Kanin

A few days passed without sight of the wolves that wanted me dead. It was quiet. So quiet I started thinking that the wolves weren’t actually after me. That I had just dreamed that fight in my house when I first saw a werewolf.

The only reason I knew it had happened was because every morning and night my father insisted on working on my knife and gun training. He said we could never be too ready.

He was right.

It was Friday night. My father had agreed to finally let me out of the house and away from his sight. I promised Delilah I’d go to a party with her. Dad had even lifted my curfew some now that I knew about his secret life. Instead of ten o’clock, I had to be home by eleven. I didn’t complain.

I dressed in my favorite boots, skinny jeans, and nice tank top. I straightened my hair down my back and did my makeup a little darker than usual. I jogged down the stairs where my father was waiting for me. He had his arms crossed over his chest. “I don’t like this.”

“Come on, dad.” I stood on my tippy toes and kissed him on the cheek. “I have my gun and my blade.” To prove it, I reached down and pulled my blade from my boot. “I’ll be fine, I promise.” I reassured him. “Besides, I’ll never be by myself.”

He nodded reluctantly, “phone on at all times. Never take that blade from your boot.”

“Dad, seriously stop. I’ll be fine.” I reassured him. I grabbed my keys and opened the front door. I stepped onto the front porch, trying to quickly leave. “I’ll see you at eleven.” I promised once again.

With that, I slipped into my car. I turned over my engine and let my music fill out my open windows. I waved goodbye to my father, who was watching me leave from the front door. It took me twenty minutes to reach the party. Delilah was waiting for me there. I pulled my car behind hers. Stepping out onto the pavement, she hugged me tight.

“So, whose party?” I asked curiously.

“No one we know.” She shrugged.

“Then why are we here?”

“Bobby invited us.”

We stepped inside the house, instantly bombarded by smoke and the smell of alcohol. I didn’t see anyone we knew. They were all older. “Um, D, is this a college party?”

“Maybe.” She said sweetly, flipping her hair over her shoulder.

“Delilah!” I yelled over the music, a smile etched into my face. “You brought us to a college party?”

“Don’t complain!” She laughed. “Have you seen these guys?” As if proving her point, she pointed to two older guys that look much like the models from our magazines. They looked over at us and lifted their cups before disappearing into the kitchen.

“Okay, maybe we can stay for an hour or so.” I laughed, letting her lead me into the throng of dancing bodies. My hips swayed to the music and I threw my hands into the air.

An hour later, we were still dancing. A guy’s arms were on my hips and we were moving to the music. Suddenly, I was pulled back to the night at the club.

I was dancing with Bobby. His hands were at my hips. I suddenly had the sinking feeling I was being watched. It wasn’t uncommon though. A lot of people had been looking at me that night. This had been different though. The hairs on my neck stood on end, goosebumps formed over my skin; and it wasn’t because of Bobby.

My eyes traveled around the club nonchalantly. I did a twice over, but nothing stood out. Then, I noticed a dark figure standing across the club.

My heart began to race.

He wasn’t watching me like some of the other guys were. He was sitting by himself, his back propped against the bar. He had a glass of scotch in his fingers, but I didn’t think he’d drank from it yet. He wore a leather jacket with a gray zip up hoodie underneath and a pair of black boots. His hair was a perfect mess of dark waves on his head. His eyes reminded me of a dangerous storm; a mix of gray and blue. He had a scar crossing his right eyebrow. A sudden wave of nausea swam through me as my eyes focused on the stranger.

There was something about him that intrigued me, but scared me none the less. I wondered what brought him here. He didn’t look the type to hang out in a club. I looked at him once more. His muscles were coiled tight under his jacket, like he was ready to pounce if he needed to. He looked like a predator stalking his prey. For a moment, I swore I saw his eyes flash a deep red: almost like blood.

“Kanin!”

I was snapped out of the memory by Delilah. The guy behind me was gone. The song that I was once dancing to, was no longer playing.

“You awake?” Delilah waved a hand in front of my face.

“Yeah, sorry.” I shook away the cobwebs in my mind.

“Want something to drink? Nonalcoholic of course.” I was tempted to tell her I wanted something strong, but remembered I was driving. She handed me a water bottle instead. I popped the cap off and downed half of it.

“So, did you happen to get the name of the hottie that you were dancing with?” I asked her.

“The blonde?” She shook her head. ” I forgot.”

I rolled my eyes.

“What about you?”

“His name was Brando.” I smiled smugly. “Have you seen Bobby?”

Delilah shook her head, “why was Brando not good enough for you?”

“That’s not it at all.” I crossed my arms over my chest.

“Whatever you say, girly.” She lifted her hand and pointed behind me. “Go get your man.”

I spun around to see Bobby coming my way. He looked as handsome as ever. Sometimes it surprised me that someone like him was talking to someone like me. He wore a pair of khaki shorts and a sports t-shirt. He fit in well amongst the crowds around him, he looked like he belonged.

Did I?

I shook away the deep thought and slipped away from Delilah to meet him. He smiled his white toothy smile and scratched the back of his neck. “Glad you could come, Kanin.”

“Yeah?” I leaned against the island and returned his smile. “Whose party is this anyway?”

“A buddy of mine.”

“I didn’t know you had college friends.” I told him.

“Oh yeah, loads.” He laughed.

That’s how I spent the rest of my time, chatting with Bobby. When it became time for me to leave, he walked me to my car. I stood there a moment, hoping that he would make a move. Suddenly, he leaned forward and his lips touched mine. I stood on my tippy toes and returned it. My arms wrapped around his neck. Just as soon as it started, it was over. He leaned his forehead against mine and stared into my eyes.

I couldn’t help the sinking feeling that something didn’t feel right. Something not right about Bobby, about me, about us. I shook it away quickly. I liked Bobby. He was nice and he liked me.

“Thanks for coming.” He said quietly, breaking me from my thoughts, his warm breath fanned across my face. For the first time, I think I liked the smell of alcohol.

“No problem.” I pulled away from him. He opened the door to my car and watched me slip inside. He stood there until he was just a dot in my rear-view mirror.

I couldn’t stop smiling. For once I didn’t mind the dark ride through the deserted forest road. My headlights lite up the street in front of me. The trees on either side of me didn’t faze me. I was just happy.

Suddenly, a big, black shape jumped out onto the road. I had to slam on my breaks to keep from running into it. I screamed, standing before me in the road was a pitch-black wolf. Not just any wolf: a werewolf. It stared at me with bright eyes, but didn’t move.

I quietly and slowly pulled my phone from my cup holder. Barely taking my eyes from the dangerous wolf, I sent my father a 911 message. Next, I pulled the knife from my boot. The wolf still stared at me. His broad chest moved up and down rapidly with his breathing. I could see his canine teeth snarling at me. I reached over and grabbed my gun from the glove compartment.

Just keep driving, it’ll move.

I should’ve rammed into the beast, kept driving and not looked back, but I couldn’t. Something inside me flared to life. I was no longer scared. I was terrifyingly calm. I stepped out of my car, my boots hitting the cracked black top. Still, the beast didn’t move. I rose my gun into the air, aiming straight for it.

He didn’t move.

Why was he giving me the opportunity to shoot him?

Was he testing me?

I took a steady breath, “just go. I’ll let you turn around. I won’t say anything.”

The wolf took a tentative step forward, making me take one back. My hand holding the gun shook. I didn’t want to pull the trigger, even though I should’ve a long time ago. Suddenly, he lunged. His body flew in a blur. I screamed, my finger pulling the trigger, but he was on me before the bullet could hit him. I heard it hit a tree and ricochet off.

The wolf was on top of me, pinning me to the ground. His breath fanned over my face. His red eyes stared into mine, bright pools of red swirling above me. His fur prickled against my skin.

I didn’t look away.

I couldn’t look away.

Something about it kept me captivated.

I was going to die.

It was a sudden realization as the beast’s warm breath fanned across my breath. I took a second to pray to whoever was listening. They say your life flashes across your vision moments before you die, but mine didn’t. The only thing I saw was that beast’s cold, calculating blood eyes.

Then, another howl roared through the forest. My ears started ringing and my vision blurred for a moment. The wolf above me took in the surrounding forest. I took that moment and kicked up at the wolf. It yelped, backing away from me. I took off running, not caring that my gun was abandoned on the ground behind me. I still had my blade though.

I didn’t make it far. Something hit me in the side so hard that for a moment I thought I’d been hit by a truck. I was tossed to the ground like a stone. My head cracked the road, making me see stars. I was turned over to look up. I focused on the spinning stars for a moment. Then I was staring at a brown wolf, not the same one from before. This one was angry, completely enraged. He was growling and snapping his teeth, foaming at the mouth. He was going to sink his teeth into my neck, taste my blood, and slowly kill me.

His paw came up to claw at my face, but somehow, I shielded it with my forearm. Blood spilled from four claw marks on my arm. That only made the wolf even more angry. He snapped his jaws at me, shaking his head.

The wolf was thrown off me then. He rolled several times before landing on his feet again. He made an angry noise somewhere between a grunt and a bark. I turned my aching head to see the black wolf standing beside me. He wasn’t focused on me though; his eyes were solely for the enraged wolf.

They seemed to pass silent words between themselves. The brown wolf suddenly stopped growling and snapping, he whined. He lowered his head and looked away from the black wolf, submitting.

I wanted to run, scream, something. I just couldn’t get my body to obey. I was suddenly so tired. Stars danced above me. My head was spinning. I could no longer feel the wounds at my arm or back of my head. I’d probably gone into shock.

I must have blacked out for a moment, because when I opened my eyes again the wolves were gone. I was still lying on the street. I was frozen, my body heavy. My head was still spinning and the stars still danced. I wouldn’t be awake for very much longer.

Voices seemed to drift to me through a tunnel. Everything sounded like I was underwater.

“What were you thinking, Cade!” A deep, accented voice demanded. He spoke like he was in charge and no one dared talk back to him.

“You know who she is!” This voice was deep as well, both male. He was American. “Why would you protect her?”

Who were they talking about?

“We aren’t here to kill her.” The accented voice came again, calm.

Everything drifted away again for a moment. I don’t remember closing my eyes or opening them again. I was once again staring up from the street. The voices came again from underwater.

Was I drowning?

Was I even breathing?

I could no longer tell.

“Dude, she had a gun.” The Americans voice reached me first.

“Put it back in her car.” The accented voice demanded.

“Come again?” The other voice sounded confused.

“Just do as I say!” The man with the accent growled.

“As you wish.” The other man complied.

Suddenly, a face swam into focus. For a moment, I couldn’t focus on any one feature, but I felt like I knew it from somewhere. A warm hand came to cup my cheeks, rolling my head to the side. I felt a finger prod the back of my skull. I felt a faint prickling at his touch.

“Dang it, Cade.” The accented voice was very close to me. I heard a faint ripping sound. Then, someone was lifting my arm and wrapping something around it.

Was I hurt?

I wanted to say something, ask what happened, but the only thing that came out was a groan. I heard someone close to me sigh. Then, there were warm arms coming to encase me. I was pulled against a strong heartbeat. I was instantly very warm.

“Let’s go.” A voice rumbled against my ear.

I was suddenly enveloped in a vast darkness, but I hadn’t closed my eyes just yet.

The woods.

I closed my eyes then, drifting away to the sound of a heartbeat.

I was dead for sure.