze squeezed out of her nostrils and mouth. She made a choking noise, but soon that faded as she struggled back to her feet. The other staff of the project waited with baited breath as the nurse swayed almost in a trance. Then she lifted her head and opened her black filled mouth and shrieked. Before launching herself at them. The rest of the staff panicked and broke apart scattering in every direction to escape from the attack. No one noticed the head doctor ease open the door and slip outside of the supposedly secure room… The subject gave a halfhearted tug upon his restraints, and stared up at the crowd of people gathering around him. He had sweat beading up around his brow and underneath his underarms. He never did like being volunteered for such projects. The doctor had assured him that nothing would go wrong with this, and that all he would need to do is be patient and wait out the effects of the virus. The men pulled once more at his restraints and then the needle pushed into his skin. He screamed as the pain raced through his veins like acid. His screams turned to gurgles as black ooze pushed forward from his lungs. The nurses milled around him, frantic to fix what was going on, but he saw that the doctor loomed over him. Her face twisted into a grotesque smile almost as if she was taking pleasure from his pain. He glared at her, and let loose another shriek of pain. The nurses stumbled and tripped over each other and the equipment in the too crowded and overly messy lab. The subject started to convulse, his body shaking and vibrating as his muscles spasmed, then he welcomed darkness. He could vaguely make out the sounds and noises that filtered into the room, the murmurs of the doctor and nurses as they called out statistics and numbers. He was just a number to them, they didn’t care if he lived or died. The bastards will pay. He gritted his teeth and forced movement into his hands, they spasmed and black ooze seeped from under his fingernails. He grinned within his head. He would make them pay for what they have done to him, them and all the others like them that lived such innocent lives in the town below. They didn’t deserve to live. He would destroy each and every one of them. The subject vowed, he wiggled some more and caught a nurse’s attention. She eased closer to him, taking his pulse as the machine next to him beeped out an uneven rhythm. He broke the restraint on his arm and jerked the nurse onto his chest. Taking a massive and deep bite out of her shoulder. She screamed with the pain that she had placed him in, minutes before. ‘Oh, yes, He shall make them all scream with PAIN!’ He broke the other restraint and lifted himself off of the bed. The woman he had

bit was attacking the others and those that have been infected responded in the same manner. The subject smiled, black ooze squeezing from between his teeth. He turned and started for the door, which now stood ajar. The others followed behind him, attacking any who would oppose his order. He followed the scent of meat out into the open air of the night. He looked down upon the city. Sitting quietly all nestled and tucked into the mountain bed. He grinned as he felt the others shuffle over to him. They will not be sleeping quietly tonight. The Lion was in for a midnight snack. He started to move down toward the town, the others followed behind him. Sluggish and oozing their poison out into the world. It was just a little after midnight, the highway into the small one way town was empty except for the occasional vehicle or motorcycle. The summer night breeze blew softly through, swaying the trees and causing the garbage on the ground to blow around. A fast moving motorcycle whizzed past, the helmeted black leather rider with the neon lime green patches of reflectors squeezed down harder on the accelerator, picking up to a dangerous speed. He was in a hurry, having just been on the phone with his brother. The pack needed him to get back to Refuge. There has been sightings of creatures that were not of this realm. The man, tightened his grip on the accelerator. Watching in a daze as the bike picked up speed. He didn’t see the young doe, and her fawns crossing out in front of him until it was too late. Eyes widening behind his helmet’s visor, he squeezed the brakes hard, and swerved to avoid the deer and young. Losing control of the motorcycle, the rider skidded on his side down the road, sparks flying from the steal meeting asphalt. Flesh scraping off onto the black tar as the rider skidded across, one leg somewhat trapped underneath the bike as it skidded. The rider tumbled and kicked the bike off, grinding his teeth as bones snapped in his leg. The motorcycle came to a stop a few feet from the rider, who lay still among the black asphalt, blood slowly seeping from the ripped flesh of the man’s body. The doe and her young continued on across the two way highway, unconcerned about the fallen man that lay yards away from them. A ing motorist saw the fallen man on his way out of the town and called in the ambulance, and he also stopped to place flares around the accident scene to alert other drivers of the incident. The motorist’s family stayed within the SUV that they were driving, the wife shielding the young children from the ugly scene before them. It was with a sigh of relief, the sounds of the sirens sounds filtered

in and echoed around the highway. Blood, pain, so much searing pain, were the things running through the man’s mind as the ambulance pulled up in front of the hospital. He paid no mind to the increase in people surrounding him, pointing lights into his eyes, and speaking to him as they pushed him down a long white corridor, and the fluorescent lighting flickering like a subway station. He was out of his mind with pain, the doctors had to force his jaws open wide enough to check to make sure he was not bleeding from within his mouth, as his teeth were so tightly clenched from the pain. One of the the doctors noted the sharper than average teeth which when brushed up against sliced easily through the tubing they had tried to get down his throat. The two doctors shared a look and decided to use the nose as the point of entry being that the teeth looked very sharp and dangerous. They wondered about that, but we’re in a rush to stabilize the patient before anything else. The doctors worked quickly, stabilizing the man’s heart rate and slowing the bleeding before stopping the blood. They did a quick check of the blood type, on the driver’s license before calling in for the blood supply. The list of injuries were astounding broken ribs and multiple lacerations across the back and side, the leg that had been pinned by the bike during the skid was fractured, and skin would have to be grafted onto the leg. But for now they bandaged it up and put him on plasma and blood intake. A chopper came in not long after delivering the blood bags that were needed for the patient. The doctors made note of the blood bank and the symbol on the bag, the imprint of a howling wolf, but quickly connected the bag to the the drip and left the patient with the new intern to be cared for. The loudspeaker came on and requested their presents somewhere else. The town was a small everyone knew everyone type of town. Although, there had been an increase in population. The elders of the town were thinking it as a boon. Believing that the people will give an increase in the economy. They never realized that the people coming in while some were just natural citizens moving in, others worked for the government and were there to operate on experiments further into the hills. The perfect little town for such perfect little projects. The people of the town were all friendly and happy. The kids were kids some getting into trouble and some doing as they are told. The fire department was very good, and the police did their jobs to the best of their abilities, and all was quiet. The ambulance was called out to pick up a young teenager who had fallen

off of his skateboard and broken his arm, his parents were in route to the hospital since both of them worked full time. The hospital staff could hear them arguing from where they were coming into the building. The boy sat silently waiting for them. His skull cap crushed onto his shaggy long hair. Which according to his father was to long for a boy his age to have. The mother didn’t think there was anything wrong with the boy’s hair length, but wished the child would actually think things through before trying to pull a stunt with his board. Both seemed tired and run down, arguing over who’s responsible for dinner tonight, and who had to be home for their son. If he was still too immature to behave properly. Earlier that day the ambulance had to go and retrieve an elderly woman from her home, someone that they were used to seeing because she was in almost every other month. Her daughter was notified and had called to let them know she would be in after work tonight. The elderly lady was having fun teasing and flirting with the new intern, the young man blushed at the simplest of compliments. The elderly security guard had come in and taken his desk at the hidden office. Where he could keep an eye on all the coming and goings of the hospital. He seemed tired as well, his eyes dropped and his mustache even dropped lower than it had been the night before. But all seemed to be going well, a new call had come in a family of three had been attacked and the mother was being brought in with a bite mark on her calf. The nurses moved around like they did for every accident. Preparing a room and getting everything organized for the arrival. The night looked to be going as smoothly as most nights did, but unknown to anyone this night would become much more of a nightmare than anything else. There was only a matter of time, before the horror of the night truly unfolded into the mask terror that would change the lives of all those that were involved. The children facing this will rise to stand above those that have not face any such terror before, and the adults will face things that they had only feared in nightmares and horror movies. Heros will be found in the least likely of places, ri from the shadows. While villains will stand in all aspects of humanity, hidden within the light. Yet, one must always heed the advice given, nothing is ever as it seems. All would come out changed, but whether it be for the better or worse will still remain to be seen.

Chapter One

TWO HOURS LATER…

The man had been walking with his wife and five year old daughter, they had been enjoying the last of autumn’s warmth as the sun was just setting. He had reached over intent on taking his wife’s hand in his when, his wife screamed in pain. Spinning his head to see what the problem was, he saw a woman clinging to his wife’s leg. Black ooze flowing from her orifices and into the bite mark on his wife’s leg. His wife had pushed their daughter out of harm’s way having noticed the sickly woman slowly crawling their way. She screamed in more pain as the ooze seeped into the bloody injury. The little girl stared down upon the scene in horror. Tears streaming down her small cherub like face. Her father raised his foot up and kicked the sickly woman off of her mother, grasping both of his family and running further away from the mental woman. After having reached a safe distance away from the woman, he pulled his phone out and called an ambulance. For both his wife and the woman who had started all of this. He looked back toward the twitching woman in the grass, squinting his eyes he could make out under her black ooze covered body the making of scrubs. He pondered if she had escaped from a mental institute. The sound of the sirens caused him to pause in his thoughts and focus on the problem at hand. He had been putting pressure upon his wife’s injury and upon the arrival of the paramedics he could glance down at his blood covered hands. ‘God, how had this day become such a nightmare?’ He wondered as he loaded his daughter into her booster seat and prepared to follow the ambulance to the hospital. The little girl clutched at him, almost afraid to allow him to sit up, behind the wheel. The father squeezed her ankle in a loving matter and shut the door. At the hospital both patients were rushed to their rooms. The father parked in the parking lot and walked with his daughter to the door. Upon entering the nice looking secretary gave them directions to his wife’s room, she had her ankle bandaged and will be staying overnight to see if the black ooze will cause any side effects. Both father and daughter walked up the stairs, the father being to

scared of the elevator to ever take one. They came out at the floor and walked toward a room, the father didn’t really pay any attention to the numbers printed on the outside of the doors. So he just entered into one, and came to a stop. He had the wrong room, a man lay bandaged and prone upon the hospital bed. His daughter had continued in unworried at the fact that they had the wrong room. She was very curious about the tall man. Before she could touch him though, her father picked her up and carried her out of the room. She stared at the man all the way up to the point that the door shut behind her father and her. Upon entering the correct room, the little girl wiggled to be set down, her mother was sitting up in bed, her bandaged ankle propped underneath a couple of pillows. The mother seemed alright now, she even smiled and laughed at her husband’s expense. Her husband usually didn’t pay attention to numbers or such but more or less the left and right of directions. This was not the first time he had gotten lost or entered into a place that he shouldn’t be in. She assured the other two of her family that she would be fine. Even though she was feeling kind of off, like she was underwater, but she didn’t want her husband to worry about her. He had his hands full enough with their daughter… The sound of screams echoed in the darkened hallways of the hospital as people trapped inside the hospital ran for safety, some pushing others behind them at the crawling gaping mouths of the infested. Which crawled and stalked in any manner, neither being alive or dead but a semblance of both. The creatures were relentless, oozing blackened blood upon the floors and anything they touched, living poison. A small child hid within the first room she could find that was empty, her eyes wide with terror and fear. Heart pounding she backed up into the furthest wall away from the door, hidden by rolling carts and lockers of the room. She slipped slowly down into a crouch, her small hands grasping her ears as she tried desperately to drown out the sounds that echoed. She had promised her daddy that she would be brave, and she would survive. She had promised him this at the same moment that mommy had pulled daddy onto the bedding with her, and ripped into his throat with her teeth. Sprays of blood blossomed across the child’s cheeks and chest as her father struggled to break away from mommy. The little girl had slipped out of the room and ran as fast and as far as any small child of about four and a half years of age could. She slipped by the adults unnoticed except for an older teen who had been more focused on watching the doorway then on his arm being placed into a cast, or his parents arguing above

him. He watched as she ran past, but didn’t voice his thoughts on the scared little girl more concerned about his own life than that of hers. If he had known that his life and her life would soon be interwoven then he may have given more thought to the scene before-hand, and so the child slipped by unnoticed. The second one to somewhat notice the child was one of the intern’s that was working at the hospital, but again he had far more concerning matters to attend to then a wondering child. So he allowed the thought to slip past his mind as he walked back to the room with the unknown man from the motorcycle accident. He had gotten about part of the way to the hallway when a man covered in black blood oozing from an open wound on his throat, almost staggering out of a room, eyes bleeding black and groans turning into snarls. The intern stopped looking dead at the man, and then started to back up. He ended up hitting the emergency box holding the fire axe, and just as he was going to just stand there watching. A doctor stepped out into the hallway in front of the intern and the man attacked him, and from the same room a woman crawled forward dragging bits of the bed that she had been strapped down to with her. She in turn attacked another nurse knocking her down onto the ground and ripping into the soft part of her upper thigh. Blood sprayed across the floor, and the screams pierced into the intern’s skull. Panic took over and the intern whirled and broke open the emergency fire latch pulling the axe from his position and fled down the hallway. His heart was pumping so fast, and his breath was starting to become staggered. He had read somewhere that this was a slight form of a panic attack and he needed to calm down in order for it to go away, but looking at all the chaos that was going on around him, the intern didn’t know if he had the willpower to calm down and get into survival mode. So blinded by fear that he didn’t see the old security guard open up the heavy duty security room and pull him into it. Slamming the door shut behind them. The young man turned chest heaving and staring wide eyed at the older male, “What is going on out there?” the intern shrieked, voice breaking with his emotions. The older man could do nothing but shake his head. “I don’t know son!” the old man turned back toward the cameras, and both watched in horror as the entire hospital was taken down. After the sounds of screaming faded in the hallways, and all that remained in the open of the hallways were the infected. The creatures milled about, no noise echoed other than for the ones that the creatures made. The infected move in

some slow or fast jerking movements almost like they were have muscle spasms. Probably from the body trying to fight off the black ooze that covered the host’s body. Some of the infected crawled across the floor, leaving trails of black ooze behind them. Their eyes seemed to be covered in the black ooze, which formed a membrane across the pupils. The two men inside the security office seemed to be entranced by the slow or rapid movements of the infected. The creatures seemed sluggish now that there were no other fresh hosts to attack. They moved listlessly down corridors and into hallway, but it would appear that they had lost the ability to open up doors or even function as a human being. The two men watched in wonder at a small family that was fighting their way toward a closet. The two had seen beforehand a small Asian woman squeeze into the closet. They were watching fascinated by the outcome of any survivors but them. The two men waited with baited breath as the three survivors soon became four. The elderly man hit a button and spoke into the microphone. “Head down the hall a few ways and you will see the guard station, there are some survivors already there, please. You will be safe here.” The four jumped unexpected by the voice, and the two men watched as the older male lifted his head and nodded toward the camera.

Chapter Two

TWO HOURS LATER AT THE START OF THE BREAKOUT IN HOSPITAL…

The teen was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance after he had fallen and broken his arms, sitting on the hospital bed allowing for the doctor and nurses to turn his broken limb this way and that while listening to his parent’s bicker about whose fault the broken limb was, and who was going to take responsibility over it. Words such as divorce and ending of marriage were thrown around like goldfish at a festival. The teen stared down at the floor looking at everything but what was taking place in the room. He saw the smaller kid run across his doorway, but that was quickly placed out of mind when the screaming started. A doctor covered in black goo came running into the room and leaped onto one of the nurses that had been standing close to the door. Bashing her head into the floor several times to lap sickeningly at her bleeding head trauma. The teen cried out and scrambled off of the bed as another crazy burst into the room and leaped at him. With a cry of rage, the mother broke off part of the old metal bar of the bed that the teen was sitting on and smashed the crazy person in the face. Causing them to wheel backwards and smash into two others that had crept into the room. The father grabbed one of the folding metal chairs and using it as a shield between the crazies oozing black goo and the trio, allowing the small family to flee the corner in which they were trapped in. The teen was smashed between his parents. His father was holding up a metal chair and pushing him into his mother’s back, and his mother held in her hand a metal club. Having grabbed it on her way out of the room when the attacks first started. She would reach behind her and grasp at her son, just as much as her husband would reach behind and touch both his son and wife on the arm, a grounding mechanism to assure both adults that the other two of the family were safe. For how much they argued and claimed to hate one another they felt safe knowing that the other would have their backs, and would protect their child from danger. They moved in sync with one another and always kept

the teen between them. The teen for his part mostly kept quiet and kept himself between his parents. He was scared, not knowing what was happening, tears ran down his face and onto his black skull shirt, and he clutched at one or the other of his parents in fear. He wasn’t ready to lose them yet, he would trade in all of his things in order to keep his parents together and alive, it was why he was always acting out. So that they would focus on him and not on the point that their marriage wasn’t working out. Snot was running in clear streaks down his face, dripping down onto his shirt and even smearing across his parent’s shirts when he brushed up against them. His father pushed him and his mother forward and kept the creepy looking creatures back away from them. “Honey, I just want to you know that I never meant any of those things I said before!” his dad stated. His mom turned and looked back his eyes watering. “Don’t you dare do something STUPID? You hear me, I will not lose you now.” Finished his mom, pulling him along behind her as she looked down each hallway. She stepped forward and opened up a door looking in to see what it was, laying in the only bed of the room was a tall man, bandaged up from what looked like a car accident. The teen noticed that his room was unoccupied by any of the crawling nasties that were taking over the hospital. Shivering, the teen lifted his gaze to look questioningly at his mother. She smiled down crookedly with tears running down her face. “Don’t worry baby, we are going to get out of here alive. Just keep close to me or your father. We won’t let anything happen to you sugar.” The mom, closed the door and started down the hallway, the teen close to her side, and her husband defending their rear. Just as they reached what the mom thought to be the closet, a noise caused the trio to pause and listen. The doorknob jiggled on the closet, the mom pushed her son further behind her, where her body blocked any would be attack on the boy, and raised her weapon high over her head in the ready. The doorknob jiggled again and then the door opened, a small well-dressed Asian woman fell out of the closet. Wrestling with a mop that had been placed there. She landed against the mom who fell down, the boy scrambled back toward his father with a cry of alarm. His dad turned around and looked down raising his chair up over his head, but the Asian woman pulled away and lifted her hands in surrender toward the male. “Please don’t hurt me, I am not one of them!” the woman pleaded to them. His mother rose up and reached out a hand to help the other woman stand up. “It is fine, we are not going to hurt you, please let me help you up. You just scared us that is all.” The mom stated, and the woman reached a hand up to

allow for her to be aided. The teen stared hard at the well-dressed woman before looking around the dimly light hospital. The Asian woman stood up and picked up the broken mop handle, looking up determinedly at the others. “We need to go, place to hide from these tings. Yo come with me, we stick togethew we may suwvive. Yes!” She stated before looking at them all. The boy nodded his head yes and looked up at his parents. Who stared at the lady before nodding their acceptance of her idea, and then they all startled as a voice came on over the loudspeakers. “Head down the hall a few ways and you will see the guard station, there are some survivors already there, please. You will be safe here.” The voice seemed like an older man speaking to them, looking toward the flickering lights off down the distance in the direction in which they were supposed to head, they saw the signs pointing toward the guard post. Looking at each other the three adults nodded toward each other and the older male of the group looked toward the camera and nodded to show that they had understood the command. They started forward, all three ringing around the teenage boy, forming a triangle of protection.

Chapter Three

TWO HOURS LATER AT THE POINT OF BREAKOUT IN HOSPITAL…

The Asian woman had come into the hospital to check up on her mother, who had placed herself in the hospital after ‘not feeling very well for a couple of days.’ The Asian woman had a full day at work, working as a social worker she was usually visiting the larger cities where more population meant less care for children. In some cases she had traveled long ways to reach children in need of her care. So when she had gotten a call from her mother’s neighbor telling her that her mother was once again going to the hospital. She was worried because her mother was one for being a hypochondriac when in the case of illnesses went, and she was always complaining about something being the problem. Sighing she asked the nurse in the receptionist desk the directions to her mother’s room, the nurse was more than happy to help her. Lifting up the bouquet of flowers, she headed up the two flights of steps and into the hallway of the level that housed her mother. Walking briskly she ed the guard post, and the old guard waved at her which she waved back with a smile. On her way she also ed over the correct door, walking in on a young intern changing a male out of his bloody clothes and into the hospital gown. Standing shocked and embarrassed the woman took in the quick look of the unconscious man, her eyes zooming down the muscular bandaged body toward his privates, but before she could get a peek at them, the intern covered him up. “Ma’am are you a relative of his?” the intern asked, looking embarrassed as well. “No, sowwy I must have gotten wong woom.” She stated, backing up and leaving the room, she then walked back down the hallway. Making sure to pay attention to the correct room number before entering the room again. Her mother sat up and stared at her daughter. “Why youw face so wed?” The mother demanded of her child, holding her hands out for the flowers. Handing them over, the daughter answered. “I walked in on an intewn changing a man into hospital gown.” She stated, “He

was naked.” She looked behind her at the door, half afraid the intern would walk in and demand an explanation to her walk in. “Who naked itewn or othew man?” the mother asked wickedly. Her eyes lighting up with mischief. “Mother, now is not the time fow you to play matchmakew.” The daughter expressed, placing her palm across her enflamed face. “Why not, I am 72, I am not getting any youngew and I still have no gwand baby.” The mother raged. Raising her arms up over her head before bringing them down in an exaggerated motion to lay upon the bed. Before the daughter could reply a scream and the sound of falling and breaking equipment alerted the pair that something was going on outside of the personal world of the room. Wide eyed the two shared a look and then the daughter started toward the door. “No, don’t open it, what if it shooter?” the mother enquired of her daughter. “What else am I supposed to do, I could be of some help, I am a black belt in Karate!” the woman stated, then reaching boldly forward she opened the door, which was then yanked out of her hands and a man covered in black goo flung himself at her. Screaming the woman lifted her hand and punched her attacker, landing a solid blow to the man’s face and staggering him backwards. Yet the man rose back up and lunged at her again, mouth open wide to reveal blood covered teeth. The young woman screamed and scrambled backwards, and kicked out in a roundhouse. Once again striking her opponent, this time was rewarded with the sound of bones breaking as the neck snapped backwards. The man dropped to the floor, but was quickly replaced by an overweight nurse who flung her weight onto the small petite Asian woman and tried to keep her still long enough to sink her bloody and black ooze covered teeth into her flesh. The small woman screamed out and wrestled with the other woman, keeping her fingers and other body parts of the way of teeth and at the same time pushing the woman’s head and jaws away from her. Her mother rose, shaking and wide eyed from the bed and grabbing the vase that the flowers had come in smashed it over the nurse’s head, the nurse fell limp and heavy over her daughter oozing the black goo from the crushed skull wound. Working together, mother and daughter managed to push the dead woman off of her. Both women were breathing heavily during the short time it took to accomplish the task, but neither woman noticed the third person sneaking up on

them. Lifting her head when she heard her mother’s scream of pain, she watched wide eyed as the third attacker ripped out flesh from her mother’s throat, blood sprayed in arterial arc across the room and her mother’s flailing caused the two to topple over. Mouth working in soundless cry the mother looked up at her daughter and then toward the door, giving a quiet plea for her child to flee while the attacker was distracted. Tears streaming down her face and her business suit torn in places, the daughter shook her head and then lifting a piece of the broken vase upward stabbed the attacker who had been crouched over her mother, pulling and tearing chunks of flesh from her dying body right into the spinal point of connection to the brain. The attacker fell oozing black goo all over her bleeding mother. Reaching down she tried to put pressure onto the oozing wound but her mother knocked her hand away and pointed feebly toward the door, mouthing the words go and I love you. Then the light left the older woman’s eyes and the daughter heaving with tears and agony over the loss rose up and ran out the door, skidding to a stop just outside of the closet and spinning around in circles tried to the way outside, but to scared and emotional she turned and opened the door to the closet and hid within. After what seemed like eternity of waiting, and hearing no sound outside after the echoes of the screaming have stopped. She looked around for a weapon that could be used, finding a mop she wrestled with the wet dreads of the mop head, and when it wouldn’t give broke the wooden handle. Still wrestling with the mop head she tried the door, and hearing movement coming her way she paused her actions. Yet too late, the door opened and she tumbled out landing on a taller and slender woman and scrambling away from the man coming at her with a raised metal chair.

Chapter Four

FIVE HOURS AFTER THE BREAKOUT…

Eyes snapping open as the silence penetrated the thick layers of sleep upon the riders mind. It was too quiet, for all the commotion that had taken place during his arrival. It was far too quiet, shifting his weight he pulled his bandaged hands up unto his chest before looking around his surroundings. His nostrils flared taking in the scents of the hospital. Blood, he smelled blood and fear. Something big was going on here and his senses told him to get dressed and get out of there, fast. And as one who always listened to his instincts, he rose to obey. Looking toward the door for signs of movement, he took in his helmet and what remained of his jacket and shoes which sat unassuming in a hospital chair in the corner near the door. Frowning he looked down at the hospital gown he had been placed in and grimaced. Not his favorite style but one he’ll have to deal with for now. Pulling the needle of the drips out of the crease of his right elbow he swept his feet to the left side of the bed and stood up. Wobbling a little he looked down at himself. The fractured limb had healed in the amount of time that he had been asleep. He would need to get rid of the cast, focusing on the limb he flexed the muscles and watched in amusement as the cast cracked down the sides. Like an eggshell so easily destroyed. The man needed to access where he was and how he had gotten there, and also who supplied the blood he needed to heal so quickly. First things first, looking toward the blood bags he recognized the logo of his pack, sending a silent thank you to which ever being was listening out there. Stepping out toward the door he checked the hallway, and noticing the sign outside his door knew he was in the small little town that was nearing the Canadian border and his own homeland. This must be the hospital in the town, the man thought thinking of the accident which had caused so much pain. Snorting he looked toward the remains of his clothes sitting in a chair by the door. He pulled on his jacket and grabbed his boots and stepped toward the door. He looked around for his bag that would contain all of his needed supplies and not

finding it assumed it was placed in another area, but luckily for him the pack was made out of the hide of a demon cat and capable of withstanding harsh treatments, not like his own body, which had become torn up under the asphalt. Stepping out he spotted a round clock which read to being around two o’clock, the man frowned, thinking back to before the crash he had been speaking to his alpha and brother, and the phone had read twelve o’ clock am so unless he had been asleep for only a little bit, or had slept until another midnight then he needed to figure things out. Stepping forward he heard the sound of crunching glass. He stepped back and looked down in the darkened hallway. Blood covered the tiled floor, as well as the walls, and ceiling. Glass and other broken equipment littered the floor as well. Something big had taken place, but until then, first things first. He needed to find clothes, and then he would worry about what had happened here. Following the stale scents of medicine he located the changing room of the nurses and doctors. He pried open one of the lockers, bingo, male clothes. Baggy, long blue jeans and a light sweatshirt… not the type he would normally wear but they would do for now. Quickly pulling them on he found the shirt to be too small for his frame, and the pants fit somewhat tight, whoever owned these clothes had to have liked the pants baggy, as was the common style of young human males. He left the shirt but pulled the pants on and then his boots back on before prying the other lockers open. He found an adequate t-shirt that fit him, so he pulled his tattered jacket back on before heading toward the door. Movement from the corner of his eyes caused him to spin hands rising into a defensive posture, before he lowered them. A little girl with golden blond piggy’s sat huddled behind a medicine cart. She was shaking, blood covered her sweatshirt and light blue jeans, her eyes were puffy and red from crying. The man could hear the girl chanting to herself. “Don’t eat me, don’t eat me, don’t eat me…” he inched forward keeping his hands in view so the child would know that he meant no harm. “Hey there sweetie, what are you doing in a place like this? Hummmmm, my name is Thane…” when the child did not answer he kept on speaking reaching out to her, “Do you know what happened here? I’m afraid I had an accident, and I do not know what has taken place in the last twelve hours.” He grabbed her, pulling her struggling body against his, he lifted her off the ground and spun. Only to come face to face with a decaying body that swayed and then lurched at him. The child screamed, and Thane moved her out of the way before lifting a

leg and knocking the being backwards and into the wall. He turned and ran carrying the child with ease down the flickering dark corridors until he smashed through a door leading into what he hoped would be an office, he set the child down and closed the door pushing the metal cabinets and bookshelf in front of it. He slid down with his back against the smooth surface of the cabinet; he should have heard the thing coming up behind him. Yet, he had been too focused on the child before him to notice the danger they were in. Does that mean he was losing his hunting abilities? The man shook his head, he was not losing anything, but his mind. The child needed him, hell maybe this town needed him. Fate could have decided this town needed someone of his abilities and stopped him from going further with the accident, thereby making his appearance necessary and needed in this town. Madeline lifted her gaze from her knees to the man that had burst through the door, and started to smash open lockers and shift through the clothes. She watched as he discarded a couple of cloth items, and she assumed because he was so big that the clothes would not fit him. When he turned to walk out of the room, Madeline moved. He paused and turned his attention to her. Madeline scrunched back up and started her chant of don’t eat me, while rocking back and forth. The stranger moved cautiously toward her. His hands held in front of him. Madeline watched wearily as he crouched down to be more at her level. She shrank back away from him, and he spoke. His voice deep and steady. He was a very tall, long dark hair, and golden eyed man. His muscles moved beneath his skin and he seemed to hold himself in a very self-standard way. Madeline assumed he was a person that could hurt her very badly if he wanted to, and there was no daddy or mommy to come and save her now. She jerked away from him, but he was faster, sweeping an arm out he pulled her close to him. He was way stronger than she was, she could tell by the little effort he used when subduing her and lifting her up. They turned and Madeline screamed as a bad man loomed in front of her face. Black ooze seeping out of his eyes and nose. The big man moved her faster than she thought possible and she watched stunned as he handled the bad man and raced down the hallway with her tucked to his chest. Madeline could feel and hear his heart beating just beneath his shirt, and she clutched to him as he moved. Her senses told her that she was safe with him, she could trust him to keep her safe. She never told anyone that she knew things that nobody else knew because she had been told by mommy that if they ever found

out then she could be taken away from mommy and daddy. However, she knew that this man, this guardian hidden in the darkness had been meant for her. She knew that her own parents were now dead and that she had no one else to go to because her parents had no one else either. She knew in her body that this man had come to take her in that he would lay down his life for her. He was her Wulfman. When the man set her down and worked to put up a barrier between them and those bad men she observed him more closely. Her instincts stated he was not human, that he was some kind of wolf in human skin, and that was fine with her. She liked dogs and cats anyway. She edged closer to him after he sat down on the floor and waited patiently or as patiently as any five year old could wait, before he took notice of her. Lifting his head, Thane saw the child had edged closer to him when he had been lost in thought. He watched silently as the little girl reached out a hand and touched his face, “you aren’t one of them are you mister?” the child asked fearfully, her wide puppy dog brown eyes looking up at him tearfully. Even sitting the child had only come up to his chin. Looking at her more closely he shifted his weight and held out his arm, she leapt into his chest burrowing her head into his torn jacket. “I thought I was all alone mister, mommy was bitten and daddy had called the ambulance to take us to the hospital to have her checked out, and then things started getting scary and daddy told me to go run and hide somewhere, I’m really good at hiding, but then mommy attacked daddy and there was so much blood, I did as he asked and hid. And I thought I was all alone, then you showed up. Mister I don’t wanna be alone!” Thane nodded his head, he was still contemplating what the child had said, looking down he nudged her until she looked up at him. “Hey there, you are not alone anymore, you have me, Thane, and I’ll take care of you, Baby. So don’t worry, I won’t let anything happen to you.” Thane promised pulling the child toward him once more. Pausing he looked down at her. “Do you think you can tell me your name now little one?” Thane asked looking her over for any injury or anything else. The child nodded her head before speaking “My mommy called me Madeline, daddy always said he would have preferred Raven or Rachel but mommy wanted Madeline so I was a Madeline.” Madeline stated, nodding her head as if agreeing with the argument of naming her. Thane smiled, before allowing her to lean

against him once more, they couldn’t stay here, it wasn’t safe and they needed supplies too. Looking down he sighed, he would be able to move faster without the child, but he couldn’t leave her here. Those things whatever they were seemed slow and sluggish like animated zombies from horror flicks, but if there were more of them they would be deadly in packs. Looking around he noticed that he had not run into an office like he had first thought, but a linen and gauze supply room. He stood up and started down the aisles of cloth, Madeline close behind him every step of the way. Grabbing piles of clothing from around him, and tossing them into a pile behind him. He turned and looked at the child. Contemplating the child’s size and weight from sight alone. “Now to make a makeshift carrier, Madeline could you come here, I know you are not a baby, but I would think this would be easier for me and you to travel by. I will be moving at a fast pace, and I wouldn’t want for you to be left behind. So can you be a big girl and let me carry you in this?” Thane inquired, sizing Madeline up as she nodded eagerly. Her little chin, lifting at the title she was given, a big girl. Thane nodded, “That’s my girl!” before he stepped forward and started to bundle her up, and lift her to fit snuggly against his chest. He had contemplated putting her on his back to give more room for his arms, but after being surprised by the being in the changing room he would not risk having her on his back. The one place he would not be able to defend against, how he wished his pack was with him. After having secured the child to his chest he started toward the door in which they had come, pausing to push the desk and shelving aside with one arm. Before he took a deep breath of air into his lungs through his nose, aside from the strong scent of death, blood, Madeline, and the sickening stench of cleaning fluids it did not smell as if there were any more of those things out there. Yet, to be on the safe side he pressed his ear to the door and listened, his sensitive hearing picked up farther down in the hospital movement, jagged, unsteady, stumbling steps. That must be the thing that he had knocked into a wall earlier, they didn’t seem all that steady on their feet. Yet to be safe he would have to find his stuff and possibly along with it his cell phone, hopefully once that is found, he can call for help and get both him and Madeline out of this place. Looking around the room once more he spots the handle of a mop and grasping it breaks the mop off of the stick. Madeline gasped before looking up at Thane and stating. “That wasn’t yours to break mister, what if you can’t pay for it?”

“Don’t worry kiddo, if the owner of the mop gets mad. I can just point him to the door!” Thane replied, quietly opening the door a crack and peeking out. Finding that the coast was void of any creature’s… other than himself, he opened it farther and stepped out into the darkened hallway. As soon as he entered into the hallway it seemed that all of his senses came awake, he could hear the lumbering movements of every creature in the hospital, could smell the decaying flesh, and even taste their vile blood. He could even pick up the other few survivors hiding out in a room a little further down, and even what they were arguing over. He tightened his grip on the stick and placed one hand protectively over Madeline’s back. He knew that right about know his wolf had decided it was time to come out and play, and for the moment Thane had to it he didn’t mind his nocturnal friend being here. Scenting the air, he picked up some still fresh blood, and the sound of a human heart beating nearby, and the echoes of loud screams that alerted of another death. Yet the heart beat was far closer than it had been a few minutes ago, looked like the young man lost the draw for heading to them, and since It didn’t belong to Madeline for it was a lot slower than a child of her size would be. Another human had survived, Thane wondered how many humans other than for the ones here had survived the infestation of monsters. So it now it came down to whether Thane was willing to go looking for the human and by doing so further endangering his new cub, by calling out to it and likely notify the other creatures of his and his cub’s ware bouts, or leave the human to die here. Looking down he whispered to Madeline while moving toward the room in which he had awoken in he decided to look more closely among the items placed within the room, “There are possible other survivors, but looking for them might be a little dangerous. What do you want me to do?” Madeline looked up at him, looked down onto the floor and around the room they had entered in, the soft echo of the door closing behind them. Then replied… “I have you to protect me mister, you won’t let those monsters hurt me, besides you’re strong enough to be a hero to anyone else besides me! So let’s save them.” Thane opened up the closet in which he had not noticed before, his jacket and shoes had been on a chair beside the bed, therefore, the need to look further then that was pointless. Or so he had thought! Looking into the closet he found his bag, and along with it, his keys and cell phone. Which when he picked it up crumbled to pieces in his hands. Well there went that plan of escape, onto plan B, and it wasn’t running around in a pair of leotards with his underwear on the outside. Not that he was wearing any underwear at the moment.

“Great, let’s hope this person has a phone on them, or else we will have to move onto plan C!” Thane muttered, Madeline giggled before growing quiet. A scraping sound could be heard just outside of the room and a shadow had darkened across the slightly lit entrance. Reaching into his bag he pulled out a small one foot long, one inch round silver rod. Grunting he shifted his pack to his back, at least this would offer a little protection for him and Madeline more than the stick could. “You ready, because…” he reached the door in a few strides pausing then gripping the silver stick, he pressed a hidden button on it and it started to extend into a steal staff. Taking a deep breath he placed his other hand on the knob and finished what he was about to say, “Here we go!”…

Chapter Five

FIVE HOURS AFTER THE BREAKOUT…

The six survivors watched from the safety of the security room, all hopeful that there would be a break in the chain of creatures, or even more survivors. They watched the cameras with wide eyes, seeing as the creatures staggered around areas of the hotel. Then after a few hours something changed. A door opened in two cameras and out stepped two men from each of the doors. The Intern pointed out one and the Asian lady pointed out the other, one was a doctor still dressed in his coat and scrubs, but now he is covered in the black ooze that seems to be coming from the creatures. The doctor looked up one way of the hall and down the other length of hall before moving slowly forward. His hands clutched keys to a vehicle, which the fellow survivors felt that they could use as well. The other man was not a doctor but dressed in the hospital gown he moved more sure of himself and steady. Pausing every now and again and lifting his head up to sniff the air. The six survivors murmured about this behavior but didn’t fully understand what they were seeing. The man’s eyes glowed eerily in the semi darkness of the building, his boots made little noise as he trodden over the broken glass. This man moved with the skills of a hunter or a predator, one capable of defending not just himself but any who was with him. The man entered into the changing room of the hospital. The doctor moved jitterier than the patient, jerking his head around at every sound. He moved uncertain of where he was going, and even paused to lift his phone which he was using as a flashlight. The doctor was leaving without even trying to see if there any survivors left. The jerk was saving his own skin. Everyone was enraged, the Asian woman more so since she believed that the child was more important than anything else. His parents had to agree with her as did the intern and the guard. They shifted their attention to the other camera as moving from the camera caught their eyes.

The teen gasped as the door opened and the creature pushed in, at almost the same instant the noise of crashing sounded and out ran the man carrying with him a small girl in his arms. The boy gasped and pointed. “That’s the little girl that I saw running around the hospital before this all went down!” His parents looked at him before looking back at the camera as the guard switched to another scene, the man and child entered into the room, everyone turned and looked at the intern. “It’s a cloth storage room.” He supplied and they turned and looked back at the screen eyes brows furrowed. What did the man want with cloth? They continued to watch, the man after a few minutes came out covered in cloth and no child in sight. The Asian woman gasped in rage, her eyes widening as she assumed that the man ditched the child, she was so mad she couldn’t believe she had thought he was hot. The intern looked back and forth not understanding what had happened, the parents and teen also seemed upset over the man’s actions. “It doesn’t matter if he left the kid, we can always go get her, and we just need to go rescue them as well.” The intern stated watching as the others shook their heads no, they would save the kid but they wouldn’t lift a finger for either of the men. The intern rolled his eyes and lifted up the ax before heading to the door. “I don’t care what you think, we are humans and as humans we need to show others that we need to think of the big picture and not of themselves.” With that speech the intern turned and left out the door, shutting it firmly behind him. He left for the nearest person to him, the doctor. Reaching the corridor which the camera had shown the doctor he came upon the scene made of horror. The doctor was being torn apart by the zombie things, flesh was being pushed into hungry mouths and fingers were pulling muscle, tendons, and bones apart. The doctor’s screams echoed like wet paper in the hallways, and blood was pooling across the tiled floor. The intern pulled away eyes filling with tears, he couldn’t even kill the man, the poor bastard was dying a most painful death and he couldn’t even give him a mercy killing. Shuddering the intern fled down the hallway toward where the storage room was, upon entering into the room he noticed no one was there. The child must have fled the room after the man left. The intern needed to move quickly, he felt that he had a time limit and the gap was closing fast, with those things being occupied by the ‘good’ doctor. He moved toward the doorway that the man had exited, hoping to find some clue to his ware bouts. He heard some movements behind the door and lifted his axe up high. Taking a deep breath to steady himself, he prepared to kill something for the first time in his life. The door opened swiftly and the man wrapped in the

ridiculous bundle of clothing sprang out, a metal staff almost thrusting into the intern’s face. The intern looked flabbergasted at the man, before taking a step back.

Chapter Six

The door swung open and standing facing them was a man dressed in scrubs holding a fire ax up, and looking just as startled as they felt. “Hey man, take it easy…” the guy lowered his axe and took a step away from them; he seemed not to have noticed the child clinging to the larger male. Only the deadly weapon that he wielded and only then he did not seem to observant of that either. “I was hiding in the security control room man, and I saw you walking down the hallway on the security cameras. What is with all the sheets, you trying to say something or do you think it will protect you or something? My name is…” “Get down!” Thane ordered, at the same time the man was dropping into a crouch, Thane had thrust his staff forward and jabbed the creature that had been sneaking up behind the man in the nose, the sound of cartilage breaking and then the skull fracturing under the pressure of the blow, followed by the hollow thud the creature made as it hit the ground and became still, reverberated through Thane’s skull. The small twitching of the now dead corpse and the black ooze spreading told the rest of the humans that were present that the monster was dead. The man looked at the creature before quickly scrambling away from it, crab crawling backwards and into Thane’s legs. Thane wasn’t really impressed with the human’s reflexes but didn’t comment on them as he allowed the younger man to express his fear and gratitude. “Thanks man, I would have been a goner for sure, if you were not there to help, name is David!” David looked up and for the first time took note of the little girl hanging inside the clothing that seemed to swallow Thane. “Oh my God man, you have a kid, You have a kid, that is why you have all the clothing on…” taking a hand he palmed his forehead in a sign of faked stupidity, “Duh, I should have seen that, I mean I saw you carrying her into the storage room but I didn’t see you come out with her, I should have known better. But anyways, I and some other ‘survivors’ are going to try to get out of here, do you want to us?” Thane looked down at Madeline; she was staring bewildered at David, almost as if she couldn’t believe that he had lived this far into the attack. Looking back up at David himself he could understand why. The man wasn’t anything to look at. Of average height, he had short spiked dark brown hair with frosted tips, freckles

over cheeks, large front teeth, dull brown eyes, and was neither physically fit nor the brightest crayon in the box. Yet, somehow he had managed to make it through a hospital probably riddled with these creatures, with nothing more than a fire ax. Someone upstairs must have really loved this human in order for him to survive for so long. Shaking himself out of his semi stupor, he answered David before him. “My name is Thane, my cub is Madeline… we were just about to go find you, or any survivors, and we also had a plan to get out of here, and this town, if you wish to me and Madeline you may, but might I suggest we find the others first!” Thane was saying this while moving around David, his one hand clutching Madeline tightly to him his other loosely holding his staff. He moved forward following the sound of the other heart beats. He was now able to pick up the individual scent from each survivor. In total there were six survivors including David. Two women, one teenager, and two more men one of the men smelled like he was up there in age, but his heart beat were strong and steady. The teenager was scared, though that was to be expected; he seemed to also be in slight pain. David was following silently behind him, and then he stopped suddenly looking wide eyed at Thane. “Wait man, I have a question, how do you know where the other survivors are?” David was about to start to hyperventilate. Thane stopped and turned to look back at him, he was beginning to lose his patients with the young man. Taking a deep breath in then snarled out a few words before he continued onward toward the security room. “The sign on the wall state the security room is this way, and you had said that you saw me on the security camera so I put together the fact that you and the others were held up in the security room!” David smiled then nodded dumbly, before he started to follow along, luckily, Thane thought. Chancing a quick look down at Madeline they hadn’t caught his slip up at mentioning Madeline as his cub. The entire hallway had seem to be a replay of the worst horror movie imaginable drying blood and black ooze lay splattered or sprayed on almost every surface, and peeking into open doors, Thane could make out the bodies of some of the dead. An old Asian woman lay with chunks missing from her body, her throat ravaged by monsters. Beside her lay three other bodies black ooze and the smell of death gave Thane the answer he needed, someone had taken the three zombie

wannabe’s out and one of the zombie cheerleaders had eaten dear old grandma. Shaking himself from the idea Thane continued to lead the other man forward. David also peaked into the room and seeing the corpse gasped, and shaking his head inched closer to Thane. They were just a few turns away from the room, when Thane held up his hand to stop them from progressing forward. The scent and smell of the creatures had alerted him to the nearness of two of them. They were surrounding the door of the security room, scratching at the door, with broken fingers and clawing at it with peeling flesh nubs that were once hands. David was about to cry out, his face having gone white, before Thane place his open hand onto David’s mouth. David flashed his eyes up to Thane’s who shook his head no, then pulled David further back and into the shadows. He swapped weapons with him, handing over his metal staff and taking the axe from the man’s limp hand. He figured the staff would allow David more opportunities to keep the flesh craving monsters away from actually biting into him. He then untied the cloth from around his neck and placed Madeline onto the floor, she calmly placed her hand into David’s. Who on reflex gripped onto it tightly, and then turning away from them, Thane charged down the corridor, his steps light and silent on the broken shards of glass. His eyes, glowing in the dim light that illuminated the dark hallways, and the creatures having a sense of survival turned, but by then he was upon them, the axe slashed downward in a clean swoop. Cleaving a head, from what had been of a young nurse, off her shoulders. Blood, black and drying crumbled like dry clay from the wound and her body stood standing there for a few moments then tumbled down onto the floor, her head bounced off the ceiling and then smashed onto the tiled ground and rolled a few feet. Stopping only when it hit the wall on the far side of the hallway, the second creature lurched forward at him; jaws open to show the blackened gaping throat within, a rasping moan escaping the void’s opening. He continued with the movement of the axe, using the butt of the axe to propel the creature away from him, grasping the creature’s tie he spun the handle of the axe in his hand and sliced upward with it. Cleaving the man almost in half from his groin to his tip of his skull, the man stood, as blackened blood dropped in clumps upon the floor, before he fell sideways with a dull thud upon the ground. Breathing heavily, eyes glowing, teeth aching within his mouth Thane combated over control for his bloodlust. The last time he had felt this way was on the battlefields, very long ago. David came out, still clutching the silver staff in one hand and Madeline’s hand in his other. His mouth slightly open as he looked at Thane,

“What are you?” David inquired, what had felt like hours for Thane during the battle had only been a few seconds in actual time. Thane felt trapped, he had not meant for this to happen, his judgment could be in fact a condemnation from the people that might be able to help him and his cub out. Wait, what if his cub now thought of him as a monster as well, who would be able to protect her from these creatures. Just when he felt he wouldn’t be able to bear anymore of the pain of the unknown, Madeline spoke up. “He is my mister, my hero, don’t you dare say anything mean to him, you hear me dumb bum, and He is mine… and if you can’t like my superman then go find a superman that you like! I dreamt of him, he came, He my Hero” Madeline then commenced to go to Thane and throwing her small arms around his legs, she embraced him. David looked down at her stupefied for a few moments before looking to Thane. “Hell man, whatever you are, you alright in my books. Just keep kicking ass and I will keep being your wingman. Right!” David looked behind Thane as the sound of the door opening proclaimed the arrival of the people that had been barricaded inside. The old man whom Thane had smelled earlier came out holding a small caliber hand gun clutched in his right hand in the other he was holding a flashlight. “David, is that you, did you find the guy, how about the doctor? Did you find him as well?” the old man asked while looking up and down the corridor. David grimace, going pale at the mention of the doctor. “I found the guy, but when I found the doctor it was too late, he was being pulled apart by those things, they were tearing him open and he was screaming and my god his screams, they echoed. I don’t think I will be able to sleep without seeing him, and hearing his screams… and I couldn’t do anything, I was helpless to stop it.” David had tears streaming down his face, and shortness of breath by the time he had finished the monologue of what had happened. Madeline was patting lightly at his legs trying to be soothing as much as she can. A small, slender Asian woman stepped out from behind the security guard. Her dark eyes assessing the people before her, stopping only once to take in the small child that was now hugging David around his waist. “You did not say that you had child with you, Child impowtant, must powtect at all cost.” The Asian women stated stepping forward in her heels, her arms out

stretched almost as if to lift Madeline up into her arms. Thane intervened stepping forward and blocking her path, a rumbling growl echoing in the dark corridors. His chest rising and falling and eyes wild at the thought of the slight women touching his cub. The women backed off, swiftly stepping behind the old man and clinging to him, the man brought up his gun, hands shaking as he aimed at the new threat. “STOP, this man saved you guys, he is just being overprotective of his kid, for heaven’s sakes, STOP!” David shouted scrambling to step between Thane and the old man. “Jesus, Marcus, please use your head, do you think I would have the strength to take on those things, because we both know that I am all talk and no action. Hell, I am a pacifist; I couldn’t even hurt a fly. The only reason why I agreed to go out and save them was because I saw the child.” David looked pleadingly at the old security guard, who after a few seconds, narrowed his eyes and looks at the larger dark haired male. He finally lowered his side arm. Okay, Thane thought, so the poor sap didn’t lose at paper, rock scissors, but he volunteered to go, Pacifist. What did he hope to accomplish, having them eat him and hope that he could turn them into vegans? Sighing, David looked back at Thane, “Listen big guy, I know wherever you come from, whatever you are, you are the big man on campus, but we mere beings need you, to get us out of here alive. Plus you have a child and an injured teen to look out for, so what do you say. Please don’t abandon us to this fate!” Thane looked down at the man, his own eyes taking in the fear, hope, and misery of the many faces looking up at him. He lowered his eyes to Madeline who also looked up at him, clinging to his legs, her beautiful puppy dog brown eyes sparkling with unshed tears. Her voice echoed in his subconscious, “Please, Mister I don’t wanna be alone!” His eyes hardened, these humans were depending upon him, he was Beta, but for now he would play Alpha. “Okay, I won’t leave you alone, we will get through this.” Turning towards the Asian women he spoke to her, “I apologize for the way I acted; of course you are correct the little ones must be protected at all costs.” David nodded, a smile across his features. “Okay guys, here is the intro; this big dark haired guy is my friend Thane, his little kid, Madeline. Thane, Madeline, the Asian lady is Kim, she is a child welfare agent. The old man is Marcus; he was the security guard on duty here and the smart man that pulled my ass into the box. The other lady is Kate she is

the mother of the teen, who has a broken arm from skateboarding. His name is Haden. He is only 14 so please be nice, and last but not least is John; he is the father of Haden. You know me, I am David, and I was a nurse, well intern for nurse here. So what do we do now?” David looked between everyone; their own gaze was switching between Thane and David. Kim shuddered, going red in the face as she recognized the naked man that she had been ogling before the incident happened. She turned away slightly to get her face back under control, the man, Thane. Stared at her funny, his nostrils flaring slightly as he took in her features, but he shrugged them off as the others started to speak. “We have to get out of here, we can’t stay here, or we would die for sure. We need to find a working phone…” Marcus was interrupted by Thane. “You don’t have a phone, and none of the phones are working then, we shouldn’t find one, our main concern is getting out of the city, we need to find a working vehicle that will hold all of us, then hit the road and keep going. If this is an experiment done by the government then they are likely already setting up procedures to keep it secret. My guess, as a last ditch effort they have would be to bomb this town and make it look like an accident had occurred.” Thane looked at Marcus who was staring at him. “If it is the government then they could already be on the way to help out with survivors and be sending aid right this minute… what we need to do is stay here and wait for them.” This came from Kate; she was standing by Marcus clutching her teenage son to her chest as she looked up and down the corridor wearily. Thane lifted his head, his nose flaring as he took in the scents of decay and death and turning on the spot, snarled down the corridor. Standing just out of eyesight of the human eye was another creature, this one being the man that he had slammed into the wall. Yet, something was different about him, he wasn’t jerking around anymore. Nor, was he exhibiting any of the ordinary awkward movements that Thane had come to expect of the creatures. It did not bode well, these creatures had a learning curb… they were getting smarter and more dangerous. “Get inside the room, and don’t come out until I say so” Thane snarled, but the only humans who complied where the women, Kim had taken Madeline and ushered her into the room closing the door only after Kate and her son had

entered into it. John had been holding a key and turning locked the door behind them, he then hefted an aluminum baseball bat. “We are not running and hiding, I will protect my family even if I end up dying.” John stated his blue eyes hard as he glared up at Thane, Marcus lifted his hand gun, and David lifted the staff. Looking up at Thane he spoke, “I might be a pacifist but if it comes to protecting my friends and family I will, I hope!” his voice was shaky and held very little confidence in himself. With a shake of his head, Thane grunted. If they want to be mincemeat so be it. The creature started forward, a mere blur to the human eye, it swung its broken hooked like bone fingers at David, catching him in the shoulder, and tearing a gash across his chest. David screamed, dropping to his knees, he lifted his head to look up and waited for the creature to slash his throat open next. The creature lifted its hand up and bringing it down was stopped by a clawed tipped hand that engulfed its own and with a jerking motion pulled it to a stop, inches from the humans beating pulse. David took in a ragged gasp, eyes landing on the claws that tipped Thanes fingers. The creature’s hand was jerked sideways then ripped away from the creature with a quick jerk of muscles. The creature screamed, agonized by pain as dry clumps of its blood fell to the floor beneath it. It opened its mouth barring jagged teeth and lunged at the larger being, only to have its motion stopped by a steel blade edge wedging itself into its mouth, slicing the tissue around the edges and continuing onward into the skull until it broke free again with a vibrating motion. The creature gurgled as dried blood engulfed into it mouth, then the head and the upper mandibles fell away from the rest of the creature’s body. Landing with a solid thump upon the floor, its eyes rolling in its socket as it locked onto the feet of its killer. The body caved and fell on top of the severed head, covering the eyes that peered forever open at the world.

Chapter Seven

Marcus stood shaking as John helped David back onto his feet, blood running in a sluggish river down David’s scrub top, staining it a deep purple. Thane stood, shoulders heaving and hair clinging to the sweat around his temples and throat. The bloody axe gripped tightly in his left hand, he turned to survey the humans. “This is why I asked you to lock yourselves in the room; they are becoming faster, and more dangerous to you.” Thane’s eyes glowed in the darkening gloom. Marcus lowered his gun, then looked over to John, the door behind them opened and Madeline came rushing out. “You’re alive, you’re alive, I knew you would stay alive. Nothing can stop you, you my wolfman!” Madeline stated holding her arms up in a demand to be lifted. Kim, Haden, and Kate followed more steadily behind her. “I think I change my mind, let’s find a vehicle and get the hell out of here.” Kate stated, while Kim checked out David’s injuries. “I don’t want to stay here and find out what else these creatures are capable of. Please Mr. Thane, I think you should take up the lead, and we will follow it.” She looked at the others, who were nodded their agreement. “If we find any other survivors on the way we will ask them to come along, we can’t force them. All we can do is suggest for them to come along, do you think that is agreeable?” David asked looking up at Thane. Thane nodded his head, ears twitching at every slight movement. David looked down at Madeline, but before he could suggest that someone should carry the little girl, John bent over and lifted her up in his arms, he being the fittest of them all excluding Thane, having been a firefighter he was used to carrying things heavier than the child. David nodded his thanks and looked toward Thane. “Okay I think we are all ready, Or as ready as we will ever be so take the lead, Oh great leader!” Thane turned and glared at David who smiled charmingly back at him. Thane started down the path that would lead them to the exit of the hospital, stopping every once in a while to take in scents and sounds of the area surrounding them.

Chapter Eight

The area inside of the hospital was dark and covered in debris and the humans didn’t have the eyesight that Thane did. Nor did they have the other enhanced senses. So the path would be slow and steady, even more so since David was injured, his chest wound was bleeding steady and slow, and they had stopped at a door to collect bandages to wrap around his chest to slow the bleeding even more. Yet on the steps David collapsed, his breathing ragged and shallow and sweat dripped in steady beads down his brow and dampened his clothes even more. The chilled air of the hospital caused goosebumps to break out over his body, and Madeline had ordered John to place her down and carry David instead. When David tried to protest stating that he was fine, she then proceeded to kick him in the shins, until he agreed to be carried like a damsel in distress, Madeline’s exact wording. Although David would never agree that he stated that he was a damsel, John picked David up bridal style and proceeded to carry him down the flight of steps that they would need to go before hitting the ground floor. Thane took lead keeping all his senses open and alert and stopping the group every so many feet to clear an easier path for them to take. Kim took up the rear with the flashlight and staff and Kate held onto the bat tightly in her hands. Her knuckles white in her death grip. Haden held onto Madeline’s hand within his own, helping her as much as possible and as often as he can. Thane stopped the group once again. The sound coming from above, both Thane and Kim looked up. Kim’s light skimming over glowing eyes as the monsters drooled over the edge of the stair railing. Kim shuddered at the creature’s face. It was her mother. The gaping blood wound leaked the black ooze that had come from their attackers. Kim opened her mouth in horror, she wouldn’t be able to harm her mother. David cursed as he understood what was happening at the look of horror gracing Kim’s face. Yet neither of the two could voice their pain and horror out loud. The dead Asian woman groaned and started to climb up onto the railing, her aim to land among them and start eating.

She didn’t make it as she started to reach the top of the railing, a blur of darkness reached her. Thane had jumped the distance of the bottom steps and up to her level of fifteen feet, his axe swung in a loud swoosh and the body toppled backwards away from the stairs. Thane came down in a graceful landing crouch, the floor tiles broken and cracked under him in a dent of his weight. Eyes glowing yellow in the dim lighting of the flashlight, and teeth bared and sharpened in a silent snarl. Everyone stared at him, mouths open and astonished at the outcome of events. Kim smiled, through watery eyes and placing her hands together, awkwardly, while still holding the light and staff bowed to him. Ri, she stared as he nodded his head and then continued toward the door leading to the entry way. The door opened and a scream echoed from Kate as the receptionist who had been so nice to everyone came running at them, bottom jaw missing and skin almost pulled completely off. The corpse almost reached them before an axe blade embedded into the woman’s skull cleaving clean through the bone and brain and continuing forward to embed into the wall next to the entrance door. Kate looked wide eyed at Thane who straightened from his throw and continued forward. They followed him toward the door, when a snarl and crash brought the group to whirl around. Out of the darkness another corpse charged them, Thane didn’t have the axe to stop this one, but Kate swung her bat and hitting the corpse with all her might broke, the bat and skull of the corpse which landed twitching at Kate’s feet. John and Haden stared at her. “What, I was a batter for softball in high school” Kate stated and looked at them. Haden smiled and John shook his head. “Go mom!” Haden stated looking down at the defiantly dead corpse. “You can work for me any day of the year ma’am” Marcus stated whistling at the body. “You hit vewy hawd, I likey” Kim stated, “I teach you kwate” she confirmed. “No time to sit and stare, we still need to keep moving” Thane confirmed turning and heading toward the door, pulling the axe from the wall. Kate smiled and followed after, ushering John, Haden and Madeline along. Marcus and Kim once more took up the rear guard, and David was the dainty princess, holding another light. According to Madeline of course.

Chapter Nine

Once outside, the lights of the small town and the full moon that loomed over head cast the parking lot into deep shadows and taxing illusions. Thane could hear and smell the creatures all around but pinpointing them now would be an even harder feat, because of the wide open area, sound tended to travel farther than it would have if they had still been in the hospital. Taking a deep breath, he allowed more of his baser instincts loose and felt the immediate change to the world around him. Everything seemed so sharp, popping out in an almost three dimensional quality, his other senses skyrocketed, the taste of fear was high, so was the taste of hope, both confusing emotions that the humans were combating against in the new environment. “Should we see if our SUV is still running or do you think another vehicle would be better?” John asked, shifting David’s weight around into for him to try and reach his keys better. David grumbled about the movement but wrapped his arms around John’s neck to try to aid him. “Mom, I think dad is getting hitched to a guy now?” Haden stated, cracking a joke that caused everyone to look at him, “Sorry” He retracted tightening his hold on Madeline’s hand. She tugged on his hand until he looked down at her, where he could see her smile, and he smiled back. More comfortable with her finding joy at his joke than anything else. Thane looked around the open parking lot, not liking how open and unlit the area was. When he said as much he got the agreement from the security guard. “I had to walk a lot of the ladies out, during the evening and early morning shifts due to its openness and darkness. When I told the board of the hospital they said that they couldn’t afford to pay to put up more lights.” Marcus pulled a spare flashlight out and turned it on, shining it around the area before them and behind them. Thane started toward the car that was nearest them. It looked sturdy enough to hold all of them. When a howl rendered the air, causing Thane to whirl around and leap across the distance stopping a creature that had leaped from behind a parked car, its head had seemed to be split open and jagged teeth were now coming from the torn flesh, Thane’s axe finished the split causing the

creature to fall into halves on either side of the small group. Madeline clung tighter to Haden, her small head burrowing into the teen’s side, and he could feel warm tears flowing into his shirt. He tightened his hold on her hand, and murmuring soft words of sympathy and love. Thane, straightened out turning back he pointed toward the vehicle. “This one will do, as well as any other. Hurry, before more come, I think they are starting to vocalize to each other.” Thane ushered them closer to the vehicle, yet when David tried the door he found it locked, John having been the first to reach the vehicle ahead of the others. “Damn, just when we needed a little miracle, the devil throws a curveball.” David stated looking around for anything to break the window. John and David were pushed aside by Haden, who had stepped forward with Madeline, her hand switching to grasp one of his pockets. He then reached into another pocket and pulled out a set of lock picking tools. “During the days I skip school to hang with my friends, I learned how to pick locks in a matter of seconds, and this one won’t be a problem. Just give me a sec.” Haden muttered using his uninjured arm to get the locks in place and then started to fiddle with it. After a few agonizing seconds the lock clicked and he opened the door wide, looking back at his parents he smiled sheepishly at them. “Sorry, I know I am a disappointment, but I am trying!” “Son, you are never a disappointment, in fact, I think this is what makes your mother and I the most proud, this right here.” John declared after they had all gotten into the vehicle and had shut and locked the doors. “I would have also been proud if he had stayed in school during those days too.” Kate stated as she pulled Haden to her and kissed his head. Thane sat in the enger seat, and John had taken the driver’s seat. Stating the reason it would be easier for Thane to protect his family if he didn’t have to worry about driving the vehicle as well. This argument was an easy win, because Thane agreed with it right away, either that or he just didn’t want to waste time arguing the point. John, sat for a few moments looking at the car, then reaching up, he pulled down the shade visor and down plopped the keys. Grinning over his shoulders he stated smugly, “I know the man who owned this car, he always put the keys there. Thank God he didn’t decide it was the one night to take them in.” The others just nodded, eyes darting around for anymore of the creatures.

Chapter Ten

With the car started they started out slowly, having to avoid the vehicles that had been abandoned in the middle of the streets, and the dead bodies that were littering the town. “Nevermores” Haden stated out of the blue, startling everyone to turn and look at him. “What the hell are you talking about kid?” Marcus exclaimed, leaning forward to look at Haden who was sitting next to his mother holding onto Madeline. “Nevermores, a term used to describe Zombies. That is more or less what they are, aren’t they, I mean they were once people that had been infected somehow, and now they are something different. I don’t think they even know what they are anymore! I… Look at them, they are on a learning set almost as if they have to learn how to do things that would have seemed odd or natural to them, and they are shifting as well, almost like evolving at a fast rate… they are something that can never be anymore, the Nevermores!” Haden seemed pretty excited about his observation of the creatures, and Thane hummed with agreement of Haden’s statement. “It does seem like that to me, from my observation of them they seem to be trying to reestablish what they are and what they can and cannot do or be. Yet, I have also observed them evolving into a more dangerous creature that seems to find enjoyment out of the death of humans, I wonder if it is a program in the virus that mutated with it.” Thane sat looking out the enger window for a few more minutes, then abruptly states. “Stop the vehicle!” John slammed on the brakes and watched as Thane stepped out of the car, heading to a parked squad car not too far from them. Stepping up to the squad car cautiously Thane looked into the open door and spotted what remained of the officer, slimy bloody entrails lay spread across the driver and enger seat of the vehicle almost like a decorative design, but what Thane was looking for was still sitting innocently on the dashboard. Breathing a sigh of relief he pulled the two way radio out of the dash and headed back toward the waiting vehicle. The two way radio at a certain frequency could be used in short waves to send a message to his pack. His son, Raven had gone to

school and studied up on the short waves and so always had a small set radio on when any member of the pack was away. Just to be on the safe side if other means of communication were gone. The rest of the pack had been taught by Raven how to strengthen the short wave into a longer wave in order to reach longer distance, but since this town was close to the border Thane felt that he wouldn’t need to tamper with the radio. Plus he kind of forgotten how to strengthen the waves anyway. The sound of feet running on pavement, and the scent of fear caused him to pause and look down the street. A woman of about mid-thirties was running toward him, behind her five or six creatures we’re giving chase. Pushing the radio into his pants pocket he raced toward the women’s defense. He didn’t stop running as he hefted the axe back and flung it at the one closest to the women. It embedded itself deep into the skull of the creature a spray of black blood misted out behind the wound, causing the creature to stagger before falling hard onto the sidewalk. While the woman raced past him toward the parked car, he lifted his left hand up and caught another of the monster’s, which had leapt at him, by the throat. His claws dug into the soft tissue and ripped out the spinal cord the black clotted blood stained his fingers an ugly maroon brown color, but he didn’t pause to think about it. Flinging the creature at another one he slammed his right foot into the chest of a third, feeling the cracking of ribs and spinal cord and the fragile bone structure caved underneath his superior strength. Snarling he grasped another creature’s head between his hands and crushed the skull and dropping it to the floor to allow the dark blood to ooze like dust onto the cement. He went after the last one that was chasing the women. Yet, it had turned and fled from him, having watched its siblings being torn down like flies, had caused it to flee, whether if it had felt the urge do so, coming from what is left of the once human mind, or because it did not wish to die just yet Thane did not know. Standing still for a few moments Thane took in the silent night air and the noiseless echoes of a once prospering town. Then he turned toward the woman who had scrambled into the police car and had shut the door. The woman was dressed in clothing that looked to have been surgical scrubs if not for the blood that was splattered all over it. Her dirty long blonde hair lay in tatters of blood and muck, fresh tears left clean streaks down her dirt and blood covered face as she wept openly in the squad car. Head leaning against the steering wheel of the vehicle as she let her tears of fear and relief go. Thane let her weep for a few more seconds before he knocked on the window of the car. She jumped screaming, startled by the sudden noise that broke the peace of her

mind. Looking around wildly she finally notices she is not alone.

Chapter Eleven

BREAK OUT BEGAN…

The lead doctor crashed out the door as the nurse was pulled onto the subject’s chest, she didn’t want to stay behind and find out what happened. The other nurse’s called out to her for help, but she didn’t bother to even turn around and find out what the results were. More screams echoed into the empty hallway as the doctor raced down the corridor toward the entrance of the building. She heard rushing feet behind her, but she didn’t dare look to see who was chasing her. Bursting through the doors she spotted one of the military grade jeeps parked not far away, and raced toward it. The driver must have gotten out to take a break, but she didn’t bother waiting. She hopped into the car and locked the doors. Behind her the driver yelled out, “Hey, wait… Ma’am” and started toward the vehicle. Behind the driver the subject loomed and launched himself at the guard. Bringing the man down screaming as the subject bit into his face, pulling off chunks of flesh. The doctor stared wide eyed at the scene before shifting gears into drive and blasting from the area, heading toward the small town that lay below the mountain facility. Not once did the doctor look behind her, she hoped that she would be able to make it out of the town and area before the military even heard about the incident. She drove as fast as she dared down the main road, swerving around the bends kicking up dust and causing the back tires to skid on the gravel. Sweat was starting to bead up and roll down her brow and face, dampening her scrubs that she wore. She didn’t start to feel like she had made it to safety until she saw the paved road ahead of her. Yet her sigh of relief was short lived, already the blockade was being formed and drivers were being turned around to head back into the town or away from it. The highway didn’t through the heart of the town but continued in a long way around the mountain ranges, forcing those who were aiming to leave to turn

back on the narrow road to head back into the town. The ones trying to get off had to turn around and get back onto the highway. The doctor paused and then turned the jeep around and started toward the town, she might be able to go out on a small back road if she moved swiftly enough. Checking the gas gage she noticed that she only had a little bit of fuel, hopefully it would be enough to get out of dodge with, she could fill up after she was safe. Gunning the engine she sped into the town, but at every turn off to the dirt roads she found blockades. The military must have been watching far more closely than she had thought previously. The jeep started to sputter, gas was almost completely gone, so she parked in one of the old dark alley ways and climbed into the back, shifting objects around in the hopes of finding something, anything useful as a weapon. Nothing. Becoming frustrated she grabbed the phone attached to the dashboard and dialed a set of numbers that would reach her husband. The phone went to voicemail, “This is Dr. Stephen Stone, and I am not in right now. At the sound of the tone please leave a message and I will get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you! Beep!” “Damn it Stephen, I need you. Where the Fuck are you, I didn’t go through all the trouble of marrying you just to have you flake on me now, Bastard. Daddy will hear of this!” the doctor cried into the phone, hoping that her husband would pick up from the threat alone. She hung up when it became apparent that Stephen was not going to answer the phone. Flinging the phone away from her, she looked out at the dark alley way and shuddered. Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to park here after all. She thought looking at the darkness that surrounded her. Just then a squad car drove by and stopped. The sheriff getting out of the car to come up and flash his lights into the alley, brushing over the jeep’s hood and stopping. The doctor got out, visibly shaking from the terror of what had transpired in the short few hours. “Ma’am what are you doing here?” the sheriff asked stepping forward, reaching into her scrub pockets the doctor felt the sharp object of the scalpel that she had placed in there hours before hands. She had forgotten all about it. She breathed in deeply feeling more in control of the events now that she had something of her trade in her hands. “I must have gotten lost somewhere, what with all the commotion going on” she looked around and brought her arms up to wrap around her shoulders to pretend to being cold. “Do you know what is going on?” She inquired stepping forward

toward him. “No ma’am I do not, the damn military are stating it’s a chemical spill or something, but they are not allowing anyone through.” The sheriff confirmed as he lowered his light down. At this time the doctor and the sheriff are standing close together looking at each other. “Are you cold miss?” the sheriff inquired, “I might have a blanket in the car.” Turning he headed toward the vehicle, and at the same time screams started to echo in the darkened skies. “What in the holy hell?” the sheriff demanded heading toward the streets. “Don’t go!” the doctor stated racing up to him to pull at the man’s arm. “You can’t help those people now, they are as good as dead. I need you to keep me safe and get me out of this town.” She stated, her urgency becoming clear in her voice. “Ma’am, you expect me to just drop all of what I am to just save one person?” the sheriff demanded trying to pry the doctor off of him. “Yes, damn you yes!” the doctor confirmed holding on even tighter. “I cannot and will not do that.” The sheriff claimed, using his strength and size to push the doctor away from him. He then started toward the main street, which lead toward the turn off for the highway. The doctor snarled and started after him intent on using force if necessary to get her way. Just then a person comes staggering into the street, clothes ripped and blood covered and black ooze spilling from their mouths. “Mother of …” the sheriff didn’t finish the curse as he drew the side arm and opened fire, three rounds hitting into the man’s upper chest in a close cluster of wounds, but the man still kept going forward. The sheriff emptied the rest of the pistol rounds into the man’s chest, and when that didn’t work; he then turned and ran back toward his car, opening up and sitting in the driver’s seat, he was aiming for the shotgun that was situated in the enger seat side. Yet he never managed to pry it out of the locked harness before the man and several other people all dripping the same black ooze fell upon him. His screams filled the small street, and the doctor fled back into the alley aiming for the other street and further away from these monsters. She used evasion, pulling away and ripping clothes in the process. Sometimes slipping and falling onto the dirty ground. She shoved other people that were

running alongside her onto the ground, allowing for the creatures to leap upon the downed prey instead of chasing after her. She had no sense of morals or concept of humanity within her. Everyone could die for all she cared, the only one she cared about was herself and her project.

Chapter Twelve

A COUPLE OF HOURS AFTER THE BREAKOUT…

Alarms were blaring all over the compound, Dr. Stone ignored them. More concerned with watching the troops being deployed out to the contamination zone. Large squadrons of tanks and armored cars rolled away from headquarters. He stayed behind with the rest of the men, but he hoped they could find out what the cause of the alarms were about. He strode back to his office and dropped his cellphone down upon his desk, before heading to one of his laboratories. He was working on time sensitive experiments which needed to be constantly watched, so he had no need of looking at his cellphone. It would only be a distraction to him anyways. The long corridors were bright and white, the lights shining and reflecting off of the white surfaces and shiny tiled floors. To any curious onlooker it would look like the sterile halls and rooms of any hospital, but those that were in on what was going on in this area. They would know that these halls and rooms contained creatures, monsters that were created for military purposes. Or for the cruel notions of the scientists. Dr. Stone felt no remorse, but at times his head pained him so much that he felt that he suffered from dual personalities. One side hated what he did and yet the other side rejoiced in the pain that he caused. Stone never thought over the pain of the headaches, just continued with his job. He entered into his lab, and pulled on a pair of disposable gloves before he turned to the creature that was chained to the lab table. The monster jerked and snarled at the doctor, but he had no sympathy for it. He picked up a scalpel and sliced into the creature’s side. The monster screamed in pain, loud and long. A keening cry of hurt, which was left unheeded by the man carving into him. Dr. Stone took a skin sample and rolled his chair over to the microscope to see what had changed during his last injection of DNA into the monster.

The sound of more soldiers hurrying past his lab distracted him from the blood cells swimming in his microscope. He rose and left the lab, stopping an officer who was running past to find out what was going on. “What has happened that is drawing the troops out in such a hurry?” Dr. Stone inquired to the officer. The officer stared at the doctor for a moment before answering his question. “There was a security breach in Dr. Stone’s labs, one of her test subjects broke free and has contaminated the entire zone of the boxed mountain range. We have been ordered to cut off all exit routes and stop anyone from leaving or entering into the area. That includes Dr. Stone herself as well.” The officer shifted back and forth on his feet, his right hand dropped down to his side arm. Dr. Stone noted with a smirk of power the fear that the soldier was feeling directed at him. “You say she is trapped inside with a possible escaped monster on the loose?” Dr. Stone inquired before waving the man away from him. His brain storming with ideas and possibilities of what his wife could be going through. He whirled around and headed back into his labs. He wouldn’t be worrying about it much. If she died, then she died. If she lived, then she lived. Either way he could care less. He went back to his microscope, his curiosity eased by the knowledge given to him already. He cared little about his wife or any of the lives that were at stake, all he cared about was his own creations, and the money being funded to him for creating them. The officer exited the compound and found his friends waiting for him with the rest of the troops. One of them he knew to be his friend Cane, the man was tall and slender, being made of bones and skin with very little muscles and fat. Yet, Cane was very loyal to him and for that the officer was grateful. Both men were very weary of what was going on behind the closed labs that the doctors were working behind, but both knew better than to ask questions. The officer nodded and gave the order to gear up and roll out. The men climbed into the vehicles waiting to pull out of the compound and then sat eager to follow orders. The trip to the town was only a half hour the troops disembarked from the vehicles and started to set up road blockers, the troops that were already there had already made a large dent in detaining the people from leaving. Smoking and flaming cars sat in lines down the road. People lay dead amongst the carnage, some that had not died from the bullets raining across their path groaned and moaned from their fallen position upon the ground. Cane and another soldier paused and took stock of the carnage before them. They could

not understand why they were firing upon the very people that they had taken oaths to defend. The officer shouted at them and both soldiers jumped into action, helping to lift the road blockers and move them into position. Cane stood by the road blockers, keeping watch over the carnage, he felt that what they were doing here was wrong. Yet he knew better than to try to stand up to his betters. They would only use him as a ‘volunteer’ for their experiments. He shuddered and looked up at the sky, the temperature was starting to drop. His last look at the forecast foretold of a coming snowstorm heading in. He hoped the storm waited until this fiasco has been dealt with before it struck, but he could not help but think he and the others who aided in this mad mess deserved nature’s wrath. The officers came and went from every post making sure that every soldier knew there job, and what was at stake if they were to fail at it. Cane shuddered, He had a few run in’s with both Dr. Stones, he never wished to be a part of their test subjects. Both seem to always be drawn to him. He recalled the first time he ran into the female doctor. She had stopped on her way her lab, eyes gleaming with a hint of insanity. She had called for him to step out of the room he was in. He did so, and stood in front of her. Her dainty height should have made him feel at ease with her presence, but he felt scared of her. She had placed her hands upon his chest, even went so far as to unbutton his shirt and lift up his undershirt to look at his stomach and smooth hairless chest. He was very thin, his muscles more wiry than the other soldiers. Yet he wasn’t weak, he could lift twice those of his own platoon. He just never put on weight, or fat. He never had the bulging muscles like the other men. On top of being thin he was pale in skin tone almost snow white with transparent skin. Just looking closely enough you could see his muscles underneath his skin. His buddies in his platoon called him albino because he was, his eyes were not the common red like other albino’s but a very bright almost cat like green. His hair on the other hand was platinum blonde so white that people can see his skull when he got his crew cut. Dr. Stone seemed intrigued by his rarity, and for that he was nervous around her. She ran her hands up and down his chest to the stomach and even over his light happy trail. She even pulled some of the hair out, causing him to jerk backwards. She lifted her gaze to his and smiled, “You have very beautiful skin.” She claimed, pocketing his hair into a small baggy. The white hair’s so fine that they were almost invisible in the bag. Cane looked down at her, and shifted his stance. He didn’t know what to say to that. “I would love to be able to see how

your genetics were made up from. Do you think you would volunteer so I can take a peek?” She pushed her lips together in a pout, and smoother her hands across his chest so her long manicured nails were on display and pushed against his smooth upper body. “No ma’am I wouldn’t” Cane told her after a few minutes of silence. The doctor’s face went from flirtatious to dangerous, her nails raked down his chest and he gasped and stepped backwards, blood swelling from the ten gouges on his upper body. He lifted his head back to her as she looked at her nails with a smug smile. “I know how you boys like to be treated, Sweety. Don’t you worry, sooner or later you will end up as my subject. I can wait until then, but for now your blood and hair samples should do.” Dr. Gloria Stone turned and walked down the hallway to her labs, humming a tune to herself, being careful not to further contaminate the blood under her fingernails. Cane watched her go with a shudder, he hoped he would never run into her again. Yet, luck was never on his side, when he got transferred to the other facility her husband was just as crazy as she was. He called out to Cane when he was walking away from his post, stopped him and walked around him. His eyes always taking in the other’s appearance. He also unbuttoned Cane’s shirt, but he had to peal the bandage off of Cane’s chest to get a better look at the man’s body. “My wife appears to not have the function capable of playing nice with her toys, I am afraid you would be better off being my subject than her’s, wouldn’t you agree?. “Dr. Stone stated, lifting his dead eyes up to look at the other man in the eyes. “Your eyes are quite unusual for your genetic makeup, tell me are you full albino or just a little bit?” “I believe, that is none of your business, sir.” Cane answered stepping away from him and fixing his uniform. Before he could continue on his way, Dr. Stone grabbed him by his arms and smashed him backwards into the wall, leaning forward to hiss into his ear. “It is my business boy, you belong to me while you reside in this compound. So play nice, or I will make your life here a living hell.” Dr. Stone stepped back, straightened his lab coat and started walking away from Cane. Cane watched him go feeling very scared and small, even though he was taller than both

doctors. When he brought this up with his friend, the officer laughed and called him a poor smock. Told him that he would say not to worry, but with those crazy doctors that Cane should look into being transferred to another area. Yet, when Cane tried he was told that he was not allowed to be transferred. When he asked why he was told that Dr. Stone had placed a hold on him, and the only way for him to be transferred now, is if Dr. Stone removes his hold on him. Cane was trapped within the confines of the compound, and this little outbreak was the first time he was allowed outside of the compound in months. The first few times he tried to leave on his off days he was detained and told he couldn’t leave the compound unless he had permission from Dr. Stone. Dr. Stone had made Cane one of his subjects, and even though he was not using him at the moment for any experiments, Stone was the one to decide if Cane was allowed outside of the compound. He was stuck within until further notice. While the situation with the outbreak was bad, Cane couldn’t help but feel grateful for the chance to get away from the compound, but at the same time he was feeling guilty for feeling grateful. His other friend smacked him and pointed to an approaching car, Cane had thought that everyone in the town was already dead. Yet here was proof that humans were stronger than most would give credit too. Cane and the other soldier loaded their guns and took aim, but the car stopped just out of range and sat idle for a few minutes before the vehicle turned around and started back toward the town. “Wow, those guys knew they were not getting out this way, you think they will try another path?” Cane’s buddy asked lowering the automatic down, Cane shrugged. He wouldn’t put any thought into what was going on, or even into what the people were thinking at the moment. He just hopped that they made it to the next day.

Chapter Thirteen

FIVE HOURS AFTER BREAK OUT…

The doctor hid in trashcans and other areas, always going around in circles because she didn’t fully know her way around. Each full lap she made, ended with her screaming in frustration and always drawing more of her creations after her. Now she was running as fast as she could, having lost her heels a while back her bare feet smacked painfully onto the pavement of the town. Her breath was coming in wheezing gasps and she was starting to slow down. Twice she had almost been grabbed, those claw like fingers tearing more fabric and skin instead of hooking into her flesh. She sobbed, tears smearing clean streaks down her dirty face. She was going to die here. She was going to die here without the glory and fame that she had so desperately dreamed of. She tripped and fell again, laying sprawled across the pavement waiting for those things to catch up to her and start feasting upon her flesh and blood. Silence broken only by the sound of her own heavy breathing. Her own heavy breath and the creatures gaining on her. The sounds echoed finally to be broken by something new. The sound of an engine of a car slowly moving in the main street. Lifting her head she looked toward where she thought the sound was coming from, was it the military finally coming in to save her. She looked behind her at the monsters and then struggled to her feet and started to run toward the sound. Tires squealing to a halt and the sound of a door opening and closing, caused the doctor to put on more speed. She rounded the corner of the building and started toward the police car, the six monsters chasing her. She prayed that she made it. Standing next the squad car was a tall, dark skinned, dark haired man. He raised his arm and threw an axe that whooshed ed her cutting some strands of her hair as hit went by, and embedded into the skull of one of her creations. She cried out at the loss, but knew it was necessary to allow herself to live. The man moved ed her in a smooth movement like water over stone. Catching the

closet creature and ripping out its throat before moving onward. She climbed into the squad car, grimacing in disgust at the entrails and blood left behind, and slammed the door shut. If the man won he can retrieve her himself, if he lost then she was still safe and could wait until the creatures were eating him to make another dash for the other car. She watched as the man easily handled the six creatures, muscles rippling smoothly beneath skin. His bare hands covered in black goo and razor sharp claws. She shuddered what sort of creature was he, which could put fear into her own creations. Such fear that would override their own instincts to kill. She didn’t know what he was, but she wanted him. Her mouth watered with the thought of all the things she could accomplish with him. Her husband could be obsolete, he no longer used his useless ability anyways because he no longer knew how to use it. She could get rid of him and have this man as her own. She shivered at the thoughts of power, glory, and fame ran through her mind. She could upgrade her creatures using his blood, and they would be unstoppable. She watched as the man rose to his full height and towered over everything, a living breathing god. She crooned softly to herself, she always did have a thing for tall, dark, and mysterious. She stared as he turned around and came back to the car, she had to duck her head in order to reorganize her facial expressions. It wouldn’t do to give her plotting scheme up so soon. He came up to her side of the car and she acted afraid, calling forth fake tears as she cried, he seemed hesitant to try to get her attention. Seemed to be waiting, allowed for minutes to before he knocked on her window. She screamed, actually startled by the noise because he had waited so long to do so. She opened up the door, babbling nonsense to him. Then allowed for him to take her by the arm and lead her to the other vehicle. She smiled to herself as she placed her other hand upon his chest, feeling the heavy muscles that he had. Mmmmm, yes. He will do nicely. She might even decide to keep him afterwards. Upon closer examination of the man she realized that he seemed awfully familiar to her. She pondered the thought and then realized why he looked so familiar to her. He was one of the two giants in the picture with her great grandfather. She glanced up underneath her lashes and looked at his face. She thought he was sexy beforehand, in a rugged warrior type of way, but knowing who he was and what he represented to her now. He has become absolutely heavenly. She would have to keep him in the lab, but she could still have her fun with him as well.

Chapter Fourteen

“Thank God, Thank God, Thank God… please tell me you are the military… please, please, please…” her voice died down as she noticed the clothing that he was wearing. Her face losing any of the color that it had gained during her short chant. “No, I am not the military. Though I am willing to help you if you require it?” Thane stated, “But first you will have to get out of the car!” Thane looked back at the rest of the survivors who were looking out of the other vehicle’s windows with a nervous curiosity. The woman nodded with a soft sob, slowly unlocking the car and opening the door, she rose out of the vehicle. “Please, you have to understand, it was an experiment, no one was supposed to get hurt, and it wasn’t sup- su- supposed to end like this. Please, you have to believe me!” the woman stated, tears streaming down her face as she wrung her hands in a dirty tissue, which she had pulled from her pants pocket. Thane nodded, putting a hand on one of her arms to lead her to the other vehicle, she laid her other hand upon his chest, and he did nothing to discourage her. “I understand, ma’am it was an accident, no need to be hysteric. Please calm down. That is it, just sit down in here and relax; once we leave here we will be just fine. You’ll see.” Thane encouraged as he too got back into the vehicle. John started the car up again, pulling slowly out of the area and into the turn off for the highway. “Hey, Mom are we there yet?” Haden asked looking up at his mom, all the other engers turned and glared at the teen, who smiled innocently at them. John grinned and answered back. “Glad you still have your sense of humor son, but no we are not there yet!” They continued on slowly ing around cars that were covered in gore, the teen and child watched in melancholy at all the lives that would never be. Tears ran down Madeline’s cheeks and she buried her head into Haden’s chest. Haden tightened his grip on her, and his mom placed an arm around them both, pulling them into her side. Kim sat with Marcus and David in the back, both ing the injured

man. Kim spoke up fast. “We need help, David has stopped breathing, something is wong!” Kim shifted and started trying to feel for a pulse on David. Marcus also was working on bringing David back to life. The car came to a stop and Thane got out, reaching into the car he pulled out the doctor. “Help him!” Thane demanded, the doctor shook her head. “I can’t, he is already dead, just leave him.” She stated jerking free from the tall man and getting back into the car. Madeline started crying, her sobs echoed in the car. Everyone else sat stunned by the doctor’s hostility at them. “He is breathing” Marcus exclaimed as David took in a large lung full of air, and then started to cough up blood. “His wound has gotten worse, I don’t think he can make it for much longer” Marcus stated looking up at Thane, helplessly. “Move over” Thane stated as he climbed into the bed of the SUV the car shook from his weight, and pulled David toward him, he lifted up one of David’s arms and looked up at Kim and Marcus. “This is the only way I know how to save him.” Kim and Marcus nodded as did the other except for the doctor who snorted and looked toward the road. “Make it quick then because we have to go.” She snarled. “Do it then.” Marcus continued. Thane nodded then bit into the arm, blood bubbled out of the wound and dripped down Thane’s chin. Staining his shirt. David gasped eyes snapping open and gazing up at him. Thane pulled away carefully, and David reached up to grasp his arm. “I didn’t want to say anything beforehand….” David whispered coughing up more blood. “But you are wearing my pants!” Thane looked down at David unamused at the comment. David continued “Does this mean I get to bite you later?” He was grinning, showing off blood stained teeth. “Yes, if you survive, then I will allow you to bite me later!” Thane agreed. David nodded. “Then it’s a date.” He murmured before falling unconscious again. Thane nodded and then got back out of the car and retook his seat in the enger side. The car started up and they continued forward until they hit a blockade of armed

troops standing at about a hundred feet or more ahead of them. John and the others looked toward Thane; the women broke down crying once, more, chanting over and over that it wasn’t supposed to end like this. Thane looked back at the troops; all the guns trained upon the vehicle, then at all the vehicles smoking and riddled with bullet holes. Looking back toward the town he speculated that the other roads had troops blocking the exits as well. There was only one way then… Sighing, he looked down at the two way radio he had jacked from the police car. “Do any of you know a place that can be well defended until sunrise?” Thane inquired looking back toward all the others. “There is an old house that is boarded up, while the house wouldn’t be a good idea, the cellar might be the best bet, only one way in, the people who used to live there built it in case of the nuclear bombs that were such a scare in the 1950’s, reinforced doors, and all that and it is not far from here!” This was said by Kate, her eyes never leaving the troops that lined the highway. John nodded, he knew what place she was talking about, and looking at Thane’s nod of approval he turned the vehicle around and headed back into town and away from the safety of freedom. The troops slowly lowered their weapons and looking at each other watched as the tail lights of the vehicle disappeared in the darkness. One of the troops asked the man next to him, “Do you think they will make it?” “No, the creatures will get to them, before sunrise!” “I don’t know, Sunrise is only a few hours away, once the sun comes up, the creatures will turn to ash, the virus would have run its course and maybe, just maybe, they would make it.” “I wouldn’t put too much hope in that faith, this is the town that heaven forgot.” After that the conversation switched over toward more interesting things, as they watched the border for anymore would be infected.

Chapter Fifteen

John pulled up to the old house, his wife reached into her purse to pull out the keys, “I am a real-estate agent and this house is one of the few that has never sold!” Kate said as she and the others filed out of the car. Thane kept and open eye out for any of the creatures, his eyes and ears and nose keeping up with all the new scents, scenes, and noise that filtered in and out of his field of range. They made it a few steps before Kate motioned them to stop and kneeling she opened up the cast iron gate of hidden door, and descended into the darkness below. John carrying David followed by the others descended into the darkness, Marcus holding his flashlight for the others to see. Madeline once again being carried by Thane, the blankets from the hospital keep her warm from the cold mountain air. Kate stopped at the threshold of the cellar’s inner doors fiddled with the keys then opened it, stepping aside she allowed all the other to enter in before she followed them, shutting the door behind her and placing the bar on the slots to keep the door locked from within. She flicked on a generator which in turn started up lights, TVs that proved to be video cameras set up around the house and cellar doors. “This cellar has bathrooms, running w-w-w-water, electricity, its own generator, etc. I keep enough fuel in here to last for a couple of days so we should be good until morning.” Kate stated looking around the area and pulling stuff down to help ease her nerves. Thane nodded sitting down he fiddled with the radio for a few minutes until the sound of advancing footfalls caused him to lift his head and look at the TV screen. There in black and white a small army of what was left of the town that had been infected stood, milling around the cellar door. In the lead was the creature that had fled from being killed by Thane during the small street skirmish. Thane stood up and moved to the TV alerting all the others that something was up. They soon crowded the small table as well. “What do you think they are doing?” David asked looking at the creatures as they seemed to be waiting for something.

“Retribution!” Thane said, causing everyone to look at him. “Why? Because you killed some of its fwiends, do you think it will be thewe in the mowning?” Kim asked, her eyes looking at the beasts as they swarmed around the entrance to the outer part of the cellar. “It will be dead by then, the virus in its bloodstream wasn’t designed to last that long. But it is looking for a fight that is what they are programmed to do, track an enemy and kkkkill it.” The woman stated covering her face with her hands, as she started to sob once more. Thane looked back at the TV screen, his decision was made. If the creatures wanted a fight then a fight they will get. He stood up and handing his bag over to Madeline he knelt down in front of her and told her. “I will be gone for a few hours, okay; I want you to continue being my big girl and keep a watch over my stuff. In the morning I will be taking you and the rest of these people with me to Yellowstone, do you think you can wait that long?” Thane asked looking Madeline in her eyes. “Yes, are you going to leave me alone mister Wulfman because you promised you wouldn’t?” Madeline stated, tears starting to form in her eyes as she clung to Thanes neck. Thane buried his nose into Madeline’s hair and breathed deeply. “No, my cub! I did promise never to leave you alone, I will return, sure as the sun will rise, I will return. But for now I want you to stay with the rest of our little family and keep your friend Haden over there company, he hurt his arm and is feeling sleepy. And David over there is also in pain, so can you be a big girl and nurse the two boys back to health for me, while I go kick some bad monster butt?” Thane inquired, Madeline responded with a watery smile and a small nod of her head, her pigtails swinging wildly around her small ears. “That’s my girl!” “You can’t go out there, there are too many of them. You won’t win” Marcus stated. Standing up with difficulty, “I am going with you I can lend some cover fire at least.” He proclaimed patting his side arm with shaking hands. “No, you stay here; if I don’t come back it will be up to you to take them to Yellowstone. Find a man named Beo, tell him Thane Wulf sent you and he will take care of you guys from there. He will take you to a small town in Canada called Refuge, it is where I am from, you have no need to fear. The people there will be nice and they are all friendly.” Thane nodded to Madeline who was tending to Haden and David, having both lying on couches that had been placed

in here years ago. “Take care of my cub, Kim. Kate you watch over John and Haden make sure the kid gets a proper education, he is smart. Marcus you watch over David, he is bright, just not that observant at times.” Thane squared his shoulders, before removing his jacket and shoes, and pulling his shirt over his head and folding it, placed it down on the table. He turned and picked up his axe, looking up at the clock in about one more hour the sun would rise and the virus would be gone. I just needed to give the humans just one more hour. Turning he headed toward the door, lifting up the bar he turned and looked at the woman and the rest of his pack. Smiling at them he turned on last time to Kate. “Put the bar in place after I am gone.” And with that he slipped out the door and into the darkness. The woman let loose another sob and before anyone could stop her, she had ripped the handgun from Marcus and had raced out the door and after Thane. Marcus cried out, but they were not fast enough to slam the door with her inside. She slipped out past them and raced into the darkness of the hallway. “Come back, you crazy…” “John!” The sharp command stopped John from finishing what he had to say, as he turned back to his wife, helplessly. “She chose which bed she wishes to lay in, now all we can do is hope that she doesn’t bring Thane or any of us with her.” Kate stated firmly, she had pulled Haden and Madeline close to her when she stated this. John nodded weakly, but turned his head to look back at the closed heavy doors. “Thane wanted us to lock up, so please. Lock up.” Kate whispered out now. John nodded his head, and lifted the heavy two by four up and into the slot. He had a sick feeling in his stomach, that felt like he would throw up at any minute, and the feeling had nothing to do with him becoming sick. He felt like they had let Thane down, he was out there keeping them safe, and what did they do. They allowed a crazy hag to run out armed with a gun to defend her monsters, while Thane fought to defend them. John could feel the sour taste within his mouth, but there was nothing he can do about it. He turned around and saw that his son Haden had moved forward until he was in front of his dad. John paused, and his son through his arms around him. Tears finally rolling down his freckled cheeks. “Oh, son, don’t cry. Thane will be just fine out there!” John stated, hoping that the lies coming out of his mouth would be true. John ushered Haden over to a couch that was unoccupied by David, who was still unconscious. The boy upon

sitting down grabbed onto an overstuffed pillow with his good arm. The others in the room seemed to be having just as much problems with the woman running out the door, as John and Haden were. Madeline stood by David’s side, clutching Thane’s book bag and jacket close to her chest. The jacket dragged on the floor, being far too large for Madeline’s small body. Yet the child didn’t let go of it. Big fat tears rolled down her cheeks, smearing the dried blood further before landing upon the ripped up leather jacket. Kim sat in one of the folding chairs, her own face smeared with mascara, dried blood, tears, and snot. Her outfit was ripped and dirty, covered in drying blood and dirt. She had her head bowed trying to cover up the fact that she was crying, the strain of the night coming to a point and overflowing. Kate went over to her and kneeling on the concrete floor wrapped her arms around the other woman. Kim took in a stuttering gasp of breath before turning and burying her face into Kate’s shoulder. John went over and wrapped his arms around both women, pulling them into his chest. Madeline was beckoned over, but she had already stumbled over to Marcus and climbed into his lap. Marcus pulled her closer to him, hugging her tightly to his chest. Both of them quietly watched the television to see what would happen next. They were ed by Kim, Kate, and John, all who were waiting for the final moment of the night to come to an end. Dawn was fast approaching and in a few minutes tops the sun will begin to be peaking out over the mountain tops.

Chapter Sixteen

BREAK OUT AT THE END… WILL THE LEADER OF THE GANG PLEASE STAND UP!

The subject moved in front of the others, mouth gaping and spewing black ooze with every breath he took. The plan he had worked out had not gone as smoothly as he had hoped. Something or someone had stopped him. The man who opposed him was different than the others. There was something dangerous and scary about him. The subject had followed behind him when he had walked through the hospital, and had watched as he had taken on the others and won. There was something not human about the man, but the subject could not quit put a finger on what it was. They had followed behind the man and rest of the group when they had pulled away. Able to track them through the means of blood and scent of fear. They had followed them through the town and toward the barricade. When they had tried to get ed they had been shot at, so they had turned around and followed the group toward the house. Now they waited, milling around, squirming in one place like millions of cockroaches crammed into a little box. They didn’t have to wait for long when a beast stepped from the shadows of the metal doors. Teeth glistening in the moonlit night and eyes glowing gold. The creature flicked it’s ears forward and then pulled them back. Lips curled upward and a deep low rumble started deep in the monster’s gut and fell from between razor sharp edges of white. The subject edged away a little bit, but the others pushed him forward once again, and he gained courage by the mass numbers in which they held. ‘Not even the monster would be able to defeat them with their numbers.’ The subject thought, glancing back toward the massive beast. Black fur stood out in stark contrast to the white and gold, clawed tipped fingers spread wide, and the monster howled a challenge. The infected moved back a little, as the monster spread his legs further apart and roared at them. Fear was programmed into them, had been from the start. Yet,

also programmed into them was the need to kill. They swarmed forward and converged onto the monster. Claws dug into their flesh, ripping and tearing them apart. As a swarm the subject or Queen could feel every tear and pain caused by the monster into the mass of infected. Every death that swept over him, filled the subject with more rage. He deserved to kill everyone here, why could this beast not understand. It was his right as Queen too kill and take. This dumb monster could not possibly fathom why it was his, nor could the subject fathom from whence this monstrosity had come from. He felt another one of his swarm meet a bitter end. The monster seemed immune to the black ooze that pulsed from the infected. The ooze upon with the monster’s saliva or fur twisted away as if burned, the creatures pulled back as well. Almost feeling the heat of lava or fire or even the sun upon them. As the monster’s presence warred with the natural programming that was within each creature. The queen pulled back and started to slink further way. Glancing down at his hands to notice burns were appearing from where he had touched the beast. He took stock that those that had suffered the wrath of the creature were slowly smoldering beneath the damages. The ooze was not protecting them anymore. A shot rang out and the beast howled in pain, blood sprayed across fresh and hot upon the creatures. They ignored the burning sensation to reach into the wound and tear, pulling fur free of flesh. They crowded and fell upon the creature and piled upon him. Covering him completely, the queen lifted his gaze to stare at the doctor for which had made him. He lifted his decaying lip up and bared teeth at her. She had won no mercy from them. She would still feel the wrath of the legion. Groans and wails caught the queen’s attention once more, the beast was ri. How? Why? The monster should have been defeated, he was covered by them. How could he rise amongst them? The Queen staggered back putting distance between him and the other monster. The woman was stating things, the queen could no longer understand. The monster barely regarded the others before leaping at the woman, who had raised her gun once more. Another shot rang out at the same time the monster’s jaws closed with a crunch upon her head. Blood and brain matter spilled onto the ground, and both dropped down upon the earth.

The creatures lifted their gaze as the peak of sunlight filtered across their vision. The queen looked back toward the dead monster and resigned his fate to death. The monster had been noble and well defended of his people. The creature thought, once he had been that way too. He felt the black ooze beginning to turn to ash within his blood, felt as the others started to burn within the rays of light. Maybe, they were just not meant to be. The world already had one monster and was probably not ready for any others to come into its making. The Creature lifted his gaze up toward the rising sun and allowed for his body to turn to ash beneath the fires of heaven. He was embraced by darkness and knew no more.

Chapter Seventeen

BREAK OUT AT AN END… ALL CREATURES PLEASE RETURN TO THE ASHES

In the hallway leading up the entrance to the outside world, Thane stopped. Took a deep breath in and released his full inner wolf out into the realm of the humans. A snarl shook the silence of the air, causing the nevermores to lift their heads and gaze around. The self-proclaimed leader had become sluggish as had all the others. Almost as if the black goop of blood that pumped through their system wasn’t fully reaching its destination. Another snarl, then a streak of black erupted out of the hole that they had all gathered around. The black streak landed not far from them, rising well over all of their heads, the other beast through back its head and howled at the fading moon. Fur, long thick black fur covered the other beings body, the lead creature took note how it seemed to shimmer in the waning moonlight. Then the creature turned its head to face them. Large glowing eyes locked onto the creature’s eyes, and lips pulled back away from razor sharp teeth. A deep growl broke the peace, and the creatures lurched at the other, swarming him like a hive of bees. The massive wolf smashed his claws down and lashed into his opponents black ash like blood flew in misting sprays across dark fur, and the ax in the other hand swiped heads from shoulders. More swarmed him, almost covering his entire body with theirs. They had mass numbers in their accessory but Thane had the strength of an Alpha wolf defending his pack, in his. Teeth and jaws crushed bones and pulled the nevermores apart. Feet smashed skulls and crushed pelvic bones and chest cavities. More blood sprayed out. His fur was being ripped and sliced, so ing the black spray of ash was dark ruby liquid life. Howls of rage and anger echoed into the fray. As the ball of fighting monsters twisted and turned around each other. The doctor stayed hidden in the hallway watching as her creations were being destroyed in mass numbers by another monster, she felt anger and rage but at the same time awe at the power behind him. She wanted him in her lab, so that she

could take him apart and place him together to see how he ticked, how he functioned. He was amazing, and he was proving to be the better monster. She wanted to destroy him, and she wanted to create and own him. She slipped out of the corridor and pressed herself against the house, hoping to keep herself as far out of the fight as possible. Marcus and the others crowded the table watching the battle unfold before their eyes, then “Look there she is, against the house, she is against the house” and all looked to the spot, there. Blending up against the house was the woman, dirt and blood, and the hand gun clutched in her hand. She crept closer to the battling beasts, raised it up to arm level with both arms and fired. Everybody let loose an exclamation of shock, as the bullet whizzed into the jumble of creatures and struck Thane in the chest, causing him to stagger backwards. A howl of pain ripped from his muzzle, and the other creatures reached up digging finger bones into the punctured hole and trying to widen it by ripping out flesh from the wound. Crimson blood fell in large drops unto the ground beneath their feet. Before Thane crashed to the floor, under the pile of creatures. “That Bitch…” John yelled, rising from their positions to try and go aid their friend. Kim and Kate with the help of Marcus held him back. “What’s going on?” David exclaimed coming awake from his unconscious state, Madeline let loose a cry of agony and launched herself at David, who pulled her with a grimace of pain to him. Hanging onto her as she cried into his shoulder. “That Bitch just shot Thane…” John cried out, waving an arm at the television screen, David’s eyes widened and he looked toward the screen. “Look, he is getting up. Thane is getting up!” Haden shouted as he clutched onto a pillow with his one good arm, his eyes widened with shock and disbelief. The others rushed back to the table and before their eyes watched as the massive Werewolf rose back onto his feet, pushing and crushing creatures that got in his way. He bore several upon his back as he rose, and with a savage shake knocked them off of himself. Blood ran in a single river, falling into the earth, making mud and muck of the wolf’s life force. The creatures had backed away, unsure of what was going on, was the human against or for them. The situation was unclear, and they knew not which to trust. “It was an accident; it wasn’t supposed to be like this! They were

not supposed to know, my creations were supposed to live!” The woman lifted her gaze to the larger beast’s eyes, and he saw for the first time the signs of madness that would corrupt the most pure of humans, flash in her eyes. She was mad, and so he obliged her silent request to be put down. He lunged, clawed hands outstretched, and jaws opened wide. He closed his jaws with a sickening snap just as the woman pulled the trigger on the gun one last time, simultaneously the sun peaked over the neighboring mountain tops and the creations for which the mad woman was fighting for, collapsed all at once, gasping and clutching at themselves they slowly started to deteriorate as the virus died within. On the screen of the TV were the motionless figures sprawled across the yard, the only concern for those inside being the large furred beast and the dirty blonde woman lying in a pool of spreading blood. No one moved, then Madeline started to cry, “He promised me, he promised me…” her screams echoed in the dead silence of Thane’s death. No one had the heart to try to get her to stop her tears, no one bothered. As the last of the Nevermores turned to dust and were swept away in the breeze, the old man pushed the massive furred beast into the cellar and closed and locked the door, covering it with a small pile of earth. They left the dead body of the woman where she had fallen. Her throat and skull crushed by the massive jaws of nature and flesh hanging from the ravaged wounds left behind by massive teeth. She lay dead amongst the mud of what had once been liquid life. Getting into the car they headed out back and turned off onto the highway. On the way they ed the troops, that hours before had refused them age. Now they stood to the side and watched them go. The head officer having given the command to allow them to . The two troopers that had been talking just a couple hours before, watched until the tail lights disappeared in the gleam of the sun. “I told you there is hope, Heaven hasn’t forgotten us yet!” the first trooper stated, looking at the other. Who just shook his head in disbelief, before they were ordered to spread out and find any more survivors from the incident that had taken place! Cane stood watching as the tail lights soon vanished in the rising sun, his friend nudged him and he turned to look toward the quiet town. They had a lot of work

to do to cover up this little mishap. Cane sighed and followed the other soldiers down toward the town. He was glad his friend decided to allow the survivors through, although Cane worried about what Dr. Stone would say about the subject. Cane shuddered, he wouldn’t want to be in his friend’s shoes when the good doctor found out. Cane could just imagine the amount of hell that Dr. Stone would be able to cause with such information. He hoped that his friend had a backbone of steel because he was going to need it. He turned his attention back to the task at hand, head out toward the farm area where the survivors had last been seen. He and the other soldiers gave pause when they came upon the scene. There sprawled upon the dew covered grass was Dr. Gloria Stone, her skull was crushed and punctured in several areas. She was almost unrecognizable, except for the clothes that she wore. Those clothing were the only thing identifying the corpse to them. The place look like a battle zone had occurred, and Cane taking in the damage done to the earth felt that was exactly what happened. He looked at the bloody dirt, and the black ash like substance which marked the remains of the Nevermores. Something had gone down here, something that Dr. Stone had died in. Yet, what? Cane was unsure.

Chapter Eighteen

CAN’T KILL A WEREWOLF WITH A NORMAL BULLET HONEY!

Beo looked at the group of humans that stood before him, looking at the child that lay sleeping on a couch from exhaustion or sadness, he could not tell. The tale that they had told him caused the hair along the back of his neck to rise. The descriptions of the creatures matched those of others that have been making their way to Refuge. Beo looked intrigued at the idea that someone or even a group was making monsters in the hopes of using them for their own gain. Beo would have to think further into the concept and keep a more watchful eye out for those that would draw attention. Something told him, that one of those involved belongs to Refuge. Lately there had been many reports of disappearances from concerned families. The Stone household had lost a son to such a thing. He had been away at a university for biology and had gone missing soon after his graduation. Beo looked toward his brother’s son, Crow, who showed curiosity over the humans and the new member of the clan. Although he remained quiet having survived battles and suffered great loss in his young life. Losing his mother to war, Crow was very well established in human life and protection. He felt that if the humans just understood them, then they would not be so harsh to judge them as monsters. Both Beo and Thane disagreed in many ways to that argument, but allowed Crow to prosper under his ideas. “Tell me again, what has happened to my Beta, Thane Wulf?” Beo asked standing up to pace the wood cabin that stood just on the outskirts of Yellowstone. Marcus cleared his throat and spoke for the group. Because David was still recovering from his brush with death, and his changing. The group had been assured that because of the wolf venom flowing through his veins, David would not suffer under the effects of those that had been infected. One of the other of Beo’s pack seemed interested in the concept of why the wolf venom acted like acid with the infected DNA, causing the black ooze to move away or suffer from burning.

“He was shot and killed, protecting us from a mad scientist and her experiments, I was told by him to seek you out, and that you would take us in as you pack mates. That was his last request.” Marcus shared a look with the others from his group. His sadness was apparent even in the wrinkles of his face. Beo had questioned his brother’s sanity when he had opened the door and the humans had come tumbling in, but now watching as the human’s scents relayed sadness and melancholy Beo could understand the bond that had formed amongst the group. “You do not show any fear in knowing what Thane and I are? Why?” Beo asked, seeing that the group minus the child and the newly turned all looked at each other confused. It was Haden who responded, pushing his way forward to stand in front of his parents. “With all due respect, Thane is awesome, I mean. He is the coolest of the cool. If I could I would gladly, gladly be a part of his group no matter what. He saved my life, he saved my parents life. No one can place a price on how much that means to me.” Haden finished, stepping back as Beo rose up to his full height. “I am very sad that I… We never got to thank him for all that he did for my… For us.” Haden paused to look up at Beo, his eyes earnest in his honesty. Beo reached out and placed his hand upon the teen’s shoulders. “Maybe you will be able to tell him that when he gets back to Refuge.” His words caused the group to stir, Marcus looked unsure of his reply, so Beo continued on “How do you know he was shot and killed. Did the doctor use silver bullets?” Beo asked turning to look at Marcus, whose brow furrowed in confusion then looking up he stated. “NO, she didn’t. It was my gun, she didn’t use silver bullets.” Marcus looked up at Beo. Surprised at the question, yet it was Haden who answered it. “Because he is a werewolf, and only silver can kill a werewolf! He isn’t dead, Thane isn’t DEAD!” Haden cried out, waking Madeline up, she looked sleepily at Haden. “Who isn’t dead?” Madeline asked, sleep still evident in her tiny voice. “Thane, your Wolf-man isn’t dead!” David stated, his voice rising in his excitement and rising slightly from where he had been resting in a chair near Crow. Crow smiled and nodded, placing his hand out to steady the newly turn wolf. “He isn’t dead!” Beo leaned back a smirk filtering across his face as he

watched his Beta’s pack celebrate the renewal of hope. His one thought was that Thane better get here quick. Beo watched as Madeline rushed toward Crow, one of the oldest of her new brothers and sister and lifted her arms up, in a demand to be picked up. Crow unsure how to take this demand complied and lifted her to his hip, she wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face into his shirt. Beo suspected that there was more to the child then meets the eye, but he would have to wait until Thane returned before he asked any further questions. The girl was fast to accept change, but at the same time she threw her full trust into the that surrounded her. She was unique and for that Beo could not find fault with her. The troops were slow to remove the body of the female scientist. Her body was almost mangled beyond recognition; the only thing that identified her was her fingerprints. As the lights of the tail gates disappeared in the setting sun, the loose compact pile of earth shifted then rumbled and shot upward, as a clawed hand broke through the soil and started to claw its way out. A large skull, mouth open baring sharp fangs as drool slipped out of the muzzle. Glowing eyes raked the darkness around him, before lifting up to the moon. Thane howled, long and deep. Pausing only to listen to its echoes as it carried the distance. Then in the far off distance an answering call replied back, carried upon the cold breeze, the many voices of his pack and the sub packs that followed theirs. He started on his pathway home.

Part Two

HOMO DEMENS

Family

Sometimes it doesn’t take a scientist to find something that is needed, all one has to do is open their eyes and see what was missing from their lives. A fragile heart can break into a thousand pieces and never be replaced, yet as a unit, that heart can find glue, duct tape, and Velcro to help keep it all together. A unit moves and breaths as one but consist of many, as does most forests a massive formation of trees and all individuals. As they say, not one snowflake is ever the same.

Chapter Nineteen

Dr. Stephen stone took one last look at his wife’s mangled corpse, feeling the rage and hatred for whatever had done this to his beautiful and intelligent wife. His hand clutched the data pad that beeped with scientific data, then releasing his pent up frustration in a form of a heavy sigh, turned away from her corpse and stared down at the data pad in his hands. Saliva, blood, and fur had been collected from the scene that was the final resting place for his wife’s life project. It seemed all those “nevermores” had gathered there, but why, and for what purpose? The DNA testing came back with more questions than answers. Wolf DNA, but not just any wolf’s DNA but a wolf breed that was thought to have been extinct for centuries. What happened to the wolf, was it the cause of the undead gathering? Did it keep the sole survivors alive and why did it kill his wife? The questions swirled around in his mind as he moved away from his wife’s body and toward his desk and office. He had listened time and time again to his wife’s final message to him on his phone. He snorted at the idle threat she threw in about her father. Her father was not Stephen’s biggest fan, believing his daughter could do so much better than him. Stephen could care less what her father thought, more concerned about his wife’s creations being destroyed. He cared little for his wife, in some ways he could barely why he married her. Yet, when he thought too deeply on the matter he always came away with a deep pain in his head. One that would not go away for days. So he stopped trying to think about the time before he met and married her, the less pain attributed to his mind the better. It didn’t matter anymore anyways. The woman was dead and would no longer hold a point in his life anymore. He could focus on all the things he was not allowed to focus on before, but for now he needed answers to give her father. He needed to find the answers and the only way they were going to be found was by the survivors. Stephen took the long corridor down to his office, stopping once to place his keycard into the locking system, before turning the knob and entering into the dark office. Only lit by the one way windows that lined his far wall behind his desk. The window was an overview into another lab. Stephen looked out into the brightly lit area where one of the officers in charge of the

roadblock, was being tortured. The officer was being grilled on why he felt he had the authorization to allow the survivors to him? When they had been given strict orders on not allowing anything or anyone to until told otherwise. The man’s screams echoed and rebounded off of the laboratory walls. It wouldn’t matter if the man had an answer for them; he was still going to die. The door opened and in stepped the man who was funding all of the experiments. “Good evening Dr. Stone! I am sorry for your loss; I hope we can find the answers to what transpired that dreadful night?” The iral stated. Heading over to stand beside Stephen and looked down at the torture taking place below them. Stephen snorted; turning to face the iral as he spoke. “I very much agree with your sentiment iral Isaac King, but we should start on whose and not what is. I want those survivors found and brought to me. I want answers!” Stephen looked back at the scene playing out below, before hitting a button for the loud speaker. “I grow tired of his screaming, kill him!” The three men inside the lab had stopped at the first sound of Stone’s voice. Turning to look up at the windows, they nodded and one turned back toward the bloodied mass of muscles, for the flesh had been peeled slowly from the man’s body, and stepping forward he grasped the man’s blood covered skull and gave a sharp twist of the screaming man’s head. Snap, the screams stopped as did the man’s jerking movements. His eyes dimmed and faced, the three men turned and filed out of the room leaving behind the corpse. Isaac hummed as the silence became too deafening to bear anymore. Turning from the gory scene he looked toward Stone who had a cruel smirk stretched across his aristocratic features. Insanity bubbling just below the surface and for one shuddering second Isaac thought he would see it bubble over. However, Stephen seemed to recover quickly from his slip and also standing, straightened his lab coat and turned away from Isaac opening his office door looked once at the iral before stating. “Get me what I want, and I promise my work will be exceptional.” Then he motioned with his hand a formal if not rude dismissal to Isaac, who taking the hint turned on his heels in a sharp military movement and marched out the door and toward his waiting jeep.

Chapter Twenty

Thane was hunched over a fallen tree, coughing up what remained of the bullet. His muscles quivered as the cool breeze whispered across his naked shoulders. Claws dug into the decaying tree bark as Thane shifted, the sound of bones snapping and growing echoed across the silent night. The waning moon gleamed like the Cheshire cat throwing shadows across the night world. Thane threw back his head and howled, thick black fur fell in a hazardous array around the large mass of muscles. Thane dropped onto all fours before launching forward into a fast pace run. Trees, houses, roads flew by him, a blur of blacks, and colors all highlighted by the grinning moon. Deer, and other prey and predatory animals stayed clear of the running wolf. Jaws opened and tongue lolling out of the mouth as the beast’s breath wisped out of the open muzzle in giant clouds of hazy mist. It had been almost a week since Thane had awoken; his destination was a small town just bordering both Canada and the U.S. near Yellowstone. His packs were there waiting for him. Although, the mad doctor’s scent had caught him on a small detour toward what appeared to be a military base, hidden in the mountain ranges far above civilization. Tanks, jeeps, and troops could be seen from Thane’s vantage point high above in the trees. The faint sound of screaming echoed through the valley, the wind carrying along the scent of blood and death. Thane growled the sound rumbling deep in his throat and chest. Sliding down the tree, bark groaning under the sharp claws, Thane landed softly on the pine covered earth and crept closer toward the base. The guard dogs, having picked up the scent whined and whimpered ears lying flat on their skulls and tails curling under their bellies. The men walking them were soon alerted to something going on as the dogs tried to yank themselves free from their handlers. The men cried out in alarm and tried to bring the dogs under control; one of the dogs was so scared of whatever was coming that it almost strangled itself, yet at the last minute the handler released the poor animal from its restraint and watched horrified as the dog took off yipping into the underbrush toward the road. The other dog having over exerted itself in its attempts to be free lay lathered in sweat, panting and whining with eyes rolling all over the

place and mouth frothing with saliva. The scent of fear soon filled the cool night air. The handler lifted the dog up and started to run blindly toward the outpost, his cries for the watchmen to call for a vet, the dog-less handler racing beside him. Behind them a massive black blur broke free of the tree line, easily outpacing them, and leaping cleared the twelve foot chain link electrified fence. Then landed crouched low to the ground, head turning back to peer at them with glowing yellow golden eyes. The handler’s jerked to a stop one wetting his pants, he fell over eyes still wide open, blood started to slowly bubble out of his mouth and the other handler screamed falling on his rump his grip tightening on his paralyzed dog. The beast turned back toward the base and loped forward, swiftly disappeared into the darkness. The watchmen at the post slowly lifted his head above the window, hands shaking he fiddled with the lock on the door. It took a few agonizing minutes before the door opened and he scrambled out toward the screaming man and his silent partner. Thane slipped swiftly in and out of the shadows of the base, eyes taking in everything going on around him. A young man covered in cuts and bruises was being pulled to a stop in front of an officer, forced onto his knees and head jerked upward to look up toward the others. A man with a white lab coat stepped out of the shadows of a large white building followed by three men dressed in bloodied scrubs. “Good evening Corporal Shifter! How pleasant of you to us on this fine evening. I have from a very good source that you were the one who authorized for the survivors to be allowed to the blockade. Is that right, Shifter?” The man in the lab coat walked around the kneeling man who stared defiantly at the dirt below him. “Such a strong leader like personality, it is too bad that you won’t be alive for much longer.” Looking up toward the blood splattered three men, “Nurses, please take this subject down to lab room 29, and prep him for experimentation.” The three men nodded reaching forward to grasp at the prisoner’s arms, but not before Dr. Stone leaned forward and whispered into Cane’s ear, “I told you, I would get you on my slab one way or another.” “No, no you can’t do this!” Shifter screamed trying to struggle against the others hold. Thane let loose a howl, it echoed bouncing off of the walls of the surrounding buildings, building in octave higher and higher, and the men around the area dropped to their knees releasing their weapons to place their hands over their ears. The lights shattered raining sparks down and plunging the area into darkness.

Stone lifted his gaze from where he had fallen hands clutching his ears, which were still ringing; from the darkness a large shadow launched itself forward. Eyes glowing dangerously the three nurses fell one by one in bloody heaps around the prisoner as blood fell from flashing black and white crimson streaming unto the ground. The thing lifted the prisoner and turning fled into the darkness once more. Cane Shifter shuddered at being dragged before the crazy scientist. He and his friend used to joke about which of the two scientists were creepier Dr. Stephen or his wife Dr. Gloria. Neither would be an ideal place to end up with. Now his friend was dead and he was going to be next. The nurses were dragging him toward the lab, where awaited his doom. Yet, before they could get to the doors a sudden howl filled the air. It is noise becoming deafening and painful until the lights shattered and they were plunged into darkness. Then he felt it rather than seeing it, warm wetness splattered across his torn uniform and body, and the thumping of heavy bodies falling around him. Thump, thump, thump, and then the feel of a warm clawed hand wrapping around him and pulling him up into an equally warm fur covered body. Yet it was the feeling of motion which caused Cane to almost lose consciousness. The blur of the surrounding darkness speeding all around him, the feel of muscles bulging and shifting under him and then the feeling of the cool air whizzing by them as motion swayed forward. Being airborne, the sound of more screaming, than the wetness of leaves and dirt whipping into his face as the beast moved onward into the forest. Cane opened his eyes again, not ing when he had shut them, and saw the blackness of the thick long fur of the beast which carried him away from his death. Groaning Cane gave into blissful darkness and ed out. Thane shifted the limp body onto his back twining vines together to make a makeshift harness to hold the unconscious man to him while they traveled. He hoped in two days to be in the town, be with the rest of his pack until then, they could not stop at the moment. Thane got a feeling that this was not the last time that he will be seeing the crazy scientist man and his army of minions, best to be ready for them and well rested for the events.

Chapter Twenty-One

Cane woke up to the feel of a slight weight sitting on his chest and the feel of little fingers pulling his lips, eyelids, cheeks, and fingering his nose, along with the sound of childish joy and giggling. “Madeline, you were told not to do that, and to let him sleep.” By the sound of the voice, it belonged to a teenage boy. The sound of worry over being the one to get in trouble could be heard in the altering octaves. “Butttttt, Haden, he makes funny faces when I do, see look!” The little girls whiny voice echoed louder just as he felt little fingers pushing his cheeks up to force him into a mock smile. Cane decided it would be safer for his face if he just woke up, and apparently his face was agreeing with him. Reaching up calmly he took a hold of the child’s hands in his, before opening his eyes and sitting up. The child slid down onto his lap from his chest. Her eyes wide like an owl’s blinked cutely up at him. Cane couldn’t help but fall in love with this innocent child. How could he be angry at such a face? “While I do make funny faces, my face would greatly appreciate it not being pinched and pulled into different angles that it is not accustomed too.” Cane spoke his voice slightly raspy from the days of disuse. The child’s eyes widened even further, her head jerking to look at the teenage boy. Who at the moment was standing with his fists clenched unsure of whether to call for help or try to bargain with the man himself, Madeline beat him to it, her cry echoed in the large multistoried cabin. “Thaney, funny face man is awake!” This caused the door to the room to be banged open and the rest of their family to come streaming in. John came in still holding the frying pan and dish cloth which he had been cleaning from this morning’s meal. Kim was holding a data pad still in pajamas and her hair pinned up, Kate and David were covered in mud and dirt from the greenhouse, Marcus who Cane had not noticed before was slouched in the corner of the room fiddling with his handgun, and leaning against the open door frame was the head of the family, Thane. He filled the door entrance shoulder length black hair and golden eyes, broad shoulder and lean muscles.

“I thought I told you not to bother him little one?” Thane asked taking in the scene before him. “He needed his rest!” Madeline smiled showing her missing two front teeth. Kim lowered her data pad and placed it on an end table, before taking a seat which had been placed next to the bed. “He looks well wested, pwobably woke up because he hungwy? Awe you?” Kim leaned forward slowly placing her hand over his and getting him to release the child. “I wasn’t going to hurt her,” he stated then looking at Kim added, “Nor was I going to eat her, I am not a cannibal!” Kim laughed, releasing his hands as the child slid off his lap and scampered toward the big guy in the door frame latching onto the man’s leg she looked up at him smiling her toothy smile. Kim spoke again. “You silly man, I was not implying you cannibal, just hungwy!” Cane blushed and felt like he was being a child, which was being onished for being naughty. Kim laughed again standing she made her way to the door. “I will bwing you bweakfast, since you missed it this mowning.” Then she slipped by Thane and vanished out the door. Cane sat staring at the spot she vanished too, before with a start he turned back to the others. “Did you guys happen to find a black fur covered beast, I was with him before I ed out… and I am worried about him? I owe him my life.” Cane was earnest in his search for his savior, he did owe the beast his life. Yet, he was unsure as to how he was going to repay the debt that he owed. “Well that is sweet and all, but you don’t have ta worry, big guy right over there is your ‘beast’ so lighten up man and get used to us, because you have been added to our little pack.” David Stated, he stepped forward and shook hands with Cane. “For starters let’s get the introductions out of the way. The big guy is the leader, saved our asses from those ‘Nevermores’, his name is Thane Wulf. The cutie pie hanging onto him is his adopted kid, Madeline, I wouldn’t advise trying to harm her or you might lose a limb or more. The teen over there is Haden, he is 14, his parents Kate and John. The old guy glaring at you is Marcus and that lady going to get you food is Kim. I am David and from your dog tags, yes I snooped, your Cane. Okay introductions is complete, how come I was the one volunteered to be the greeter?” David finished with a whine turning to look at Thane.

“Because, you’re the friendliest person I know, you would have greeted the nevermores if they were not trying to eat you!” David glowered at him, Thane smirked and then turned around and left the room his foot falls uneven and the sound of childish giggling echoed down the hallway, as Madeline was carried along with Thane’s strides. Cane turned toward the old man, who was still glaring at him, “Is it always this crazy?” The old man snorted turned and left without answering. David grinned and nodded, “Yep, but you get used to it, don’t let the old man’s mood get you down, it will change soon enough, he is just a little untrusting right now, the last person Thane saved tried to kill him, so we are all a little cautious about new comers. Oh, before I forget, there are clothes in that draw for you to wear, all you have to do is look, and now that you’re awake you can meet the larger branch of our pack.” David smiled and stood up after pointing out where all the clothes were. “It was nice meeting you Cane, I’ll see you around.” Once again shaking Cane’s hand and left, just as Kim was coming up with Cane’s food, Cane leaned back, his mind going blissfully blank as he soaked in the information. He wasn’t going to die just yet. Smiling he looked around his surroundings as Kim entered the door. He had a family, he felt butterflies in his stomach he had gone from being an orphan who had ed the military at eighteen, to being almost killed for listening to his own intuition and now, he watched Kim fuss over his pillows so that he was more comfortable while he ate, and now he had a family. Cane smiled, no longer able to contain it any longer. Kim pausing in her fluffing also smiled, almost as if Cane’s smile was contagious. “Eat befowe it gets cold.” Kim stated moving toward the door. She paused turned and blushing said “It good meeting you.” Then left, Cane nodded before digging into his breakfast. His thoughts turning in his head, from the beautiful Asian lady to the leader of the family. Maybe, just maybe this wasn’t going to be so bad.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Dr. Stone smashed his fist down across his desk, his face contorted into anger. “I want that beast found!” Stone roared, his men flinched as his spittle landed on his desk. “Sir, our men lost track of it, but we think it might be heading toward Yellowstone. We have also managed to find where the survivors went to after the “Nevermores” incident.” The lead officer confirmed he had a slight quiver in his voice, but other than for that remained standing shoulders back and head up. Stone lifted his head and rose from his hunched over stoop. “Then why did you not tell me this earlier? The beast has gone to them. Like a good dog!” Stone started to laugh hysterically causing the officers to back cautiously away from him. “And he has brought my little prized experiment with him. Leave me! I have plans to make.” Stone thundered waving his hand in dismissal. The soldiers, after years of always doing so, saluted then filed out of his office. Once further down the hall the lead officer entered into a closet and retrieved his cell phone. Speed dialing a number he listened to it ring once before it was answered. “This better hold some very important news?” the voice said. The officer swallowed before answering. “We found him and his pack; we have reason to believe that Beo is also close by.” “Confirm it and keep an eye on them, I don’t want them to escape like they did last time. Is that clear?” “Yes sir!” The line ended and the officer left the room. Stone breathed a sigh before picking up the phone and dialing Isaac’s personal number. “Hello!” Isaac’s voice answered on the second ring.

“We may have found their location, I want them all brought to me alive, including anyone else that is with them. They may have contaminated them as well.” Stone stated looking down at his desk, his data pad flashing the DNA results of the beasts that had attacked the base a couple of nights prior. “Roger that, I will give the order out, not to use deadly force then. Anything else?” Isaac asked. “No, that should be all.” Stone discontinued the call, replacing the receiver back on its base. “That will be all.” Stone sat back in his seat pushing his fingers together underneath his chin. He hummed a merry tune as he thought about the future. Yet moments later pain shot up through his ears and into his skull. A second voice echoed in his brain, sounding just like him only it wasn’t. ‘Don’t do it, you will be leading them straight to your own family, don’t do it. You have to much to lose, and so much to repent for.’ The voice faded away along with the splitting pain and Stone placed his head upon the cool wood of his desk. Isaac leaned back in his chair, setting the cell phone down on his desk, the phone pointed toward a picture that sat in a heavy black wooden frame. The picture was a black and white, of a young man standing between two other larger men, all three wore helmets and uniforms. They belonged in a time period where war was waging for humanity. World War II, Isaac’s grandfather was the young man in the picture. Isaac had grown up listening to the war stories his grandfather spoke of, telling of battles where it seemed like the hope of winning was dim and even the hope of survival was even dimmer. The men lived minute by minute, for one never knew during that harsh and bleak time period when it would be their last minute alive. Isaac’s grandfather told of the two men he served with, and how they were undaunted by the war and chaos that was going on around them. They did not falter when bullets were whizzing past their ears, and they stared down tanks and machine gun fire with the same determination a child will have when faced with a test. His grandfather told of how they could carry triple the gear and even more if necessary, and they were always willing to lend a helpful hand. Isaac knew that his grandfather feared death ever since he came home from the war. His father having grown up with this fear ed it onto him. He was so afraid of dying that he searched for ways to become immortal. The ideal of alchemy had thrived within his head, then the idea of being changed into a shapeshifting

beast, powerful enough to face down any foe. Isaac picked up the photo of his grandfather, and carefully brushed his fingers down the glass frame. He had lost his daughter to this beast, and he had lost so much in his search. Yet he cannot give up now, he had just found the monster of a man that had served with his grandfather. Isaac placed the picture frame back on his desk and lifted the files and papers to look at again. The papers consisted of information that he had gotten from the government about the man, and a picture was given as well. One from the time period in which his father and the man served together and another from the night of the nevermore attack. The features were the same, the man had not aged a single day from the pictures. Even after so much time had ed during two time periods. Isaac lowered the glossy picture of the man, whose face was blurred by his movements, another picture followed closely behind the first. This one of the video still of the beast leaping over the fence at the compound. Massive and big enough to be considered a small horse at the most. The corpses of his daughter and of the three men that had been killed by the beast during his retrieval of Sgt. Cane Shifter were laying out in the examination room waiting for a doctor to come and examine them. Isaac can almost see his results and the achievements he can get with the brothers. He couldn’t wait until he had them both in his hands, so much glory.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Beo sat next to his mate at the head of the long table, like their Viking ancestors, the lodge cabin was built to house the entire pack. Since his beta started a branch off pack they would need to enlarge the long cabin in order to fit everyone, but for now the tables were crammed with extra chairs, plates and other eating utensils required for the evening meals. Which were all to be taken as one large pack. His blue eyes took in Thane’s two pups playing with the others running all around the dirt floor of the long cabin. His mate chuckled as some of the adults were pulled into the young ones antics. Thane sat to Beo’s right, the seat across from him being occupied by Thanes’ own beta David. The newest pack member was sitting between Kim and Kate, who were both shoving more food onto the young man’s plate. The other pack were also enjoying the food. Beo’s mate, Ivy leaned forward and caught one of the screaming children, pulling the squealing laughing bundle onto her lap. The small four year old boy reached out and snagged a cookie from the plate. Beo rolled his eyes and smiled, glad that the pups were able to be so carefree during this dark time. “Hey I was going to eat that!” The complaint rose as Madeline swiped a cookie from Cane’s plate, the little one giggled and stuffing the cookie into her mouth scrambled tiredly into Thane’s lap. Thane let loose a deep throated chuckle before wrapping an arm around the child simultaneously pulling a small platter of food toward her. “Eat child, no more cookies until then.” “Butttt Thaney…. Okay.” Madeline started eating the meats and vegetables on the plate, only broken up by her drinking from Thane’s cup. “You have your own cup, pup!” Thane stated. “But yours taste better.” “It is the same juice for both cups.” “Still taste better!” Madeline finished by putting a steamed carrot into her

mouth, Thane rolled his eyes and decided to ignore it. Beo snorted at the child’s antics, still ing how closed off and depressed the child had been when she thought that Thane was dead. She didn’t want to believe that he was alive until that early morning when Thane came through the doors carrying an injured young man on his back. The child reacted as if Christmas had come early. Hell, come to think of it, the entire pack reacted as if Christmas had come early. Beo had been tempted to put a bow on his little brother’s head to further portray the illusions, as Thane’s two sons Raven and Crow had done to him when he had come home from a fight. Part way through the dinner, Kate turned toward Cane and asked him, “What is your story?” Everyone around the table became quiet, turning toward Cane and Kate to see what the answer would be. Cane looked around at them and wondered if he could just phase through the floor, but sadly he wouldn’t be able to. “I was orphaned at a young age, my parents were killed during a blizzard. They were not found until after the snow had thawed, and the cops took me to the orphanage right away. I grew up in the orphanage. No one wanted to deal with me because I was different, and so as soon as I turned eighteen I went into the military, and that is pretty much my life story.” Cane looked away back down at his food. What he hadn’t saw from his angle was the look Thane and Beo had at each other. “Who were your parents?” Beo asked, leaning forward in his seat. Cane lifted his gaze toward him in question. “Lunetta and Dave Shifter, Why?” Cane questioned, but became more confused when both brothers shared a look once more. “It is nothing for you to worry over.” Beo stated at the same time, Thane spoke up as well. “You will get your answer once we have confirmed everything, no need to get your hopes up yet.” Thane shared another look with his brother before he turned his attention back to Madeline, who during the conversation had slipped down out of his lap and had skipped over to Cane’s chair, she then proceeded to shove his face into his plate. Then she screamed and ran around the table with Cane chasing after her, and everyone forgot about the ordeal and laughed boisterously

at the antiques of the children. Yet, despite the joy of the moment the matter still rested heavily upon their shoulders. It was only a matter of time before the military and the scientist find them. The choices remained the same flee once again or stay and fight to defend the town which they called home for centuries. A town that Thane’s own mate died protecting. Beo was pulled from his musings by his mate’s hand resting over his own. Her other still holding onto the now sleeping child.

Chapter Twenty-Four

After the children had been rounded up, cleaned and placed in their respective rooms for the night, the adults gathered around the long table once more. Cane was finally allowed to eat in peace, since the two women were now fussing over Thane’s eating habits. David sat next to him now also stuffing his face with the dessert of pumpkin pie. He had pulled an entire platter to himself and had finished more than half of it before he noticed Cane watching him. “What, when you are a wolf you eat more!” David stated, through a mouthful of pie. Cane made a face but didn’t ask what he meant by the statement. He turned his bright green gaze toward the conversation at hand. David seemed more interested in the food that was before him to focus on the real concern going on. “We shouldn’t have to run anymore! We’ve been running for centuries, Thane’s mate died, my mother died, protecting our town. We should honor her by staying and fighting.” Raven stated his bluish black hair curling around his face and chin, eyes wide and wild as he looked toward the alphas’. Beo nodded sparing a glance at his younger brother to gage the emotions that ed at the mention of his dead mate. Kim and Kate moved and placed a reassuring hand upon their alpha’s back, though this was the first they had heard about Thane wife and how she had died. They had met Crow when they had gotten to Yellowstone, but had not really had time to question the fast introduction that had been given. Raven had been introduced to them when they had gotten to Refuge, the older brother was able to speak, unlike Crow who had injured vocal cords and cannot speak above a whisper and so did not usually speak at all. Thane remained still not moving from his spot next to the table. However, Crow, who sat hunched nearby, was glaring at his twin for bringing up a still sore subject. Yet it was broken by Beo who started his own speech. “I would have to agree with you on this one Raven, you lost your mother, Thane his mate, who died protecting this town and people from the hunters who wished to destroy us. Your brother Crow was badly scarred due to the incident. I have come to the conclusion that our time for running is over.” Beo stopped to take in all of the faces surrounding him. “We come from a long line of Berserkers,

Vikings, and Normans. Our ancestors hailed from Iceland from the great father of Loki we come from warriors, I feel we have done enough running. Our pack is strong and with our call we destroyed all that threaten us and our own. We should not have to be wolves in sheep’s clothing but men in wolf skins… We shall howl havoc and release the hounds of hell and destroy the men who wish us ill will.” Beo finished his speech in a bellow, the men and women from his pack howled, head thrown back and mouths open. Thane stared worriedly at his own pack, but it seemed they too had been lulled by the call of the wild and with a cheer followed their new brethren in the call. David stood up, and spoke having finished his dessert and caught the tail end of the conversation. “I would say that someone should hide with the children to protect them I vote it be someone with fighting skills as I suck at fighting and I know I wouldn’t be able to harm anyone…” David looked between all of the other adults waiting for them to call him names, but Crow laughed and smacked the younger man on the back. “No worries Beta, you were not chosen to be a fighter. Your stars show you to be a caregiver, and we all know that when the time comes and someone is planning to harm the children or us that you will be a mother lion and shred them to pieces without a thought.” Crow whispered, the other pack member nodding in agreement. Crow then moved back into the shadows preferring to hide in them then in the light. Thane looked to David, standing he grasped David by his shoulders, looking down at the scar which was left behind by the “Nevermore” and stated. “That night in the hospital you were willing to die for the women and children that you rescued, you almost did, you lost a lot of blood. If it hadn’t been for the bite which changed you, then you would be dead now.” Thane looked at him square in the eyes then continued on, “you hold much strength within you now that you are one with the wolf, you do not need to fight to be a warrior or kill to be a hunter, your wolf will know what to do and aid you in your time of need.” David nodded feeling more secure now that he had a talk about his fears. John cleared his throat to gain the others attention. “Marcus should also be hiding with the children he is too old to fight out in the open, and the humans should take up places that will offer them protection as well as defense against the enemy.” Marcus glowered at John but nodded in understanding, during the fight against the nevermores he had been of no help,

and while John and David had killed at least one of those monsters he had not been able to because of his age. David would offer the main and Marcus would take up the second part and aid in the cover fire. That should keep the morons out of harming the children. Marcus had already discussed this with David, one of the reasons that David felt he would fail them all. Crow stood from his position in the shadows stepping forward to allow the lights to reflect off of his scarred bald head, his eyes flickered over the rest of the pack before he turned and headed out to take up first watch. His brother slowly behind him, both of their mates stood also and left as did the rest of the pack now that the meeting was over. They left to return to their own dens, or houses around the town. Some having to take cars others walking. The humans that lived in this town would most likely aid in the defense for they too at one time had to flee from their original homes to avoid prosecution of the ones that lived there. Yet, Beo and Thane would have to speak to the mayor of the town just to be on the safe side.

Chapter Twenty-Five

While this town had originally been started by Beo and Thane Wulf’s father, Loki Wulf and his pack which had fled prosecution of their people, it soon became a haven for others that were fleeing from similar causes, humans, wiccans, witches, vampires, ghosts, goblins, fairies, and werelings alike which have found shelter in the town. The town of Refuge started not long after the first Viking had landed on North American soil, later followed by Native Americans fleeing prosecution and witches then the fleeing of the slaves which sought shelter in the folk lore town of Refuge which the owners of said slaves never crossed into to retrieve the slave. Beo and Thane were once rumored to be the twins of Loki, but they quickly stated to dispel any further ideas of the truth. That in order to be Loki’s twins that old one must first be immortal, and they were not immortal. They were only long lived, having been born during the revolutionary war and caught the tail end of many wars after, they had known the price of war which had struck upon the entire earth and felt the planet weep at the loss of life. Yet, they also knew that in order to live sometimes one must fight to survive. Beo and Thane’s family have come and gone repeatedly from the town, but now it was time to fight for it and they were more than willing to do so. It was also once rumored that the hunters which had tried so hard to eliminate the Hamrammr’s race was now trying to find ways to become one themselves it was also rumored that the hunters also danced around in hot pink tutu’s so Beo and Thane tried not to think too hard on the rumors that were going around the other Hamrammr packs. The mayor of Refuge was a squat little man that could almost be considered and elf but in reality was a dwarf having fled his homeland long ago, if it wasn’t for his magic that allowed the world to see that he had small rounded ears placed upon his round semi balding fat head. He liked to wear bow ties and overly long baggy pants trying to play hip with what the teens were wearing in this generation. The officers of Refuge were from another pack and were standing side by side next to the small squat mayor, making him appear even smaller with their six foot four height. Both men nodded to Beo and Thane when they walked in, Thane had his hand wrapped around Madeline’s who after his return refused

to allow him out of her sight for very long. She was dressed in black like her adopted father, Kim and Kate and the other pack females had gone out shopping for clothes not just for Madeline but also the rest of Thane’s new pack, Thane also got new clothes himself, becoming an Alpha beta rising in ranks required a small celebration of sorts. Yet today Madeline was wearing all black with little white skulls printed across the outfit. Beo thought it was cute after twin sons Thane would now be raising a daughter who also wanted to be just like Thane. Thane was also wearing all black, his tailored suit fitted to his well fit body. Showing off the muscles that hide just beneath the surface, Beo also sported a suit that fit well to his body, as he stood a few inches taller than his brother, his dark midnight locks slicked back while his brother’s was braided a curtsey that Madeline was very eager to do. The mayor having just noticed their appearance stopped speaking to his secretary and turned to face the main benefactors for all of the places built here. “Thane glad to see you are back from overseas, and it seems you have a new child, well congratulations Thane, and Beo look at you as handsome as ever, how is your wife Ivy doing, I heard she is being given a handful at the daycare she works at.” The mayor stated, starting toward them hands held out to shake both men’s hands at once. Thane and Beo shared a look before shaking the man’s hand. Something was defiantly up; the mayor was sweating more than usual after seeing them. A man that at first glance was unnoticed caught the brother’s attention, Madeline had also seemed to notice the business suit dressed man, for she pushed herself closer to her adoptive father as he came closer into view. The mayor looked at the man before smiling as widely as he could toward the brother’s. He was trying to translate language through his eyes alone what he thought of the man coming toward them. For he himself did not like the man, but could not say no without giving a very good reason. “Gentlemen allow me to introduce to you Mr. Isaac King, he was just talking to me about some new projects that he wants to do on some open plots of land.” The Mayor stated pulling out his handkerchief and dabbing at his sweating fat round his face and brow. “I of course told him that I couldn’t sign off on anything until I have had both of your approval…” the mayor trailed off looking up at the two men. Thane’s height at almost seven foot two and his brothers at seven foot three were intimidating on any standard; even other Alphas who meet them are intimidated by their height. Yet, the man who stood before them didn’t even bat an eyelash almost as if he was already told about them or had seen them beforehand. He stepped forward hand held out to shake one or the other

brother’s hand. “It is a pleasure to meet the both of you; I have been told many great things about you two. It seems that these rumors do you both an injustice, do they not?” Isaac looked between the two trying to gauge their reaction to his praise, neither one so much as blinked. He looked down at the little girl clinging to her father, opening his mouth he was about to comment on how adorable she looked, but a deep growl echoed across the room, causing him to pause as it was followed up by another. Looking up at the two men who gazed down at him, their eyes had darkened and Thane had pulled his daughter behind his legs, giving her further shelter from Isaac’s stare. The two cops behind Isaac shifted their footing uneasily almost as if they were weary of what might happen if the two giants became enraged. The Mayor cringed and shifted farther away from them, mumbling an excuse about needing to use the restroom. Isaac lifted his head to stare into the men’s eyes. “So you know the reason why I am here?” Isaac stated. The brother’s didn’t answer him, though he wasn’t really expecting an answer. His officer told him the brothers were dangerous and he was right, the other packs in the vicinity seemed meek compared to this one, he felt almost like smiling yet he refrained from doing so. His grandfather had told him stories of Hamrammrs and how they were close to immortals, how two brothers fought beside him during the war and saved his life on many occasions. His yearning for power had increased to the point of wanting to physically touch one of the brothers and yet even now they seem to deny him, his right. Frowning Isaac took a step back, it wouldn’t matter in the end he would have them both, and their secret of life. He turned looking at the secretary, and told her briskly. “Reschedule my appointment with the Mayor; I just realized I have something very important to take care of. Sorry gentlemen I have to leave so early!” Isaac finished to the brothers, “Until we meet again, I hope you both will be more willing to corporate by then.” Isaac turned and left the building, the two officers looked at the brothers before turning away with a nod of confirmation; The Wulf pack need back up and since they were the alpha pack then the other packs in the area will be there to aid them. While the city consisted of humans and Hamrammr packs of seven now eight in total, The Wulf pack now split into two branches would always be the alpha pack, and head of the town, Refuge. The mayor was just a figurehead to help ease the town people into everyday life; the packs kept the town running. When one pack was in trouble the other pack aided it, such was the life of Refuge. Beo and Thane commanded and ruled Refuge peacefully or as peacefully as they

could, they were the head of Refuge and they had just asked for aid, it only seemed fair that the others answered. The two officers nodded and left the Mayor nodded as well he knew better than anyone how dangerous these fights could be. He had seen the horror of such fights and had taken in an injured wolf once because of it, granted at the time the wolf was still a pup but it didn’t matter. He would do his part and keep the townspeople calm. The brothers turned and left everyone knowing the roles they would need to play in order to keep the town running, they would do their part to keep everything running smoothly for years to come. Hopefully it would all be over soon. Over in the large mansion like household the smaller pack had taken the time to start to prepare for the battle that would be ahead of them. Like the rest of the packs they were establishing an area where the young and those who could not in the fighting will reside in. Cane was helping Kim move some of the heavier furniture, since he felt that she was to small to be able to move the tall heavy cabinets on her own. She didn’t seem to mind that he was doing all of the heavy lifting for her. Turning around Cane noticed that Kim had been staring at his arms as he manhandled the heavy metal draws out of the room. She turned away quickly, a rosy tint coming up to her cheeks as she was caught. Cane grinned, wolfishly at her. She turned an even brighter red, so Cane set out to show off more of his muscles, lifting off his shirt he lifted up the heavy cardboard boxes that had been moved down to storage. Yet while he lifted up the bottom gave out beneath, and out tumbled pictures and small ovals that clattered onto the floor. Kim gasped and raced over, kneeling at Cane’s feet. Before she realized that the position placed her very close to his bare torso, she turned red again and adverted her eyes away from his bared chest. She lowered her gaze toward the stuff that fell out of the box. Cane kneeled down beside her, placing the box down out of the way and started to shift through the items that had fallen out. Pictures in small squares showing different people some with people that they knew and others with people that they didn’t know. Cane lifted up a picture of two women standing on either side of Thane, his arms wrapped around both of their wastes as they leaned against him. “He must have still been growing in this one, look he was still small enough that he didn’t have to stoop to hold them.” Cane murmured, showing the picture to Kim. She leaned forward and placing one hand to steady herself upon Cane’s thigh. Looked at the picture.

“Wow, he look so young.” Kim stated, before reaching down and lifting another picture up. This one was of Thane and another woman, she stood tall coming up to his collar bone. So this one was of an older Thane. He was holding a baby, and before him was a small child. A little boy. “I think that is Waven.” Kim pointed out. Cane took the picture gently from her hands and looked at the picture. “You are right, he looks so happy in this one though. Raven was such a cute kid.” Cane exclaimed. Placing the picture down to pick up and look at a small painting. Cane gasped, his fingers slipping from the portrait. He watched as the small oval portraiture fell once more onto the pile of mementos. He was stunned by the picture. “What wong?” Kim asked, rising slightly to reach out to Cane. He jerked his head up and looked at her. “That picture was of my mom.” Cane stated, but then shook his head. “That can’t be right, can it? My mom wasn’t born during that time period.” Cane lifted the painting up again with shaking hands. Staring up at him with his eyes, was a beautiful woman her hair as white as snow in a beautiful gown made from the Victorian age. He lifted his eyes back up toward Kim’s who was looking down at the painting as well. She then lifted her gaze to his. “Maybe gwandma?” Kim asked, cocking her head sideways slightly. Cane shook his head no, and Kim blew out a huff of air. “You ask Thane when we done with this battle, he will tell you then I am suwe of it.” Kim declared, and she reached for another oval disk, lifting it up she showed the image of a couple standing next to each other. One was of a tall man, with a black beard and a scar running down his left eye, beside him was a woman of breathtaking beauty. Kim turned the double portrait around and read the backing out loud. “Loki and Sheba Wulf wedding powtwait of 1677.” She stopped and looked up at Cane, who stared at her with a look of wonder on his face. “That is Thane’s ancestor?” Cane asked, leaning forward to get a better look at the date. “His father and mother.” Came a reply from the shadows of the entry way. Cane and Kim startled and look toward the man standing there. A man with long curly black hair stepped out into the open, he shared similar looks to the woman in the

portrait. Yet he didn’t seem too bothered by the two staring at him. He continued forward until he crouched down beside them, taking the portrait into his hands gently. He turned the two oval frames over in his hands, before placing them back into Cane’s hand. “That was Thane’s and Beo’s parents. They also had a couple of other children before they were killed. Thane and Beo are the eldest of the children, so have taken up the slack of being the leaders that protect this town.” The man flipped his curly hair back over his shoulders, his grey eyes flick upward toward the wall. Almost as if he had ed something from a distant past. He smiles in melancholy before he stands. He turns and starts toward the exit. Cane starts to rise to go after him, but the man turns once and is gone before their eyes. “Who is that man?” Kim asked, before her eyes fall upon another painting that of the very man that they had seen. He stood next to both Loki and Sheba, but his height was smaller than that of Thane’s father. Cane shook his head, before he looked down at the pile of pictures. “Come on we need to continue preparing for tonight, we can look at these another time.” Cane stood up and then held out his hands to help Kim up. Kim blushed but accepted the offer up. “Maybe after this all blows over, you and I can go out for dinner and maybe dancing?” Cane asked, lifting his right arm up to place his hand behind his head. Kim jerked her gaze up to meet his. “You asking me out?” Kim questioned. Tilting her head again. Cane laughed self-consciously before nodding agreement. “I am asking you out.” He agreed. Kim’s blush deepened and she nodded. “Okay.” Kim stated in a dazed appearance. Cane smiled and nodded, before he looked back at the pile of pictures on the floor. “Come on, let’s get another box to put those in, and store them where they will be safe.” Cane left the room with Kim following behind him, almost skipping with happiness. In the darkened room the man appeared once more, flicking his wrist he sent the pictures folding into an order stack upon the floor, he spared a glance at the portrait of Cane’s mother. “That boy is so much like you, my love. So much.” He whispered before fading away, merging into the darkness once more, as was befitting a ghost that haunted the mansion.

Chapter Twenty-Six

As night fell over the town of Refuge, people could be seen locking and shutting the outer doors which had been built especially made for these events. Parents made sure that the window bars were locked and the bars on the door was secured before shutting window shutters and windows and doors, the kids and teens were then ushered into the under house where the basements were split into a secondary house similar to ones that were above it. The children were asleep in the beds and the parents sat in the chairs with shotguns or pistols in their laps, near the entrance of the basement. They all knew what was going to be going down; the Mayor might have tried once or twice to tell them nothing was happening during times that alarms were being called like this, but they all knew that something bad was going to happen. They knew that the brothers and the others would defend them until the last one dropped dead to the earth, yet were they willing to hide in the basement while the brave men and women who had raised this town from the ashes on several occasions, only to fall to their deaths because they the townspeople were too scared to move against anyone that wished them bodily harm. It was their town just as much as it was the Hamrammr’s town; they helped out and brought up the children and opened stores and schools, they were not prosecuted for being different, but embraced for being who they were. It was the Hamrammrs who allowed for this sanctuary to prosper and it will be them who will decide when it will fall, but for now they will stand by the ancestors who first created Refuge and fight by their sides for their town. With that thought running through the town people’s heads, they started to get ready, the witches and wiccans rose and started preparing for a firefight. Bundling up different herbs and other ingredients that could be used to battle against those that wished to bring the town down. Other shifters, and elementals also acted preparations, the smaller shifters running through into the enemy embankment and chewing through wires on vehicles, taking off with as much ammunition that they could carry, placing rocks into packs to help weigh them down anything that could slow down the enemy. Owl and bird familiars flew over the enemy’s head dropping stones, swooping in low and using beaks and claws to rip into the faces of some of the soldiers. Even the mayor acted in

defense of the town, smashing his briefcase into one soldier’s face and using a pen to stab another soldier in the knee, he and his secretary fled back into the building to lock the doors, they would not be used as tools to lure the Wulf brother’s out. Thane and the others waited in different areas around the town, the sun was setting casting shadows across the towns square. Thane was reflecting on how his daughter had put up a fight against allowing her adoptive father to go out in battle after what had happened last time. It wasn’t until her brothers said that they would watch their father’s back and bring him back safe and sound. Then she went down hanging onto David as she babbled on about how Thaney was going to get her a black kitten and how they would all live happily ever after. Thane shook his head a kitten, dogs didn’t even get along with him or his kind how would a kitten be able to get along with him. The lamp lights came on as the sun came down over the pines, snow had started to fall, and his breath exhaled out into a thin line into the cooling evening. He stepped farther into the shadows as the sound of heavy wheels and engines roared through the mountains. His eyes sought out his sons who sat in other shadowed corners. Crow sitting high up in the trees where the shadows covered his scarred upper body. Raven sat on a rooftop long rifle laid in his lap, a bow across his back and hanging from his hip was a broadsword. The others also had similar weapons adorning them as well, yet both Thane and Beo sported heavy two sided battle axes. Both brothers nodded to their father and shrank deeper into the shadows. The sounds were coming closer almost directly on top of them now, and then the high beams of the vehicles broke through the thickening snow fall. Hiding in the darkened room that had been cleared out, and where David had placed the kids of their small pack. With Marcus waiting in front of the doorway and David just a few yards out. Kim, Cane, Kate, John were all going to be out sniping from the rooftops, before he had gone with David Haden had made the joke that his parents were finally taking voting seriously. When all that had gotten him were confused looks he clarified that they were voting from the rooftops because they didn’t like who was in charge. That had gotten him a few rolled eyes then, and his mother kissing him fondly on the forehead, before shoving him on his way. Thane ruffled his hair, and John told him never to lose his sense of humor. Haden had replied that he couldn’t lose his humor, people would just return it. Now he wished he had told his parents and the other adults that he was scared and that he loved them. Madeline had squeezed his hand and had told him that they knew that already, and Haden and replied that she should

stay out of his head. Madeline had just smiled her sweet smile and turned toward a blackened wall. Before she told Marcus that it was okay, that they had extra eyes and extra protection, the ghost of the mansion wouldn’t allow anyone of the house to be harmed. Not if he could help it. Marcus had been as confused as Haden was, but they didn’t question Madeline’s sincerity to the problem at hand. Stone got out of the car door looking around the town square, and then up at the large statue of the founder of Refuge, a man with Viking armor and a double headed battle axe gripped in his hand a child resting on his other arm clinging to the man’s neck. The features of the face hidden by the falling of night and the falling snow, Isaac came to stand next to him also gazing up at the statue. “Never seen something so grand and so stupid, I mean look at it, it’s deformed was the guy some sort of hunchback?” Isaac asked looking at the shadowed hunch that rested upon its back. Stone looked at Isaac then back at the statue. The hunch which Isaac was talking about moved and glowing eyes stared down at them. “Our ancestor was of the Viking Hamrammr and should be honored with respect and you will respect our Father, LOKI.” The man rose high and leaped, Isaac pushed Stone out of the way and followed after him, the battle axe embedded itself deep into the walkway, cracking the cement and creating fissures across the grey stone. The man rose up armor clanking around him, Isaac recognized him from the meeting he had been in two days prior, the man was Thane the younger brother of the two. Isaac pulled his sidearm from its holster and raised it, a gunshot went off and Isaac dropped the gun clutching his hand to his chest. Blood pooling he jerked to look at an old man that stood shaking on his porch step. “You will not harm our protectors I won’t allow you to; you will have to go through my dead body before I allow them to be harmed.” The old man stood shaking; his wheelchair sat a couple of feet behind him. Raven leaped from the top of the roof to land in front of the old man, blocking him with his larger body, his own armor clanking against each other. The military men shifted their weapons from side to side not knowing who was a threat the old man or the larger black haired axe swinging male. Isaac snarled turning to watch Stone rise up and look confused at what was going on. “What in the hell is happening, you said that you would have it all under control! Why are we being attacked? Where are we?” Stone seemed to have lost the device that his wife had first planted in his ear when they had first met, Isaac’s

daughter to be more precise, Gloria King. Listening to her father and following his rule chose a very intelligent doctor from the young minds that were first being viewed to be given grants by the military. A device that would alter the person’s way of thinking and destroy what moral concepts that they would have had, in order to make sure it continued working Gloria got Stone to court and eventually marry her, though she was never faithful to him. She wanted what her father wanted, immortality or something close to it. The only way that would work was by experimenting on Hamrammr’s and any other creature or beast they found. That was where Stephen Stone came in; the once animal rights doctor had now become the evil scientist to aid in the plans. Yet, with the death of Gloria and the nearing of requiring both Wulf brothers it seemed the device was forgotten and thus became weak and was soon rejected by its host. Stone was now back to his full functioning self and seemed confused on how he had gotten to where he was tonight, Crow sensing a change with the way the battle might turn ed the others on the ground. This caused the soldiers to back up farther and the other pack from the town to enter from the shadows surrounding the small military division. Fur stood on end on the weres bodies, each bore the armor from ancient clans. Isaac looked around it would appear he had underestimated the number of Hamrammr that were in the town, there were a lot more of them then he had thought. Stone looked around him dazed, he had no idea where he was, and the last thing he could was talking to his father about possibly starting a new job because he never wanted to be in the military let alone work for them. Then everything went blank and now he was, looking around the place he concluded he was back at his home town, Refuge… his dad was not going to be very pleased with him, it looked like he had gone and screwed up once again. Stone looked behind him as Crow landed and almost staggered under the heavy hand placed upon his shoulders, it seemed with the weight added to him his memories of what had been going on while he was under control also came back. He dropped heavily to his knees hands clutching his head, the horror. He did all of this to others innocent others… how will he ever be able to face himself in the mirror again? He had done such horrible acts against living beings. No, he lifted his gaze toward Isaac whose face had changed into a sneer; this man had made him do such horrible things to others. Stone had been born to a Wiccan family and had embraced his nature wholeheartedly, his very nature would have screamed at what had been going on inside and outside his body. He would bet a guess that his own body had

changed because of the things that he had done. Looking around he reached forward and grasped at a large rock nearby rising he charged at Isaac screaming, Isaac raised his uninjured hand to defend himself from Stephen but he didn’t need to, a shot rang out and Stone fell to the floor clutching his stomach, blood bubbling forth from the bullet wound. It seemed then that all hell broke loose; roars filled the air as the pack smashed forward, screams followed as troops tried to defend themselves. Guns fired and more screams. Thane’s pack sat on roof tops firing out into the largest crowd of troops each shot taking out one of the men. John nodded as his wife, Kate, hit two troopers with one shot taking both to the ground. Then the military started to get the tanks ready, John motioned for his wife to draw back, they were no match as humans for such weapons. Yet before he went he saw something streak across the sky and sizzle into the cockpit of one of the tanks. Smoke bellowed out as the lights flashed bright within the tank, an elderly man and woman landed next to the kneeling scientist. The Stone household held many surprises in their arsenal of tricks, they had withstood time and fires, so why not give a little back, besides they owed the old wolf’s some sort of alliance. They would never have had a chance at peace without them. Kneeling they checked their eldest son over making sure to put pressure onto the wound before taking him into the healer’s house. The Healer a middle aged man held a shotgun at the ready but lowered it once he saw who it was. He got to work right away in patching the injured man up. Crow watched as Isaac fled from the scene of the fighting it seemed like he had done as he had done years before a coward, to the end. Yet this time it did not seem he would be getting out of here with his life. Beo and Thane were close on his tail, blurs to the human eye. Crow grinned following closely behind them to see the justice done. Isaac panted falling just outside of the graveyard of the town, he needed to find shelter and hide or else he would be a dead man. A whistle in the air alerted him to the incoming projectile. The axe embedded itself into the rock of the stone beside Isaac’s head. Isaac gulped looking up into the two fur covered bodies of the wolves. They were larger than he had thought they would be. Standing almost ten feet tall both brothers were covered in thick black fur, the tales his grandfather told of them had been under exaggerating their height just a little bit, he had said they were both eight feet tall in beast form and strong enough to destroy a tank. While Isaac didn’t doubt that they were capable of destroying tanks he was more worried about what would happen to him. He had done so

much for things to fall apart when he was this close to finding the answer to his questions. The beast he thought to be Thane reached forward and pulled loose the ax from its resting place, placing one massive pawed foot with razor sharp claws on Isaac’s chest. He leaned forward and barred his teeth at him; drool slipped and fell with a splat onto Isaac’s face. “Plllllease, I don’t want to die just yet, I want to live, please spare my life and I promise I will never darken your doorstep again.” Isaac resorted to begging, hoping to hit on the beasts tender side, for it must have one, for why else would it save the survivors. Adopt a human child and protect the town as well as they have. Thane release him, snorting he turned and started away, Beo didn’t move staring into Isaac’s eyes before the night sky darkened and Beo lurched forward jaws opening and closing with a deafening crunch, Isaac didn’t even have time to scream. The white snow that fell from the heavens was soon dyed crimson in blood. The remains of the corpse soon started to turn blue with the cold and freeze solid from the weather. After the beast left, other night creatures started to feast upon the cooling flesh and all that remained were the tanks in the town square smoke spiraling into the air lazily. Kate raised her rifle again and pulled the trigger softly, the sound of the discharge echoed like thunder in the air. The soldier that had been running at one of the witch’s backs fell down dead. The witch whirled around and stared at the dead man, whose blood was starting to dye the snow red. Then she lifted her gaze toward Kate’s own. Kate raised her rifle and then slid down the slope of the hill she had been on. She couldn’t stay stationary for long, her uncle had taught her that along with shooting. She turned to start up another hill when another echo of gunshot split the air. She whirled around and a soldier that had made it up the hill fell slumped over in the snow. Her gaze drifted toward the shooter, Kim lifted her head from her hiding place, buried high in the trees, anchored by a huge werewolf, whose fur blended into the white ash wood. A streak of black and silver drew her attention and she turned seeing that another werewolf was battling a tank, pushing with brute force against the armored vehicle. The tank looked like it was holding steady, then with shrieking twist of metal the tank collapsed under the pressure of the werewolf. She turned around to scurry further up the hill and slammed into the furry body of another wolf. The bulk rose up high over her head, before twisting away to reveal that the wolf protected her husband, who had a knife wound that was bleeding sluggishly from his side. Kate stopped and dropped her rifle, kneeling beside her husband

she started to apply pressure to the wound. “I am fine, honey. Nothing but a flesh wound. You should see the pound of flesh I took from the other guy.” John stated, smiling behind his grimace of pain. Kate glared at her husband. “And you wonder where Haden gets his twisted sense of humor from?” Kate snapped, pulling out her walkie talkie and speaking rapidly into it. David replied back, and stated that he was heading in their direction. The wolf that had been guarding them dropped back as the witch that Kate had saved entered into their view. “Allow me to help you” The woman stated, kneeling down and pulling herbs from her pouch. “Here, this will help stop the bleeding until we can get him seen too.” She pressed the grass onto the wound and started to apply pressure to it. She and Kate smiled at each other, before a sound behind them drew their attention. Cane was in full combat with a soldier, he held onto the blade that the soldier had pulled out. Having knocked the rifle out of the man’s hands. Cane kicked upwards and twisted his body, throwing his opponent away from him and them. The other tucked and rolled, ri on his feet, he wielded the knife and lunged at them, only to have a large wolf tackle him to the ground and jaws snapping shut with a sick crunch of strength. Cane grimaced and looked away from the scene when the wolf’s body started to shift. Bones snapping out and healing rapidly as the body shrank back down to David’s normal size. “Wow, I thought I wouldn’t have that in me.” David stated looking down at the mauled soldier. “Guess I was wrong.” Kate cleared her throat and David raced over to look at the wound. “Seriously, you called me out for this. It is nothing but a flesh wound, almost like shaving but not quite. John, do me a favor when Haden starts shaving allowing Marcus or I to teach him. You apparently forgot where your face was.” David claimed, covering up how scared he had been with humor. John looked at his wife and then pointed at David, “You sure Haden isn’t his kid?” Kate smacked him in the head, and the witch watched the interactions of the pack. David nodded his head toward Cane, before he turned and started back toward the mansion. Shifting into wolf form with but a thought. He needed to tell Thane that he was getting the hang of this shifting thing, but just as David thought that he smashed head first into a stone wall and slipped downwards.

Nope never mind. Still needs practice. David shook his head then rose back up and started his lope back toward the mansion. He had felt secure with leaving them for a short while. Madeline had stated that the ghost of the mansion wouldn’t allow anyone that wished them harm in, so he had come out to help. He cleared the street and saw that troops had moved in on the mansion, he picked up speed. Scared of what he will find when he got inside. He slipped in through the door, remaining in lupus form while entering into the building. Bodies dotted the floors. Soldiers lay dead before him, and he didn’t know the cause of it. He decided to practice what Thane had been teaching him. He breathed deeply and took in sights, sounds, smells, and vibrations. Nothing… David couldn’t decide if he was just stupid or if he was really picking up nothing. “Relax, you would think that this was your first rodeo kid.” A voice stated behind David, who had jumped at the first sound that was heard. He turned around and saw a man with long shoulder length curly black hair and grey eyes. “I believe Madeline calls me the ghost of the mansion, so you have nothing to fear from me. I wouldn’t allow anything to harm those that live within these walls.” The man assured David, who breathed a sigh of relief and slumped down slightly. The man smiled before fading away from sight, and David went back to his semi vigilant stance. Outside the sound of battle started to slowly dwindle and fade as the rising of the sun spoke of dawn peaking over the horizon. The battle was over.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

When Stone woke he was wrapped in heavy blankets and sleeping beside him was a young man with black hair. Stephen’s hand shook as he slowly reached toward the young man, who as if sensing him jerked awake. “Don’t scare me like that.” The teen stated, his eyes flickering around the room before resting once more on him. “Thane and Beo want to see you when you are dressed; the clothes are over there. I am to be your watchdog until you have been cleared of your crimes. My name is Haden; I am one of the survivors of that little town you destroyed with your experiment” with that, Haden turned and left the room shutting the door behind him. Stephen sighed and standing dressed slowly, feeling the stitches in his stomach pull at every little movement. Afterward he knocked on the door after finding it locked and waited. Haden opened it and leading the way down the hall walked into a large room that had two dark haired men sitting down speaking quietly to one another. Both stopped as Haden and he entered. “Please take a seat, thank you Haden, that will be all for today.” The one on the left spoke looking back toward the young teen, Haden nodded his head, and took the twenty dollar bill that the man handed him with a grin and left without another word. The men turned back to look at him, he felt that he was being judged, and he really couldn’t blame them for it. Looking down he waited for them to prosecute him. “We have been looking through your journal and notebooks and you mention something about other experiments that you have done, care to explain them to us?” was the only reply. Stephen breathed in deeply then let it out and began. “I was ordered to run experiments on soldiers to make them stronger, faster, and deadlier, a lot like you. Most of the tests ended in failure, but I had a few successful ones, and those experiments ended up getting away. I had reason to believe that Gloria was behind their escape, but I could never find the proof. They have been causing chaos among the cities and towns. At the moment I did not know how to stop it, but now I think I might have a clue, I am begging you please, as a guardian of this planet; you have to help me destroy these creations. They cannot continue on with this destruction they have already started small

forms of chaos across the world. Please!” Stephen paused looking between them, “You are our only hope to salvation at this time.” Stephen stopped looking at them again, “I will take any punishment you want to give me, but please do this for me…” Stephen was not allowed to continue with his pleading as one of the brother’s slammed his fist into the table causing the sturdy wood to crack and groan under the abuse. “You have no right to plead or demand anything from us!” The brother rose, lips pulled back from his teeth in a very good imitation of a snarl, yet before he could continue he took one deep breath and sitting back down stated, “From this day forward until further notice you will have, a… how did Haden say it, ah a watchdog on you at all times, you will stay within Thane’s pack and amend to those you can, you are a doctor and will continue on with that, but you will aid and not destroy. As for your little experiments I think my brother, our packs, and I will be able to handle them.” The man rose up and started toward the door, pausing to look back, “Welcome to the Wulf pack, maggot.” Then he left, the door falling shut behind him. Stephen slumped he was not expecting to become a member and the lowest member as well, one that would be pushed to take the blame for everything that went bad and possibly be the one to get the dirty jobs, he hoped that they were not hostile toward the lower beings in the pack. But only time will tell, he lifted his gaze as a shadow fell over him; it was the other man, who hadn’t really spoken other than for thanking Haden. “Get up, I will not be harsh on you, Beo is aggravated because he almost lost a couple of his pack , if it hadn’t been for men and women of the town who decided that they would rather fight than hide anymore, then you would have had a lot more worse of a fate. Come now you will be sharing a room with David, not Haden, while the teen is going through his I don’t give a damn stage, he is not the best watchdog to be on guard duty. And on that note I have to go get a young child to go pick out a kitten.” Thane pulled Stephen up and then pulled away from him, and holding out his hand beckoned an adorably small little girl into the room, she smiled baring her two missing front teeth and ran in clinging to her father’s leg. David came in behind her, more calmly and also smiling. He looked at Stephen with little hostility but was wary around him, and for good reason. Stephen understood that he was the cause for these people not having a home and yet they seemed so content with this new life they had made for themselves. Sighing he followed David out of the room, only looking back once to see Thane lift the child into one of his arms, the scene resembling the statue that stands out in the towns square. Stephen paused, and thought maybe, with

time I can also be a part of this pack and not an outsider here because he has to amend for the crimes he did. Maybe it won’t be so bad to be in a family. Everything was getting back into order, the mayor had help come in to remove the tanks and other debris that had happened during the fight. The cops had helped to fix up the windows until they can get the repair guy to come in to fix or replace the windows of the business front. The stores were eager for the mess to be swept behind them, and continue on with the day or the future. Kim and Cane had their first date, with lots of fun ideas thrown to them by Madeline, who stated that they could go looking for kittens together. Thane vetoed that idea right away, allowing Madeline to hang off of him as she also crushed her new black kitten in her arms against his back. The feline was unconcerned about his close proximity to the werewolf, purring as loudly as he could within the arms of his tiny mistress. The kitten had come from one of Stone’s sisters who breeds familiars as well as works on the side as a Wiccan. She was more than happy to give Madeline a kitten, she refused payment of any sort. Insisting that all little girls should have a kitten. The little black kitten that Madeline had picked out was the runt of the litter, but Madeline stated very smugly that he would grow up to be as big and great uncle’s Michael’s familiar. Thane sighed and tried to explain to the Wiccan that Michael was his uncle and that Madeline had somehow learned about him. The Wiccan smiled and shook her head, stating that the child was special in more ways than one. The kitten was the descendent of Michael’s own familiar, and so Madeline had named him Desce. Kim and Cane went out to a small restaurant and then Cane took her dancing at a local club. They didn’t even have to pay for either of them because Thane had already called ahead and paid for them. Cane smiled at Kim, pulling her close to him as they slowed dance to a soft song. She was blushing and had been blushing since he had pulled a white rose from behind his back. Haden who had walked Kim down had joked that Cane better bring Kim home before midnight or else she might turn into a pumpkin, or Thane would turn Cane into one. That had earned him a glower from Kim, but a fond smile from Cane. Stephen had opened the door on their way out. Which had caused Cane to shift nervously in slight fear of Stephen, and on sensing this he had backed off and left the couple alone with the rest of the group. Haden had gone with Stephen to keep an eye on him. Cane felt bad afterward but Kim told him it was natural for him to fear someone that had caused a lot of physical damage to his person. So they

continued on with their date. Even John and Kate were able to get away on a date, allowing for Thane, David, and Marcus to watch the kids while they went to see a movie, and got something to eat at a pull in food place. Sitting curled up in the back seat of a truck bed, owned by Thane. They sat together and spoke about their past, present, and future. What had made the highlights of their marriage and what they think would be to come? John stated that his greatest achievement was asking her to marry him and having Haden. Kate smiled and pulled John’s hand over to rest upon her abdomen, and it was a few minutes before John got the hint. She was pregnant. His face lit up and he looked excited. Before he wondered if things would be fine. Kate smiled and said that Beo’s wife had already called in for her appointment and that Thane had already started on the nursery, hand carving everything out of redwood, and Haden was even giving helpful hints on what he wanted his sibling to be called. John laughed and pulled her to him, finding that for once he was carefree of what the future might hold in store for them. Because with Thane and the others by their side, they were ready for anything. Two days later, Cane entered into Thane’s office watching as Thane did the paperwork that came with being the beta of the main branch family. Beo was away and Thane was the only one that was allowed to be in charge, neither of the brothers leave at the same time, for one must always remain to be in charge. Thane lifted his gaze up sensing Cane in the doorway. “Come in Cane, I am sure you have many questions for me.” Cane nodded his head and moved forward to sit at the chair facing Thane on the opposite side of the desk. “When Kim and I were cleaning out the downstairs section we came across a bunch of photos, uh mementos I guess. The box was falling apart and they ended up spilling out of the box when we lifted it, and when we started to pick up the painting and photos I came across a photo of my mother in a Victorian era gown. I wanted to ask if you knew her since you have a painting of her in your basement?” Cane rambled on before falling silent at the ending of his question to look up at Thane. “Yes, I did know your mother. She was a very strong spirited woman. She had many suitors for her hand in marriage but only one of them ed your grandmother’s approval.” Thane looked toward Cane’s right where the tall slender man with long curly black hair sat reading a magazine. “Their courtship lasted well over a century and you and your twin brother were born in the early

nineteen hundreds. Victor was killed in a sense his body was destroyed but his spirit resides within this house you share much of your mother’s looks but have both of your parents abilities. About thirty years ago a battle broke out between clans outside of Haven while your mother was out looking around the world, your brother is somewhere in and you showed up here. I do not know how or why you started aging differently, possibly because you were around humans and they expected you to age like they did and as a survival instinct your body and abilities allowed you to do so.” Thane leaned back in his chair. “Your grandmother still haunts this mansion, and Victor (your father)” Thane motioned to the curly haired male who finally lifted his gaze to look at his son, “Is called the Ghost of the mansion and doesn’t allow those underneath its roof to be harmed.” Cane sat in silence taking all the information in. In the years he was in the orphanage he always assumed he was alone. No one wanted to adopt him because of his difference and no one wanted to be near him or be his friend. He thought he had an imaginary friend called Adalric, this friend looked similar to him but he had black hair curly hair instead of his white and his see through skin was a tone darker than his and his eyes were the electric gaze of a stormy day a silver grey. “Is there any way to track my brother down?” Cane asked looking between his father and alpha. “Yes, I have someone within our clan already on that.” Thane assured him as he leaned back in his chair. Cane stared in wonder at his alpha and then bowed his head in thanks. “Your brother would probably have the same memory loss that you do.” Victor mentions, ri and coming to stand next to his younger son. Adalric had been born before Cane, but both were precious in Victor’s eyes. “Your mother must have done something in order to protect you from the attacks.” Cane nodded his head in acceptance of the theory. “I believe that now you are here, those memories will come back maybe it will take a while but they will return, or they will return when you are reunited with your brother.” Victor contemplated this, “We will have to see.” “Now that your questions have been answered, I need both of you out of my office.” Thane stated, “I have lots of paperwork to cover and I do not want to be working on them all day because you two keep distracting me.” Cane turned and grinned at Thane knowing that Thane would take any chance to get out of doing

the paperwork. “You have fun with that paperwork then boss.” Cane replied as he stood up and strolled to and out the office door. Thane blinked after him and then turned and looked at Victor. Who just smirked and vanished before Thane’s eyes. Thane rolled his eyes and muttered drama queen under his breath before going back to work on the papers. He hated doing the paperwork after such a damaging battle. A lot of the town would need repairs done and he would have to be the one to start on the process. Since his brother decided now would be a good time to head to Africa. Sighing, Thane swept another sheet of paper out of his way and started reading once more in the silence of his own office.

Part Three

LEVIATHAN

Flight

Lifting the wings above the head a baby bird learns to fly, spreading and flapping barely strong wings to lift its fragile body off of the ground. The mother tweets encouraging it to never give up with one, two, three tries it succeeds to fly and vanishes into the sunset.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

It was a cold foggy morning; snow was falling in lazy spirals down to the cold frozen ground and the small ponds and rivers had finally frozen over, revealing small bubbles where air leaked from the openings in the ice. The small boy bundled up for the cold weather picked his way carefully through the low hanging branches and fallen logs over the trail leading to the graveyard. His parent’s parents had been buried here and he usually came to visit and bring fresh flowers for the gravestones. He had been told to be careful today for his father had not really wanted him outside with the presence of the military incident still being cleared away. Yet, the boy had insisted and so here he was crawling over a dead tree limb. He slipped and landed hard on his butt into the muddy track of a massive paw print. Shivering the boy pulled himself up, and looked closer at the print left in the ground, he had seen the brother’s forms only once when he had been younger, they had been huge and terrifying yet comforting to the small child. At the time he had been lost in the woods in the freezing Canada air, when the brothers had found him, and howling to let the others know where they were. They had curled around the small boy to keep him warm until more help could come. The child had broken his leg from a fall down a hill and had been terrified of being left alone. He had clung to the thick black fur that the brothers had, and had cried unto the fur for an hour before his father and the rest of the rescue team had shown up. The boy now drew many pictures detailing the rescue, all featuring his hero’s in their true form, yet the boy was still scared to be out here all alone. Taking another step he neared closer to the graveyard when something fluttering in the breeze caught the boy’s attention. The child stopped and looked curiously toward the area and then after a moment’s pause continued toward it. He stopped a foot away from the fluttering red cloth as the boy leaned in closer the wind shifted and the snow that covered the object blew away. Revealing a frozen body of a man dressed in torn and bloody uniform of an American soldier. The boy staggered back falling once again on his butt, hands braced behind him, flowers laying scattered around the child. The boy’s eyes were wide mouth open in a silent scream. As the child continued to stare at the frozen remains, the remains that consisted only of the upper torso and head of the human. Parts of the chest ripped out to reveal the ribs and spinal cord of the corpse and flesh and muscle lay in shreds of ratty

pieces of stringy flesh. The bloody cloth that still fluttered in the freezing breeze was connected to what once was an arm, but now a torn shredded mess of frozen bone. The boy scrambled to his feet turned and ran from the site, his voice, now brought back, echoing in the silent winter day. In the heavier foliage of the woods something large and misshapen moved in the darkness, glowing sickly yellow eyes peered out at the frozen corpse before the beast snorted and turned away from its latest kill, the little boy was not worth the creature’s time. The beast sniffed with disinterest at the scattered flowers. Its massive paws crushing the frozen corpse. The boy was too small to have much meat upon its bones, and so wasn’t worth the effort of running the child down. Huffing out its breath the creature started away from the kill zone, following parallel to the path that had been worn down from years of walking by human and nonhuman feet. The creature paused every now and then to sniff at the deep impressions left by another beast. One that had ed by not too long ago, the beast and its companions foot impressions were one of the few things that had lead the creature to this place. It was also the man that had created it that led it here. The man shared a connection with them all; although, the connection was formed by accident between creations and mad scientist, it was nevertheless created. The connection allowed for all the monsters to locate and follow the scientist’s every move. Anger and hatred boiled under the creature’s surface at the thought of its creator. The man thought he had killed it that night, but he would prove the man wrong and he would destroy everything the man held dear to him. Lips pulled back to reveal rows of sharp jagged teeth and a blackened tongue of the creature, the tongue flicked the gel like drool across its teeth and snapped its jaws together. As the creature thought of ways to seek its revenge. Thoughts of tearing the creator apart and all he holds close as well as bringing down the beast that left the impressions upon the earth were all that fueled the creature forward. If the beast that made the impressions resided here then it must be a friend of the creators and therefore must be destroyed. The creature went back to its cave that it had dug out from the ground and pulling itself in, and smashed the human skull that it had taken from an earlier kill. The boy’s parents looked worriedly at the child who lay curled hiccupping on Thane’s lap. The younger of the alpha Wulf brother was residing at Refuge while the eldest brother and a few chosen of the pack had left for a mission. The rest of the Wulf siblings were working on other projects around the world. The parents had brought their son here in hopes to calm the child down, after the boy came home from finding the corpse the child had been having traumatizing

dreams and refused to speak or talk to anyone. The body had been removed; it was someone from the military incident, a younger man that had fled from the fighting as soon as it broke out. Yet, it seemed that news of the recent military incident had caught up with the US government word had come that they were sending some agents to shift through the wreckage and find out what really happened that night and also about the disappearance of the men. Now it seemed the boy was finally calming down after telling one of his hero’s the horrible experience that he had witness, Thane like any patient being had sat there and diligently listened to the sobbing child retell, the what seemed to be horrible experience, and offered him his comfort as much as possible. The boy soon exhausted by the trauma that had taken place fell asleep curled up in Thane’s lap. After a few minutes of silence Thane stood carrying the bundle over to the parents and handed the child over. “You should keep a close eye on him and make sure he understands that what he witnessed wasn’t his fault, also try giving him some comfort. I cannot be here all the time to give him that.” Thane reassured the parents that the boy should be alright given time then sent them home. He knew that he was of no help to calming the child down, but he had helped in what he could. He and the rest of the pack had much to do. It seemed that the connection to Stone was bring about creatures that wished ill will upon him and those that shelter him. Thane’s eyes shifted toward the woods that surrounded the town, they would have to tell the mayor that no one was to enter into the woods alone that included pack and the coming agents, until the risk was found and taken care of. Stephen Stone felt that it was one of his creations coming here to seek revenge against him, Thane would have to trust Stone until the thing was proven otherwise. With a sigh he turned away from the window and entered the living room to see what his own pack was getting into for the night.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Hester sat in the enger seat as Alvar her partner drove the black SUV into the main strip of the small town. The sign at the town’s entrance, hanging high above the road, read welcome to Refuge. It was a little town where sidewalks lead to the entrance of every store, a large statue of a Viking holding a child and battle-axe, and what appeared to be a small fountain that entailed the entire town square. Yet what told another story was the broken glass, blood stains and bullet holes which riddled the square as well. Hester sighed this was going to be one of the biggest cases and probably the most frustrating one as well. Alvar pulled the SUV into a parking lot just outside of the small general store and turning off the engine looked over at Hester and smiled. “Relax; this is a small town, so we at least don’t have to deal with a lot of cops!” Alvar stated nodding toward the small police station that had boards across the windows that had been broken during the fight. Hester rolled her eyes at her partner, she had not wanted to be here to begin with and now she had to deal with country hicks. Just what she really wanted, hopefully these people had good hygiene or she was going to have to shoot someone. Shifting the weight of her pistol to a more comfortable position she nodded her head to her partner and headed toward the police station. Upon entering she was surprised to meet five men all who wore the police uniform and all were standing around the water tank; their heads had turned toward the entrance almost as if by a sixth sense had known that they would be coming in. Alvar cleared his throat, a little uneasy by the all five men, who towered over Alvar’s six foot two height, they all stood lazily one hand loosely holding plastic cups that were filled with cool water. Hester cleared her throat causing the men to shift their gaze to her, she was intimidated by this. They all seemed to be unwavering and didn’t blink, almost like a predator stalking prey. Alvar cleared his throat again to and all eyes shifted back to him, once he knew that he had all the attention on him, he started to speak. “Good day gentlemen, we are agents that represent the USA and we are here to work with you, not against you. So we would love it if you gave us your full

cooperation.” Alvar leaned forward and flashed them his badge, Hester did the same thing, “My name is Alvar Stones and this is my partner Hester Blighter now that that is over with may I ask who you guys are and if there are any more officers for us to meet?” Alvar stated holding out his hand for them to shake. The men stood watching him, eyes unblinking and then looking at one another in an almost silent communication finished their drink and started back toward the backroom. Alvar stood for a few moments then followed after them, Hester huffed and placing her hand on her sidearm followed behind him. They entered into the back room where the five men apparently were waiting for them along with three other men and two women. A total of five people, what appeared to be two dispatchers and eight officers, Alvar cleared his throat again and gesturing for Hester to take a seat began his briefing of what will be going on for the next couple of weeks. By Hester’s view the other didn’t seem to enjoy having them come in and demand stuff from them, most of them sat stiffly in the high back office chairs that were situated around a long sturdy table. “Did the mayor call you in or did someone else do so, because I can assure you, that we have it under control.” One officer spat, his black eyes shifting to glare at the female agent and then back toward the male. Alvar smirked at him, his patience wearing thin by the stony glares and hostile body language. “I can assure you, once the rest of our unit gets here we will be quick and proficient in dealing with whatever happened here and then be on our merry way, until then you will stay the fuck out our way and be as polite as possible with us until we can finish our jobs. I don’t care if you think you have it under control we got called in and we will complete this job.” Alvar nodded toward Hester that they were finished, but paused and turned around once more, “I was told that there is two brothers who seem to be the main VIP’s here I want to speak to them both. You will be nice and get them for me?” Alvar stated looking at the name tag on the officer’s shirt, “You will do that for me won’t you Rafe?” Rafe stood up his hands clenching into fists at his sides as Alvar laughed and headed out toward the SUV, Hester smirked at them pretended to tip her hat and headed out after her partner. Life was good when they got to show hillbillies who wore the pants in the relationship. After getting into the car she noticed that Rafe was standing at the entrance of the station the door open and his eyes watching them, lips pulled slightly back almost baring his teeth at them like a snarl. Hester’s breath caught in her throat, the man reminded her of a wolf that she had seen once in captivity, which had been doing something similar to his trainer just before he attacked the trainer. The trainer hadn’t survived the attack

and the wolf had to be put down. Shuddering at the horrible childhood memory Hester buckled up and leaned her head back against the headrest she was only imagining things and nothing more. Rafe stood watching as the two humans left the station, he rose and followed them to the door, watching as they got into the black SUV and starred with lips curled as they pulled away from the station. His mate came to stand beside him; her hand resting on his lower back in a gesture meant to sooth him. Rage boiled just beneath the surface, he hated being given orders by a being that had no clue what he was up against, who had no idea of the true horrors of the world. He also hated when they assumed they held the power in the city, but this town the ones who had that power were the Wulf brothers, and they were more than capable of protecting that power and right all to themselves. Speaking of the brothers, Rafe pulled his cell out of his pocket and hitting the speed dial waiting for the phone to be answered. After the first ring Thane picked up. “What can I do you for Rafe?” “The Feds are here, and they want to speak to you, pulled the whole I am the biggest dog in the dog park and you better follow me bull shit, they are bound to get themselves killed if we don’t stop them.” Rafe stated, reaching behind him to grab his mate’s hand and pull away from the door, allowing it to fall shut silently behind them. “Hmmmm, I see is there no other way to allow them to continue the investigation without alerting them to our presence?” “No, not without causing something major to occur, has Beo called with any advice Thane?” Rafe asked taking a seat at the head of the table, the rest of his pack sitting around him. His mate was making herself comfortable on his lap as she and the others listened to the conversation. “No, I think they ran into some problems as well, I will speak with the Feds, but for now I want you to listen to them and obey, try to keep them out of everybody’s business as much as possible, and try to keep them safe. I will see if I can find out what has been causing the murders and put an end to it as fast as possible, if not we will have a long time to wait.” Thane finished and then hung up on Rafe, not bothering to say goodbye. Rafe sat in silence, his mate looking at him.

“You know he is right, this is all that we can do, Only Thane and the head pack are strong enough for the other tasks our job is to be guardian of this town, when the head pack is away.” Rafe’s mate stated, her eyes shifting to look at her pack, the other nodded agreement, and shifted back, to get back to work. Rafe also nodded, standing he headed to his office to start on the paperwork that was piling up on his desk. His mate headed to her post manning the telephones. Thane breathed in deeply, looking out of his office to see that Madeline’s kitty cat, Desce, had once again knocked over the water vase on the stand near the window. The black daemon cat’s head was pressed up against the window pane watching the children playing in the snow in the back yard. Its tail swishing back and forth, sitting in the chair was Stephen who had taken to watch the daemon cat as well. His book lay forgotten on his lap as his gaze stayed upon the small ball of black fur. Thane knew that anyone entering into the house wouldn’t be seeing the innocent bundle of fur but a large fiery mass of killing fury, one of the reasons why he had agreed upon this cat in the first place. While regular animals tended to be terrified of Hamrammrs, earth daemons were a different story. And this one seemed to adore Madeline and Haden and the other of his pack and would protect them no matter which beast would befall upon them. As was the general lay of all earth daemons, they were guardians that were long forgotten by the humans and later made up as evil familiars to witches. He was just happy that he knew of a litter that had just been born, Stephen’s mother’s familiar had just given birth to a litter and he had allowed Madeline to choose one from there, the kitten was already growing in leaps and bounds. Already the size of a panther it tended to still act like a damn house cat trying to get onto the backs of the furniture or sleep curled up on Thane’s chest. Madeline on the other hand seemed to adore the damn feline, and so Thane allowed it to stay with them. Other than for the black cat now trying to push open the window to the squealing laughter of the children playing in the snow outside, Stephen seemed to still be trying to make heads and tails of his own journal entries to find all the creations that he had worked on. He sat within sight of Thane or even David who had taken to sitting next to him working on paperwork and checking over the children’s school work. Madeline and Haden had taken to calling David uncle D in honor of the pack and new family that they lived with. Thane had tried on many occasions to give his pack homes of their own, yet according to John who spoke to him, he felt safer within Thanes home and after the near scare of losing Thane those few times, he and his family wanted to be with Thane and the rest

of their small pack as much as possible. They each had a job now within the small town. Kate and John sold real-estate like they did back in their old town. They were also preparing for the new arrival of Kate’s and John’s second child, the child was going to be due in early December, and every one of the pack seemed excited. Marcus was a security guard for the elementary school, he kept an eye on Madeline and the other children from the pack as well as working some nights at the local hospital as a night guard. Haden was getting all A’s in his subjects in middle school, for the first time not needing to revolt in order to get his parents or any adult’s attention. David worked as a secretary for Thane hence the stay at home business and Kim worked as a counselor for the middle school, which allowed Haden someone to talk to when he felt that no one was listening to him. Even Cane had gotten a job, granted he was just an aid at the moment for the fire department but he was working his way up to a permanent position in the department. Yet they all lived within the mansion that Thane owned each party claiming a different wing of the mansion but all living together. Stephen had taken a room in between David’s and Canes room and didn’t seem to mind that he had to keep his door open so that they could keep an eye on him. Stephen seemed at ease with Madeline’s feline coming in and taking off with his stuff or Madeline’s odd visits in to play dress up and Barbies with him. The only times he got irritated was when he woke up and his hair was pulled into different pony tails and different curlers or bows. Haden had stated Madeline acted alone but the teens slight smirk told another story all together, and Haden had to leave the room after Stephen had found out he had braids and beads in his hair as well. It seemed that Stephen and Cane became the eldest brothers and seemed to have the worst luck with the children and pranks. Haden had taken to super gluing Cane’s stuff to the ceiling and Cane was becoming flustered with it. A knock on the door alerted Thane that it was not the time to be daydreaming about things, folding up the latest reports given to him by the packs and mayor he rose from his chair and strode out into the foyer of his office to look out and check on the children as well as head toward the front door. It would seem that the Feds were not giving in to waiting for anyone. Two feds stood outside his home, both men so these were not the ones that had been blowing steam at Ralf’s pack. Both feds flashed their bags at him before slowly putting them back into the inside pockets of their jackets. Thane noticed the side arms strapped to the inside of their jackets in holsters and lifted his gaze to theirs. “Sorry to disturb you Mr.….” the first agent left the line open hoping for Thane

to fill it in. Rolling his eyes, he obliged them with his response. “Thane Wulf, may I ask what all this commotion is about. I just got a call from the police complaining about FBI trying to pull rank in CANADA. Need I remind you people that while Canada and the US are neighboring relatives we are not under the same jurisdiction as you think we are?” Thane took a step out so that Madeline’s cat wouldn’t try to interfere with this, David and Stephen had also shown a curious attitude to the arrival of the FBI. As soon as the door closed the other agent cleared his throat having to look up at the suspect’s giant appearance. “We have orders to bring you in for questioning, so please don’t put up a fight and come with us quietly.” The agent reached forward to pull at Thane’s arm, who rolled his eye and pulled back, pulling the smaller man toward him and off balance. The agent lost his balance and grip and fell over the railing, closing his eyes he expected to feel the pain of concrete rippling across his face, but none came. His eyes snapped open and he looked up toward where one of his foot had been grabbed by the ankle, the giant had him hanging upside down, by one hand. His partner had drawn his gun and was now pointing it at Mr. Wulf. “Release my partner right now or else I will fire at you.” Thane looked dully at the other agent then pulling the one he had in his hands pulled him back over the railing and released him slowly onto the porch. The man sat clutching his chest breathing raggedly as his partner came to kneel by his side to check to see if he was okay. “I didn’t want my daughters or sons to have to see what a mess he would have made all over the concrete floor!” Thane stated jerking his head in the direction of the backyard where five sets of eyes peered out at them. While the parents of the children were gone they resided with one of the alphas or another pack member, at the moment half of the main pack had gone with Beo leaving the children with Thane to watch over them. They call him father or grandfather depending on the child, since his own older children had started families of their own. The agents were now just noticing the audience, cleared their throats and tried to put on a different approach. “Sorry for the misconception, if we appeared like we were trying to bully you into this then we are not, we just need answers to questions posed and would like it if you would please come with us?” the men shifted for the first time feeling

uneasy as the golden eyes pierced and held them. Then, Thane nodded opening the door to grab the thick trench coat that David held out to him. “I shall clear all of your appointments for the rest of the day then sir.” David stated, looking down at the notebook in his arms and back up at Thane, who nodded his agreement to the plan. “Thank you, David. Make sure to get the kids in for dinner, and have Cane and John check all of the doors and windows and make sure they are locked. This might take a while, also make sure the kids have had a bath and are in bed by ten.” This last statement was met with groans and Dad, Uncle, or Grandpa each by the respected child. Madeline and Haden among them seemed to be the only ones that seemed upset over Thane having to go anywhere over the snow day holiday that had been given to them. Thane looked sternly at his daughter and then his other charge. Haden nodded his head getting the unsaid order to protect his younger pack mates and pulled Madeline closer to him. He nodded back at Thane and mouthed ‘be safe to him.’ Thane arched his brow before nodding back and crouching down, held his arms out to embrace all the children. “Behave! all of you, and do not cause any more damage to the house, and Madeline make sure to listen to the adults and no more picking on Stephen or Cane.” He pulled back and ruffling a child’s hair stood back to his full height. His coat bellowing out around him in the sharp cool breeze. “I shall be home soon.” Thane finished before he nodded to the two agents and followed them down to their SUV. Both agents didn’t know what to think of this, the giant had a large group of people staying with him, the children they were not expecting, along with the many titles that had been thrown at the giant. The man didn’t look old enough to be a grandfather, especially to ones that seem to be about five to eight years old. A Father Maybe and uncle, yes, but grandfather… No, the men led the giant to their car and after making sure that he was strapped in and the door was locked pulled out of the drive heading back into town.

Chapter Thirty

Hester and Alvar waited in the Mayor’s office for their men to bring in Thane Wulf, they had gotten a call from one of them telling them about the incident which had happened and was more than eager to meet with the man. The buzzer from the secretary’s desk informed the two and the other agents in the room that Mr. Wulf was downstairs and was heading up to them. Alvar nodded to Hester who cleared away lunch and pulled out her knife. Time to get this show on the road. The doors opened and in rushed Agent Cody his usual self-assured bastard attitude having taken a back seat to fear, as the man they were about to interrogate walked across the threshold of the office. Hester allowed her knife to fall to the floor, her eyes wide and mouth gaping at the massive being standing in the doorway of the office. The two agents which had led him in had backed up and allowed the other man room to move. The eight foot clearing of the door seemed almost not enough for the seven foot two male as he strode all the way into the office. Hester stood up, the toe of one of her shoes kicked the knife, and reminded Hester that her job was to be bad cop, and Alvar would play good cop, she rushed to correct her error. Damn it she wasn’t a rookie, new on a case. “Welcome Mr. Wulf we have been waiting for you!” Alvar stated having recovered first; his eyes though were still wide and wild looking around the room at the other agents. Hester nodded her head, pointing toward the seat she continued where her partner left off. “Take a seat, we have questions to ask and you are going to answer.” Hester pushed a chair back for the giant to sit down on wanting him at least a little bit lower in height so as not to intimidate her. Thane looked hard at the woman causing her to stumble back a few steps before sitting down in the seat they pulled over to him. With a shake of his head he stood back up quickly and motioned to one of the agents to come over. Bending down to the agent’s height he whispered that this chair would not hold his weight and to bring in one of the chairs that had been in the room beforehand. The man looked unsurprised, went out and came back in dragging the sturdier chair to place next to Thane. Thane nodded and thanked him before handing over the small folding chair to the agent and sitting down. This apparently upset and flustered the woman agent; she

slammed her hands on the desk and glowered at Thane. “You think because you have the money to roll around and flash at people that you can have whatever you damn well please. Well let me tell you something sugarplum, you can’t and it will be just a matter of when you break down and spill all of your dirty little secrets that we will have you.” Hester snarled, she leaned in as close as she dared to the man and then he lifted his head up and straightened his shoulders rising above her even while seated. Her face now only reached his throat. Mr. Wulf chuckled as Hester had to scramble backwards to see his face. She glared at him and turned to face Alvar who was staring at Thane almost like he was a lab rat that needed to be dissected. Thane turned and stared steadily back at him, causing Hester to grow more angry. “Listen here you little shit…” she reached forward to grab Mr. Wulf and found her hands snared by one of his, his eyes shifted back toward her and then he stood pulling his hand to be above his head lifting her off her feet without even showing a twinge of having to exhort any form of energy on her slight weight. Hester gasped, she didn’t have the strength in her to try to struggle against him. Alvar shouted a curse and started for his handgun. Just then the door slammed open and the police officers streamed into the room, Guns drawn and ready to be used. “Everybody takes it easy, no one moves and no one will be shot.” The lead police officer stated looking around and taking in the scene. After spotting Thane he motioned for the others to put up their guns and then snorting Ralf shrugged at Thane. “Sorry boss I guess I didn’t realize they would go out and get you personally, they didn’t seem the type. Do you want me to get them out of here?” Thane shook his head no before vocalizing it out loud. “No, they are just doing what they were paid to do, no need to jump the gun. Back down and leave.” Thane slowly lowered the female agent back onto her feet, yet as soon as he released her, she slashed at him. Catching his forearm with the sharp edge of her blade, hissing he pulled further back and looking at the bleeding wound glowered at her. The lady had no respect for other people it was clear to see the way she treated her coworkers and the police crew. Alvar had also pulled up beside her, pulling Hester to the side and quietly arguing with her about proper protocol. Thane snorted drawing the other’s attention on to him, he had pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket and wrapped the wound up as best he could, blood slowly staining the white cloth red. The cloth was also to cover up the fact that the wound was healing at a rapid pace, far more than a normal

human’s wound would heal. “You wished to ask me questions, do so, I have a mansion full of people and children that need me. So make it fast.” Thane retook his seat, and Hester went over to open her mouth again. Thane cut her off, “No, not you, not until you learn proper respect to your elders, I will answer your partner’s questions or anyone else who asks them, but I will not answer yours.” Thane waved his hand in dismissal and turned toward Alvar. Hester glowered at Thane then turned as well to Alvar as if asking if he was for real. Alvar waved her over toward her own seat. “Sorry about the hostility toward your person, I shall ask for a doctor to come look at that wound, but in the meantime can you tell me what is going on here. My coworkers and I have been asking around and all of the town’s people have been tight lipped stating that they will only speak if you or your brother says it’s okay. You seem to have acquired a lot of loyal followers for whatever the crap you are doing here.” Alvar stated leaning in closer toward Thane even though Thane still towered over him while sitting. “We seem to think you have the entire town brainwashed to do your bidding, you and your brother, so if you could set us straight on that we would like to move on to what actually happened here that night.” Alvar looked expectant at Thane, who had turned his gaze back to Hester. Hester seemed to be more interested in cleaning off her blade and glowering right back at Thane. “I am sorry. I cannot answer that question, nor can I answer any of your other questions. My advice would be to leave and head back to the US and tell your boss that the situation has been handled but knowing how you people usually react. I can figure that is not what you wanted to hear.” Thane finished just as Alvar smashed his open hand across Thane’s face, the ring on the human’s finger sliced deep into Thanes lip drawing blood. Thane flicked his tongue out and gingerly touched it to the split. Before glaring at Alvar who had pulled back and was huffing in deep breaths down upon Thane. “Since you do not seem to be in the mind to talk I will let you stew for a few days in the tank and then see if you want to speak to us. You four take him to the tank and let him sit there, maybe after a couple of days and nights alone without food, he will be willing to spill his guts to us.” The agents nodded before heading forward and motioning for Thane to stand up. Thane did as asked and allowed them to push and prod him out of the room, the last glimpse he got of the two were heads bent together speaking, their quiet voices carrying to his sensitive hearing.

“Do you think by locking him up the townsfolk will start to talk or do you think they will try something stupid?” The female agent stated her gaze shifted to look at Thane’s retreating figure. Thane barred his teeth at the human allowing his eyes to flash before he faced forward and moved along the path toward the tank. Hester could not believe how everyone seemed to have so much blind faith in two men, granted after seeing one of the Wulf brothers she could say she was terrified of them. Thane Wulf’s sheer size was intimidating he reminded her of the creature in the Frankenstein novel, granted the creature was taller but still scary all the same and the way that he had just stared at them with the stone cold look of a predator. Hester shivered and looked up from her paperwork at her partner, she had acted on reflex when she had sliced him open, granted she had felt bad about it afterwards and she had not really wanted to hurt him. She had allowed her fear to get the better of her, and Alvar had reacted simply on the premises that Thane had manhandled his partner and deserved to be smacked and battered like Thane probably had done to his late wife. Alvar hated wife and children beaters and he didn’t mind showing it. Having been raised by his aunt after his father had beaten and killed his own mother then himself, he felt he was justified in his actions against others like that. Though it seemed that he too was a tad upset over his actions, for he kept calling the agents on the walkie talkie and asking them if the prisoner was okay. Hester rolled her eyes, but knew that if she had control of the damn thing she would be doing the exact same thing. They never did call in for a doctor to look at the wound on Mr. Wulf’s arm, but she didn’t want to pester her partner any further by bringing that up. Sighing, she lowered her head back down to her paperwork. In another few hours she will go down and bandage up his wound herself and bring him something to drink and eat while she was at it. She knew that Alvar would never starve one of his prisoners no matter if they deserved it or not. Outside in the “tank” Thane leaned back against the cold steel of the cage door and stretched his legs out as far as the cage would allow, he didn’t feel bad about being smacked around and cut up, his senses had told him that both humans had done so out of instinct just like he would have done so had he been cornered. Shrugging his shoulders he shifted into a more comfortable position and looked out at the coming full moon, in a few more days a harvest moon will be here and the marks of scars he had now on his body would be gone, healed like all other injuries that he had sustained over the long centuries of his life. He looked out toward the tree tops and threw back his head and howled, finding an odd sense of pleasure when the four guards jumped and moved away from the cage. Soon

enough answering howls filled the night sky and then fell silent as the message was carried on toward his home. He had called to let them now he was being held and that he would be home as soon as possible that all would be well given time, not to worry about it. The leviathan lifted its head from its cave dwelling, taking in the echo of the howl and then moved forward, that howl wasn’t from another creation, awe dawned across its ugly features as it pulled itself from its dwelling and lumbered at a fast pace toward where the song had started from, he wanted it. The beast that made such a beautiful noise, he wanted it for his own, to force it to sing for him and if it refused it would pay. Its sickening yellow eyes glowed in the darkening night as it lumbered closer to the town it stalked. The creature will be his and would sing such lovely songs to it and stay by its side for always, it let loose a sickening coughing hack of a laugh as foam and spit bubbled forth from its mouth. It would make sure that no one stood in its path and once he had the creature he and the beast would tear Stephen Stones apart and all that he held dear to him… more black froth and spittle spilled from its gaping jaws as flesh fell away from it. It paused as if to catch its breath then continued onward into the darkness.

Chapter Thirty-One

Hester looked at her watch and seeing that it was almost midnight decided to go down and do as she had promised; it seemed that her partner had fallen asleep. One of his hands on the walkie talkie and other tucked under his chin and clutching his paper works in his hand. Hester pulled his jacket to rest lightly over his shoulders before she headed down, making sure she grabbed a bottle of water and the first aid kit on her way. She stopped a few feet from the tank as the lack of guards surrounding the premises seemed to cause her slight discomfort. Looking around into the chilly night she tugged her coat tighter against her body before she started forward once more, then she spotted movement and stopped her open hand going for her gun, just before the light of a flashlight washed over her. She squinted and made out that Cody was the one behind the light. “Would you turn that thing off?” Hester grouched coming forward and past Cody she stopped at the door of the Tank and nodding toward the other three guards she punched in the number for the door, hearing a slight ting she opened it and stepped back gun raised ready for the giant to lunge at her. Nothing happened in fact the man turned his golden gaze toward her, black hair ruffled by the breeze coming through the small window and he just stared at her. One of his knees was bent, arm resting on it. The other leg stretched as far as it would go in the small confines of the tank. Hester stared slightly awed at the beauty of the scene before shaking her head and holding out the bottle of water almost as a peace offering. Thane Wulf was one hot man, that was all that Hester could think of as he leaned forward and took the offering with a small nod of his head, his black hair falling into his face. The heavy black trench coat seemed to keep him warm or otherwise he didn’t complain about the cold, he opened the bottle and brought it to his lips taking a large gulp of liquid and Hester gulped herself watching as a small drop of fluid rolled down out of the corner of his mouth and slid down his chiseled jaw to round over his bobbing Adam’s apple. Hester cleared her throat her head becoming cloudy once more before rattling the first aid kit that was still in her hands. “Came to patch you up as well big guy so might as well move over cause I am coming in to help you out.” Hester didn’t wait for a reply not needing one as Thane still was busy drinking, though his golden eyes did not leave her for a moment. Seeming to watch every move she made as she opened up the first

aid and started rummaging through it. The four guards had apparently taking this as their cue to wonder off, because as she lifted her head to ask for a flashlight something smashed against the side of the tank causing it to tip and Hester to fall forward toward Mr. Wulf. Thane caught her with ease pulling her to tuck her under his chin and against his chest; he took the brunt of the fall on his shoulder then back as the metal cage rolled once then came to a stop resting against one of the reinforced pillars of the mayor’s building. The metal of the tank crunched inward, jagged pieces ripping upward. Hester screamed as a piece punctured through Thane’s arm just inches from her face. Thane grunted with pain but otherwise made no other indications that he had gotten hurt from the destruction of the flipping ‘tank.’ Hester was clutching onto Thane’s Trench coat now covered in what little was left of the bottle of water, she lifted her head to take in what had gone wrong, something big moved out there in the shadows. Ragged breathing could be heard as it shifted in and out of the darkness. Hester was reaching for her gun, then upon finding her holster empty realized she had handed it to one of the guards to hold while she was in the tank with the prisoner. Her breath escalated as she felt the first wave of panic grasp her. Yet, before she could even begin to start up on her own panic, she felt Thane move and shift her onto the metal seats his trench coat now covering her dwarfing her with its size. She tried to reach out and grasp at the man as he stepped calmly out into the chilled night, head stooping to clear the tank’s entrance then straightening to his full height. She did what she should have done when the damn thing was still rolling, she grabbed her Walkie Talkie and called up Alvar trying to get him awake to come to the rescue like he has always done when she got herself into a tight situation. A scream rent the air just as Thane came back reaching in and grabbing her he pushed her toward the entrance of the building crowding her into the path he wished her to go, but never once actually touching her, his fingers in a flash of weak moonlight seemed off. Sharp and deadly and his eyes as she dared to glance up at him were glowing. Another terrified scream filled the air and Thane finally decided that the human wasn’t moving fast enough because he reached down and hauled her into his arms and leapt forward just as Alvar opened the door, Thane shoved the human into the other’s arms and then slammed the door shut on them both, reaching forward he twisted the handle until with a shriek of metal tore it from its position on the door and locked them in for now. Thane turned back toward the darkness and shifted his eyes taking in the blood splatter that had sprayed across the pillars and the flashlight that lay still spinning in the snow. The creature was here, and it seemed to have targeted him,

but why? Thane eased into a crouch moving forward at an easy pace, he sensed the two humans within the building following him alongside inside the bulletproof glass, that may be able to offer some protection, but after having the thing flip the damn cage, Thane was likely to bet that the creature could just rip right through it. He followed the bloody trail until it disappeared into the woods, he would have to wait until another time he could pick up faint heartbeats a couple yards away, three of the four guards were alive, injured by the smell of it, but alive. He went forward to aid them and bring them back to the square. Before he arrived he slowed and sniffing the air let loose a howl to let the others now to be expecting him soon with injured. Then he continued onward, seemingly unaware of being watched from the darkness. The leviathan shifted its weight and snorted as the man howled his beautiful song to the night sky, its yellow eyes taking in the muscles and strides of his new prey. Blood dripped from his claws and mouth and with a huff he left the man to finish his kill. Turning back he ambled over to the man who was trying to crawl away blood pooling underneath the man’s body and stomach as he pulled himself forward. The creature behind him let out a horrible coughing noise sending black foam and spittle all over the agent’s body. Cody let loose a cry of fear and quickened his desperation of trying to get away. Before he could make more than a foot the creature slammed its foot down on top of Cody’s back cracking his ribcage and causing his internal organs to explode. Cody coughed up blood. Spewing it across the frozen ground and snow before him before his eyes went blank. After the death of the human the leviathan lost interest in his kill and left the broken body to be found for later. With a snort it looked once more out at where the man had gone and then it too vanished into the darkness that swirled around it.

Chapter Thirty-Two

The morning was a welcoming affair for Hester and Alvar both had been waiting crammed up against the glass as the Mr. Wulf came trudging back into sight, carrying three of the four agents that had gone missing, the men seemed dazed and out of it, some sporting deep gashes on their bodies, others broken limbs. The two officers that had arrived on the scene had pulled their guns and had kept close by the remaining agents that were locked within the building. Yet, at the sight of Thane walking toward them they lowered the guns and went to relieve him of his extra weight. Setting them down softly onto blankets that were already placed down for this, almost like they knew beforehand how many would be needed and what to do. Alvar smacked his hand against the glass to get someone’s attention, anyone’s he wanted to know what the fuck was going on and he wanted answers now. Thane lifted his head and looking at them shrugged the snow from his shoulders and started forward stopping only once to wrench the doors off its hinges before stepping aside to allow the agents out of the building. Alvar and Hester made a wide arc around Thane before running to the three downed agents and kneeling beside them. The doctor that was kneeling with them was working fast stitching up wounds and mending bones as fast as he could, his assistants both moved onto the other two cleaning out the wounds, giving pain meds to them, and getting them as comfortable as possible to be moved to the hospital. “Will they make it doc?” Alvar asked looking up at the white haired aging man. The man nodded looking at the other injured before answering. “They seem to have gone into shock but hopefully they will pull through okay, Thane Wulf saved them by bringing them here as fast as possible, I am sorry though that he could not have saved the fourth one.” The doctor stated while clipping the thread to the stitches before moving on. The attendants then worked together to lift the injured into the vehicle and secure them for the ride. Alvar lifted his head as the head of the police department came back into the area; he looked toward the doctor and shook his head no. “Whatever it was did a number on the agent, we are going to need help to move

his body.” Ralf stated lowering his eyes to look at the older man. Alvar shuddered before turning toward Hester. “What could have possibly done this?” Hester had gone pale looking up at the head officer who was still communicating with the doctor before turning her attention to Thane. he was leaning up against a pillar allowing one of the doctor’s assistance to stitch and bandage up his wound on his arm. The puncture had been unclean, bits of metal having gotten caught in the bones. This wound would take longer to heal, and his shoulder had been dislocated from the impact, but the bone and t were already on the mend. Although, he would still be tender for a few days. Hester could feel the heavy weight of Thane’s coat still hanging around her, she stood up and sharing a look of fear with her partner both started over toward Thane. Just as they were reaching him a black SUV pulled up and a small child with pigtails leaped out of the car, the driver was yelling at the child who was racing toward Thane, tears streaming from her eyes. A young teen had also leaped from the car as had a few other people all ignoring the driver who was yelling out curses toward them, then something large and black leaped out as well quickly outpacing everyone else as it barreled into Thane’s chest. Hester and Alvar stopped dead watching as the massive feline tried to crawl its way into the taller man’s shirt, head butting Thane for kisses and pats, before rearranging itself onto the man’s broad shoulders. The little girl was next, slamming into Thane’s legs and almost causing him to lose his balance, she was quickly followed by the teen, who latched onto Thane’s midsection burying his head into Thane’s stomach. The others came to a stop as if seeming to understand that Thane had enough on his plate. Although, a small Asian woman took up the other side of Thane and started babbling and sobbing into his shirt as well. The police officers seemed to have found it funny since they were not coming to his aid and were trying to hide their laughter. Thane on the other hand seemed calmed by this reaction hefting the feline to lie in a better position across his shoulders. He wrapped an arm around the two clinging to his sides and started to reassure them that he was fine and all was good at the moment. Hester cleared her throat as did Alvar getting all of the audience’s eyes on them. The little girl sat on Thane’s foot clutching at his calf as he seemed to lift the others up and move with them to stand next to the others. “So this must be the people who are waiting at home for you, He he!” Alvar stated looking around the small group that stood surrounding the giant of a man. The child glowered at him in return sticking her tongue out and blowing a

raspberry at them. Hester seemed shocked Alvar had always had a soft spot for kids and families, and could get along with any child of any age, yet it seemed the little one clinging to Thane did not like Alvar. Alvar rolled his eyes and started again. “I must apologize when I saw you lift my partner I assumed you used your brute force to abuse those who have come to be under your care. I should have looked further into the matter before assuming.” “You are nothing but a big Meany head, picking on my daddy like that.” Madeline stated her eyes once more watering, the Asian woman nodded her head almost as if in agreement, but before Madeline could continue her verbal speech Thane cut her off. “Madeline you do not say such things to people, respect them. Furthermore, I would feel much better if I could take them home, please meet up again tonight for dinner, you and your group will have your answers and are more than welcome to my family for dinner.” Thane then ushered the group back toward the SUV stopping once to turn toward Hester, “you can bring my coat back then!” and then slid into the enger seat of the vehicle, the feline having to leap into the back to avoid being squashed by the squeeze into the car. After the car left the others continued with their assigned duty, Alvar and Hester went back in to put things in paperwork and get ready for tonight. Something big was going to go down tonight and they had just been included in on it. So calling in the remaining that hadn’t gone to the hospital or had died they only had nine and then themselves to in on the manhunt.

Chapter Thirty-Three

As soon as darkness swept across the town the people started to lock up and close down, as was the order until the beast had been captured and disposed of. The hospital where the agents were resting had an increase in security; the guards from the schools were called in to help protect the injured agents. Meaning Marcus was away at the hospital and would not be back until morning. Madeline and Haden had been given whistles to blow if something tried to take off with them, not normal whistles but dog whistles, Thane would be able to hear it even while in human form. The whistle hung from a silver chain around each child’s neck, the other children had one from the very beginning since being born into the pack. The children would eat dinner with them then Kim and Kate (who was a few months along in her pregnancy and would only slow them down) and Raven’s mate and Crow’s mate would take the children into the panic room for the night. The woman while usually capable of holding their own in a battlefield were more worried for the young ones that would be with them. Especially the child yet to be born. Kate seems worried that the baby will suffer from the stress. She worried that the others would think her slow and unproductive when she started showing more and became more dependent upon them. She knew that Thane didn’t care about that, him having been married with several children of his own, adopted and otherwise. The other adults and the remaining of the pack had set up perimeters around the mansion, and were ready for the showdown, Stephen had agreed to play bait, and was waiting for the others to arrive so that they could eat and the children could be put into the safety room. He paced back and forth occasionally tripping over the damn cat, what had Madeline called it, ah Desce. He snorted, the daemon cat yowled and hissed at him in turn before curling up on his bed. The cat was a nuisance but one he wouldn’t change for the world. He continued to pace looking out the door at Cane’s and David’s room seeing them sharpening the Hamrammr blades given to them. He felt calmer now than ever before as he took reassurance from his brethren, a snort from David had him looking up and seeing that the young werewolf was pulling Barbie doll parts out from under his bed, let loose his own snort of laughter which was quickly followed by Cane who started to laugh at the sight of Ken naked under David’s bed.

“Yea, well I wouldn’t be surprised if one of the kids hadn’t left a naked hulk doll under your bed… HMmm!” David stated smiling and waving the naked doll around in his hand. Cane turned paled then dropped down to start looking underneath. Stephen stopped as well catching on he also dropped and looked under his bed. Nothing breathing a sigh of relief he looked up and saw that Cane did indeed have a naked hulk doll now in his hands, Stephen and David started to laugh again, while Cane cursed the manufacturing company for allowing the doll to be able to be stripped. Thane stopped outside of their doors watching them, one eyebrow arched high as the two men waved their dolls around. He turned and walked away not wanting to ask any of them what they were trying to do; he would need to to tell them that the dolls were for the children, and not for them. The doorbell rang allowing the pack to form a sense of a line around the long table and wait, both packs were excited to be meeting new people, Madeline was excited about having new playmates. Though Thane said that the adults were here for other reasons and not to play with her but it wasn’t a problem she and Desce couldn’t fix. She allowed her hand to drop down under the table where the massive daemon usually dwelled doing meals, the brush of silk fur against her hand, as well as a wet nose allowed Madeline to giggle a little before falling quiet again. Stephen turned his eyes toward her, because usually when Madeline giggled she was up to trouble and that usually meant he, Cane, or David were the objects of said trouble. The sound of feet approaching the hall allowed for the noise to settle some. Then, the agents came in following David into the room, Thane was already seated at the head of the table, it was a smaller version of the great hall which was housed in Beo’s household. Hester and Alvar lead their small group into the house after seeing the driver from this morning opening the door. The person smiled waved them in and then after closing and locking the door lead them down a long hallway littered with toys. “Excuse the mess, the children tends to leave their stuff all over the place.” David stated running a hand through his hair as a nervous jester. Alvar hummed an agreement almost sliding on a toy brush before righting himself. The others followed more slowly and at the end of the hallway was a double door David opened it and entered into a well-lit room with a long table and rows of seats, Alvar stopped to gawk at the amount of food and people sitting down waiting for them. Before Hester nudged him and walked past him to take a seat opposite of

the little girl. The others followed her example Alvar took a seat opposite of the man who had answered the door smiling a little at the other. Thane started the meal quietly other than for the children and teens throwing food and stuff back and forth across the table or the brush of silk fur and wet nose pushing up against legs or loosely hanging hands to startle the agents into dropping food for the feline to eat. Desce was more than your average daemon cat, he was the descendent of Thane’s uncles own familiar and was bound by the powers that governed this planet to be faithful and protective to all of the ones that dwell within his shadow, and he could cast a pretty big shadow. After dinner the women moved and took the children with them, Madeline raced over to Thane launching herself at his chest before sitting in his lap telling him he was to take Desce with him or she wouldn’t allow him to go at all. Thane nodded his head allowing the child to kiss him on the cheek before she scampered after the other children. Haden made a motion of peace before he too left with the others. Alvar snorted before speaking, “So who is this Desce, thing should I be worried that this thug is more dangerous than you, Mr. Wulf?” Just as he finished his speech the massive feline leaped onto the table wolfing down some unfinished food before shifting glowing red eyes toward the agents. Stephen sighed in relief the giggling hadn’t been because of him or the others apparently Madeline has some new playmates ing her. Stephen snorted and shifted around, glad for a reprieve in that sense. Alvar leaped out of his chair and the other agents reached for their handguns just as David waved his hand at the feline snapping at it. “NO, bad Desce bad, you do not jump up on the table, that’s a bad kitty.” Desce leaped down with a high pitched meow and weaved itself in and out until it leaped and perched itself upon Thane’s shoulders. Thane deemed to ignore the feline for now opting to focus on the agents. “Here is what I need for you to do, you will stay out of my way tonight or I will have my packs lock you up in the police station, if you haven’t noticed I am not someone you want mad, plus you are not capable of handling what killed your coworker so I must insist that you stay here. Though I would say you may use this time to snoop around my manor I would also like to say that you will be on guard duty in case my pack cannot bring down this creature. John and Cane will stay here with you as will a few others and will help to defend you in case things go wrong. It is almost time, we must leave. David, Stephen you know what to

do, let’s go!” Thane looked once more, hard at the agents then left. Followed by a few of his pack out the door, the others stayed behind watching the agent’s reaction to the order. Alvar and Hester shared a look as the other agents took up posts around the mansion, Mr. Wulf was right about one thing they were going to be snooping but not here, they slipped out while the other agents started a distraction for them pulling out of the manor and following after the tracking device that Hester placed in Stephen’s coat pocket. The man didn’t even notice when she leaned against him asking for the salt and slipped it into his pocket. So they were going to find out what is going on and then break this case wide open. Alvar nodded toward Hester and both broke out the heavy side arms. Then they followed the group into the darkness of the forest behind the town.

Chapter Thirty-Four

Stephen paced the cemetery where the first body had been found, calling out to the creature, his creation. It seemed on this harvest moon night that he would not be getting an answer. Stephen stopped after a few more calls, brows furrowed as he listened to silence that echoed in the darkness. Lifting his gaze he stared at the full heavenly sphere that floated like an illusion upon the stars. Something broke the silence the treading of feet upon the snow, Stephen turned toward the noise making out the slim flash of a light, and he stood waiting for the two agents to move toward him. “I knew you were behind this somehow, ha ha you and that Mr. Wulf are going to be going away for a long time.” Alvar stated, moving closer toward Stephen who held up one of his hands. “This is a misunderstanding, you are going to get yourself killed. I would advise for you and your partner to leave.” Stephen stated looking around wearily; a howl broke the silence, Stephen’s eyes widened. Thane was calling the beast since it was not answering Stephen, it would surely answer Thane. There was no more time to plead for the agents to flee to safety; they would just have to prove stronger than their mortal lives permitted them to be. Stephen took a step forward intent on at least pulling them closer to him; he might offer a chance of survival. Then he felt it. The creature was here watching, waiting, it had come. Stephen whirled around and saw the creature, his Leviathan rising out of the shadows of the cemetery; its face was falling apart, flesh peeling from bone to hang off of its body. Black foam oozed from open wounds and spittle dropped onto the floor, no longer able to be contained by the jagged blood stained teeth. It stood watching them; Hester took a step back watching the giant of the creature snapped its neck, bones popping into place with a sickening crunch. Hester grabbed at her partner who gripped her in turn, staggering backwards a step and away from Stephen. “Steeeeeeeeeepheeeeeeeeeen” the creature rasped out its teeth clicking in an ugly parody of speech. Stephen took a step forward, raised his hand and opened his mouth to say a command. The creature moved before he could even voice a

word. Slashing its hand out he caught Stephen in the chest, bones fractured and Stephen smashed against a tree slumping forward slightly spewing blood onto the snow. He lifted his gaze to the creature who looked at him, curiously. “Suffffffffffffffer, DIE” the creature turned toward the agents. Alvar had enough time to push his partner out of the way before the claw slammed into him knocking him head first into the stone of a tomb. Hester brought her gun up and fired her entire clip into the beast. Black blood sprayed across the ground but the creature didn’t even flinch, it turned toward her and swung its claws, she turned and started to run but the beast caught her leg and flipped her, she felt the bone snap and screamed out in pain. “Sufffffffer, DIE” the creature rasped again turning to face Stephen once more. Stephen was struggling to his feet gripping at the tree branches, the creature lunged at him, but was pushed back as Alvar rose firing his gun into the creature as well, and he strode forward to stand before the beast and Stephen. The creature snarled and lifted its limb to swipe the head off the silly human, Alvar closed his eyes waiting for the death blow, and this was so far above his pay grade. The sound of flesh grinding against steel reverberated into Alvar’s ears, his eyes opened and he caught sight of thick dark black fur, lifting his gaze higher he met the sight of steel armor and leather. Pounding feet alerted Alvar to more people, he forced his eyes away and met those of David. “Sorry we came a little late, it was a bitch trying to park the car.” He was lifting Hester up into his arms and carrying her over toward Stephen who was clutching at his chest. Stephen pulled his hand up and flicked David off, before reaching forward and pulling Hester against him. “Go, I am fine, I will keep them safe, just help Thane!” Stephen stated nodding toward the battle taking place a few meters away. The massive black wolf was ripping flesh from the other creature tearing limbs off and tossing them away. It seemed the more limbs rendered from the creature the more limbs it grew. “Right, the others will be here soon, Alvar man don’t just stand there come over here where it’s safe, and sorry I forgot the popcorn and butter but next time right…” David grinned and saluted before pulling his shirt over his head and shifting, dark brown fur soon covered his body and he rose from his meager height to reach almost six feet with his wolf form. “hahahaha I thought you would be bigger David, I mean come on look at Thane

he is almost ten feet in height, and you are just so small….” Stephen couldn’t help it laughing at the brown furred werewolf who turned around and flicked him off before loping to the battle. Launching onto the beast’s back he started to rip out the bones protecting the heart. Soon the sound of thundering feet alerted the agents and Stephen to others. “And here comes the Calvary damn I would hate to be that thing at the moment.” Stephen picked up the light to shine it towards the battle. Illuminating the terrifying scene of massive wolves tearing apart the creature, and the creature for its part was doing a good job holding its own against the smaller wolves throwing them off of it and into trees or tombstones. Yet Thane, the leviathan could not throw off or even budge for a couple of feet away from it. It shrieks of rage soon turned into screams of fear and desperation as the wolves became relentless until Thane stuck his massive jaws into the chest and withdrew with the beast’s heart clutched in his jaws black blood still slowly being pumped out of it, the creature flopped to the floor and then it combusted into flames the heart slowly following in its fiery death. Thane and the other wolves threw back their heads and howled out a victory toward the harvest moon before loping away into the darkness. Thane was the only one to remain turning back toward the three humans he stepped towards them. His glowing eyes piercing them even in the darkness. Hester was shivering, still ing the zoo from her childhood. Then the massive wolf turned and left loping away after the other. Stephen sneezed before he reached into his pocket and finding the keys to the SUV managed with the help of the other two to get them to the vehicle. Sitting relaxed inside was David, nursing a busted lip and broken finger but otherwise fully capable of watching Stephen. “Thought you could use a designated driver for the night ladies, since you all decided to get a little bit over your heads with a few to many.” David smiled before he took the keys and started the car, then escorted them all to the hospital. Where Marcus was sitting at the front desk with a flashlight and handgun, David stopped slightly to look at him then grinned and stated. “Funny is it not, a hospital is how our pack all started off with, a few survivors and one large as hell wolf man willing to protect our butts.” David glanced up at the harvest moon and then the sound of the echo of Thane’s song dancing in the night sky. Marcus grunted pointed at Stephen who was being helped into a wheelchair. “You think we should tell Madeline that you and he should be off of her playlist for a few days. At least until you both have healed that is.” Marcus stated, David

looked at him, eyes wide. “What and ruin her surprise for him, no! He will live.” David looked toward the other injured, after a few days of rest all of the agents will be on the clear bill of health. Snorting he started to head back out toward the car twirling his keys in his hands and thinking how wonderful life was with a large family such as his. “See you at home gramps” David stated as a farewell and turned to leave for home. “Must you always come out of things with that attitude kid?” Marcus asked, reaching up and rubbing an aged withered hand down his face. He looked over at David who had paused on his. “Yea, it’s the only way I know how to process the shit compost that our lives have become. Plus it really irritates the bad guys when all I have to say is witty and sarcastic comments. It makes them think that they should rethink the whole bad guy gig and just get out of dodge while they still can. Because apparently if they continue, then they will be facing a crazy person.” David raised his fingers in a two finger salute before stepping back out of the automatic doors.

Chapter Thirty-Five

Stephen woke hours after the last nurse of the night shift had left, his eyes wide he looked around the room which he slept in, he was covered in sweat from his nightmares. He sat up and looked at the rising sun, the ray of hope for his future. Smiling he looked down and sitting on his bed was a naked ken doll. His smile widened, of course Madeline would have been to see him; he was after all her favorite playmate. Rolling his eyes he lifted the ken doll up and looked closer at it. Looked like the kitten was teething again he shivered and looked around the hospital room. Finding nothing of interest he looked back out the window, he knew deep down that he had more than one creation running wild; Beo and the others were onto some of them, but what if more had followed him here to Refuge, he shuddered at the thought. Then looking out he caught sight of Thane still in Hamrammr form standing on top of a hill not far from the hospital. A feeling of calm washed over Stephen, Thane was strong enough to take on anything manmade or otherwise he has proven it time and again. Feeling calmer he laid back in bed and let sleep claim him once more. Hester woke up with her leg in a cast sitting in the bed next to her was her partner, a bandage around his head and chest. Both knew that this day, this week wouldn’t be simply a by the book report anymore, sighing she looked out at the rising sun, and felt a calm fall over her. Whatever happens with her boss back in the US, if she gets fired or what not, she knew that she had one place to return to, she looked down at the foot of her bed where Thane’s coat was laid and smiled yep, she was sure to come back here again someday, she shared another look with her partner and she knew that Alvar agreed with her on this one.

Part Four

SLENDERMAN

Shadows

Shadows come and shadows go, Leaving prints upon the world. Some have wings and halos to mark the goodness of the soul, While others create darkness within thy home. Tears are shed as leaves would fall; Changing colors in a kaleidoscope of blurring shapes. Shadows build in moonless evenings, spreading like puddled water Across the ground. Yet, light can embrace darkness! Erasing all the shadows sound. Illuminating from within, the wings that have hidden amongst the villains.

Chapter Thirty-Six

The shadows moved in the dark as it rippled across the gurgling stream, ice slowly choking the bubbling water into a solid mass. It rolled in smoke like fashion across the road and into the thick underbrush of the woods. Animals nearby sensing the oncoming of creeping death froze or fled the sight. The black shadow like being rose unto its hind legs eyes glowing red in the weak lighting of the night. It was a new moon, not even the piercing headlights of ing cars punctured into the darkness of the shadows. The creature scented the air, its breath misting outward in the frozen winter night. It was closer to finding its creator and soon it shall have its revenge. Eyes narrowed down upon the ground that lay innocently beneath its darkness. Death, death shall rule the night and he shall rule death. The harsh winter wind blew noise through the slumbering forest. Its own clicks and snarls filled the air with a speech that only the creature could understand as eyes rove over the silent scenery. It chose at seemingly first appearance a random direction in which its flowing like body shimmered over objects and obstacles that entered into its path. When ed the plants and other living organisms were dead having been absorbed into the creature itself, barren dirt covered in a type of black tar like mold remained to mark the end of the living plant. The sky was darkening with the clouds threatening for snow later on in the evening. The creature did not care, it could neither take comfort in warmth or struggled with cold temperatures. Like many of the creations created by Dr. Stone, this one had only one main purpose in mind. To kill, to destroy and leave chaos behind its path. Over streams, across meadows, and a great lake nestled into the rocky ranges of mountains lay a city slumber. A couple of cars pull onto the snow covered road leading to the small inn and breakfast that resided near the town’s borderline. The two large SUV’s came to a halt just feet from the entrance of the inn. The headlights illuminated the very warm and welcome lodgings within. After a few minutes of the car sitting idle, the driver’s door on the first vehicle opens and out stepped Hester. Her hair was pulled up under the warm parka that she was bundled in. she walked back toward the other SUV. The other driver rolled the window down.

“How about we call it a night, buy a couple of rooms and start fresh in the morning?” Hester asked looking at her once partner, Alvar. After they had gotten back to the states they were debriefed, and when neither of them offered up a proper explanation. They were fired. Now having a lot more free time on their hands, both had decided to show their families what the little town of Refuge felt and looked like. Hester herself felt both exhausted and happy all at the same time. She felt she was home after years of traveling, she had finally made it back home. “That sounds like a plan.” Alvar confirmed turning his gaze onto his sleeping wife in the seat next to him, before shifting it toward his sleeping twin sons. Hester nodded, she had her own siblings that were sleeping as well. Although her sixteen year old brother was still up and active; playing a video game on her cell phone. Her brother had not even noticed that they had stopped for the night. So enthralled with the game that he barely noticed anything going on around him. Hester opened the door to the enger side and waited until a moment came to draw attention to herself. After her parent’s fatal car accident almost three years ago her brother, Miguel, was easily rattled. The psychologist said it was due to the trauma of losing their parents so fast; however, Hester felt it had to do with their parents’ accident being from the need to pick up Miguel from after school practice. Miguel had been on the track team before the accident, but now he refuses to do any sort of activity with school and seems to need constant reassurance that Hester and his other two siblings remained close to him. His attention finally shifted to Hester who motioned him to unbuckle and bring his luggage and his younger siblings bags into the motel lobby. After watching him disappear within the doors, Hester retrieved her other two siblings. Rachel who was ten and Charlett who was four, out of the back seat of the car and into the lobby. Where Alvar and his family waited for them. “Here is your room key, we are the next door to each other. I will see you in the morning.” Alvar stated, shifting one of his sons around in his arms to hold out the key card to Hester. Miguel took it from him without a word, hefting the bags up once more and silently following Hester and the others to their room. While walking they bumped into a tall dark haired golden eyed man who side stepped

closer to the wall to avoid collision with them. Hester felt her cheeks heat up in embarrassment. “I am so sorry, it was an accident. We have been on the road for too long and are all very tired.” Hester rushed to explain her behavior for not watching where she was going. The man only raised one hand, his voice low and rumbling like distant thunder. “Please, you have no need to apologize. No harm was done,” and with that he continued down the narrow hallway of the inn. All Hester could do was breathe a sigh and trudge forward with her burden of sleeping children. Although Hester could not shake the feeling that she had seen the man before or at least another who bared a striking resemblance to him, but she was too tired to think about it now. A little ways away Thane Wulf sat in his office going over sums and s that have been used. Madeline’s cat laid curled before the open fire place. Basking in the heat put off by the burning wood. It was the first night in a long while that Thane found himself unable to sleep. So he was catching up on the paperwork littering his desk. Partly hidden beneath the landslide of papers sat a picture frame of a beautiful woman, her face lifted toward the artist with a soft smile adorning her delicate features. This woman had been at one point Thane’s wife. She had given her life to protect both refuge and her children’s lives about a century had ed since the woman’s death and tonight marked the end of his grieving cycle. Thane was both worried and mollified, while he had loved his mate dearly she had not been his actual mate. Unlike his uncle Michael he had yet to find his true mate. Thane had fallen in love with his wife after marrying her to help settle a peace treaty between wolf packs. Her death weighed heavily upon him, yet for the sake of his pack and the others he needed to move on. There were more creatures out for him to seek and destroy. Stone had told him another creation was making its way toward them so he must prepare for everything. While Stone had a slight connection to all of his creations he could never tell for certain which one they will be facing next. With a heavy sigh, Thane returned his attention back toward the work ahead of him. Only time will tell if fate was on his side or on death’s side.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Dawn broke slowly across the snow covered ground around the Inn just outside of Refuge and lit up the side of the windows on the east side of the building. Inside of the rooms Hester groaned and rolled over, pulling a pillow over her eyes to gain a few more minutes of sleep. However, the sunlight streaming in woke the younger children causing them to rise from their shared bed and come charging at Hester’s bed. “Wake up, Wake up, sis!” The second youngest demanded climbing up onto the bed and kneeling by Hester’s side. “Wake up, the sun is shining and I see people outside.” The child continued looking wide eyed underneath the pillow. Hester groaned again and rolled over, stretching her arms above her head before rising to a sitting position on the bed. Her other sibling was wiggling underneath the covers of their brother’s folding cot, his head also buried underneath the single pillow given to them. Hester laughed out loud before ri to her feet. Drawing her sister up and into her arms she moved past the cot and into the small kitchen and bathroom area to start on the coffee. Miguel only remained in bed for a short while later opting to rise after his sisters disappeared into the kitchen area, he crept toward the window and pushed the curtain back peering down and out into the cold cruel world. Miguel spotted the man which they had run into during the early mornings before, leaning against a post. Air smoking out into the cold morning and staring off into the distance. Two other people stood around him, almost like a meeting between of mafia or crime lords. Miguel shivered, half hoping he was being overly paranoid with the thought, but unwilling to actually look away from the three strangers. Watching half hypnotized by the tall man, Miguel started as he felt icy fingers touch his shoulder. He knew who the fingers belonged to, his dead father. Who seems to haunt and protect them even after his death, Miguel chanced a look behind and noticed his mother was also there along with the family dog who was also dead. Neither of his dead parents spoke just stood beside him looking down upon the scene as well. Sheepishly peaking upward at their faces, Miguel could see that they did not seem overly alarmed by the three men, but were instead merely curious about them. Miguel shrugged, dropping the curtains he wandered into the kitchen and sat down watching his sisters interact with one another. If

his parents were not concerned with the men then Miguel knew they would not be a threat to the family that remained. He knew that his ability was not common and he was afraid to tell his older sister that he could not only see their dead parents but other spirits of souls that have yet to on. He was afraid that she would think he was crazy and have him locked away in a loony bin somewhere where he could not save them. He knew that their parents’ death was no accident like his sisters and everyone else thought it was, and he didn’t blame himself for their deaths either. He didn’t know how to explain what he saw that night when the car crashed, but he knew that whatever he saw was not something of this world. He shivered as the memory of the night and hurriedly finished his breakfast. After a hurried breakfast the three picked up the stuff they had discarded around the room and packed it away into the rest of their belongings. Miguel allowed for his parents to circle around him and out the door, he never did like watching them or the dog phase through things. The visual always made him shiver because unlike how average people expected ghosts to move through walls, he actually had to see the ghosts move. The phasing through objects was a lot more gory than it was made out to be because face it the souls are just as real as the flesh and blood form. Moving through things is possible but very difficult, the organs the body becomes even more see through and organs are pushed outward, bones and flesh decay and the soul kind of eases into the molecules of the wall and then slowly forms back up again, sometimes it doesn’t really work and things get knocked over or falls. In other cases, some souls, those that have been souls far longer than others, have mastered the capability of light jumping. At least that is what Miguel is going to call it. Light jumping is when a soul uses the bending of light to travel across the plane of existance able to go from one area to another or even use another living person’s soul energy to move to them. Sometime even the person who has their soul used can feel the usage by either becoming instantly drained of energy or feel so hot that their breath fogs the air around them and assume that they are cold; therefore, the mind plays tricks upon the body to make sense of what happened. Miguel continued onward down after his two sisters who stopped and waited for the other family to catch up with them. Miguel didn’t understand why they were all in such a hurry, but his eldest sister seemed excited about their arrival in the town. He was almost ready to ask about her excitement when the door opened behind him and in walked the men that had been meeting outside. This made Hester pause as she took in the height and

build of the man in the front. Their father stepped forward, lifting his chin and ri on his toes to compare height with the leader.

The Meeting Outside

Fenrir stood in the dawning of the cold morning, his coat long and thick to keep out the chill of the morning breeze. He leaned lazily against a lamppost his breath misting out in front of him with each exhale that he took. The other two men stood facing him, their coats a little bit shorter and not as heavy. They shivered in the morning dew. One of the men was retelling the same information that Fenrir already knew. Something was heading this way, something that did not bode well for Haven. The creature was leaving behind a massive trail of agony, decay, and death in its wake. Fenrir could smell it in the blackened soil of the forest when he had gone to investigate the mishaps and complaints of the towns and cities around Haven. More and more disappearances have been taken place, and more and more bodies are starting to show up with the same sickening features. The bodies have been burnt almost with acid, until the flesh seemed to bubble up and peel backwards from blackened bones. The two men were smaller shifters then Fenrir was, they belonged to the head clan and were under Beo’s command. When shifted they were not as large or powerful as the beast that Fenrir or any of his siblings could take, but they were faithful men and did not scare easily away from the first signs of danger. Fenrir didn’t pay much more attention to them, the hairs on the back of his neck were standing on end. They were being watched. Turning around he noticed in the window above them a teenage boy, he stood staring down at them. When he noticed that he was caught he backed up from the window, and beside the boy stood two ghosts. From the appearance they were blood related to the teen. The boy seemed comfortable with them there, so either the teen can see them or he had no idea that they hung around him. Fenrir didn’t bother to think too much into the boy, he was of no threat to him or his pack. From the smell of the woman that had run into him last night, in which the boy had been there, she was the one that had Thane all worked up and ready to posture for her. Fenrir cocked his head in thought. Thane was lonely and while his sons and daughter and his own pack were big enough and strong enough to

cheer him up, Fenrir felt that a mate would be able to complete the circle. He hoped that Thane acted soon, the woman seemed just as eager to be with Thane as he was to be with her. Besides, Thane’s sent was very strong on her, he had already started the process of courtship. Fenrir grinned and turned around heading to the lobby of the hotel to see if he can maybe observe the woman and her family and friends at a closer level. It would seem either way, which Thane’s pack was going to be getting a lot bigger…

Back to Miguel

The leader also paused his golden black eyes seemed to be taking in the ghosts show of fooling around. Miguel held his breath, but the man didn’t stare for too much longer. Hester called out to him. “Thane???” Hester stepped forward and reached out her left hand, almost as if she wanted to touch him. The man stepped back and shook his head. “I am sorry ma’am but you have me mistaken for my older brother, my name is Fenrir.” The man continued to stare Hester down. Hester dropped her hand, her cheeks heating up in embarrassment. “I am so sorry, I… You look so much like your brother…” Hester let her voice fade away and looked down at the floor. The man smiled, his face becoming more open with the stretch of muscles moving from his teeth. “It is okay many people confuse my brothers and I all the time.” Fenrir stated, he turned and nodded toward the other men. They nodded back and left the hotel the same way they had come. “I… I mean my family and my partner’s family are thinking about moving here, we just got let go from our jobs.” Hester replied, feeling herself blush again at the easy manner in which she was spilling her secrets out to the man. Fenrir nodded his head, his short black hair grazing across cheekbones and ears in unruly curls. “Haven is a great town, no one can do better by it. So please go on and look

around, I think-” Fenrir paused to maul over his words before he smirked and continued, “I think you may even run into Thane here, I am sure he would be delighted to show you and your friends and family around!” Fenrir lowered his gaze to the small children clinging to their parent’s or sister’s leg. “I even think the children would love to be able to play outside with the other little ones.” Hester nodded her head, carding her fingers through her little sister’s hair. The little girl lifted her head up to look at her big sister, before giving a shy smile over toward Fenrir. “I guess we will be seeing you around town then?” Hester stated as her partner nodded to them, letting them know that the rooms had been paid for and they were ready to get out of the hotel and back in the cars. Fenrir nodded his head and watched as the two families walked out the door and to their cars. Fenrir continued to observe the two families all the way to the point of them driving out of sight. Then he pulled out his phone and called Thane, who answered on the first ring. “What is it that you had to call?” Thane grumbled, the voice becoming deeper over the wavelengths. He was trying to once again push the blasted cat off of him as he held the phone to his ear. “I just ran into your little human. She is quite the catch, her parents are a little strange though.” Fenrir finished, ing the ghost of the woman’s father trying to get a rise out of him. The ghost was foolish, did he not realize that as a wolf, Fenrir can easily dispatch him off to the underworld. Thane snorted at the comment. “Are they really? I thought they would have ed on by now?” Thane pondered, as he reached under the cat’s belly to pull out a piece of paper that the feline was sitting on. Thane also pondered how his desk could take such a massive weight and still be standing, but he decided not to dwell on that for the moment. “Yes, well I also called to let you know that we have been getting reports of decaying forests and an increase in missing people reports. Have the other packs keep a tight look out, whatever is causing the damage is not weak.” Fenrir turned and studied the hotel lobby he was in, before focusing his attention back on the conversation on hand. “I fear this winter will be filled with decay.” He

murmured more for himself than his brother. “I cannot agree with you more.” Thane agreed, rising from his desk he didn’t bother to bid farewell but hung up his phone. He needed to start preparing much sooner than expected. He strode out of the room.

Chapter Thirty-eight

Hester made sure that her siblings were both in the car before she started the engine. She glanced over at Miguel who was staring into the back seat at his younger sister, but quickly turned around and pulled out his Gameboy and started a his game. Glancing at his older sister, from the corner of his eyes. She smiled gently at him, scared of asking what he had been staring at. After she had come back from Heaven the first time she had started to notice things that had been going on around her family that she had not noticed before. Shadows that should not be where they stood, and the feeling of being watched when no one was around. She had assumed that she was the only one to notice such things, but on further inspection she noticed that Miguel would be looking at something in the corner or speaking to nobody. She was waiting for a good time to bring up the idea of their parents might still be around them. She pulled slowly into the empty parking lot of another hotel, but before she and the other family could fully get out of the car an Asian woman came running up to them. “You must be Hestew and Alvaw, come, come this way. You no stay at hotel. You stay with west of pack. You and family. You kids come to” The Asian woman motioned them forward and started to walk away from them. Alvar and Hester shared a look but got back into their cars and started down the road after the little Asian lady. She led them through the town and to a large mansion type area where the gates swung open as they pulled up. The road leading there was a circle and allowed for vehicles to pull in and out of the drive without having to go through the gate. They pulled into the driveway, and pulled up all the way to the mansion before both cars came to a complete stop. The Asian woman was walking up behind them having pressed the button to have the gate closed. She was grinning all the way, having ed the first time David had come back after his first shift, still in were form and trying to hit the code to get inside. Thane had to explain to him that he could just jump over the gate, and David had to deal with Madeline’s teasing for the rest of the week. The Asian woman came a stop and allowed for the two families to clamber noisily out of the cars before she motioned for them to follow her inside the massive building.

“You, come this way, I will show you the pwopew wooms that you will be sleeping in.” The Woman addressed them. Miguel looked at her nervously and she stared back for a few minute before she realized that she had not introduced herself to them. “So sowwy, My name is Kim, I live with west of family in lawge house. Mw. Wulf asked me to show you awound and to make you comftowable.” Kim bowed down to them, before rising once more and motioning them to follow her inside the house. Alvar shrugged at Hester when she looked at him, but he carried one of his twin sons into the house behind the woman. His wife and the others followed in behind him. Sitting almost energetically on the steps was a small little girl, she had her hair in pigtails and sitting patiently beside her was a large black cat with green eyes. The cat sat majestically on the steps watching them with curious eyes, but quickly rose and followed the child down to rub up against Kim’s legs. The four younger children were entranced by the size of the house, but also by the large cat that was proving to be a good distraction. Alvar allowed his son to slowly slip to the floor so that he could pet the kitty. The little girl came to a stop by Kim’s legs, almost shyly hiding behind the older woman. Kim smiled softly down at the child, but then turned her attention back toward the large group. “This is Madeline, she is Mw. Wulf’s adopted daughtew, and she is only six years old. The othew child of the house is Haden, he is at school at this time but you will meet him again duwing dinnew.” Kim stated, she nodded down toward Madeline to say hello. The little girl waved softly at them. Hester felt her heart go out to the child, for the little girl looked scared at meeting them. Everyone was startled out of their silence by a soft tenor voice calling out to Madeline. “Madeline, where are you Madeline. I thought you wanted to go over the concept of science and astronomy?” The man that stepped out of a room further down the hall, paused almost stunned by walking into the larger group. Madeline raced over to him and lifted her arms up, demanding silently to be lifted up. The long dark haired man bent over and lifted her into his arms. She instinctively wrapped her arms and legs around him so as not to fall. “I am sorry, I didn’t realize that we would be having company over.” The man stated moving silently up to greet the newcomers. “My name is Raven, I am Thane’s eldest son!” The man stated shifting his younger sister in his arms to his hip so he may offer a hand for them to shake. Hester gulped, looking the man up and down. Raven seemed to be in his early

twenties. Hester decided wondering how old Thane was if he could have a child this old. Raven turned and stared down at Hester. “My father has been expecting you and your partner for a couple of days. I hope the drive up here was not a difficult one?” Raven inquired, turning away to move slowly down the hallway. Kim followed behind him, and the rest of the group followed behind her. One of the girls, Charlotte had picked up and was carrying the black cat as gently as she could behind them. The cat’s rump dragging along the floor, as the child walked. The cat just continued to purr lovingly to the little girl. Very happy to be having so much attention and loved bestowed upon it, even if the child was too small to carry him properly. Alvar leaned over to Hester and spoke quickly to her. “That was not the same cat that was the size of a panther is it? And look at that hottie move, he is Mr. Wulf’s eldest. Man sure knows how to make kids, just think about how your own monsters will look like. Sex on legs!” Hester smacked at Alvar as they moved to follow. Raven turned and gave the pair of them a bland look over his shoulder. “And Vulcan hearing too.” Alvar added before being shushed by his wife. They were both then distracted by the beauty that made up the mansion. It was both beautiful and lived in feel to the place. Raven was pointing out odds and ends and filling in the quiet talk with the children. Answering any of the bizarre questions that they could come up with, and boy did they try to outdo one another with the most bizarre questions ever, but Raven kept calm and almost seemed to enjoy the enthusiasm the children had. “When will Mr. Wulf be coming back?” Miguel asked looking around the place. Raven paused in answering one of the little ones’ questions. Turning his gaze to look at Miguel. “Soon, he is checking the borders of the town, there have been some strange sightings in the woods.” Raven commented turning his gaze forward to continue on. Miguel was startled usually and adult wouldn’t pay much attention to him, excusing his interruptions as meer insights of an over curious imagination. However, Raven hadn’t just stopped and answered him, he had spoken to him in the same calm even tenor that he spoke to everyone else. Whether it be an adult or child. Miguel looked back down the empty hallways, toward where his parents were waiting at the entrance of the mansion. They hadn’t followed them into the mansion it seemed they were weary of the strange symbols that decorated the stones, iron, and windows of the building. “What do they mean?” Miguel asked pointing at one such symbol. Raven paused again and looked back at Miguel. Miguel shrunk backward at the penetrating

gaze, no adult should look like that. Raven opened his mouth to reply but another soothing deep voice answered first. Startling everyone in the room. “They are wards to keep the mansion and the people inside safe from evil spirits.” An almost whispered voice sounded. Everyone turned and look at the new comer. He bore deep scars across his face and head, he was bold because of the scarring. The scars ran underneath the collar of his shirt and could be seen when he moved or shifted in his spot. Nobody had seen him sitting there in the darkness of the hallway. His eyes was facing out the window from the seat in which he rested. The light of the stained glass reflected and bounced off his scars. He turned his eyes and head toward Miguel. “You ask very interesting questions for a soul so young.” The man continued uninterrupted by anyone. Madeline squirmed her way out of her older brother’s hold and scrambled toward the new man, who moved his arms to allow the little girl to clamber into his lap. He turned back toward the window. “Crow, you silly brother.” Madeline chided pushing her hands against his face and pulling his cheeks up. “No need to be so mowbed.” Crow arched an eyebrow unsure of how to handle the child’s pronouncement of his views. “My apologies, the wards do not affect the spirits that are benevolent, your parents will be fine inside the mansion.” Crow confirmed turning back around. Hester inhaled and turned to look at her brother. “What is he talking about?” She stated moving to stand in front of Miguel. Who backed up and bumped into someone behind him. “What is he talking about, Miguel?” Hester stated again reaching out to grab her brother by the shoulders. Miguel flinched away or would have if large hands hadn’t landed on his shoulders first. “Peace Agent Hester, my son is talking about your parents spirits who are unused to what is going on around the mansion.” Thane assured Hester, moving the boy to his side. Miguel stood in stunned silence at the size of the man. Both Raven and Crow were tall and lean and muscular, but this man towered over them. Dwarfing them in size and mass of broad shoulders, narrow muscular hips and long muscular legs that spoke of years of training in the gym. Hester at the sight and sound of the man she had been dreaming of since she had left the town, stared up at him with such a look of awe and wonder.

“You mean the apparitions i have been seeing around us are our parents?” Hester questioned floored by the concept. “Yes.” Thane answer, reaching out a hand to steady Hester from swaying. Hester looked around her dazed by the concept of her parents still being among them. Her two younger sister had decided that since they were not being supervised they could run havoc all over. The cat trailing after the three girls. The twin boys were clinging to their father’s legs at the size of all the strangers. They had liked the lady who had let them in, she was nice but these guys were just too big for their liking. Thane looked over the group, the wife of the male officer had inched closer to her husband. She was just as scared of Thane as her two sons were. She herself was not a very tall person. Standing only at four foot nine inches tall. She still had to use a booster seat in order to drive places and wear heels in order to reach the pedals. So the men so far were a very intimidating feature for her. She reeked of fear and uncertainty and while she had been comfortable with the smaller Asian woman walking them around, the added addition of another giant was a little flustering for her. “I am sorry, I … You” Alvar’s wife began and stopped, trying to come up with a way to politely ask for her family to be left alone for the rest of the day, while they cope with the knowledge that they were surrounded by a vast majority of tall people. “I apologize, please allow Kim to show you to your rooms and take to the time to get better acquainted with your surroundings.” Thane implored bowing slightly over Miguel, who gapped up at him opened mouthed in surprise. Thane noticed and continued on with his speech. “You may invite your parent inside the house, they are more than welcomed as well.” Hester nodded and started to turn to follow the Asian woman, Kim to their rooms. She paused and turned around hoping to make a statement about how he looked today, but he was already gone. Hester sighed and followed along behind everybody else. Making sure that Miguel was in front of her, as well as her parents. Who had by then materialized next to Miguel. Their hands brushing along his hair. Kim led them down another wing of the mansion and dropped each family off at a large section that had once been primarily for visiting guests, but now will most likely end up as their rooms. Kim paused just outside Hester’s door

watching as the families checked out their rooms. More specifically she checked out how Hester acted to the generosity of Thane. Kim smiled, she knew that Thane had a soft spot for this woman, and was willing to play matchmaker for him. He deserved to be just as happy as Kim and the other of his pack.

Chapter Thirty-Nine

The creature reached across the trees and snagged the deer upon its long white finger nails, blood soon oozed out of the wounds as the beast devoured the deer. Decay spread across the radius of the monster. Black as night in an almost suit like appearance, with a white faceless oval skull, long slender limbs that branched out like trees and created the resemblance of a multi armed human, long slender body, and jagged sharp fingernails. It had sensed the movement of the other hunter and had hid amongst the trees, standing tall and thin as the massive wolf like beast loped by. The eyeless face watched as the beast sniffed at the bloody and rotting corpse of the deer before it ed out of sight of the creature’s sense. Slouching back onto the ground it crawled forward once again and started to consume more of the decaying flesh. It knew that the creatures that stalked around these woods were no friends of his that they would rather have him fail in the process of killing its creator, but he would not fail. He would exact his revenge and then when that was done will exact his revenge upon all the beings that aided in its creation and all those that did nothing to stop its abuse. The town of Refuge lay beyond the great forest that separated the mountains of Montana from the jagged steep mountains of Canada. Refuge lay somewhere in the Center, where parts of the large town lay within the Montana border and parts of the large town lay in the Canadian border. It was unknown to most of society and most travelers that ed through were of the supernatural kind rather than the human kind. Humans tended to be drawn away from the town, brought about by the strong spell casting of Thane’s mother, Sheba Seraph. She and her brother Michael Seraph inherited their mother’s abilities to cast magic. Thus the town was underneath the protected spells of the Wulf family, for only a member of the Seraph clan that stayed within the town will allow for the magic and spell to protect and keep the town from being destroyed by humans. A sanctuary that only could be obtained by Loki’s and Sheba’s death at the hands of the humans as a sacrifice to the town. Thane and his siblings had not understood at the time of their parent’s sacrifice but now that they were a lot older they understood the pain, and struggle that their parents had put into creating a sacred space for others of the supernatural world. Although humans

were not drawn toward the town sometimes the town was discovered by them on accident. As was the case that had caused Thane to lose his wife to battle and leave one of his sons scared from the incident. Thane had vowed then as he had held her in his arms that no other person, human or otherwise would be left unprotected if he or his clan were able to lend their strength to the cause. Hence on that fateful night so many months ago he had decided to come to the aid of the humans in that hospital. The vow of a Wulf was sacred an honor all of its own. The creature took in the spell work that drew the supernatural to its borders, and pressed against it like a cat would rub its sent upon a spot to mark its territory. The spell that was created rebuffed the monster, almost as if sensing the evil within its soul. The ruins lit up a whitish orange and cast its light upon the beast. Sending it off into the wood away from the town. It would need to find another area around the town that had a weaker border. It had sensed that one of its brethren had gotten through, so he should have also been able to get through using the same age that it had taken. It stalked across the area, pausing to straighten up and act like a tree or pole when something crossed its path. It didn’t want to be noticed just yet. After all it had a task to complete before it could be spotted by the towns guard dogs. The creature slinked along the border testing it every now and again to see if it was a weakened spot. The border was powerful in all things, but like everything else it too had a weak point. One where the ruins are cracked from the elements of nature over centuries of being exposed to the very elements. The monster hummed as the weak place was found, giving off weak pulses of energy as it tried to combat the monster from entering into the town’s limits. The monster pushed back and finally was able to slip inside to the towns out limits. It wouldn’t be long now before he was able to focus upon his plan of revenge. Hester and her younger siblings had settled into their rooms. Miguel was enthusiastic about the prospect as his parents moved around inspecting every nook and crevice of the new environment. Hester didn’t know what to say about her dead ghost parents within the room. Their mother moved away from her inspection of the ruins on the stained glass windows and moved over to lightly skim the palm of her hand and fingers over Hester’s cheek and chin in a very loving gesture that she had done since Hester had been a young child. Hester’s eyes filled with tears at this gesture, as the mother moved on to do the same to her two younger sisters. Their father was still moving from one wall to the next looking for anything that might lead to harming the children, when a knock at

the door alerted them to a presence outside of the rooms. Miguel went and opened the door, and a woman of about middle age stood there heavily pregnant and holding a basket of supplies for the family. “Hello, I am Kate Fowler. I just came to introduce myself to you and to drop off a basket filled with some supplies that Thane thought you would need.” The woman held out a basket to them, another sat by her feet in the hallway. Miguel took it with a muted thanks, but that didn’t seem to deter Kate from her meeting. “Thank you!” Hester stated, starting to move forward to try to block the woman’s sight of the two ghosts. “It is my pleasure.” Kate stated, she looked over at the two spirits. “You are more than welcome to roam the mansion, just be mindful of the other spirits that reside in the mansion. Some of them are very protective of the people who live here too. I am sure you will be able to come up with a common ground of defense and be able to learn some neat tricks from them as well.” Kate informed them, her hand going down to rub up against her swollen belly. Miguel perked up. “There are other spirits other than for our parents?” Miguel asked moving forward. Kate smiled and nodded. “Yep, some are really old spirits, one came here with the founders of the town, and she resides within the mansion today. She is very watchful of the children, since she came with twins of her own. In fact you can meet the descendants of her twins, who still live in the town.” Kate stated as she turned around and tried to reach down to pick up the second basket. Hester moved forward reaching down and lifting the basket for her. “Here you are, thank you so much for taking us in, I know it must be a hard task for everyone at the mansion. Especially after everything that Alvar and I did to Thane.” Hester stated twisting the handles of the basket in her hands in her nervous honesty. “Nonsense, it was the right thing for us to do. After all you were just following instructions.” Kate stated reaching out her hands to cover Hester’s. “Besides, Thane didn’t take any of your assaults and attacks against him personally.” Hester blushed as she thought of Thane and Kate smiled again, seeing what Kim had seen those few hours ago.

“Can you tell Thane, that my siblings and I are ready to his family for dinner?” Hester asked, looking up at Kate. Kate nodded her agreement of forwarding the apology and acceptance of the dinner invitation. Afterwards, Hester slowly shut the door and Kate turned to deliver the second welcome basket to the other family that had been accepted into the pack. Hester leaned her back against the door and slowly slid to the ground to land on her butt. She was in a daze of giddiness over the dinner. Even though she had no idea what would be happening at the dinner, and she didn’t have anything to wear for the dinner, she was still very happy for the thought of getting to spend time with Thane Wulf once again. Her two younger sisters looked at each other and then started to sing. “Hester has a boyfriend, Hester has a Boyfriend.” Hester glowered at them as the two danced merrily around their mother’s legs. “KISSING…” “He is not my boyfriend!” Hester cried out, getting onto her feet. “He just so happens to be a man that I met recently, who has a very big role in this town and apparently has two adult children, so he is way out of my league.” Hester finished in a melancholy way. She found herself attracted to Thane Wulf, but how can he be attracted to her when he already has everything he could possibly want already. “He likes you too.” One of her little sisters stated in a confident way. “You should see the way he looks at you.” The other sister just stood beside her nodding her head. Hester reached out and patted both girls on the heads, but then she paused her eyes widening. “Oh no! I don’t have anything to wear to the dinner, what if his children hate me. A parent won’t date someone their children hate would they?” All of her siblings turned and looked at her funny. Miguel arching his eyebrow to wonder what in the world was wrong with his older sister this time. Her mother mimed laughing the shoulders shaking in quiet mirth at her eldest situation. Before moving to look at the clothes that Hester had packed for the trip. Pulling out underwear and bras that were laced covered and slim hip hugging jeans and a low cut top. “Mom stop, I don’t want him to think that I am after him just to get into his bed and stuff.” Hester cried as she tugged the sexy lingerie back into the bag. She had never been one to wear such revealing clothing but she had gone shopping and picked them up anyways in the hopes that Thane would take notice of such

clothing. She blushed mortified at her own sexual attraction to the man that had not only saved her life but one that she had attacked and made bloody and had thrown into an armored tank in order to get information out of him. She pulled the silky cloth up to cover her tears as she rethought the whole ordeal. “Oh, Momma I screwed up so badly with him all those months ago, and now here I am trying to get him to notice me and return an attraction that I feel would be shoving myself at him otherwise. All the pain I gave him…” Hester stopped as she felt the cool touch of her mother’s ghostly palm against her face. She lifted her gaze back to her mom, who smiled warmly at her and then pointed out the window, where Hester saw that Thane stood watching the children play in the last falling leaves of autumn. She smiled wobbly at the picture that Thane and the children produced. A young teenager was hanging off of Thane’s back, his black crocheted beanie barely covering his long shaggy brown hair. The little girl from before was wrestling with Thane’s to one of his legs as the large black cat clung to his other leg. Other children soon ed into the mock fight, leaping off of the stairs to land on Thane’s arms and waist, trying to get the man to topple over from the combined forces. More kids came running out into the courtyard to tackle Thane, who was able to keep his footing even with the number of children hanging from him. The sounds of the children’s laughter and shrieks of joy brought a smile to Hester’s face. She had already fallen in love with the man. She sighed to herself and turned back to the luggage that she had brought with her. Her mother had already set out an outfit for her to wear to dinner, along with outfits for the younger kids. Hester smiled at her mom, and wished that she could hug her as whenever she tried she just went straight through her mother’s form. Thane lifted his head and noticed that he was being watched by Hester and her mother. Both women appeared to be stunned by the attention in which Thane was giving to all of the children. His own brood and grand brood amongst them. “Dad, Dad, you have got to see this?” Kanu stated holding up his kindle to show his father something. “Hold on son” Thane stated, moving the hoard of children hanging onto him along with him to where his son was sitting swinging on the porch swing. As he got closer to the third eldest of his own children, the other children moved off of him. His twin’s Zeke and Aries and his grandchildren moved away to rough house with Haden, Madeline, and Desce. Holding out the Ipad that his son used for school, Thane was able to decipher video footage of something running across the fields. From the blurry image Thane could only decipher what looked

like a garden gnome with a red cap on scurrying across the screen. “What sort of creature steals gnomes from gardens?” Thane asked, handing the pad back over to his son. His son rolled his eyes, the common factor these days that even Haden had gotten into the habit of doing. “In ancient monster mythology speaks of the red hatted gnomes as little monsters that murder people and eat the flesh.” Kanu claimed, pulling up another screen to show his father the website on monster mythology. “However, Italy depicted the garden gnome as a being that offered fertility and…” Kanu blushed red in the face. He shut his mouth and looked at his dad pleadingly. Thane snorted before nodding his head in understanding and Kanu breathed a sigh of relief. Zeke during the time had wandered back over to the two, pulling the pad down to take a look at what they had been staring at. “Looks like one of those garden statues.” Zeke claimed, “Just smash the entire lot and be done with it dad.” Zeke stated plainly. Kanu glowered down at his younger brother and Thane arched an eyebrow at the child. “These gnomes are in Europe, we cannot just go over there to smash every gnome statue that we see.” Kanu argued. “I would.” Zeke answered back. “I hate those statues anyways.” “You are such an annoying little zit.” “Am not.” “Are too.” “Not.” “Too.” Kanu reached down and poked Zeke in the stomach. Who doubled over in an over dramatic pose of being injured. “Ahh, Dad. Kanu is picking on me again.” Zeke claimed standing up right to point his finger at Kanu. “Am not.”

“Are too.” “Not.” “Too.” “Enough, both of you stop it or I am taking out the get along shirt.” Thane ordered. Both boys instantly stopped bickering, they didn’t like it when they had to wear the ‘get along shirt’ it was an embarrassment to wear it, let alone to be stuck to the other for the time being. A low chuckle drew their attention to the door leading out to the open area in the middle of the mansion. The mansion was built in a large square like fashion with branch offs on all four sides, the center of the square is left open. Having been built especially for the idea of allowing children to play outside without the risk of anyone harming them. The Mansion was built around an acre of property in a square shape leaving it open with a small wooded area and field. Several doors lead out into the area from all four sides. During the summer the children played in the small pond that was located near one of the doors. It usually housed fish and other aquatic life, but Thane recently had to rescue said fish from a toy baby crocodile that Kanu had redesigned into a robotic aquatic beast. Now with autumn well on its way, the leaves from the trees decorated the ground with a colorful display of brown, red, orange, and yellow. The children were having as much fun as possible for autumn never lasted long here. The weather was starting to turn chilly and more snow was forecasted in the near future. All the children were all wearing sweaters and thick jeans as well as gloves, hats, and boots. Thane was the only one without all the excess clothing. He and his siblings usually ran hot, and so bothered very little with such items. The man who stood at the door’s threshold was none other than Felis, Thane’s younger brother. Felis his twin brother Fenrir was out on patrol and Felis usually didn’t wonder around without him. Felis was a very private wolf, usually sticking to his family and even then only remained around them for a few hours at a time. Fenrir was the more outspoken of the two, but Felis was far more intelligent. He helped every now and again to work with ideas, even gotten his PhD in science. Stephen and Felis usually worked together in order to come up with a way to better track all of Stephen’s experiments. So far they had come up with nothing. Felis looked a lot like Thane just as Fenrir looked like Thane. Felis wore his hair cut extremely short, so that the curls of his hair touched his

ears. He had artic blue eyes instead of golden and he was a lot smaller than Thane standing at only six feet nine inches tall. For all the bravado that the pack has, Felis only was half of that. He was shy but not in the sense that he was afraid of talking to people, but in the sense that he preferred to observe them rather than connect with them. He adored his nieces and nephews and even his great nieces and nephews. He was a family man and only a family man. He showed no interest in being a leader of his own pack and his family never pushed him into anything either, being respectful of his wishes. Felis nodded at Thane and moved forward, the children hearing the newcomer swarmed around him in excited gibberish and smiling warmly down at them, Felis listened to all of them speak to him. However, when he reached Thane he murmured a quiet, “Dinner is ready to commence, Brother.” Before he turned and slowly made his way back into the mansion. All the children had understood what had transpired and all ran to be the first one inside to reach the tables for food. Thane and Kanu were the last to enter into the home, shutting the door behind them and slowly ascending the steps to reach the main hallway. Hester had dressed up, and helped her siblings into their own clothing. She wore tight fitting jeans and leg warmers across her calf detailing the muscles of her legs. She also wore a cashmere low cut long sleeved shirt which hugged around her curves. Her siblings were a menace when getting dressed and the reality was that she needed to start getting them dressed about fifteen minutes ahead of the time period needed. She marveled at the idea that she was going to be eating with Thane and his family. The creature slinked along the outskirts of the town, now within the barrier the beast was able to sense his creator much more easily. It crept across the forest, stopping to lap at odd bits and pieces, but it didn’t idle long. It crept further along until it felt the pull to turn into the city, standing upon a hill and hidden behind a telephone pole the monster watched the mansion that housed his despicable creator. It could feel all the emotions that the weak man was having, love and hope. The creator would rend and tear them apart one by one. No one within the mansion will be safe from it. The scent and noise of shrieking laughter allowed the creature to take in the aspect that the house also contained innocent souls. Innocent souls on which the black tar of a beast could corrupt and render. The doctor will know as he watches all those he loves and cares for becoming nothing more than decayed ash upon the floor. Knowing that it was his fault that the monster came, and took away all of their lives and souls. The

creature slinked further into the domain of the Alpha mansion. Everything it touched turned to ash and decay in its wake. It spread itself across the outside exterior and slowly started to creep like a dark shadow across the mansions windows and walls from the outside. As far as walkers saw as they ed by was only the dusk spreading shadows upon the large mansion. Never expecting it to be anything else but a shadow. The creature eased itself upon the windows outside of the gathered group, and while it couldn’t make out anything that was happening within. It could make out the presences of his creator, and oh how it loathed him. The feeling of love and happiness soon caused the beast to move ahead of the time it had wanted to make its entrance. As awareness appeared upon the thread that connected the monster to its maker. It raised up a black branch like arm and smashed it through the window, uncaring of the damage it was causing as the tentacles tried to attack its maker. It would have its revenge, it broke another window and started to squeeze its overly large and very thin form through the small mass that was open.

Chapter Forty

The halls were quiet as the families came to eat at the main dining room table. The only sounds were the excited chatter of the children. Zeke and Aries were sitting on either side of Madeline and Kanu sat with Cane and Stephen. David sat on the right hand side of Thane. Being the beta of the branch pack he was the right hand of Thane. The left seat was left unoccupied as that seat was reserved for the beta/alpha female or Thane’s mate and wife. David and the other of the group didn’t understand a lot of the pack dynamics but as time wore on they became more accustomed to how the family ran. The only ones to meet Thane’s eyes were his brother, Beo. As Beo was the Alpha of the entire pack, including Thane’s pack as Thane was the Beta of Beo’s pack. Other of the Main pack included other alphas from other branch packs. Since their other siblings would also one day bring in a pack of their own. However as hierarchy went the Alpha pack and Beta/Alpha pack would be placed as the top two clans then based on rank of birth the other branch packs would fall beneath them. Hester and the others were lead into the dining room, the same one that Hester and Alvar had been in when they had first come to the town of Refuge. Hester watched as the little ones including her teenage brother were lead to a branch off of the table slightly smaller than the main one but appeared to be designed for the little ones, she hid a smile behind her hand at seeing two full grown men also sitting at the kids table. Both men seemed untroubled by this aspect and allowed the little ones to continue chattering and messing around with them. She took a deep breath and turned to face Thane, who had risen from his chair when they had entered. Several places were open for the four adults as Kate led them to the table. She motioned for Alvar and his wife to take a seat further down the table and then motioned for Hester to follow her. Hester gulped and followed behind her. Her eyes never leaving that of Thane’s own stare. She felt nervous, her hands were sweaty and she felt the tingling itch to flee from the room, but she didn’t flee as that would be even more embarrassing than making a fool out of herself. Which if her earlier actions at the town square was any indication she had already done so in the cruelest of ways.

Kate motioned for Hester to continue to Thane and took her seat beside her husband. Hester stopped in front of Thane her eyes staring at his clavicle as she feared what she would see in his own gaze. A large hand came to cup her cheek and lift her gaze to Thane’s own golden ones. “You have nothing to fear from me.” Thane spoke softly his deep tenor vibrating through Hester’s face and down into her gut. She felt her stomach twist and heat at the words and she blushed deeply at the flare of her arousal. She had so madly fallen for this man? Wolf? That she did not know where she began in this life and where he ended. “I know that, but I fear what you could do to me because of my poor actions.” Hester answered finally, her voice coming out as a soft whisper. Thane smiled, his hand sliding down her neck to her right shoulder and then down to her hand. He grasped her hand and held it within his own. “I have already forgiven you that, I hope that as your time es here that you would allow me to court you?” Thane informed her. Hester’s brows furrowed and she stared at him. “Court me? Who in their right mind says court in this modern language? Next you are going to be asking me if we could have coitus together.” Hester mouthed out. Alvar smacked his hand into his face. Knowing full well that Hester would use sarcasm to hide her true feelings from the world. However, Thane didn’t appear to have taken any offense to her words and just pulled her forward to sit in the seat on his left. Pulling her seat out he motioned for her to take her place. Hester hesitated only for a few minutes and then sat down. Thane followed suit, and the others started to talk quietly amongst themselves. Thane reached for the food and took a bite out of the pot roast that had been brought to the table. The others started to eat as well, but Hester was still sitting dazed. She needed to process all that had happened in the last few weeks. It would seem that everything was happening so fast. Hester looked down at the empty plate, having yet filled it with food. David was watching her slightly before he leaned over Thane and spoke to her. “Don’t worry, Thane doesn’t really push to hard for the meager humans of the pack to pick up on what is going on in dynamics. He just lets it flow like water under the bridge. And speaking of water under the bridge, Thane I have to confess something…. I was the one who broke the vase in the hallway, and I just blamed it on Desce. I am sorry man.” Thane looked at David as did everyone else.

“We all know that it was you who broke the vase, dum dum.” Haden stated from his spot at the kid table. Kanu and Haden had appeared to be getting along with Miguel. David turned around and stuck out his tongue at the teenager. “That is real mature of you, Dum Dum.” Haden drawled dryly. His eyes more focused on the food he was eating rather than on David’s antiques. Just as David was about to respond, Stephen stood up abruptly knocking over his chair. “It’s here.” Stephen stated looking back at Thane. “The Slender Man is here.” The rest of the pack turned to await orders from Thane, who had also risen as well. “I need the children taken to the inner square, the wards around the square should keep the monster from getting into the square. Kanu, Haden keep yourself close to the younger ones. Cane you are to remain with them, Kim you as well.” Thane stated looking at the adults as he spoke. He turned to look at Kate who was clutching her stomach. “Kate I need you to…” “The baby is coming, my water just broke.” Kate stated looking down at the growing puddle of clear fluids spreading across the floor. John looked started and grabbed his wife around the waist to help hold her up. “It’s too early isn’t it?” John worried, looking down at the puddle as well. “The baby is only eight months along.” John stated, but he didn’t get to say anymore as long black like tentacles shattered through the glass and speared him in the shoulder. Black ooze started to burn around the wound, and John let loose a scream of pain. Hester was in action as was the other adults in the room. Kate was pulling her husband away from the table hoping to get further away from the spasming black limbs. John’s shoulder started to blacken up the black ooze trailing down his veins and cracks started to appear across his arm and throat. “No, John! Please, stay with me.” Kate cried, tears running down her face to splatter across John’s own. Haden had appeared by his father’s other side. His own tears running in a stream down his face. “DAD!” Haden spluttered out, his lips trembling in order to keep in some of his emotions. John was struggling in his fight against the burning pain of decay as the black ooze spread deeper into his body. John reached up a hand and touched his wife’s face and then looked at his son. “Promise me Haden that you will look out for your mother and younger sibling.” Haden shook his head no and tears blurred his vision. “PROMISE ME!” John

demanded raising his voice over the noise that was happening a few feet from them. “Dad, please. I don’t want to, you are going to make it.” Haden insisted, his hands grasping his father’s uninjured shoulder. Stephen and Crow appeared by their side. Crow lifting Haden up into his arms and Stephen ushering the rest of the kids and Kate and Haden out of the room and toward the Square. Haden followed beside his mom, his eyes never leaving his father’s broken form. John’s arm crumbled off of his body as they moved, and Kate let loose a torrent of more tears and a shriek of agony and pain. Kanu aided another werewolf as they both bared the weight of John as they carried him out to the square. Kanu was hoping that John would live long enough to see his child born. Kate doubled over in pain in the hallway her hands flying to her stomach as the pain doubled, but her eyes were watching in despair as her husband’s right arm crumbled and fell upon the ground in fine dust. Her son grasped her around the waist and started to aid her along the corridor. Stephen stood upon her other side lending an arm to help her as she felt another contraction take over. Kate sobbed in both pain and fear, what would the future hold now? Kate wondered as she tried her hardest to move forward and stay strong for both her husband, and her children. Thane bellowed out orders to the remaining pack, one brave pack member tried to attack the black shape and ended up perishing in a semblance of black ash as the tentacles pulled the wolf apart. Thane howled pushing Hester toward the door with an order to get to the square with some of the other of the pack that had been injured by the tentacles. Hester ed Alvar and his wife and kids in the square, her hands shaking and trembling in fear. What was going to happen? Was she finally ready to it her love for someone only for them to be ripped away from her? Hester felt tear tracks running down her cheeks and buried her face into her hands. Everything was falling apart in front of her face. Hester lifted her head as she felt a presence in front of her. Standing before her was a beautiful woman who showed a slight glow around her body. A ghost, Hester thought as the spirit stood staring at her. “You are needed as the pack alpha. You cannot stay idle while the pack suffers from the attack.” The woman stated reaching forward and resting her hand upon Hester’s cheek. “I knew since before I married Thane, that I wasn’t his one. You are, and you need to take up the mantle of pack Alpha while Thane is battling

that shadow of evil. You need to rise above your fear and sorrow and take command.” The woman urged, reaching down and pulling Hester’s hands up into her own. “I don’t know how.” Hester responded, looking around at the worried faces of the other in the square. The woman about to give birth while her husband lays dying across from her. Other faces blurring together as their pain and fear echoes in the faces of everyone else. She turned back to the woman. “I….just can’t” Hester sobbed dropping her knees. “Yes, you can. You are far stronger than you think you are. Embrace that strength that lays dormant within and show the world that the Wulf clan is one of the strongest not because of our blood but because of our strength as a family.” The ghost faded away with that, and Hester looked stunned at that. She once more looked at the faces and people around her. Her tears slowed and then stopped as she felt the love she had for all of these people that had let her and her friends and family into their home. Had allowed them in with acceptance and love willing to be given to them all. Hester started to rise up onto her feet and stride over to where the majority of the pack was, surrounding Kate and John as both struggled with their lives and the life of an unborn child. Hester pointed a finger at one of them. “You, I need you to secure this area, shut all the doors except for one, and make sure the doors are secured so that the beast cannot get in.” The man nodded and started off with his task. “You, You, and You Take off your shirts and jackets we need to keep Kate warm and prepare for the baby. You three over there remove your own jackets and wrap up John. We need to keep him from going into shock.” Hester paused to take a look around the Square, looking for any signs of a weak point within this defense. She nodded pleased at the moment with the outcome. She continued to throw out commands as she knelt down between both Kate and John. “Haden, I need you, Kanu, and Miguel to find a rock or something sharp enough to cut.” Haden pulled out his knife, one he kept on hand in case of emergencies. Kanu also pulled out his knife and a lighter. Handing both over to Hester. “You will probably need the lighter, we can try to dilute the black ooze with the chemical burning of fire.” Kanu stated staring calmly down at her. Hester nodded her head, reaching out to take both knives and lighter. Miguel had already run off to collect firewood to start a fire, they would need to heat both knives up in order to

achieve what they had in mind. Hester smiled up at the two teens that remained before returning to what she was doing. “Stephen, are you a doctor because we are going to need all the aid we can get in this situation.” Stephen nodded, before he removed his longhouse robe and laid it on the ground, urging Kate to lay down upon the soft cloth. John let out a scream of pain as the black ooze ate away at his body. Kate screamed as well as her contractions started up again. Hester gave out more orders, one of the pack went to the storage shed and started to rifle through the items until he found what he needed and went to get water and bring the blankets he had found in the shed. Thane dodged another tentacle and leaped sideways, knocking David down as a black tentacle aimed for him. “Thanks Boss.” David stated, a little out of breath but not willing to back down. His pacifist nature that he claimed to have had flown out the door the moment that John had been hit, but it appeared that the wolf in David was more violent than David was kind. Eyes narrowed in to pinpoints as all the wolves shifted into beast mode. One Wolf caught a tentacle in its mouth and crunched down on it, black ooze exploded from the wound as the tentacle was ripped off of the monster, and the wolf dropped and barred its sharp teeth at the other tentacles. The tentacle on the floor spasmed and started to decay no longer able to sustain itself outside of its body’s. Thane lifted his head and roared a challenge. The black slender mass that had finally worked its way in through the shattered window turned to face its opponent, and paused confused at what it was seeing. What is this, more monsters? But they were different from it, more beautiful in definition of muscles and fur, deadly masses of killing grace. The inky monster launched its attack of waving tentacles hoping to catch one and rip it apart. Catching a slow wolf by its ankle Slenderman lifted it up, but the wolf was not so slow folding up, and in an impossible show of flexibility it chomped down on the tentacle and broke free of the grip taking the tentacle with it. Slenderman screamed in pain, shrieks that were so high and loud that is cracked the remaining windows in the vicinity. Flames smashed into the chest of the monster as a man with long black hair appeared walking calmly through the mass of wolves and stopping next to Thane. “Fenrir states that the fire will purify and destroy the monster.” The man stated, a black cat the size of a serval came loping into the room, in a blink of an eye it went from a serval sized black cat into a massive flaming black lion. Desce’s fire ignited upon Thane’s own fur giving the Beta/Alpha a hellfire look. Thane

grinned baring all of his sharp teeth as the fire ate away at his fur and flesh barring his skull and muscles, and launched forward, the other wolves aided by going for the tentacles, one wolf was smashed out of the way. Hitting the wall so hard that cracks and indention was seen when it slid down. Blood smeared along the wall in the wolf’s wake. Thane leaped upon the slenderman and started to tear into the black mass of the body. Slenderman screamed in pain as the hellhound for what else could it be, leaped upon it. The flames from the massive monster burnt into the black ooze that covered slenderman. Tentacles when wild smacking into walls, smashing tables, smacking wolves and chairs around. Thane didn’t budge from his attack aiming to take it down in a single blow, the flames from the familiar burned deeply into the monster and dried up and destroyed the black ooze. Jaws dipped into the chest cavity of slenderman, drool and foam dropping out of Thane’s mouth as his teeth closed upon the beating heart of the monster and with a mighty jerk of his head Thane ripped the heart out of Slenderman’s chest. The cry of pain died instantly as the tentacle creature started to turn to ash. All that it had touched slowly returned to normal, the poisoned pack bodies started to lose the black veins that had spread upon them when the tentacle had punctured their bodies. Hester came running into the dining room, covered in blood and staring at the flaming wolf that she loved. She took a hesitant step toward him and Thane as if sensing her turned around the fire dying out of the fur in an instant and the muscles, flesh, and fur returned before Hester slammed into Thane’s fur covered chest. She gripped the thick and heavy black fur as she clung to him as tightly as she could. “I don’t care what you are, I love you and I never want to be apart from you ever. I want to formally ask if you will do me the honor of allowing me to court you?” Hester stated stepping back and looking up at Thane. Thane returned to his human form, naked as the day he was born. Hester blushed trying to look anywhere but at his body. Thane stood staring at her. “I was told by a reliable source that nobody ever says courting anymore.” Thane answered pulling Hester up against his naked chest. Hester squeaked and clung to Thane’s shoulders just before Thane dipped Hester and kissed her soundly on the lips. Hester’s hands moved up to circle around Thane’s neck as she kissed him back. He pulled back after a while and murmured on her lips. “You have my permission to court me, I will be expecting flowers and chocolate.” Hester laughed and kissed him again.

“You got it.” Hester promised as Thane righted them and turned to take in the damage done to his pack . Hester stepped beside him and clutched his hand. Two of the pack had been killed, Nikou and Sebastian. Thane bowed his head in grief as other move to cover and carry the fallen away. Thane turned and counted the several injured wolves who were also being aided in being moved. Thane turned finally back to Hester. “What has happened to John and Kate?” Hester looked away grimly, tears filling her eyes as she told Thane what had happened while he was fighting Slenderman. Hester was aiding in heating up the blades so that they can help with cutting the umbilical cord and also an attempt to save John’s life. Haden was doing everything that he could do to help with his parents. The other adults were watching the other children. Kanu and Miguel aided them as well. “She is dilated fully, but the baby is turned the wrong way.” Stephen informed them, as Kate gave another pained scream and crushed Kanu’s hand. Kanu gave no sign that the grip was causing him pain as he continued to brush her hair out of her sweating face and encouraged her to breathe. He sat behind her, elevating her into a proper position to push. Kate took a deep breath as the contraction faded, she looked over at her husband who was slowly decaying before her eyes, “Cut the baby out of me, which is the only option now.” She reached out to clutch her eldest son’s hand. “Haden I want you to listen to everything that Thane tells you too okay baby, can you do that for me.” Haden nodded his head, more tears streaming down his face as his mom spoke to him. He knew that he was losing both of his parents tonight. “That is my big boy, I am so proud of you my son. You are growing up to be such an amazing adult. I can’t wait until you see yourself the way your father and I see you. We love you so much and nothing in this world could ever change that in life or in death.” Kate reached up a hand her own face covered in tears. “Make sure you let your younger sister or brother know how much we loved them.” Haden nodded again and picked up her hand to hold. Crow who had been sitting calmly to the side rose up and moved John to where he was lying side by side with his wife with their son in between them. John groaned but opened his eyes to gaze up at his son. “When you were born you were the most miraculous thing to have ever happen

in my life.” John informed Haden. Haden took his dad’s hand holding it on top of his mother’s hand. Stephen had pulled the sterilized knife out of the fire and the placed the heated blade upon the decaying black ooze, the wound sizzled but nothing happened the black veins continued along the body. “The damage is too great, the poison has spread too far too fast.” Stephen stated looking down at the decaying wound. John smiled painfully and murmured something to soft for anyone to hear before his body fell apart into ash. Haden stifled a scream of anguish at his father’s death, but the night wasn’t over for him yet. Stephen was trying to figure out a way around having to cut open Kate’s stomach, but Kate shook her head as another contraction subsided. “We don’t have any choice anymore, you need to get my baby out or else we’ll lose him or her too.” Kate stared at them with tears in her eyes. “Please!” Stephen nodded after a seemingly long pause. Stephen reached up and pulled the cover off of Kate and lifted up her shirt, he pulled the sterile knife up and over her enlarged belly and slowly after one last look at Kate, sliced into her stomach. Kate’s scream echoed around the square as she gripped both boy’s hands in her own. Blood oozed from the cut covering Stephen’s hands and sleeves, Hester leaned forward and aided him in pulling the baby out of the womb. Hester held the bloody baby in her arms as Stephen cut the umbilical cord and tied it off. Hester placed the baby down on top of her mother’s chest and spoke her final words to Kate. “A beautiful baby girl. She is so lovely Kate. You did a great job.” When Hester looked up from the baby and into Kate’s eyes she found a lifeless stare. Kate had died. Haden sobbed his grief into Crow’s chest. He was now an orphan, him and his little sister. What was to become of them? Crow pulled him away for a few minutes and told him as if reading his mind. “You are with us, and we will never abandon you or your sister.” Hester wrapped the baby up in a spare blanket to keep her warm from the cold air. At that moment a man exited the door and informed them that the battle was over and it was okay to enter into the mansion once more. Hester stood looking up at Thane as he bore the grief of losing two of his pack hit him. Haden and Kanu came in, Haden holding his baby sister. He had been told to present her and himself to his alpha while one of the female went and got a bottle of milk for the baby. Thane turned and watched

them approach and stood steady when Haden presented him with the new born. Thane took the newborn into his arms and after securing her he pulled Haden to him as well. “You may not be mine by blood, but you are mine and I will always take care of you as my son and daughter.” Haden lifted his gaze up to Thane and smiled slightly, his eyes still glazed over with tears. “You won’t be doing this kid raising thing alone anymore. You now have me to help you.” Hester stated, placing one hand upon Haden shoulder. Thane nodded his head with a smile. “That I do.” His other children ed him in the family circle, along with the other of the pack, all of them would mourn the four that were lost to them.

Chapter Forty-One

TWO WEEKS LATER…

Thane sat his desk, his eyes skimming over the reports that had been sent in from different branches of the family that were around the world. Madeline was sleeping on the couch in front of the fireplace within his office, and the now two week old baby Joanna was sleeping in her portable crib slash playpen. Desce lay curled up underneath the desk seemingly asleep as well. Light snoring could be heard from underneath the desk but Thane paid no mind to this distraction. After several long moments of contemplation, Thane reached for the phone on his desk and dialed a number and waited. She answered on the first ring. “Hel Mortuary you stab them we bag them.” Was the immediate reply. “Hello little sister, it is good to know that you still have that sense of humor.” Thane responded as he lifted his gaze as the door to his office opened and in scrambled his twins and the two little sisters of Hester. He waved them forward as all four seem to be shy about entering when he was on the phone. The twins scrambled into his lap while the two girls climbed up onto the couch to take their nap with Madeline. “Hello to you too big brother.” Hel stated on the phone. “What can I do for you today?” “There has been incident reports of gnomes murdering innocent lives around where you are at, I would like for you to check that out and eliminate the threat.” Thane leaned back further in his chair, allowing the now sleeping twins more room to maneuver into a more comfortable position. “Sounds like something that would be very fun.” Hel responded on the line. Thane nodded his head in agreement. “How are my nieces and nephews? I heard on the grape vine that we gained and lost a few.”

“Yes, that is right. We lost a total of five of the pack, Nokou and Sebastian as well as Atlis, John, and John’s wife Kate. I have adopted both of John and Kate’s children.” Thane answered as he looked around his very child crowded room. “I am sorry to hear of the loss brother, I will make sure to destroy every single one of the gnomes in honorable memory of the ones lost.” Hel replied. “Yes, thank you. Kanou and Dr. Stone will send you all the information that we have on the gnomes, and Hel… be careful.” Thane placed the phone back into its cradle before Hel could respond back.

Haden Fowler

Madeline Salinas

Kim Ying

Thane Wulf

Beo Wulf