Moonlit Fur Chronicles: Torn Fur
Chapter 25 Canis Lupis Insanus

I was in a sour mood, I was lost in my thoughts. I didn’t hear Kai and Ellis enter the kitchen area. “Earth to Reese. Earth calling Reese. Wake up.” I shook my head and my eyes focused on the hand in front of my face. I had the urge to bite it, but I swatted it away with my hand. I cradled the mug of cocoa in my hands, it was long since cold. I stood up, “Hi guys,” I mumbled and placed the mug in the microwave. Ellis began his tale of how he found a remote job with help from River. Kai noticed the exhausted look on my face, “Are you alright Reese?” I shrugged my shoulders, I didn’t know how much to share. “Trouble sleeping,” I responded vaguely.

The microwave chirped. My cocoa was warm again. I retrieved it and took a long sip. I was still feeling off, the nightmare had taken more out of me than I realized. Ellis buzzed happily about his remote job, Kai studied me. I raised my eyebrow at her with a silent question. She nodded. I tossed my head toward the couch. Ellis was completely oblivious to our silent conversation. It was nice to see how excited he was. Kai plopped herself down next to me on the couch. I quietly gave her the details about my most recent nightmare. I did not tell her that I knew what Dylan was. I did not tell her I was convinced all of us were in danger. I tried to keep it as light and airy as I possibly could. “Remember who found you when you went for your late night joy run,” Kai responded gently. “The night we got to Quinn’s house?” I scowled. “Reese, I know there’s something you’re not telling me.”

“Kai, I don’t want to worry you,” I began. “Too late, I can see your face.” I narrowed my eyes at her, she stuck out her tongue. “Fine, I tried. I don’t know how real this is. But…” I spilled the beans, everything. Kai listened, absorbed as much as she could. “Just seems like one thing after another,” Kai expressed humorlessly. “There she is!” Quinn called from across the room. She made her way over behind the couch, leaned over, tilted my head back gently, and kissed my forehead. “Nope, try again,” I teased her. I gently pulled her head closer and leaned back into the couch. I passioned kissed her lips. “Much much better,” I moaned softly. Quinn grinned. “Do you want some coffee,” she asked me. “I have my cocoa,” I responded and raised my mug. She kissed the top of my head. I wanted more. I wanted her to kiss me all over.

Quinn approached the coffee pot that Ellis wrestled with, “Dude it’s not rocket science.” Kai’s eyes filled with desire. “Sorry about the PDA,” I muttered, “got carried away.” She shook her head, “No. Don’t worry about it.” She was quiet for a second. “Who else knows this?” I took a sip of cocoa before I gave her my response, “Quinn knows I’ve been having nightmares. You are the only one I’ve had a chance to tell about the nightmare from last night. I’m planning on telling Quinn, probably Casey. Honestly I wish Casey was the Alpha, I’m not very good at it.” Kai shook her head, “Don’t put yourself down. You are much better at it than you think you are. I can’t speak for everyone but Ellis and I love you. We think you are a terrific Alpha. You’ve done so much to keep us, all of us, warm and safe.”

I saw a flash of red sped by the sliding glass back door, then a blonde blur. Something was in my territory. I sprang to my feet and charged to the back door. I wrenched it open, the smell of wolf was intense. I wriggled out of my shorts and shirt. Instantly I was on all four paws. My inner wolf was overjoyed, thrilled for the hunt. My paws pounded the ground as I picked up speed. I gained on the unfamiliar wolves. I took a deep breath, drew on my strength as an Alpha. My roar echoed throughout the wood. The two wolves I pursued stumbled and fell to the ground. The blonde wolf threw itself over the red wolf in a last ditch effort to protect it. The blonde wolf pulled its ears back and whined.

Quinn came up behind me. She saw the trembling wolves at my feet. I cautiously approached them and sniffed them. The blonde wolf whined louder and the red wolf seemed unperturbed. I knew these two weren’t going to be a threat. My body twisted and turned as I lost my fur and fresh pale skin stretched over my frame. I sat down in front of them and waited. The blonde wolf struggled into a sitting position, its body convulsed as the human emerged from the wolf. “Please! Please don’t hurt her!” He begged. The red wolf just lay there and tapped the guy with its nose. “I’m sorry I tried to keep her away. She just got ahead of me. I’m sorry. Please don’t hurt us.” “Easy,” I soothed him. “I’m not going to hurt anyone. I am Reese.” The guy stammered, “My name is Drew, and this is Robin.” He put his arm around the red wolf. Robin licked his arm. “It’s been just us for a few weeks. We are on the run. Hunters killed our pack. They…” his voice was thick with sadness. “They caught and tortured Robin for days. They drove her insane. I couldn’t stop them. I don’t remember how we escaped but she did somehow. We have been running ever since… she won’t… she won’t or can’t switch back to human. I don’t know what to do…” my heart broke. I looked at Quinn. She blinked at me affirmatively. “Come on Drew, Robin. We will take you back to our place to rest.” Quinn turned around to lead the way, Drew and I shifted back into wolves. Drew sauntered off after Quinn. I nudged Robin and she got up as well. She ambled off after Drew with me close behind her.

When we reached the house, everyone was in the kitchen. Jules flipped pancakes, Phoenix sipped coffee. Everyone else sat at the kitchen island and chatted. Quinn, Drew and I phased back into human. Robin trotted into the house and climbed onto the couch. Quinn and I collected our clothes and dressed. She tossed a pair of sweatpants to Drew. “Everyone, this is Drew and Robin. They will be staying with us for a few days, perhaps longer,” I announced. Everyone greeted them, except Jules. He dropped the skillet loudly on the stove and stomped out the front door. Quinn growled. “Don’t pay him any mind, Drew, he is always a grumpy ass,” I assured him. “We don’t want to cause any trouble,” Drew explained hastily. “You aren’t. I will handle Jules. You and Robin are welcome. You are safe here.”

Drew smiled appreciatively. Kai passed him a plate of pancakes and bacon. She added extra bacon for Robin. I glanced at Kai, she held my gaze a second before she turned away, her face bright red. I smiled, Kai seemed to develop a crush on Drew. He was cute I guess in a guy kind of way. “Too bad Jules has a stick up his butt this morning. These pancakes are amazing,” Quinn remarked. Max and Ash nodded their agreement, their mouths full of fluffy pancakes. We all ate our fill and went our separate ways. Drew and Robin stayed in the living room with me, Quinn and kai. Phoenix went to her garden, the boys and Casey went down to the weight room in the basement. Ellis and River went downstairs too. They set up a mock office for their remote jobs.

Quinn and I cuddled on the couch that was next to the couch Drew and Robin occupied. Kai sat in a nearby recliner. “Drew, I know this is a sensitive topic.” I began. “This will probably be difficult for you and for that I’m sorry. I need you to tell me all you can about these hunters.” Quinn absentmindedly played with my hand and fingers, I thought it was adorable. Drew looked at Quinn and I for a moment. I could practically see the gears turn in his head. He shrugged, it seemed we were not the first lesbian couple he came across. “They are silent as the grave. They are well trained, experts with guns, and extraordinarily deadly.” I held a hand to stop Drew. “I’m sorry. Quinn please go get Casey.” She got up heading to the basement. Confusion danced on Drew’s face. “Oh, umm. My pack chose me to be their alpha. Honestly I have idea what I’m doing. Casey is helping me, an adviser I guess. I want them to hear this too.” Drew was befuddled, “They chose you?” I chuckled, “Kai, do you want to tell this story?”

Kai’s face grew serious as she quietly began the tale of how I rescued her and her brother from the vicious monster that led their previous pack. “He demanded respect, obedience and often took it by force. He killed our best friend when he tried to escape. He killed Reese’s friend just to spite her. He bit and turned Quinn because he wanted a mate. Reese and Quinn saved us from a life of misery, not just my brother and me, everyone here. And guess where he is now. They step on him every day. They made a rug out of him and rightly so!” Her words rang with conviction. “I’m glad they killed him. There’s no telling what horrors he would’ve infected the world with if he had been allowed to live.” Tears of anger and resentment flowed down her cheeks.

“Reese and Quinn gave us this magnificent house. No idea how they could afford it… I’m grateful to be part of their pack. They care for us and protect us. If there was ever a pack to be part of, it’s Reese and Quinns.” Kai fell back into the recliner, emotionally drained. I sat there stunned, I had no idea she felt so strongly. I choked back a sob and blinked a runaway tear. Quinn came up from behind me, crossed the room, and gave Kai a long hug. Casey’s voice rumbled from behind me, “I remember the first night I met Reese. She and one of her friends, the same one who was killed by the poor excuse for an alpha, stumbled on River and I while we were in wolf form. She thought we were dangerous and defended her friend valiantly. Reese was very new to being a wolf at the time and has made tremendous strides in becoming a skilled leader and powerful wolf.” “Dammit guys, you weren’t supposed to make me cry,” I mumbled, wiping away tears.

“OK. Ummm while I’m pulling myself together, Drew, would you like to elaborate on what you told me in the woods?” Drew took a deep breath. He told us of his pack and how happy everyone was. Tragedy struck when hunters overwhelmed the pack. Robin was captured and Drew barely survived a near fatal gunshot wound. His wounds took days to heal, meanwhile Robin was tortured and abused. Drew found Robin in the wreckage of their home and she had yet to return to human form. They had been on the run for weeks. Robin whined, she knew that she and Drew were the topic of discussion. He gently patted her head. “We will figure out how to deal with these hunters,” I proclaimed. “For the meantime, Drew, Robin, rest here. You’ve been through quite the ordeal.”

Quinn showed Drew around the house, Robin opted to stay on the soft comfy couch. I couldn’t blame her. Kai studied Robin, who returned the gesture. Robin covered her face with her paw. Kai looked away and turned on the massive TV. She selected a romantic movie and played it. Quinn finished the tour. She came back and cuddled with me. Drew sat down next to Robin. She got up, stepped off the couch, stretched. She curled up on Kais feet. She looked up over her shoulder at Kai. Kai shrugged her shoulders. Robin groaned softly. I got the impression Robin was trying to make friends with Kai. She stood up, placed her chin on Kais knee and whined softly. Kai pet Robin’s head tenderly, “Are you trying to be friendly?” She asked Robin. She licked her snout and gazed into Kais eyes.

The movie finished and Kai got up to find Phoenix. She passed me the remote on her way out. Drew had fallen asleep at some point. Robin sauntered over to the back door and complained loudly. “She must have to go,” I muttered. I tossed the remote to Quinn. I let Robin outside, she took care of business and came back inside. She snuggled down on Drew’s feet. Quinn picked a romantic comedy movie about this girl who was challenged to make a guy dump her while he was challenged to get her to fall in love with him. The movie was hilariously awkward. The girl acted crazily and the guy put up with it. When the movie finished, both the guy and girl were actually in love. Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ Find ɴøᴠel.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

For dinner, everyone raided the fridge for leftovers. I gave some of the barbecue to Robin who scarfed it down. I had breakfast for dinner. Once everyone had eaten, Quinn and I cleaned the kitchen. Robin sat in the corner, head cocked to one side, staring at me. Quinn and I went to bed and we fell asleep quickly. I was awoken by the sound of scratching on my door. I figured Robin needed to be let out again. I opened the door and tripped over something. I caught myself before I hit the ground. I saw a pale form in the middle of my doorway.

It was a woman with red hair. Her red hair was quite similar to Robin’s red fur. “Robin, is that you?” I whispered. The woman whisked her head up to look at me. “The moon says they are coming. Coming with blood and steel. The stars whisper to me, screaming to me, they are coming.” She cackled “Robin, who is coming?” She shivered at the sound of her name, “Poor Robin,” she muttered. “Poor little bird.” she muttered under her breath. She looked me straight in the eye, “Kai can have him. They are a cute couple.” Robin cackled. Bones cracked and saliva flew as her body broke and reformed into the shape of a wolf.

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