Page 40 of Wolf's Mark

“What are we talking about?” Parker asked as Chase continued to fume.

Now I sat back in my seat. The thought of what we were facing seemed like a nightmare of our own. “Werewolf.”

As soon as I half whispered the word, Chase burst into laughter. “You are shitting me. You expect me to believe that crap? The council is using that to get us to do what they want. Nothing more. I want no part of it.”

Mother did her best not to get angry, but when she did, you knew it. Nothing about her was demure or soft. She’d never been the most nurturing woman either.

She slammed her hand down on the table. “Enough. You will listen to me. Whether you want to believe it or not, there are creatures not unlike us that still kill for food and fun. They enjoy becoming the monsters that human nightmares are made of, using their grotesque and often deformed bodies to enhance the experience of terror. Just before they kill their intended victims. They are impossible to kill once in full form, finding new recruits by killing members of the human race. And guess what happens when they are reanimated? They become very hungry. Their food of choice? Human flesh and bone.”

She allowed the statement to linger.

As I expected, Chase continued to laugh while Parker looked at me, trying to figure out if our mother had lost her marbles.

“I need a drink,” he whispered.

Hell, so did I.

I’d heard the story, the lore that had troubled every pack in every country. However, these so-called werewolves were limited in number, most not moving in organized packs. However, they were created and whether by God, man, or the devil himself as Mother believed, their mental faculties were supposedly those of a child.

That’s why they didn’t live very long, often killing each other. They also had succumbed to the curse of a disease affecting only them. Yes, they could shift back into their human form, but why bother? They had too much fun hunting and feasting on unsuspecting innocent victims. But before this, their kills had been intended for food for the most part.

“Werewolves,” Riker repeated. “How and why now? Is this really true, Mother? I’m not Chase. I am aware there are various wolf packs in the world, but we’ve never had to face murderous creatures. If any of the story you told is true, they have no leader, just a primal need to exist.”

She softened with Riker. I often believed he was her favorite son. “I don’t have all the answers yet, but through my contact with the other Elders, we’re trying to piece together why there is a surge of them. I don’t mind telling you the council is worried. If their numbers don’t increase significantly, we could keep them at bay while building our army.”

Army.

I could tell how well that word went over with Chase.

“You’re trying to say that there is a leader?” I interjected.

“If the stories are true, his name is Jeremiah. He is as ancient as our oldest Wolfen, perhaps more so. Some Elders say the werewolf was considered a mistake made by the devil. Our formwas fashioned by refining what the devil learned. Then the werewolves were banished.”

“But they lived,” I said, trying not to laugh. A true nightmare.

“As I said, the council doesn’t have all the answers and neither do I. But there has been increased unusual activity. There’s always been sightings of wolves attacking people.”

“But it was assumed a feral wolf was the reason?” Riker asked. A good question.

“Yes, which I consider another mistake made by the council. I tried to get Cane to establish a tracking system to keep the slaughters in our computer system, but he refused.”

“Why do you believe there’s going to be a war?” I finally asked.

“Because after these bizarre and unexplainable murders where the bodies go missing, more killings have occurred immediately. Some remain dead. They are feeding to gain their strength. They’ve occurred in New York, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and as far south as Miami. Now, in Chicago as well.”

“It almost sounds as if this Jeremiah is hand picking candidates he wants in his army.” Riker took a deep breath.

“An excellent guess,” Mother answered.

Parker sighed. “Let me get this straight. There are dangerous, murderous humans that become creatures similar to werewolves after being hand selected by some werewolf guru. They enjoy killing so they are suddenly beginning to do so, almost in military fashion maybe? They will grow in number unless the Wolfen take mates and make babies fast?”

She nodded. “Exactly like that. There will be more deaths. I sense that and I’m certain you do as well, Jax.”

“They are increasing their numbers in preparation of a full-blown attack.” Riker had his hands steepled as he usually did when he was thinking.

“That is the most educated guess. That’s why many of the elder wolves are concerned. We need to stop guessing and find definitive answers.”

I jerked up from the chair, heading to the window overlooking the back parking lot. “How can they be killed, Mother?”

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