The Better to Bite (Howl #1)(49)

“Get back!” My dad’s snapped order to me and Cassidy. He pushed me behind him and raised his weapon.

“You there—step away from the woman and put your hands up!” His voice was a roar that demanded obedience.

Because someone crouched over Granny Helen’s body. Someone, not something. I peered around my dad and saw the person emerge from the shadows.

Tall, strong, wearing loose jeans and no shirt—Brent.

Brent?

“I found her like this,” he said as he raised his hands. “She needs help!”

I wanted to believe him. But in the moonlight, I could see the blood on his hands.

Don’t trust Brent.

“Anna.” My dad’s voice was calm and flat. His cop voice. “Take out my phone and give the men directions to find us.”

I wasn’t sure I could give good directions, but I’d try. I took the phone. One touch and I had deputy Jon on the line.

“Listen to me!” I heard Brent saying to my dad. “An animal did this, not me. I’m here to help her!”

But some animals could be men.

“Step away from her,” my dad ordered him.

Brent eased back.

“Keep those hands up.” My dad’s weapon never wavered as he made his way toward Helen’s body.

He bent and put his fingers to her throat.

“Gran!” Cassidy’s cry. She tried to rush by me, but I grabbed her and held on tight.

I could be pretty strong when I needed to be.

Granny Helen wasn’t moving, but that bloody pool beneath her body—it looked black in the moonlight—was growing.

My dad’s gaze met mine.

Be alive. Be—

“Tell Jon we need those EMTs now!”

And I realized we might just have a chance of saving someone. This time.

***

They got Granny Helen out of the woods. She’d been clawed. Her arms and chest were covered with deep slashes, but she was alive.

Barely.

“Why was she in the woods? How’d she even get here?” Cassidy asked. Her voice was hollow, and I figured she was numb. Or in shock. Maybe a combination of both.

“I don’t know.”

“The shop was trashed, but that’s so far away—”

Granny Helen had been running from something.

I glanced back at the woods, but instead of seeing the trees, I saw Brent. Two deputies were on each side of him, and his hard stare pinned me.

The ambulance’s siren screamed on, and Cassidy jumped into the back with the attendants.

I stepped away from the vehicle.

“Anna!” Her cry rose above the siren, stopping me.

I met her stare.

“Thank you.” Softer.

I nodded.

My secret was officially out. Everyone knew. Rafe thought it was dangerous but…but I’d just saved someone.

Maybe it was time for me to stop hiding. Time for me to be just who I was. Different. Freak.

Me.





Chapter Twelve


“Tell me once more what you were doing in the woods tonight, boy,” Deputy Jon said to Brent.

I headed for them. I wanted to hear what Brent had to say, too.

“I told you four times already, I was just out taking a walk!” Brent’s gaze slammed into mine as I approached. “Anna! Anna, I have to talk to you!”

“You’re not talking to her, son.” My dad strode toward him. “You’re coming to the station, and you’re talking to me.” His gaze cut toward the other men. “I got this,” he said to the deputies. “You scout the area and see what kind of tracks you can find.”

Brent shook his head. “You know I didn’t do this, Sheriff! It was an animal attack, for Christ’s sake!”

“Yeah…” My dad’s voice dropped. “But you got a bit of an animal in you, don’t you, Brent?”

Brent’s stare held mine. I wondered…why did monsters have to hide behind such perfect faces?

***

I went to the sheriff’s station. It wasn’t as if my dad gave me much choice on that one. And it sure wasn’t as if I wanted to stay behind.

My dad talked to Brent alone. I sat in the waiting room, my gaze darting around the empty walls. Dad had taken all the bulletin boards down. For me. He was always trying to protect me.

“Brent’s mother will be arriving soon.” This came from Deputy Jon. He whistled and rubbed the back of his neck. “Won’t be much more questioning done tonight. Not once she gets here.”

Shirley frowned as she looked up from her magazine. “Don’t know why he’s grilling that poor kid anyhow. Didn’t an animal get a hold of Helen?”

“Looks that way.” Jon said, but I felt his gaze dart to me. “Another animal attack in Haven.”

“You have a lot of those,” I muttered, rubbing my sweaty palms on the front of my jeans.

“Yes.” His breath sighed out. “We do.”

I swallowed. “I—is Rafe still here?” I wanted to talk to him. To tell him what had happened. Rafe had been locked up, so he couldn’t have—

But Deputy Jon shook his head. “His dad came for him two hours ago. Ben cut him loose with a warning.”