Embracing the Wolf (Ritter Werewolves #2)(36)
Author: Catherine Bybee

****

Kate stared out into the setting sun and wondered if she was doing the right thing. The idea was hers, but now she had second thoughts. Richard wouldn’t approve, which was why she kept it from him. But she needed to get her life back.

She found Richard in the kitchen talking with Max and Janet. Silence hit the room when she entered, making her wonder what secrets they held.

Downcast eyes and quick hellos added to her uncertainty.

“We were just about to leave,” Richard said, walking around the counter and putting a reassuring arm over her shoulders.

“So soon?”

“Devon seems to think tonight is when he’ll strike again.”

“Devon’s the police officer?” she asked, knowing full well who he spoke of.

“Yeah.”

“Come on, bro. Night is fast coming.” Max kissed his wife and winked at Kate when he walked by.

“Be careful,” Kate whispered when he drew her close.

His lips met hers with such tenderness, moisture gathered behind her lids. It felt like goodbye. She’d been in tears for one reason or another ever since they met. More would come. Of

that, there was no doubt.

“We’ll talk in the morning,” he said when he pulled away.

Kate nodded. Her heart ached. “Be safe.” They walked out together in the direction of the garage.

Janet turned to her and said, “How about a movie?”

Kate shook her head. “You don’t have to entertain me. Brandy is sleeping.”

“So.”

“Please, I remember what it was like with a newborn. You’re exhausted, tired and did I say exhausted?”

They both laughed.

“Go to bed, Janet. Brandy will be crying for food in a couple of hours. I can help with the changing, but you’re in charge of the milk department.”

“Are you sure?” Janet asked, obviously torn.

“I insist. Joey is already asleep, and Richard is gone for the night. I’ll watch the news and hit the hay myself.”

“But I…”

“But nothing.” Kate turned Janet’s shoulders in the direction of the stairs and gave a little shove.

“Bed!”

****

The florescent lights of the garage flickered on. Neither of them moved toward any of the parked cars.

“It won’t be long now,” Max told him.

“I can feel it.”

Max patted his back, smiled, and said, “You’ve done the right thing. We’ll catch this bastard tonight. Between the two of us, he doesn’t stand a chance.”

“I hope you’re right.”

“I am.”

Richard felt his heart accelerate, his vision

sharpened.“Max…”

“Yeah?”

His breath came in pants. Bones shifted. “I’m going to ask Kate to marry me.” It was a confession and a distraction. Anything to get his mind off the unknown.

Max smiled, shook his head. “About time.”

“Yeah. I think so, too.”

All of a sudden, the air thinned, and breathing became a chore. As if completely intoxicated, Richard hit the floor at the same time Max did. The inability to stand erect tossed all of his equilibrium out the door. Gelatinous arms and legs shimmered under his skin. His mouth opened to yell but no voice came from his vocal cords. Instead, a howl started at the bottom of his morphing lungs and found its way out. Popping, stretching and pain exploded while teeth elongated and ears came forward. The pain was brief, and replaced with a need to shake.

On four legs, Richard’s head seemed to spin while his body adjusted to the change. Although the level of his sight was lower, his senses made up for the loss. None of the new abilities he had experienced since Max bit him compared to the change. Where he heard the snapping of a twig from a running bunny, he now heard the fast flutter of the hare’s heart. The fear he smelled from Kate was enhanced ten fold. He wondered if it was Kate he smelled now, or the scent of others in neighboring homes.

Richard glanced at Max, and opened his mouth to talk. He barked. Max shook his head, mouth pulled back in what looked like a grin.

Ass, he thought. He’s laughing at me. Richard’s bark turned into a growl, but the hair on his back was down.

I heard that. Max’s voice echoed in his head.

What the…

Oh, didn’t I tell you? Max’s wolfish grin grew bigger. Telepathy is alive and well. In this form, we can talk to our kind. Hear the thoughts of those like us. Damn! That must be a bitch when you’re on a hunt with Dad. Richard shook out a leg, surprised how normal it felt.

Oh, Bro… You just wait. You haven’t seen anything yet!

Max nodded toward the door of the garage and started walking.

The desire to take off in a run was overwhelming. Without words, Max yipped and took off in a sprint. Richard followed his lead.

****

Kate stretched her arms over her head and settled into the large couch then grabbed one of the many remotes on the coffee table. She pressed the red ‘on’ button and the TV came to life. The satellite system required a second remote to operate the channels so Kate picked up another gadget thinking it was the right one. Instead of turning on the satellite, the bank of monitors Richard had shown her on her first day in the Ritter home swiveled into view. Each flickered on until Kate saw no less than twelve different views of the estate. The baby’s sleeping face brought a smile to Kate’s. She saw James sitting in his room reading. Even the pool glistened as the last rays of sun stretched across its surface. Movement from the monitor of the garage caught her attention. Richard stood with Max in deep conversation. Although Kate couldn’t hear the words said, she still felt as if she were eavesdropping. Her finger hovered over the button of the remote to turn off the monitors when Richard fell to the floor.

Kate jumped to her feet, ready to run to his aid when she noticed his body start to change.

Eyes wide, she saw movement from under the skin of his face. Hair grew over his arms, arms that shrank before her eyes.

Kate closed her eyes, rubbed them, then forced them open again. Richard still thrashed on the ground. The same changes were happening to Max.

“Oh my, God,” she choked out.

Fear coursed through her. Every hair on her body stood on end. She couldn’t breath. She opened her mouth to scream but only a squeak came. Her hand flew to her lips but her eyes never left the unbelievable scene unfolding before her.

“Oh my, God,” she whispered to herself. This isn’t happening. I’m going crazy.