I wondered uncertainly if he was going to change like I had seen my father change in my dreams—turning from a man into an enormous wolf. But other than his eyes, Nick didn’t Shift. He dragged our foster father off me roughly and shook him.
“What the fuck?” Gary glared up at him. “How in the hell did you get home, you foster shit?”
I was wondering the same thing myself, but I really didn’t care. I was just glad to see Nick there to defend me against all odds.
“You get off her!” Nick snarled at him, not answering the question. “Or I’ll fucking kill you!”
The menace in his glowing gold eyes should have been enough to frighten off anyone, but Gary Spaulding had a one-track mind. He had his dick out and it was still hard, despite the interruption.
“You’re not killing anybody, boy,” he snapped at Nick. “Sugar! Honey!” he shouted hoarsely. “Here—come here to me!”
At once I heard the sound of hoarse barking and the two guard dogs came racing into the barn. I flinched when I saw them—their lips curled back to show razor sharp teeth, low growls rising in their chests. I had always given both of them a good deal of space—they were loyal to Nancy and Gary and would maul anyone else, except Alexis—if directed to.
Now Gary pointed at Nick and told the dogs,
“Intruder! Get him out of here!”
At once the two dogs began advancing on Nick and I felt my heart sink.
Gary began to laugh, a nasty, self-satisfied chuckle that filled me with loathing.
“You better run, boy!” he shouted at Nick. “If you don’t want my two girls to tear you into itty-bitty pieces!”
I expected Nick to run—I sure would have! Instead, he held his ground. Leaning forward, he shoved his face up close to the two attack dogs. For a moment his eyes seemed to glow even brighter and then I heard a low, rumbling growl coming from his chest.
It was a sound an animal would make—nothing like it could possibly come from a human throat. It was filled with menace—a warning—and somehow the Doberman and the Pitbull seemed to know it.
Honey, the Pitbull, was the first to back down. Whining, she put her tail between her legs and began backing away. Sugar was soon to follow. With a sharp, frightened bark, she turned and ran out of the barn, as fast as she could. Honey followed and soon it was just Nick glaring at Gary again.
“Once and for all,” he said, his voice still a low, inhuman rumble. “Are you going to leave Kira alone or am I going to fucking kill you?”
Gary stared at him in disbelief. Apparently he was just now taking in the changes in Nick’s eyes and the monstrous, growling voice was finally penetrating his thick brain.
“What the fuck?” he muttered nervously and the dick he was still holding in one hand suddenly went as limp as a cooked noodle.
“LEAVE HER ALONE!!” Nick roared at him and this time his voice was so loud I had to clap my hands over my ears. My head was still ringing when Gary scrambled up and began backing away from us.
“There’s something wrong with you!” he gasped as he backed out of the barn. “Something really fucking wrong!”
Nick made no reply—he just stood there growling low in his throat and glaring with those glowing golden eyes at our foster father. At last when Gary finally made it to the barn door and ran for the house, my big brother turned away.
I was left lying on my foam palate, still half undressed and wondering what would happen next.
NINETEEN
“Nick?” I whispered weakly, looking up at him. My vision was normal again—no longer blurred or doubled—but he still looked wrong to me. It was in the shape of his face…the slant of his eyes…
He shook his head and didn’t turn towards me.
“A minute,” I heard him growl and his voice was still deep and animalistic. “Give me…a minute.”
He walked to the other end of the barn and I scrambled to get myself put back together. I found my underwear and slipped them back on before pulling on my band trousers. The zipper was broken but, by some miracle, the hook and eye on the side wasn’t, so I was able to refasten them.
I took my band coat off—I felt very overheated and I had a T-shirt on under it. And with Nick here, I felt safe without it. But I couldn’t help blessing every one of the double rows of brass buttons—they had bought me the time I needed until Nick could get to me.
Speaking of that, how had he gotten to me in time?
Taking a chance, I walked over to the other end of the barn. Nick was standing there, looking up into the sky. Following his eyes, which were still glowing, I saw that a nearly full moon was floating through the ragged clouds.