Page 16 of Midlife Wolf's Only Hope

They sink to their knees and the second boy speaks for the first time. “Please don’t kill us. We’re sorry.”

“Will your apology erase the fact that that little girl is in danger because of you?” I feel my teeth begin to lengthen and animal anger begins to flood me.

The shift stops when Vince lays a hand on my arm. “Go find Annie, Dad. I’ll deal with them.”

By the terror in their eyes, I can tell the boys feel no relief at that.

I turn to Klarice and lift her head to meet my eyes. She is consumed with terror and it takes an effort for me not to just rip those boys in half for doing this to the woman I love.

“I’ll find her,” I say. “I promise you I’ll bring her home.”

Klarice can only nod through her sobs.

I take the backpack and get into my car, then speed off to Old Mill Road. It’s twenty minutes away and I spend the entire drive trying desperately not to let my fear overwhelm me. The forest is no place for a young girl alone.

I reach the spot and land on the ground as a wolf. The backpack has clothing, so I allow the ones I’m wearing to shred into tatters as I sprint into the woods, following Annie’s scent. Another, far more dangerous scent reaches my nostrils and I sprint toward her, tearing the ground as I run at speeds no real wolf could match.

I find her a few minutes later, cowering from the source of the dangerous scent. It’s a large bull black bear, nearly five hundred pounds and it’s clear from its slavering jaw that it intends to make a meal of Annie.

It never gets the chance. Before it lands a single blow, my jaws close around its throat. It thrashes and struggles for several minutes and I have to use all of my strength to control the powerful animal before it finally breaks free.

I turn toward it, expecting a fight, but it’s already rushing away through the forest. I turn to Annie, who watches me in abject terror. Her blouse is torn and I can see the boys were more insistent about asking for sex than they let on.

I shift back, covering my crotch with one hand. When she sees me, her eyes widen and she rushes into my arms, sobbing.

“It’s all right now,” I say. “You’re safe.”

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Klarice

I feel like I can hold onto Annie forever. Part of me wants to scream at her for being so foolish but a far greater part of me is just happy she’s here. I guess there will be time for screaming later. The two boys who frightened her drive off and I’m still holding her. Over her shoulder, I look at Val’s oldest son. “Vince, right?”

He smiles. “Yes.”

“Sorry,” I say. Annie holds tightly to me as though she’s afraid I’m going to let her go.

“Well,” he says, “I did tell you that a dozen times but under the circumstances, you’re allowed to forget.”

“Are you… are you like your father?”

He nods. “Well, I’m a lot better looking.”

I chuckle and through her tears, Annie giggles a little. She turns and looks at him and says, “Thank you.”

I say, “Oh no, young lady. Boys don’t exist.”

She looks at me and whispers, “I’m sorry I snuck away. I’m…”

“It all worked out,” I say. “We’re going to wait three days before we talk about it, okay? Let’s just celebrate that you’re okay.”

I look at Val and he smiles. “So now you’ve seen my wolf.”

I smile and say, “A lot sexier than the wolfman.”

Vince chuckles but Annie pulls back and says in an almost horrified voice. “Aunt Klarice, he’s married!”

Vince rescues me. “My mom and dad have been separated for a while. Dad and Klarice are figuring out how to announce their relationship to everyone. I guess that’s kind of happened now.”

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