Wolf Hunt chapter five

Well.... remember the second chapter to make sense of what happens in this one. Surprise all around i hope!!

CHAPTER FIVE

 

I was thankful that today I got to stay home until the coroner called with more information, which also meant I got to stay in bed until half-eleven even when Charles came hammering on my door yelling “i know you’re in there! This is a good a time as any to talk!” I still ignored him.

Then the phone did ring.

“Teresa Collin” I answered smartly.

“Hey Teresa been a while since I worked with you” a cheerful voice said

“Coroner maverick! It’s been a while, since he floater two months ago right?”

“Correct as always! Anyway I’m working on your wolf victims and its time you came down to get the report” he said in a more serious kind of voice.

“I’ll be there in half an hour” I yawned and hung up.

I rolled out of bed and hopped into the shower. For a strange reason I couldn't remember my body ached all over. It was probably the fact I had shifted twice in an hour and not eaten. After my shower I pulled on my black jeans and a black vest top. Black seemed an appropriate colour for a morgue visit. I also picked up my black blazer jacket and ran downstairs. In the kitchen I hastily went to the fridge and pulled out a pack of ham and two slices of bread. I made my ham sandwich in record time using the whole pack of ham, and I ate it even faster. By the time I was walking out of the door I had quarter of an hour to get to the morgue.

Then I voice I didn't want to hear called “hey!”

I turned to Charles and saw him sat in a shadowed part of my porch reading a book.

“Charles. I don't have time to talk right now” I said angrily

“Please Tess I need some answers” he said simply

“I’ll tell you what I told Steven last night. After this case I will have made a decision” I said hopping into my VW bus.

“But that could take weeks. It could even be a cold case!” he said indignantly.

“Tough” I yelled driving away.

 

 

*

I didn't know if I should have been hopeful or depressed while I was in the morgue. After all I might finally be getting a lead in this case which was so far a dead end, but also this place was full of the dead. Victims of old age, disease, accidents and murder.

“Teresa Collin! How nice to see you again child!” an elderly man greeted me as I entered the ice cold morgue room.

“Morning Maverick it’s good to see you too!” I said “business good?”

He laughed his cheerful laugh “we're not full so that's good!” then his face turned serious. “Your Vic’s are on the table”

He lead me to the too familiar cold slab on which both my Vic’s we're lay. “We got their names. The man, Jonathan Richards, you were correct in you assumption his ribs did cave in on his heart and lungs but it didn't kill him instantly. This bit to the neck did” Maverick pointed “the wife” he moved on “Emily Richards. She was alive after the removal of her left leg but died quickly from blood loss as the killer chewed her arm.

I felt sick. Yes I had eaten raw meat and once as a child I did attack a hunter. But I didn't kill him, just gave him a fright. None of us in Middlestad were man hunters. If we did kill a human, Charles would have to kill us.

“Do you have anything I could work with?” I asked knowing how they died didn't really help much.

“Well. I don't know.....” he began “this bite mark here. It isn't the average size for a wolf and it is a different shape” he said hesitantly “do you know what could have done this?”

Yes! I did. I would recognize those bite marks anywhere! Werecat! “No” I lied.

“Then there are more creatures out there!” he declared. He was a hunter for new species. I always thought it ironic every time I came here he didn't see the were- creature signs on me, he knew them well enough!

“No doc, I was thinking more of a hybrid” I said quick

“What? A hybrid?” he asked

“Yes a combination of maybe a wolf and human or something else. It has happened before. They can only half change themselves. Kind of” I answered making it up.

“Oh. Right” he said curiously.

Then the doors opened and the office boy, a freckled spotty youth poked his head in “we got a freshen” he said.

Maverick smiled “bring it in boy” then he turned to me “that's all I got. You can leave now.”

 

*

That afternoon I was ready for another long sleep. After the coroner’s report I had to go to the office to see Anna and get a lecture on how important it was I solved the case and I got a photo of the two missing children.

Becky Richards was only fourteen and her brother James was only two years older. I hated to wonder what had happened to them.

On my way past wood hill I saw something that made me look twice. On top of the hill barely hidden by trees was a woman, or a girl the harsh sun blinded my sensitive eyes a little but I defiantly saw the werewolf stood at her heels. A pure white wolf. Charles hadn't told me we would be having a stray stay for a few days. And even if I wasn't pack I knew to drive them out of the territory. None of us would stand for a strange wolf or cat in our patch, our territory.

I grunted. Then turned my bus onto the muddy trail leading to the hill.

When I finally parked in the empty car park there was no sign of the pair. I entered the wood at the spot where I had seen them and took a dramatic sniff. Cats cant scent like dogs or wolves but we can use the wind to follow a person’s direction. I couldn't get a personal scent because the pair both smelled of strong sweat, and fear.

I followed my nose until I had the personal scent as well. A soft huffing sound was probably the wolf. I was so caught up in using my senses to full extent I forgot to stop when I got to close. I walked into a small clearing where the girl (who I could see now was defiantly too young to be a grown woman) was trying to light a stick fire. She yelped loudly when she saw me and the white wolf was in front of her snarling, revealing teeth like a good predator.

But he was standing all wrong; he wouldn't have enough momentum to power himself if he decided to pounce on me.

“Down wolf, you attack me and I can attack back.” I snarled back at him meeting his glowing yellow eyes “I do not wish to hurt you or yours I just wish to know why you are in my territory”

The girl peeked out from behind the wolf “you’re a wolf too?” she asked timidly and the wolf stopped growling.

I glared at the wolf more. If I was going to answer her question I needed him to look away. I needed to be more dominant. When he looked down from my eyes I sighed.

“No I’m a-...” the wind changed direction and I caught there scents again, but stronger.

“Oh my god” I gasped “you’re a cat!”

“And ill slice you if you tell!” the girl tried to look fierce in her tattered cloths and damp UN brushed hair. Instead she made me feel very sorry for her.

“No you won’t. I'm a werecat too!” I was almost overjoyed! Another cat! And a female no less! This was a miracle.

The wolf was looking confused but still stood between me and the tabby cat.

“What?” the girl asked

“You know. This isn't the best place to talk. Or for you to stay” I noted “if one of the pack saw him” I pointed at the wolf “they would kill him and probably take you if they didn't realise what you are”

“What’s a pack?” she asked.

I almost laughed at her. “Come on both of you. You can come home with me. Although we will have to hide you for a bit”

“Home? With you?” the girl was almost ecstatic”with food and bath and stuff?”

“Yeah. Unless you’re staying here” I waved my hands around.

“No way” the girl said rising to her feet and the wolf yipped in agreement.

I lead them to my bus.

“So what are your names? I'm Teresa Collin, but most people call me Tess”

“I’m Becky and this is James” she said patting the wolfs head.

I stopped dead.

“Becky and James? Becky and James Richards?” I asked in a ghost voice.

“Yes?” the girl was confused.

“You know we have been looking for you since yesterday?” I asked her

“Yes. We guessed, the strangers came to our home and took us away. We yelled mom and dad but they didn't come after us and there was horrid noises in there room” she had gone pale and she was starting to cry the wolf, James, was wining at her feet “they locked us in a van and left us there. James got so angry. Then he turned into his wolf and got us free”

“James has been a werewolf for how long?” I asked confused.

“He survived an attack when he was nine. We kept it secret” she said. “Are our parents.... dead?” she asked tears were streaming down her cheeks.

I put an arm around her for comfort. “I’m sorry” I said sadly as she cried more “but I promise I’m going to find the ba-..” I caught myself before I swore “bad men who did this and I will make them pay” I growled deep in my throat and I head James growl too. I looked up at him and realized he was growling with me and not at me.

“Come on” I looked at my watch “oh dam. We're gonna be lucky if I can sneak you two into my house. I was supposed to meet the packs alpha an hour ago”

When we got to my bus I sat Becky in the front passenger seat and let James in the back where I convinced him to change back. When he finished his change he curled in a corner of the bus and tried to hide his nakedness from me.

“Don’t worry. I can summon you some cloths” I said to him in a soft voice as a pair of trouser, boy’s underwear and a shirt appeared on the van floor. All in white again.

Then I hopped into the driver’s seat.

“That was awesome” Becky said hoarsely

“That was magic” I replied “how long have you been a werecat?” I asked her

“Since the night they took us. One of the men scratched me hard down the arm and it burned for a few hours and I fell asleep in the wood. I woke this morning and the burn was gone but I could see and smell things different. I thought I was a wolf” she said simply

“Easy mistake unless you've shifted and grown pointy ears and a tail” I laughed.

“How long have you been a werecat?” she challenged

“I was born a werecat” I said simply “me and my brother both”

“Is he half a witch too?” James asked from the back

“No. his dad was pure cat like our mom but when he died and my mom remarried my dad he was half cat half witch” I explained.

We we're pulling into the drive when I heard commotion in the mansion. My brother was yelling at someone and then I heard a gun go off.

“Holy -” I caught myself again “sit in the car. I don't shift don't yell, move or attract attention. James if you hear me yell your name then you can bring your sister and yourself into the house got it? Otherwise don't move from here” I ordered them and jumped out of the bus locking the door and pulling my hand gun out of my belt I ran inside the house.

Inside the house mas a mess. Furniture was tossed around and there was blood on the floor. I followed the sound of my brother’s voice and found him upstairs yelling at Howard.

“Don’t! I know you mean to come in peace and all but that's my order to stand guard when Charles is ill! Me, Tess, Janice and Lauren now leave!”

“Guys. Leave for god sakes.” I said

They jumped. They didn't hear me coming over Stevens’s voice.

Ethan turned and sneered at me “now she shows up. After the trouble she brings to our door step”

“Shut up. What happened Steven?” I asked genuine concern in my voice.

“A few wolves attacked the house when Charles was home alone waiting for you!” he said, he was upset “they were looking for you! Where were you? You told Charles you would be here at nine!” he accused me.

“I was busy” I said hesitating.

“Oh well” Howard said “if you can’t tell us were you where we're just gonna go with the likeliest choice: a visit to the boyfriends!” he said harshly “you reek of sweat”

“Actually I was busy keeping you asses out of jail so watch your mouth dog” I snarled

“Sure you we're” Janice had joined the conversation “because you care enough about the poor little wolves you were here for the alpha on time” she said sarcastically.

“Shut up!” I yelled anger burning in me. I felt my head shift a little and my eye sight when black before returning with colours much too bright. I knew my eyes had shifted to the yellow-blue cat ones.

Then a little voice said “leave her alone”

We all turned and I saw Becky on the stairs looking like a startled rabbit to find herself in such a mess. Then James came running up after her “sorry” he gasped “she was too fast”

“It’s OK James” I said calmly

“Oh look” Janice smiled nastily “she has a secret horde of children” she knew that Charles could hear us and that him thinking I had kids would tear him up.

“no there not mine” I said walking towards them and I knelt down so I was looking at their faces and gripped Becky and James shoulders “this isn't how the pack normally is” I told them “it’s usually a good place to be somewhere you know you will be safe” I told them

“Until she brings us trouble” Howard said “get them out of here”

“No” I said “James, Becky this is Howard, Ethan, Steven and Janice you lot this is James the newest wolf on the block and his sister Becky the newest cat in the whole of America”

I watched for their reactions. They looked shocked at first then Howard and Janice prowled towards them. Becky tried to back away but I put a hand on her back to stop her.

“Don’t” I whispered “if you back away your prey and the chase is on”

She froze and I saw James reach for her hand.

Howard and Janice sniffed around the pair.

“My god” Howard breathed “i have never met a wolf so young. And two tabby cats in the same town? It has never been heard of” he sounded amazed.

“Now will you tell me what happened” I asked.

“Charles was attacked and we haven't treated him yet. They used silver claw caps so we think it was the same strays from last time” Ethan said. He too was transfixed with the children.

“Right. Ethan, Howard I’m sorry but you know why this is the best. Janice takes them to a steak house or on a hunt, I advise the hunt. Their wolf is on the verge of over taking them.” I said.

Janice was going to argue I could see it in her eyes as she looked at me.

“She’s right” Ethan said “let’s go” he put a hand on Janice and Howard shoulders and lead them outside.

“I’m sorry Steven, but when I saw a stray wolf i-” I didn't finish the apology because my brother pulled me into a hug.

“It’s OK. I'm glad you’re OK. I'm kind of glad you weren't here anyway. They were looking for you, who know why. You haven't been sticking your nose in other people’s business again?”

“Not that I know of but.....” I trailed off. Becky had said the strangers had kidnapped them. But why? I was gonna need some thinking time before I voiced my ideas. “How’s Charles?” I asked instead.

“We haven't been able to treat him. His wolf has taken over and he is attacking us all. And anyway, you announced you were officially qualified in meds and that makes you the medic”

I stared dumbly “me? How do we know he won’t eat me too?”

“Because his wolf has chosen you as a mate” he shrugged.

I huffed. And walked to the bedroom door. I put my ear to the door, but all I could hear was a shallow unsteady breathing. I looked through the key hole (there was a key hole in every door of Charles house, in case we needed to lock someone in, like an out of control wolf or cat) at first all I saw was a blue canopy bed, then I saw him on the bed lay like a sphinx in Egypt his gold fur was painted in crimson blood and I could see the gashes on his body. Somewhere already starting to heal, he needed attention and fast.

“Fine” I said gruffly and I turned to Steven who was smiling “Becky, James Steven is my brother and also a werecat, he will watch you while I’m gone he can make sure the wolves don't bother you until the alpha is healthy” I explained.

Reluctantly they both nodded and Steven invited them to sit on the landing with him and wait for me.

I opened the door and went inside.

Author's Note

ignore spellings and grammer and please review and rate :) also anyone got perhaps any tips on how to make it better?