Chapter 4

Liam was not exactly sure when, but the human in his arms, who introduced herself as Selena, fell asleep. He was going to chug it to the events of the day catching up to her. As an added bonus, what he did with the weather was enough to lull her into sleep.

At least she was not having nightmares. They were about two miles of walking away from the highway. He hoped he would find a vehicle quickly, though people had serious trust issues these days. Not that he could blame them. A lot have ended up six feet under for bothering to show kindness to an ingrate.

He would know; his brother was killed for saving a child in his wolf form.

But all of that was in the past.

Now that he was alone with his thoughts, he decided to set things straight in his head. He had a whole of two miles and probably twenty-five minutes at this pace to reach the highway.

He had stepped out of his home to go for a run. The night sky was calling for it. As he had shifted that night, he had the urge to run in the direction he took. Thinking nothing of it, he gave into his wolf’s instincts and ran as the animal needed. Then he picked up her scent, but it was moving.

He hoped to intercept it, so he veered off the course he was on and stumbled on those idiots.

The idea of scaring them off was too darn appealing, especially with the thought that he would make away with their kill for the night.

What? It was not stealing. They did not ask for the permission of the animal they killed before killing it. Neither did they seek his permission to camp near his perimeter. So, technically, it was their fault that he was going to do what he wanted to do with them.

When the car pulled up, his senses did not catch up with his nose in time. He was still high on the possibility of filling his stomach without having to hunt. The sight of something else coming out of the car made him smirk. More meat for him.

But something was strange, the scent of fear. Then, the scent he had been chasing had finally penetrated through his haze. He stilled, not exactly sure what to expect. He never expected it would be a human girl that was bundled up like an animal for sacrifice.

Then he saw the cruelty and had to do something.

The satisfaction he got from tearing into those men was second to none. Now, they would understand what it meant to be in a helpless situation with a life threat in front of them.

He was also thankful that she was not too scared of him. For reasons unknown, she had trusted his words and allowed him to help her. He was happy she allowed him to.

But something was crazy, though; he did not recall his wolf being able to form coherent words. Heck, he rarely spoke to him, and they shared the same body! So how was she able to hear the words he said in his head and respond accordingly?

He slowed as he began to make out the outline of the highway. It was best he transformed back to his human form. Humans were the most hypocritical species he had ever had the misfortune of meeting. One minute, they are smiling in your face. The next minute, they are on the phone plotting your demise.

Dimwits always forget that being supernatural came with super-enhanced hearing. A story for another day.

He carefully set Selena on the floor and winced when she stirred. Then, he proceeded to change back to his human form. He checked the bundle she had on her and was glad to find that the clothes of earlier were still there, so he quickly put them on and lifted her once more to come out to the open.

A total of four cars sped past them before a lovely old woman stopped in front of them.

“Oh dear, what happened to her?! Is she okay?” the elderly woman said and promptly went to open the car door for him to enter and cradle Selena to himself carefully.

“No, ma’am. She might be hurt pretty badly. I found her in the woods. Some jerks were trying to be funny with her. I managed to scare them off, but I think she needs medical attention. Can you help us call 911, or do we wait till we get to the hospital?” Liam said to the elderly woman who was already driving off.

“I think we can wait till we get to the hospital. This place rarely has good reception. Thank goodness she ran into your kind. I wonder how she would have fared if it were a human that found her,” the elderly woman said, raising alarm bells in Liam’s head. He immediately tensed, but the elderly woman smiled.

“I’m a witch, son, for all the hundred and fifty years of my existence. I know a wolf when I see one,” the elderly woman said, eyes still on the road. Liam did not know how to handle that information.

They were not enemies with the witches, but one could never go as far as calling them friends. Their relationship was rocky at best. A witch can turn a blind eye rather than help a wolf and vice versa.

“Thank you,” Liam said, and he meant it. She could have easily driven away without helping them like the other vehicle drivers had.

“Well, you are welcome. One good turn deserves another, they say, or something along those lines. Your lady friend is cold, by the way. Use the comforter back there to keep her warm. We are nowhere close to a hospital, and I do not want this trip wasted,” the elderly woman said.