Thinking the fight might be a distraction, I kept my gaze on the woods. Nothing moved in the darkness.
Michelle leaned into me, trembling, and I took a moment to assess the fight. Winifred was easily evading their efforts to turn her for their advantage. When she caught one by the throat, I went back to watching the trees.
Why would two Forlorn approach a house with an Elder and two adult males? If Blake wanted Michelle back, surely he would know it would take more than two mutts to get past Winifred.
A high-pitched continuous yelp of pain filled the clearing. I didn’t look. The noise of the fight continued for a few moments then quieted. When I glanced at Winifred, she was crouched, waiting for the two panting fighters to rush her again. But they didn’t. They turned and ran.
Winifred took off after them, almost catching them at the edge of the yard. There she stopped and paced.
This doesn’t make sense, she sent to me.
I agree. If Blake wanted her back tonight, he would have sent a larger force.
Perhaps these two were a test, and more are waiting. I think it best we leave now before they can return.
I turned toward Michelle, keeping my expression calm.
“Let’s go inside. The kids heard some of the noise and are scared.”
And they were. Jim had brought them down the steps midway through the fight and was with them in Winifred’s place.
Michelle whirled around and ran inside. As soon as the boys saw her, they jumped off Jim’s lap and ran for Michelle.
“I’m here,” she said, dropping to her knees so she could hug them.
I stayed in the door, watching the three of them. So much fear again.
Why now? I sent Winifred. There wasn’t a sign of them for weeks. Now, just after Mary and Gregory’s visit, they show up? Do you think they were watching the Compound, waiting to follow them here?
Perhaps.
Jim stood and picked a bit of Winifred’s cardigan out of Michelle’s hair. She seemed slightly surprised to see it. He moved away to get Winifred’s robe, and I stood guard over the three still huddled on the floor.
“Are they gone?” Liam asked, his face still buried.
“Yeah, buddy. Nana chased them away,” Michelle said.
Liam lifted his head to look over her shoulder at me. I smiled at him and winked. He didn’t seem convinced, though. Aden didn’t lift his head until Winifred and Jim walked in.
“Chasing away those dogs gave me an idea,” Winifred said, looking at the boys with a calm smile. “You haven’t yet met Jim and Emmitt’s parents. They live with several other families in a house bigger than this one. Paul and Henry live there, too, as do some much nicer dogs. So, I think we should take a vacation and visit them. In fact, we should make it an adventure and go tonight. Should we let Jim come with us?”
They both nodded.
“Should we have Jim and Emmitt race to see who can pack first?”
This time Aden pulled away a little, slightly interested.
“To make this fair, we’ll have Emmitt pack for your sister and Liam. Jim, you go pack for Aden and grab all personal effects.”
Aden cheered in approval and began telling Jim where his things were so he could win.
Winifred looked at me. Pack up everything you can. We won’t return until we know who Blake is and how many he has with him.
I gave a slight nod and left the room, knowing Winifred would keep them safe. Jim and I gathered what few personal belongings we all had and loaded them into the car and the back of the truck. Closing the door on Michelle’s apartment filled me with concern. She’d been so happy there. Leaving it unprotected meant it might not be the same happy home we’d find when we came back.
Winifred was dressed and had most of her things packed up in bags when I returned.
“Jim and I will load this. You go check on the kids. Michelle hasn’t opened the bathroom door since I suggested they wash up.”
Aden looked up at me expectantly when I peeked inside the washroom.
“It was a tie,” I said. “Ready to go?”
They all nodded. The boys seemed better, but Michelle was pale and trembling. Fear oozed from her.
Jim called out to the boys as he walked into the apartment. Aden grinned.
“Why don’t you two go check on Jim?” I said.
As soon as they were gone, I held out my hand. “You’re not alone this time,” I said.
She let out a shaky breath and wrapped her fingers in mine. With the barest of tugs, I brought her into my arms and hugged her close. She rested her head on my shoulder briefly then pulled back. She was right. We needed to keep moving.
In the living room, Jim already had Aden up in his arms. I scooped Liam up, flipping him in the air before catching him in my arms again. Liam gasped and clung to me like a monkey, but I could smell his amusement.
“Since you two don’t have shoes on, Jim and Emmitt can carry you to the car,” Winifred said, reappearing.
We all walked out together. Michelle stayed close as we buckled her brothers in. Winifred locked up, not that it would keep a determined werewolf out, before joining us.
“Follow closely with the truck,” she said.
I nodded and led Michelle to the truck as Winifred climbed into the driver’s seat of her car. In the bed, the moonlight glinted off my bike. Jim must have put it there.
Michelle stayed quiet as we drove from the house. With each passing second, the scent of her fear grew stronger.
“You’re killing me,” I said.
“Excuse me?” She pulled her attention from the window to focus on me.
“Your fear. I can smell it. Even when you were facing down David in the parking lot of that diner, it wasn’t this bad.” I reached over and took her hand. “It will be okay. I promise. There is no need for this fear.”
“No need?” Her sarcastic disbelief was hard to miss. “Werewolves are real. One of them kept me locked away for four years and wants me back. The infallible laws, which your people can’t ignore, no longer seem to work. After all, Richard’s murderer hasn’t stepped forward.
“I’m heading to an unknown place filled with an unknown number of werewolves who will think I smell delicious and may or may not treat me like Blake has. If I don’t want to go, my only other option is to run again, zigzagging scent trails across the North American continent, waiting to be stumbled upon. How exactly am I supposed to get rid of my fear?”
When she said it like that, I found it hard to find the words to reassure her. So, I brought her hand to my mouth and tenderly kissed the knuckles. Her heart skipped a beat, a small acknowledgement that we were still together in this.
She went back to watching out the window.
Winifred, she’s afraid of going to the Compound.
Did she say why?
She knows the unMated males will be attracted to her scent.
We’ll address that first thing in the morning.
I doubted Michelle would like Winifred’s way of addressing her fears.
Michelle broke the silence several minutes later. “If not for the curse that causes you to be born to humans,” she whispered.
She turned her head and looked at me with a fearful expression.
“They knew I would be born? How had Blake known I’d be born?”
I squeezed her hand reassuringly, as I sent what she said to Winifred.