Mackenzie carried the food out to the barbeque. She would make dinner, and when Gordon got back, they would have to have an in-depth discussion about what the hell was going on. She tossed the charcoal into the barbeque and lit a match. She paused when she heard a loud howl that echoed through the mountains. It was one lone wolf, and then more joined in.

Putting down what was in her hand, she walked back through the house to the living room, where she looked outside, horrified to see the house surrounded by eight large monstrous wolves. They looked hostile, and they were coming up the porch to the door.

Mackenzie ran to the door and locked it backing away just as something heavy slammed against the door. She could hear the beast on the other side, scratching and clawing at the door. Suddenly a large reddish tanned wolf came busting through the living room bay window shattering the glass. It landed on its paws and fixed her in its sights, snarling and baring its teeth. It lunged at Mackenzie, who turned and ran as fast as she could through the house. There was nothing for her to throw to slow them down and nothing to hide behind.

She rounded the corner and opened the pantry door. Mackenzie stepped into the pantry and pulled the door closed. It would not lock from the inside, so she held the handle of the door with both hands and did her best to hold it closed as the wolves on the other side attacked the door.

Mackenzie screamed as the wolves tore the door apart. The door now lay on the kitchen floor in pieces, and they snapped their jaws at her as Mackenzie kicked one in the face while trying to avoid being bitten. Suddenly a blood-chilling howl echoed through the air, and all the wolves paused. They turned, and Mackenzie could see the big black wolf walk into the room snarling. The other wolves slowly backed away, lowering their heads as if cowering. The black wolf growled as he braced his paws wide as if preparing itself for a fight to the death. This show of aggression was enough for the other wolves to lay down submissively. The black wolf sat down, still looking powerful and deadly, then he tilted his head back and howled. After that show of aggression, the wolves cowardly crept past him, keeping low as they slunk out of the kitchen, leaving the house.

Mackenzie sat in the pantry, terrified, along with the black beast. She watched as its eyes began to glow, and the wolf became Gordon standing in the kitchen naked. He walked up to Mackenzie and squatted down, reaching for her arms to help her up. “Are you hurt?” He asked.

She did not know. Mackenzie ran her hands over her body, looking for injuries. “No, I think I’m ok.”

“Sorry, I shouldn’t have left you. It was a setup. Melissa was supposed to be a distraction.”

“Why are they trying to kill me?” His gaze drifted to her belly. “They baby? They were trying to kill the baby.”

Gordon helped Mackenzie to her feet. “I won’t leave you again. I promise.”

Mackenzie looked down at Gordon and snickered. “You are naked.”

Gordon laughed. “Yeah, I am. What did you do with my pants?” She looked over at his clothes heaped in the corner. “Thanks,” he said, walking over to his pants and began pulling them on. “Do you always stip naked when chasing people?”

He smiled at her. “Only when I intend to wolf out. Otherwise, it would ruin my clothes.”

“Wolf out, is that what you call it? Let’s talk about that. You didn’t tell me you could do that.”

“Did you really think that thing I did in your apartment was all I could do? Darling, that’s only the tip of the iceberg.”

“I think we need to have a long talk. I have so many questions.

“I imagine you do. I will do my best to answer them.”

“First thing…”

“Hungry?”

“Starving.”

***

emergency candle for ambiance as they enjoyed a good barbeque on paper plates. It was the strangest thing. Mackenzie had never had a more romantic dinner. She enjoyed it more than this. They had nothing, but somehow, she felt like she had everything. They had been discussing her many questions. She wanted to know everything there was to know about what he was so she might know better what it was she was carrying. Gordon was very candid about his abilities and what he knew about the history of his kind. It all seemed so fantastic it was difficult to believe, but after having seen him turn into a wolf with her own eyes, she believed

were difficult to kill because they regenerated at an expediential rate. They had a high metabolize, which accounted for his extreme physical fitness. They had strength and speed that could only be categorized as superhuman. Plus, they had the senses of an animal. They could see in the dark, they could hunt by scent, and they could hear a fruit fly flap its wings from a mile away. Then, of course,

their eyes never changed. He explained how Lycanthropes were not made but born. He

and ensure the safety of the pack. While Mackenzie was not

him and seeing how Gordon handled the other pack members proved he was no pushover. He could be dangerous when he stood his ground, which was probably why he was the Alpha, but Mackenzie recalled his daughter

had questions about the abuse, but she did not know how to broach the subject, and he was clearly avoiding it. “Can I ask you something uncomfortable?”

down in shame. “Did Melissa really beat me, and if so, why did

lack of eye contact. It

but I told myself I could live with it. She got pregnant with Aster, and I just figured marriage was the right thing to do.

pan into the side of my face. She had been frying homemade fries, so it was filled with hot oil. The pain was blinding. She broke my nose and fractured my right cheekbone. The oil burnt away the top layer of my skin on the right side. If I hadn’t the ability to regenerate, it would have left me

times she beat me so bad I’d thought she’d kill me. She’d leave me lying on the floor, unable to

you allow her to do that?” Mackenzie asked, feeling petty for this man that, up

was a child, my father told me there was never ever an excuse to strike a

anyone

didn’t tell anyone. I didn’t want anyone to

They

different for men. When a man hits a woman, she is a victim who needs to be saved. When a woman hits a man, he is looked down on — mocked for being weak and pathetic. Laughed at for letting

didn’t you just leave her

for life. It is a tradition. It has been a constant since

did leave

good enough reason to keep putting up with the abuse. So, I finally stood tall

than I ever thought you were. It takes a strong man not to resort to

he took her

“I am.”

want you to live

want me

seems like a good idea. We could give the baby a real home with both parents. That has to be a good thing. After Melissa was so kind as to empty my house, I

the pack going

don’t care. I’m the Alpha. I decide who lives and

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