Page 19 of Under Dark Skies

Rafe tapped his side pocket. “Good to go darling.”

Layla’s cheeks bloomed hot. She didn’t think he realized what he had said until her face reacted. He turned away and began to walk without acknowledging it.

“We’ll walk a bit further and find one just outside town. The unrest won’t reach them until a bit later today. We should be good until then. Let’s see how far we can get.”

Layla nodded, and kept her pace with his. If he wasn’t with her, she was sure she would be terrified. But being with him made her feel confident, like she was capable of evading even the most powerful of wolves. It was interesting the kind of feelings attraction could bring out in someone.

They moved quickly and quietly through the park, only passing oblivious dog-walkers and a few joggers. They were all frowning at the distant sound of breaking glass and bellowing.

Eighteen

Rafe

They managed to arrive at a quiet street rather quickly. There were only a few cabs milling about, but that was a good thing. The driver would surely be either outraged or ecstatic about the length of the trip they were requesting. But it didn’t matter, it was just a matter of getting out of there as fast as they could.

Three cabs were sitting outside across from a deli. A few people, seemingly humans who had yet to hear about the unrest, stood outside of it. Some looked at their phones, some hailed other cabs. But chaos had yet to reach them.

Rafe thought this was a good thing.

He scanned the area for any threats. He decided to take the cab furthest down so no one could possibly spot them.

“Let’s give this a try. If we don’t get a good reaction we can move on.”

Layla nodded. She was so quick to learn, so quick to want to help. This attracted Rafe even more to her. He opened up the cab door, and leaned in to speak to the driver.

“We’re looking to go to Crescent City, interested?”

The driver was holding a sandwich, and almost dropped it at the sound of the distance.

“Holy shit man, that’s hours away!”

Rafe nodded. He wanted to get this interaction over with as soon as possible.

“My wife and I are in a hurry, so are you interested or not?”

Why had he said wife? He hoped that didn’t offend Layla. He saw her smile in his peripheral vision, so that was something positive.

“Definitely! It’s just gonna cost you.”

Rafe took out three one hundred dollar bills from his wallet. “There’s more where that came from if I can count on you to get us there fast.”

“Well, without breaking any laws, I’m your man!”

Rafe lifted his head from the cab, and smiled at Layla. “Let’s get going and see how this goes. If he doesn’t talk our ear off the entire way, that is.”

Rafe offered his hand to Layla, who took it graciously. She grinned, and he did too at her touch. He guided her into the cab and was feeling warm inside, when a nasty scent caught him upwind.

He whirled around and tensed his muscles for impact. But there was nothing. Only a treelike with a sidewalk that no one was currently walking on. He turned back to face the side where the deli sat. The two or three humans who were talking there still lingered, but now someone new was leaning against the wall of the deli. The collar of his jacket was flipped up, and was glancing through his phone.

This was lycan for sure. But it was one that he did not recognize, which frightened him immensely. Layla must have noticed his urgency and pulled on his jacket.

“Rafe, what’s wrong?”

He looked down at her, eyes wide with alarm. “I think I see a wolf. He’s watching us from across the street.”

Layla looked out the window. The driver looked instinctively too. She turned back, then pulled on his jacket once again. “Let’s just go Rafe, no time like the present.”

Rafe was torn. He could jump into the cab right then and there and speed off, but the wolf could easily track them. Maybe even kill him, Layla, and their driver. It would be pointless to think a human could outrun him, even in a car. He puffed out air hard, knowing exactly what he needed to do.

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