January 7th, 1972
Todd
I spent my time healing at the women's cabin, though Mary always made sure to keep herself between me and Penny. From what I heard, Penny did the same with Mike.
During the days and nights, I learned all I could about magic and especially shifters. Some townsfolk warned me about two bayou women—witches, they hinted—who could help me, but always for a price. It seemed foolish to even mention them, but I suppose they figured it was better coming from them than someone else.
The other choice for pure survival was to mate with another Omega. Henry and I would still fight, but I'd have powers without Mike. The only way to save and claim him as my own was to be unmated and with nothing supernatural to help.
The day passed in a blur, and Nixon chatted about the space shuttle, something I'm sure Mike knew all about. The president announced his reelection plans, and I sighed with relief. Vietnam would be over soon for sure, and we might have a new state. I wished I could have gone and done my duty, but I had a fight here.
Mike begged me to run, but I refused. I wasn't leaving. Not after finding him. I would stand my ground and tell that wolf 'no.'
Soon, I stood in a dirt parking lot, an abandoned grocery store looming in the distance.
It's like a store two men could run together.
Images of Mike and I having arguments on how to run a business and thenmaking upafter faded away. Henry emerged beneath a cloudy sky, his upswept black hair catching the faint light. His eyes, hidden in shadow, were already dark, but somehow, they looked as dark as his soul.
Same eyes as Charles Manson, except Manson had his cultists do the killing.
This wolf wanted to kill me himself.
Mike stood between us, per shifter law. We each had a claim on him, which didn't sit right. He was his own man, but not the guy I remember.
I'll find a way to get the real you back.
At least he didn't have new bruises or worse. My dad sent a few 'hysterical' women back to their husbands, who later fellon the front porch or walked into a door. These officers and their handlebar-mustached sheriff had common sense.
The sheriff's blue-eyed boy, Wyatt, stood next to him. Heard the kid wanted to be an officer one day, so his pa let him watch. Sounded fine in most cases, but tonight he might witness a murder.
Beyond them sat the tall and thin pack leader, draped in shadows. So far, I haven't seen him much. Mysterious or someone who didn't involve himself? Hints from the other shifters implied they didn't care for him.
The sheriff stepped between us. "Nothing but natural weapons, so it's a shifter versus shifter fight." He smiled apologetically at me. I'm stronger than most folks and agile, but I had to fight magic.
Wolf law and decorum kept Mike from being overt, but he stared at me andnotHenry.
"Nobody helps," shouted the sheriff. "Otherwise, it's invalid… and go."
Henry charged, his black eyes gleaming with rage. His loose clothing whipped around him as he threw a flurry of punches. Each one sliced the air like a hornet's sting. Some glanced off me, hurting like hell and cracking bone.
Blocking took away most of their power, but his strength was still enough to kill. If he did, that wouldn't satisfy him. I guarantee it. He'd take it out on Mike for years and be sneaky enough to get away with it.
I have to do this.
Henry was full of hate but knew how to act. He couldn't just beat me but had to prove his Alpha dominance. Shifting meant he needed the extra help against a simple human. Technically, a shifter with no powers. Multiple punches wasted his breath and energy while he showed off.
He's posing!
I didn't go for the easy shot. Instead, I jabbed my fingers straight into his black eyes. He staggered, cursing, and I followed up with an uppercut that cracked against his nose. Blood sprayed in a dark-red arc, and the crowd gasped.
"Thought shifters were fighters," I said. "How is it I can hit you?"
A flurry came, sending mostly missed punches, but one connected. Copper-tasted blood ran over my lips. Maybe I lost a tooth, I couldn't tell in all the warm fluid.
"Enough of a hit for you, baby wolf?"
"No," I lied. From the slight wind and direction, he wouldn't smell my garbage scent. "Come on, why don't you show me arealbloody nose?"
