As with humans, werewolves came in two categories: good and evil. The Ritter’s used the strength and skills of the change to even out the playing field.
The wolf like the one who attacked Kate the night before was obviously from the seedier side of the food chain. A bite from an evil wolf was like a virus entering an open wound. It would fester and swell until it swallowed the humanity of its victim.
Kate could fight it, but her nature would eventually change. Very few people could alter that path once it began.
However, if someone like Max turned her, then she stood a chance of keeping her morality even in K-9 form.
Up until now, Richard never considered taking the change. He didn’t need to grow a long nose and pointy ears every full moon to help his family rid the country of evil. He helped in his own way. His human way.
“Well?” Max asked breaking his train of thought.
“Dammit.”
Max positioned his hand on his shoulder.
Richard’s eyes darted up.
“You’re really considering it, aren’t you?” Richard sought out the steel barred windows of Kate’s apartment, the flimsy locks on her door, and the convalescing woman on the sofa. “She has a son, Max. Six years old with no father to be found.”
“Even more reason to keep her from being turned.”
Richard brought both palms to his eyes and rubbed vigorously. “I need some sleep.” Max patted his back before moving to leave. “Let me know,” he said while dropping the keys to Kate’s car in Richard’s hand.
Richard went to his jacket, pulled his car keys from the pocket, and tossed them to his brother.
“Bring it back before dark.”
Max nodded before letting himself out.
****
The alarm on Richard’s watch sounded fifteen minutes before Joey’s scheduled departure from school. Truly surprised he managed any sleep at all with the noise coming from down the hall. Richard rubbed his eyes in an effort to wake up.
Kate slept with no sign of waking.
After finding a forgotten crayon and piece of paper, Richard scribbled a quick note explaining where he had gone along with his cell phone number. He set it on the table and left her side, her car keys in hand.
The school parking lot appeared less crowded then in the morning. Only the kindergarten kids left the campus at noon. The others still had three and a half hours to go until they escaped their prison of schoolbooks and exams.
He leaned against the stucco building along with the other adults waiting for the bell to ring. Before long, the kids piled out of the building.
Joey walked alongside his friends with his
backpack half on, half off his shoulder. The construction paper hat on his head attempted to model after Robin Hood brought a smile to Richard’s lips. It took Joey a minute before he recognized Richard. When he did, he waved enthusiastically, and walked right up to him.
“Where’s my mom?”
“At home sleeping.”
Joey put his hand over his brow shading the sun from his eyes, all the while scrutinizing Richard to the point he feared the other parents would become suspicious.
“My mom told me never to ride with a stranger.” He hadn’t thought of that. It never dawned on him the kid wouldn’t go with him. “Oh, well… I took you to school this morning. And I’m driving your mom’s car.” Richard pointed to the beat up old Nissan, which belonged in a scrap heap.
Joey glanced at the car, then him. “Okay,” he said, much to Richards’s relief. Just then, the older woman who led the children to the pick up line started walking toward them. Her gaze settled on Richard. Joey saw her, put his hand in Richard’s, and tugged him away from the school.
Not wanting to battle the school’s pick up policy, and knowing damn well they would call Kate’s home and wake her, Richard started moving.
The woman he assumed was Joey’s teacher stopped walking toward them when they stepped off the curb, obviously no longer interested in who picked the boy up.
Her lack of follow-through ticked him off. Part of him wanted to march up to the woman and tell her she should demand to know who was picking up the kids. Wasn’t it her job to ensure their safety? For all she knew, Richard could be some pervert, or worse.
The teacher helped another student into a car, he and Joey completely forgotten.
“Hrmmmp,” he moaned. A call to the district was in order.
Joey sat silently in the back seat. In the rear view mirror, Joey’s eyes were glued to him.
“What?” Richard asked.
“Is my mom really sleeping?”
“Yeah, she is.”
“She never forgets to pick me up.”
“She didn’t forget you,” Richard told him. “She had a tough night, remember her arm?” At first, Joey narrowed his eyes as if he searched Richard’s face for any sign of deceit. Then he shrugged his shoulders and nodded.
The Elementary School was only a few miles from Kate’s apartment, yet the drive took forever with the California traffic.
The supermarket on the corner reminded Richard of the lack of food in Kate’s kitchen. “Do you think your mom will mind if we stop by the store and pick up a few things?”
Joey shrugged his shoulders. “I dunna know.”
****
Kate ran as fast as her legs would take her through the thick lush forest. The full moon lit her way, but it lit his as well. Her chest ached with the pain of running for too long and too fast. She couldn’t stop, ever. Suddenly, the forest floor opened up. Her arms thrashed above her head trying to catch hold of something. Anything. But it was no use. She closed her eyes and prayed her death would come quick and painless.
Then, without notice, everything stopped. She stood in her apartment, only it didn’t look like her apartment. The furniture, the paint, even the smell was different… New.
Richard came in the room. The smile on his face erased all the fear she felt from the terrible fall. He said nothing as he walked toward her. Even before
his arms gathered her close, she knew he was going to kiss her. How long had she waited for him to do it?
Forever, it seemed.
He leaned closer, his breath on hers. His hands stroked away the lock of hair that had fallen in her eyes. He cradled her face in his heavy palms. “Let me take care of you,” he whispered.
“Please. I’ve been alone for so long.”
“I know.”
Kate moistened her lips and laughed when he did the same. Her heart raced, her palms dampened.
Kiss me, she cried in her head. Hurry, before it’s too late. Kate sat straight up with a strangled cry. The room around her came into focus. The pain in her arm from the sudden movement reminded her where she was and what had happened.