Big Bad Wolf (2 page)

Chapter 1

USA, May 2009 A.D.

Blood-boiling rage!

Gregor Titus had been alive over ten thousand years and had never hungered for bloody revenge like he did today. From deep inside his gut a squall was born, battering his soul to ribbons as it rampaged through his heart.
All the female Dire Wolves dead! How could this horrible destruction be? Why would anyone do such a thing?

“How?” he said barely recognizing the gravel in his own voice.

The young Dire Wolf shifter kept his head bowed as he knelt before Gregor. His long blond hair was tangled, smudged with dirt from the long journey and he looked painfully thin. He must have braved many dangers to deliver this grim news and Gregor would see to it he was rewarded with food and a loving place here among the last two known Dire Wolves in existence: himself; and his great grandson, Nick. At least now there were three.

“It was the eastern werewolf packs, great lord. They have become very powerful with many packs that roam up and down the East Coast. Our kind was a territorial threat so they decided to exterminate all the Dire Wolves by attacking our females. They hunted our women down and murdered the adults while taking their daughters to be raised as werewolf offspring.”

“Did they take them to breed with when the females came of age?” Nick asked Gregor.

“No. Our women would grow up to be little more than pets to them. They can’t reach their sexual maturity without a male Dire Wolf to bring them into season,” Gregor replied. “And until they come into their first season, they are weak. They’ll be stuck in a confusing private hell somewhere between human and shifter. Only after mating can they shift and come into their true power.”

“So there could be some of them out there living as werewolf females when they are really Dire Wolf?” Nick asked.

“That’s right,” Gregor replied. Then, looking down at the blond male he said, “You may rise, my brother. What is your name?”

“I am Boris, great lord,” the blond male replied.

“Have you ever known the decadent paradise of a Dire Wolf bitch at the height of her season?” Gregor asked.

“No, sir,” Boris said. “They were all…gone by the time I was ready to mate.” The lines around his eyes grew deeper, as if he carried a terrible burden in his heart. Gregor knew what that burden was. He’d seen it often enough in suicidal pack members who couldn’t find a mate because of this genetic cleansing. Even Gregor himself had all but given up hope of ever finding another alpha female like Amana to bring balance and love back into his tiny pack of…well, now three. Too bad the old grand dam had died over a thousand years ago of old age.

“I hope one day you do, brother,” Gregor said. “But to the matter of the killing and enslavement of our females, that atrocity must be avenged. Lead us back to the east, back to where you came from, Boris. The werewolves who have taken your territories have been taunting the devil it seems, and now the devil will have his due.”

Chapter 2

The festival started just as the full moon came up. There were rides and games, but more than anything else there was meat, lots and lots of it. Small tables were set up all around the cul-de-sac selling everything from Italian sausage, to that all-American favorite, meatloaf. But there were also other types of meat dishes any way one would like them prepared. Patrons had their pick of cuts roasted, broiled and fried.

The scent of a dozen spices perfumed the air: onion and garlic salt; fresh ground pepper; and sea salt. The rich, delicious variety made Eleana’s head spin and her mouth water. As she made her way through the crowd she made sure to be as pleasant as she could to her neighbors. It was all a game they played; she pretended to like them and they pretty much tolerated her. She didn’t know why things were the way they were, all she knew was this edgy truce had been going on since she was a little girl. And it sure didn’t look like anything was ever going to change.

What a bunch of stiff phonies they all are. Most of them would stab each other in the back faster than a New York minute.
A mouth-watering scent of pot roast filled the air and Eleana’s stomach growled. She walked up to Celia, a neighbor who had her table set up near Eleana’s house, and pulled out five dollars.

“Can I have a few slices?” she asked, giving the woman her most pleasant smile. Celia was a bitch-and-a-half to Eleana most of the time but boy that cow could cook.

Tiny wrinkles formed around Celia’s eyes as she forced a grin. It didn’t look like this woman smiled very much at all during her miserable life.

“Sure you can, dear,” Celia said. She cut a few slices off the main loaf and placed them on a paper plate. Eleana took the offering and paid the woman, suppressing the urge to punch Celia in the face. If anyone on the planet was in dire need of a punching out, it was Celia, who openly hated Eleana more than anyone. Today was one of the cow’s good days
.
It’s probably because I can’t shift like the rest of them can.

As the evening wore on, Eleana forced herself to visit all the tables, sampling every offering until her money ran out. Then, just as midnight struck in accordance with tradition, everyone began shifting into their wolf form. Everyone, that was, except her, as usual.

She found a park bench and watched the scene. Young women stripped their clothes off in the middle of the street and transformed with a tortured grace. Soon they were the most beautiful creatures Eleana had ever seen, their soft luxurious coats ranging in color from dark brown to silver-gray. Oh how Eleana wanted to be one of them! Oh what she wouldn’t give to be
normal
for just one night! But watching them change and delight in their freedom was too much for her heart to bear and soon she did what she always did during these festivals. She went home vowing that the next festival she was going to stay home, watch movies and cook steak.

* * * *

Back in her bedroom, she opened her window and listened to the sweet music of the werewolves as they howled into the aging night. The sound twisted her heart and Eleana had to force herself not to shed a tear of disappointment.
I feel like a freak.
Another festival, another night and she still hadn’t changed. How much longer could this go on? Perhaps there was something physically wrong with her like a hormone imbalance. But if there was, she was doomed because no one knew how to help her. After all, there weren’t any werewolf doctors out there. Or at least there weren’t any that she
knew
of.

Eleana changed into a t-shirt and underwear and lay on her bed. With her remote, she turned her stereo on and the
Doors
started playing. Then she closed her eyes and tried to imagine what it would feel like to shed her human form and finally be a wolf. It must be the most wonderful feeling in the world. Maybe someday she would finally find out.

Chapter 3

The Seminole State Park playground was awash in the golden rays of a departing sun. Eleana closed her eyes and lifted her face to the sky enjoying the dwindling warmth. The music of children laughing made her smile. They were her charges for the day and, although none of them were hers by blood, she still felt a deep and maternal love for each and every one.

A loud clang destroyed the peace followed by a colorful barrage of swearing.

Eleana glanced at the blue minivan just in time to see her brother Steven reaching for the crowbar he’d just dropped trying to fix a flat. From the looks of things, he was almost done but the exercise had put him in a very bad mood. Shielding her eyes, she looked over to where the children were playing on the swings and frowned.

“Watch your tongue, Steven,” she scolded her brother. “You don’t want these kids going back to their parents and repeating your gutter language. We’re supposed to be setting a good example for our future pack leaders.”

He chuckled and got to his feet to admire his handiwork. The replacement tire looked just like new. “I’m sure they can’t hear me from this distance.”

She walked over and grinned. “You’d be surprised what little ears can pick up.”

Steven tossed the crowbar into the open side door of the minivan. “Well I don’t know about you but I’m done with this babysitting job. It’s getting late,” he said. “We’d better collect the kiddies and start heading…” He let the sentence die on his lips and his face turned an alarming shade of white.

“Steven?” Eleana said, grabbing his arm. Was he having some kind of attack? Do men in their thirties have strokes?
Then she heard it too.

It was the great machine rumbling of motorcycles roaring toward them at a ferocious and determined speed. But these were not corporate lawyers on a Sunday jaunt with their trophy wives, or young college students out for a cruise, these were the only predators her people had. They were the dreaded
Canis Dirus
,
the horrible Dire Wolf shifters, and they had only one grim purpose in coming here today. The elders had warned Eleana and the others about this. These shifters were here to kill off the defenseless pack children who would be such easy prey.

Before Eleana could utter a sound, Steven was racing toward the playground screaming at the children to get into the van
.
Eleana took off after him, her guts wrenching in mortal terror.
Oh please not the children, not the children!
She ran as fast as her legs could move, passing her brother and grabbing the first two children she could get her hands on. Pushing them toward the van, she waved at the others who came scrambling off the swings.

“Get back to the van right
now
!” she screamed.

The motorcycles were bearing down on them, circling the park’s main gate and gunning their engines. There were three of them and they were all huge. Even from this distance Eleana could see the leader had to be at least six foot seven and close to three hundred pounds of pure muscle. Even though Steven was her pack leader and could shift at will, his gray wolf form was no match for these ancient behemoths. And her…well she’d never been able to shift at all, so she wouldn’t be of much use.

Steven had jumped into the van and started the engine. Eleana stationed herself by the side door helping the terrified kids into the van. An older boy of eleven stopped and pointed at the playground. “Megan’s still back there!”

With silent horror Eleana looked back to see the little girl of five hiding behind the slide. The poor thing was frozen in place, watching the Dire Wolves ride ever closer.
Oh my God!
Time for the child had run out. Even if she were to bolt and make a run for the van now, she’d never cover the distance in time to escape.

“I’ve got to go back for her,” she called in to Steven.

“No, Eleana, don’t! Come around and drive the van, I’ll go,” he said.

“We don’t have time for that!” Eleana grabbed the crowbar and slid the side door closed. “Get the kids to safety and come back for me!”

The three Dire Wolves were bearing down on the van, their bikes churning the air around them with the loud, merciless hammering of their pistons. It was the sound Eleana never thought she’d live to hear: the sound of certain death.

Steven was still waiting for her to take the driver’s seat and Eleana knew he wouldn’t leave her unless he had to, so she was going to have to force his hand. Hoping she could get to the little girl before the wolves did, she took off running for the playground. She was tall for a woman, standing six foot even, and that gave her a distinct advantage. Faster than any average werewolf female, Eleana covered the distance with impressive speed.

As she predicted, her brother realized he had run out of time. He had a blood oath to get the pack’s children to safety and he simply didn’t have the luxury to stay behind and fight. Gunning the engine, Eleana glanced over her shoulder to watch him speed toward the three, hoping to take out at least one of them. But only a few yards from striking them, all three swerved smoothly to avoid him. It had been as effortless to them as avoiding a fallen tree.

Now she was alone.

Eleana reached the hysterical little girl and pulled her into a tight hug. Megan clutched at Eleana, digging her small fingers into flesh. “They’re coming! Please stop them! They’re coming!” she cried.

Eleana knelt down and looked Megan in the eye. “Listen to me, okay? I’m not going to let them hurt you. Do you understand me, Megan? I promise.”

The girl nodded but Eleana knew she didn’t believe a word of it. Eleana wasn’t even sure if she believed it herself. Even with the crowbar, she knew they were as good as dead. But she needed Megan to believe there was hope; she needed them both to believe it so they could face the danger tearing up the grass as it rode hard toward them. Eleana pulled the child behind her and tightened her grip on the tire iron.

At twelve feet from her the Dire Wolves slowed and cut their engines. The world around them filled with deafening silence. The first one to dismount was the biggest one: a dark-haired, grim-faced juggernaut with frosted blue eyes. His hair was just past the shoulders and so dark brown it was almost black. His thick mane was clean and shined with silken strands that complimented his long, smooth beard. The beard was dark and striking, with two small braids down each side both laced with shining locks of silver. The leader’s handsomeness was archaic, primitive, like the appeal of an ancient Viking king or Saxon knight. The only hint that he belonged in this time at all was that he was completely decked out in worn black leather.