SWNOVELS Chapter Chapter Fourteen
When Eve and Flint stepped into the store, a small bell announced their arrival. A small woman with red hair came from the back room. She smiled politely at the couple as she sat a large vase of roses on the clean, yellow countertop.
Her scent alerted the Alpha couple to the fact that she was a human. The wolf in her blood had either been diluted out of existence or perhaps it had never been there at all. However, the scent of her husband also wafted off of her skin. He was definitely a half-breed.
"Hello. How can I help you folks?" She greeted them cheerfully.
"Hi. You have a lovely place here." Eve wasn't sure how to respond.
"Thank you. My husband and I have owned this place for nearly a decade." The woman was obviously at ease.
"It's lovely." The Luna glanced at her mate.
The human had confirmed their suspicions. This was Denise. Wife of Randy Taylor and mother to Briar. Allies of Bastian Anderson, StarLight pack's greatest enemy.
"We came here looking for someone actually. I think you may know him." Flint's smile was stiff and false.
"Maybe I can help you. This is a small town." Denise was now watching the pair curiously.
"Does the name Bastian Anderson sound familiar?" Eve probed.
The woman's eyes widened slightly in recognition before she replaced her nonchalant expression. Flint met his mate's gaze, both had seen this small reflex.
"Maybe my husband could better help you guys out." Denise turned toward the store room and raised her voice, "Randy!"
A moment later, a man with mousy brown hair exited the back room. He was wiping dirt from his hands and he wore a bright blue baseball cap. He smiled politely at the Alpha couple and stepped up beside his wife.
"How can I help you?" He nodded to them.
"They're looking for someone named Bastian." Denise stated.
"Why?" Randy narrowed his eyes at Flint.
He inhaled the air deeply a couple times before he grabbed his wife's hand and pulled her behind him. He took a cautious step back from the couple, his stance was clearly defensive. He had obviously smelled the animals within them.
"Don't panic." Eve spoke in a calming tone. "We just want information."
"I don't care what you want. We aren't in StarLight territory. Get out." Randy barked.
"Do you know who I am?" Flint's deep voice cut through the air.
"You're powerful. You must be Dolan." The man replied.
"I am the Alpha of StarLight. You would do well to answer my questions." He nodded.
"I don't care who you are. Your people threatened my son! Get out!" Randy pointed strongly toward the door.
Denise grabbed a pair of sheers off the table beside her, pulling her husband against her as she remained behind him. It was clear these people didn't trust StarLight, or aligned wolves in general. Eve watched the scene carefully. Her wolf was getting defensive, stirring in her mind.
She is armed. The she-wolf stated.
We know. Eve thought the words in silent response.
"Your son was sent directly back to you and off our property. If anyone endangered your pup, it was Bastian when he sent that boy over the territory line." Flint spoke in a cold, even tone.
"What do you want?" Denise squeaked.
"Information." The Alpha crossed his arms across his broad chest.
"What information? We don't know where Bastian is. We had a falling out after Briar disappeared from camp." Randy replied.
Eve pulled a piece of paper from her purse and unfolded it. She placed it on the counter and slid it toward the fearful pair.
"This is a list of names Bastian mentioned last time we spoke with him. Do any of them look familiar?"
Randy snatched the page before backing up another step toward the storage room. His eyes widened at the small group of names before he turned his narrowed gaze back toward Flint.
"He really mentioned us by name?" He asked.
"No last names. We tracked you down ourselves. The others are less easy to find." Eve answered.
"But essentially, yes. He gave you up." Flint added.
"You're lying." Denise hissed from around her husband's arm.
"I'm afraid not. Just tell us if you recognize any names from this list." Eve answered.
"We don't believe you. Purist scum." The woman scoffed.
Anger flashed through the Alpha's eyes. Randy pulled his wife against his back protectively.
"You can't come into my business and demand anything!" The half-breed snarled. "Get out!"
"Watch yourself." Flint stated in a warning tone.
"Get the fuck out. Now." He lunged toward the counter.
Before Flint could reach him, Randy pulled a shotgun from beneath the counter top. Eve's arms immediately wrapped around her torso. Flint stiffened dramatically. His mate could feel his anxiety on top of her own as the barrel leveled at her chest.
"Randy-" Denise clutched his shoulder nervously.
"You need to leave. Now." His voice shook ever so slightly.
Attack! Now! The Luna commanded in Eve's mind.
We- I... Her thoughts were becoming less and less clear as the urges to flee and fight warred within her.
"Lower your weapon." Flint's deep growl rumbled dangerously.
"Just leave!" Denise ordered.
"Please..." Eve could barely concentrate as her wolf struggled for freedom. "We just wanted to talk."
"We're done talking." Randy pulled the hammer back on the gun, preparing to shoot.
The sequence of events that followed the cold, metal, clicking sound of the weapon seemed to move in slow motion. Flint's hand reached out to grab the barrel. Denise shrieked and leapt at him with her sheers drawn. He growled loudly as she sunk the blades into his shoulder.
Before Eve could think, before she could even blink, she burst into her wolven form. The usual snapping of her bones and reforming of her muscles took a mere fraction of a second. Her clothes shredded on her body as the animal within her stole its freedom.
The sight brought Denise to scream in fear. Flint grabbed the gun, ignoring the gardening sheers in his shoulder. He ripped it from Randy's grip, before tossing it across the room. Eve lunged at the recently unarmed half-breed. She tore into the meat of his leg with her powerful jaws, pulling him to the floor.
"Randy!" Denise fell to the ground next to her bleeding husband. "Stop! No!"
The beast looked up at her with terrifyingly blue eyes and bloody jaws. It was as if all the humanity had disappeared from her.
"Eve..." Flint knelt beside her.
She growled at him in response, though she never took her eyes off the threat in front of her. Randy was holding his thigh, trying to stop the bleeding. Denise was holding him close to her while pressing her jacket to the wound.
Calm yourself, little thing. The danger is past. Flint's wolf spoke in her mind.
She tried to accept his words but it felt like the human side of her brain was elsewhere. She nodded slightly and Flint turned his attention back to their unwilling captives.
"Threatening the Luna of StarLight was not a wise decision." Flint spoke flatly. "You need medical attention."
"What do you want?!" Denise shouted through the tears streaming down her cheeks.
Randy was paling. He tapped her hand in a weak attempt to calm her.
"You know what I want!" Flint snarled. "The names. Now."
Eve growled and took a threatening step toward them. Denise yelped and scrambled to find the paper which had fluttered to the ground. She lifted it with trembling, crimson fingers.
"I-I don't know. S-Sarah sounds f-familiar." She stammered anxiously.
"Don't-" Randy stated quietly.
Eve barked at him, growling deeply.
"Wait!" Denise held her palm up to deter the animal baring down on them. "I remember now! Becker! Her name is Sarah Becker!"
"And?" Flint tilted his head intently.
"She hates her old pack! She used to stay in Calgary somewhere... That's all I know!" She answered hastily.
"Who would know more?" The Alpha asked menacingly.
"I don't know!" Denise began crying again.
Randy suddenly lifted his healthy leg and kicked Eve in the face. She latched onto his ankle as he screamed in pain.
"Denise, run!" He shouted.
Still sobbing, Denise lunged for the gun Flint had tossed at the door. Flint grabbed her, lifting her away from the weapon. He looked away from Eve for just a moment, but it proved to be a moment too long. The she-beast latched her jaws onto Randy's throat.
Denise screamed and fought for freedom. Flint turned just in time to hear the sickening cracking of Randy's spine. He gurgled and gasped for a second before going silent. Denise was still fighting and sobbing.
The Alpha was in shock watching the scene in front of him. His grip slipped from the woman's neck. Eve released her hold on the man as Denise lept onto her back. The she-beast whined loudly as the new widow began thrashing her spine.
Flint reacted without thought. He wrapped his arm around the woman's neck and he used his hand to twist her head. The pressure on her spine was enough to cause a series of pops. Chasing the life from her in an instant.
He dropped her body. It landed in a crumpled pile beside her husband. Eve was curled up on the floor, still in her wolf form. She was whimpering quietly. Flint sat beside her and ran his fingers through her thick, dark fur.
"Are you okay?" He asked in a worried tone.
What's wrong with us? The timid question entered his mind like a warm wind.
Flint could feel his mate's confusion and grief. Eve didn't seem to be in pain, at least not physical pain.
Nothing. You reacted to a threat. That is all. You did well, little thing. You did well. Flint's wolf responded for him.