Chapter 65

Kloe sat in her car. Randal’s truck and another vehicle were parked by the old, abandoned barn. He’d lied to her. He’d been lying to her a lot. Everyone she loved seemed to be pulling away from her. She’d been busy with work. Her husband was becoming a stranger, and she missed him.

“I hope I’m not too late,” she said out loud.

This was an unconventional place for an affair. She was going to claw the eyes out of whatever little redneck Randal had inside that barn. Kloe opened her car door and got out. She was ready for a fight.

When she approached the barn, the sound of a growl stopped her in her tracks. Another growl joined the first. Fear made her heart pound. Maybe her husband was there on business. Maybe she’d just screwed up royally.

Yellow eyes stared out from the shadows in the darkness next to the barn. Kloe didn’t move.

Randal came running out of the barn. “Don’t you fucking dare!” he roared. “That’s my wife!”

She let go of the breath she was holding as the growling stopped. “What are you doing out here? Whose dogs are those?”

“They aren’t dogs. They’re wolves. Go home.” Randal went back into the barn.

Anger made Kloe rash. She rushed into the dark, old barn. Lanterns provided a little light. The first thing she saw was the beautiful woman who worked with her best friend at the community center. “What the fuck? Randal, how dare you!”

Sabrina stood and put her hands up. “It’s not what it looks like. I swear.”

“And what do you think this looks like? Are you even twenty yet?”

“Twenty-five, but—”

“Randal, you are forty years old. Forty! Is this some midlife crisis? What is wrong with you? Did you decide to give up on having a baby with me and look for a younger womb?”

“Good Lord, Kloe, no. Calm down.”

“Don’t you tell me to calm down, you cheating bastard. You—” Kloe noticed Bianca lying pale and motionless on an air mattress. Confusion and fear made her glance between Randal and Sabrina. “Is she dead? What have you done to Bianca?”

“We’re protecting her,” Sabrina said. “She’s sick, but we’re helping her.”

“Protecting her from what? What’s going on? It’s time you told me the truth.”

Randal reached for Kloe, but she pulled away. He frowned. “If I told you the truth, you’d die. I’m not willing to put you in danger.”

Kloe’s eyes narrowed. “Danger? Here comes another big fat lie.”

“Honey, please.”

“Don’t you call me honey. I hate you, Randal Masterson. I hate you and all your secrets. I’m a lawyer. I make the truth my business, and I’ve ignored your propensity for lies far too long. You’re going to tell me what’s going on or I’m calling the police, to protect Bianca, and then I’m divorcing you, and believe me, I know some damn good lawyers. You’re going to be so sorry you cheated on me!”

“I have never ever cheated on you. I love you. You can’t call the police or you’ll be hurting Bianca. What’s wrong with her a doctor can’t fix.”

“And just what is wrong with her?” Kloe crossed her arms over her chest and glared at Randal.

“If I tell you, I’ll be signing your death warrant.”

“Oh, don’t be so damn dramatic. Tell me!”

Randal shrugged. “She’s turning into a werewolf, but she’s pregnant, and that’s killing her.”

Kloe stared at him in total shock for a second before she burst out laughing. “That’s the best you can do? Really? Jesus, Randal, have you been drinking?”

He frowned. “I’m serious.”

“You need serious help, I’ll agree with that. I’m getting her out of here. I don’t know what kind of weird, kinky shit you and your new girlfriend are into, but I can’t believe you’d hurt Bianca!” Kloe pulled her cellphone out of her pocket.

“Don’t!” Randal ordered.

One of the dogs—wolves—growled. Kloe took a step forward, and Randal lunged, grabbing her phone. They tussled, but he managed to get it out of her hand.

“Give me my phone!”

“I hate that you’re finding out this way. I hate that you’re finding out at all, but I’m finally telling you the truth.” Randal threw up his arms in frustration.

“You’re telling me the truth is that you’re crazy?”

“It was hard for me to believe too, but he’s not lying,” Sabrina said.

“Shut up. I don’t need his whore defending his craziness.”

The air whooshed out of Kloe’s lungs as a heavy weight settled on her back and knocked her to the floor.

“Get off my wife,” Randal shouted.

“Ethan, please get off her,” Sabrina begged.

Wet drool hit Kloe’s face, and she cringed. Something growled in her ear. Shaking, she smelled its fetid breath.

Ethan? That was the name of one of Law Foster’s weird little cult members. Bianca had been distant ever since she’d joined them. The smallest kernel of belief began to grow in her brain. This can’t be real.

“I’ll shoot you if you don’t get off her.” The sound of a gun cocking backed up Randal’s statement.

“I’ll shoot you if you shoot my boyfriend.” Sabrina cocked a handgun.

The dog, or wolf, on her back growled louder, and she heard its teeth snap next to her ear.

“Ethan, get off her!” Sabrina shouted. “You’ll kill her!”

Kloe did not like the sound of that.

The pressure on her back was gone. She rolled over and scooted away from the big animal who gazed at her with menace. “Is he what bit Bianca?”

“No, Ethan is here to protect me, all of us really. Law, Kane, and Janna are here too.”

Kloe laughed, and the sound made the wolf growl, which stole her mirth…fast. She bit her lip and glared at the animal.

“This town has more werewolves than it does people. I’m not lying to you this time, Kloe. I’ll never lie to you again. Kane Wolfe will have you killed if we stay. We should get going, tonight. We’ll just leave it all behind and run.” Randal grabbed Kloe’s forearm and pulled her up. He headed to the door, but the big wolf ran around and blocked the exit, growling again. “Ethan, get out of the way. I love my wife as much as you love your mate. We both know Kane will kill her.”

The wolf stopped growling.

“Boyfriend. Just stop with all that mate crap, it freaks me out,” Sabrina said.

“I don’t know what kind of kinky, bestiality, yucky stuff you’re into, but I’m getting out of here.” Kloe shook off Randal’s hold.

Another wolf approached, growling with saliva dripping off its muzzle. Kloe backed up.

“Kane, let her go. I’m done. I’m not doing your dirty work anymore. I’m not letting you hold some bullshit family debt over my head. My wife and I are leaving. Bianca loves Kloe, and if you hurt her, your daughter will hate you!”

“Daughter?” Kloe squeaked. She was feeling too much like Alice in Wonderland for her comfort. She glanced down at helpless Bianca. How do I save us both?

The big wolf came closer. The Ethan wolf stepped aside. Randal moved and put his body between hers and the wolf.

Bianca screamed. The wolf turned in her direction. Sabrina scrambled toward a duffle bag on the floor by the bottom of the airbed. A shaft of moonlight hit Bianca’s abdomen as the clouds parted in the night sky. Kloe watched in horror as her best friend thrashed, scratching at her belly, whimpering.

As Sabrina brought a needle toward her unconscious friend, Kloe reacted instinctively, kicking the syringe out of Sabrina’s hand. The wolf jumped her again, but she rolled to grab a big flashlight. Adrenaline-fueled strength helped her clubbed the animal on the side of the head. He yelped, and she pushed him off.

“Ethan!” cried Sabrina.

Kloe crawled over to Bianca and took her by the shoulders, shaking her. “Wake up, come on. B, wake up. We have to get out of this crazy horror movie!”

Bianca continued to thrash and moan, but her eyes didn’t open.

“Please, B, open your eyes.”

We’re going to die. This cult is going to kill us. How long has my husband been one of them?

“Kloe, stop. You aren’t helping her by waking her. She needs to stay sleeping.”

The moon fled as clouds obscured the light again, and Bianca settled.

Another wolf growled; he lay on Bianca’s legs as if he were trying to keep Kloe from taking Bianca away. The wolf had Law Foster’s eyes.

“Law, if that’s you, please let me help her,” Kloe pleaded. The wolf whimpered and laid his head down on Bianca’s abdomen, whining. “This is crazy, but I almost believe you’re Law.”

“He is. Kane and Janna are in the doorway,” Randal said.

Looking up, Kloe saw that the wolves in the doorway did have a strange resemblance to Kane and Janna. Sabrina had the Ethan wolf’s head cradled in her lap. She glared at Kloe as she stroked his bleeding head lovingly.

“This is really fucked up.” Kloe kissed Bianca’s sweaty forehead. “How can I help her?”

Randal sagged with relief. “First, promise Kane you won’t tell a soul. Assure him that you love Bianca enough to keep the secret the rest of your life.”

Kloe glanced between the big gray wolf and Randal. The wolf cocked his head to the side. She frowned. “Kane, I promise I’d never hurt Bianca, and if she’s really turning into a were—werewolf, well, I’d never tell a soul. Who’d believe me anyway? You can trust me. Bianca is my best friend.”

The wolf came over to her, and his nose was less than an inch from her face as he gazed into her eyes. It was almost as if he were sizing her up. She didn’t let him intimidate her. Finally, he walked away and lay down next to Bianca.

“You owe Ethan an apology,” Sabrina muttered.

“He was going to eat me!”

“If I had attacked Randal, you would have rushed to help him too. Ethan is my boyfriend.”

“That must break a law or two,” Kloe muttered. “Okay. Ethan, sorry I clubbed you, but stay away from me.”

He gave a soft growl, but never moved from where Sabrina held him.

“Let’s say I do believe you, how do we fix this? If I were blessed with a pregnancy, I’d fight for my baby too. How do we save them both?”

“We pray, and we keep her calm.” Randal came over and sat down beside Kloe. “I’m sorry for all the lies. I’ve only ever wanted to keep you safe. I love you.”

“When this is over, we have a lot to talk about, but for now I’m just glad I finally know why you’ve been so secretive. Promise me you won’t ever lie to me again.”

“I promise.” Randal leaned in and kissed her with a passion they’d been lacking for far too long. Her husband was back. The wall he’d built between them was finally down.