Page 25 of Jacob Michaels Is Not Jacob Michaels

“Takes more than a sorry after what you did, I’m afraid.” I sat back, pushing my hands into my pockets. “But, I’m not here for more apologies or your attempt at contrition. Eat your damn sandwich.”

Andrew waited a moment, observing me carefully as I stared straight ahead at the street before us. A car would drive by slowly every few seconds. People were walking by on our side and the other side of the road, but no one paid attention to us, nor were they close enough to hear us talk—as long as we didn’t raise our voices. Raising my voice wasn’t the plan unless Andrew did something douchey again. Finally, as though he realized it was safe, Andrew took his sandwich back out and took a bite.

“I was attacked by three werewolves the other night.”

Andrew nearly choked on his bite.

“I wanted to know if you knew anything about that,” I said, not concerned with the choking sounds.

It took a few moments, but Andrew finally managed to stop choking, finished chewing the bite, then swallowed in what looked like a painful way. Of course, I wasn’t sure if he just hadn’t chewed thoroughly or if what I’d had to say had rattled him more than I thought.

“I don’t know anything about that, Rob.” He spat, reaching for his coffee to wash down the bite he had swallowed.

“Well, you’re the only furry fellow I know around these parts, so I figured you’d know more than anyone else.” I shrugged. “So…here I am.”

“I’m telling you, I don’t know anything about anyone attacking you,” Andrew replied quickly, desperately. “I’m still upset with myself over what I did. I’m really, really sorry, Rob.”

I waved him off.

“I want to know if you know of any other werewolves in town,” I said evenly, still staring straight ahead. “And…I managed to hurt one of the werewolves. And she died.”

Why was I telling him that part?

“She got burned really badly, and the next morning she wandered up into the yard, naked as the day she was born, and her skin looked all melted. I wanted to know why she would turn back human before she died.”

Andrew was staring at me like I was crazy. That was fair.

Who was to say that I wasn’t?

“I don’t know any other werewolves. Or packs. I mean, I know of them and sometimes speak with them casually—shop talk—but I don’t know them.” Andrew said finally. “I’m kind of a loner. I have been for years. Since before college.”

Andrew was chewing at his lip, his eyes flicking around, deep in thought as he sat on the bench, holding his sandwich but not taking any bites. I watched him for a moment, waiting to see if he’d add anything else of his own accord, but it became apparent that he was not going to speak up unless prodded. His fingers were digging into his sandwich, his nails and fingertips sinking into the bread and the fillings inside. Mustard was oozing out of the sandwich around one of his fingers, but he didn’t seem to notice. It takes a lot of distraction to not realize that you’re losing the condiments on your sandwich.

“Andrew?” He started at the sound of my voice, his head whipping around to look at me again. “Why did she turn back into a human before she died instead of just dying in wolf form?”

“That didn’t happen.” Andrew shook his head, chunking his sandwich into the trash can at the end of the bench. “That doesn’t happen.”

“It did. Saw it with my own eyes,” I said. “She got burned during the fight, one of her comrades drug her off into the woods, then the next morning some woman wandered up into the yard naked, and half of her body burned all to hell. I’m not making that up.”

“I believe you saw what you saw, Rob,” Andrew said lowly. “But…if someone is hurt when they’re…”

“A wolf?”

Andrew looked around, suddenly aware that we were in public having this conversation. I laughed.

“If anyone heard us, they’d just assume we were crazy or talking about a video game or mythology.” I snorted. “I think we’re completely safe here.”

Andrew swallowed hard and nodded jerkily.

“If that happens, then they die, or they recover.” He explained. “And it takes a lot to kill a werewolf. As you know…”

I nodded.

“If I were hurt right now and could change into wolf form, it would heal me.” He looked me in the eyes. “It’s one of the perks. We heal well. And fast.”

For a moment, I stared back into Andrew’s human eyes. I nearly shivered thinking of what they looked like in wolf form. Red eyes and feral thoughts and blood lust.

“What if you’re hurt with…magic?”