Her lycan senses kicked into hyperdrive before she
exited the vehicle. She took a quick surveillance of her
surroundings, inhaling the numerous aromas that made up the
night, taking mental notes of all the chaos her
supernatural eyes could devour. Blood and carcasses were
strewn across the unlit highway as if the sky had simply
opened up and dropped the animals from unimaginable
heights. From the smell of the blood, the mutilated bodies
were cattle, but there was also a faint scent of—
A sudden movement caught her eyes as she glanced toward
the front of the overturned truck. The image clear to her,
she immediately flung the door open and charged toward the
cowboy boots that shifted and scraped against the gravel
and dry soil. She slid on her knees, and she came to an
immediate stop beside the human victim.
Her instincts had been correct. This was another
malicious lycan attack. Glancing down at the menacing tear
marks in the flesh of the man's shoulders and back, she
knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that rogue werewolves had
brutalized this poor man. And for what? She growled to
herself. To make more monsters? The attacks were becoming
worse, more violent, and dangerous for everyone in Silent
Falls. Something drastic had to be done and soon.
Glancing up at the sky, she muttered, "Poor bastard."
The full moon was only a week away. She could feel the heat
of the moon along her skin. The fine hairs at the nape of
her neck rose with awareness.
Glancing back down at the man in her arms, she
whispered aloud, "If you knew what was in store for you,
you'd have preferred they'd killed you instead."
With a heavy sigh, she pulled her cell phone from her
hip pocket. "Gavin, I've got an animal attack victim in
pretty bad shape in need of medical assistance on highway
five just north of Murphy's Ranch." She sucked in a sharp
breath. "Before you head out here, notify Doc Brock that
his help is required, and please let him know that he's
going to need to bring some heavy machinery with him. We've
got about a dozen slaughtered cows blocking the road."
"Animal attack?" Gavin's knowing voice clearly told her
he knew exactly what kind of animal attack she was
referring to. He was the only person, besides the pack of
peaceful werewolves that lived in Silent Falls, that even
knew lycans or shape–shifters existed, and he helped
her to keep it that way.
"Yes," she hissed. "Now hurry. This guy's not looking
so hot."
Before she closed her phone, Gavin said, "On my way."
She immediately placed her cell back into her pocket.
Easing the driver onto his back, she used her leg to
keep his head slightly elevated. His eyes batted open, and
his hands came up in a blink, gripping hold of her shirt,
pulling her closer to him. A trickle of blood seeped from
the corner of his mouth.
"Help me," he stuttered, choking on the blood that
filled the back of his throat. "Wild beasts at..." His
voice trailed off as his body fought the exhaustion
ravaging him.
He wouldn't die. Not now. His body was already infected
with the lycan anomaly, and the transition was certainly
underway. The man might have been covered in blood, but she
could smell the changes in him. Lycanthropy worked fast.
Soon he'd be stronger, faster, his vision sharper, and
there'd be no way to stop him if he wanted to turn rogue.
Silence couldn't allow that to happen, and she wouldn't.
Not in her town.
"Just lie still. Help's on the way." She placed her
hand over top of his, and his trembling grip loosened. His
heavy–lidded eyes closed once again as he drifted
back into unconsciousness. She cradled him in her arms,
using her accelerated body heat to keep him warm. He was
shaking like a leaf, most likely from loss of blood and
shock.
Reaching into his denim coat pocket, she pulled his
wallet free and flipped it open. "Lance Hickman from
Kerrville, Texas," she murmured and blew out a hard
sympathetic breath, staring down at the blood–covered
face of the man she couldn't help but pity. His life would
be hell soon, and that was only if she decided to let him
live.
"Well, Mr. Hickman, welcome to Silent Falls."
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