A Full Moon Ch. 06

On our way back to the main park for the last few hours of our day, Dylan gave each of us a huge hug. "You guys are the best thing that ever happened to me."

Back in Salem on Sunday, the day of Halloween, we were all getting ready for the night's festivities. Pat and I would go as our selves, no make-up or costumes, and follow at a discreet distance just in case anything went wrong. "You could come with me," Dylan offered.

"We could, but I didn't want to make it seem like you needed us there. Didn't want to cramp your style if you met a really hot freshman chick." Pat's comment made me roll my eyes.

"Like I would. I don't get girls." He didn't seem to care either. When you're the oddball of the school no one really talks to you anyway.

"Neither do I," I said with a snicker. I never knew why girls wanted to bone me, they just all wanted what was in my jock. "So you want us there with you?" Dylan nodded. "Guess we're taking the little dude Trick-or-treating."

I knew that most everyone on my street would be passing out the last legal high. Sweets galore since the area was pretty well off, he would be bouncing off the walls for the next few weeks by what he would pull in. It was totally awesome watching him stalk down the driveway and seeing more than one person jump at how realistic his costume looked. The adults were more afraid than the kids who ooed and ahhed over it. House after house he would go up with a crouching step as if hunting for his prey, Pat chuckling. "He's more Lycan than you are."

"Har dee har har. He's liked them forever, I've liked them for a month." That got a laugh and a kiss. I realized right then how comfortable I was with Pat. He just kissed me in plain view of the entire community and I didn't flip out.

"Lunais filth," I heard behind us and we broke our kiss to see a young man glaring, not at Pat or me, but at Dylan. I sniffed and caught the undeniable scent of a Lupus. I already knew this could turn out ugly.

"Excuse me?" I said as I had not understood what he said although his tone offended me.

"Not you, the kid."

Pat raised a brow. I spoke before he did. "My son? What's wrong with him?"

"Uh...nothing. I thought he was someone else." He immediately looked like he had messed up.

"Problem?" said a voice I had heard around the office. I looked at Darius Hollyman from routing. A stiff necked asshat, but having read his employee file I saw no major flaw other than he was a hard ass with everyone including himself. A man to respect if not like.

"No, Pop, no problem. Just a misunderstanding." Ah, so this was the kid he claimed as a dependent. Darius had one son who had been changed along with him when a Feral attacked them, killing the mother. The other child was a girl and would be ten now. Still human but knew about Lycans.

"Jon, Pat, how are you this evening?"

"Good, Darius." I said with a polite nod.

"A word with you," said Pat and pulled them aside out of normal human hearing range but I heard them just fine. "You, Tommy, better watch what you say. Do you want the whole world to hunt you down if they knew?" The young man colored but shook hie head.

"What did you say?"

"Lunais filth," murmured Tommy.

Darius shook his head. "Towards the boy in the werewolf costume. FYI, Tommy, I'm the Lunais you smell, not him. That's Dylan, Jon's foster son. Human. The same human whose last foster parents were killed by Lupus." The boy's face clouded with shame. At least he had the knowledge to know he was an idiot.

"We will speak of this at home, Tommy. Let's not ruin the night for either of our families. What have you to say for yourself to Pat, son of the Leader?"

I noticed that Darius did not say former or anything like that. Seems here was one person who did not fully support Angus until his learning period was done with. Good to know. "I'm sorry. It's an attitude I picked up from my friends. No excuses."

"It's okay, Tommy, but please be careful. If Jon or Dylan really heard that, or another Lunais who was not so understanding of the tensions, you might have been in more trouble than this." Tommy nodded. "Now go help your sister get as much candy as you can. Keep her smiling tonight and I'll completely forget about this." Tommy looked at his father who nodded, then went jogging off to go escort his little human sister.

"I am also sorry, Pat. I will have to make sure he doesn't make that same mistake again."

"It's okay, Darius. We have never had problems at work and you have never been accused of wronging Lunais. Don't lose any sleep over it and don't treat the boy too harshly. We both know about peer pressure."

"He'll get lectured, that is all. I will see you at work." He went to leave but turned back. "Does Jon know about us?"

"Can't say that he does. My father gave him the silver necklace he wears as a token of welcome." Darius nodded and shook hands with Pat before leaving to join his family.

Dylan and I walked up. "All settled?" Pat nodded.

"Did he really say that?" Dylan asked.

"I told him," I said with a bit of a grin. "He better get use to it now when he has the choice."

"He did, but I know he was ashamed after."

"You learned a lot from your Dad, huh Pat." He nodded. I knew what he meant. Diplomacy and understanding were how Mr. Andrews led the Pack.

"Yeah. I've been very lucky. I know it doesn't need saying, but whatever my dad tells you, learn from it." Dylan nodded and we went on with the little dude stalking. He even went up behind an older girl and trailed her for a few yards before she turned to see who it was, screaming her head off and making her little brother laugh at her. He came back to us radiating happiness. "Schoolmate?"

"Yup. She hates me anyway."

"Feel bad at all?" He shook his head and I laughed along with him.

Once Dylan was asleep in his room, Pat and I were in the living room and relaxing as we had not all weekend. One thing I have learned so far about being a parent: No time to yourself until the kids are asleep. The fireplace was lit, some pillows thrown on the floor and we lay there without our shirts just being close. The pendant was on the table beside us in case someone came over who was Lycan. Not that it had happened, but then I hadn't realized I had another Lycan close enough to the neighborhood to Trick-or-treat there. "What a night."

"Amen, Jon." His head was cradled by my shoulder and bicep as I toyed with his chest hair that he had not trimmed in a week. I kinda liked it and he loved when I toyed with it. "What a weekend. I like Ginger. She's a hard ass but she's cool."

I chuckled and he looked at me. "You just wanna bang her." He opened his mouth to protest and then closed it nodding.

"She smells fantastic."

"Yup, and it would be a very educational lay for you. Probably the best sex with a woman in my entire life." At that he raised a brow and grinned. "I don't think she could handle this," I said as I rubbed his growing torpedo. He let out a sigh that turned into a bit of a giggle when my hand slipped over his lower abs and undid his pants. That was when the door was practically torn off its hinges as it was bashed down. Pat and I leaped to our feet and cleared the couch to the front door area in a second to see what the hell was going on, me snagging the pendant on the way by.

There stood two Lupus in their human skin and of all things two Ferals! The Ferals were bound by collars and chains held by the Lupus. The scent was thick and I knew they were not here for social time. I snorted and crouched low, growling "Get out of my house."

The taller Lupus let go of his leash and the Feral lunged for Pat who was already enacting his change. It put him at a temporary disadvantage since he was racked with pain, but it would even the odds soon enough. "You stay here," said the tall one, "I'll get the boy."

Dylan...

I was confronted by the other Feral that was now loose, but it came in with more caution than its ilk and I had enough time to wrap the chain around my hand. "Dylan, wake up and run!" I roared, but I could not tell if he heard me, although with the noise he'd probably woken up already. The Feral slashed at me but I grabbed his claw and ground my fist into his chest, the silver sizzling as it connected. The howl was muffled as I clamped down on his muzzled with my armpit, dropping and slamming him to the floor. I got a good claw rake across my side but all it did was piss me off. My own change enacted and I knew without a doubt I was more than a match for this one...

...but not when the shorter Lupus joined in with a silver knife. I felt fire blossom along my side and my scream turned into a howl as he dragged the blade along a rib and out. This was not good. I could touch silver but it hurt me like I was a normal human. There would be no fast healing this wound. My eyes clamped shut as I pulled, snapping the neck of the Feral and leaving its body on the floor as I slowly rose to tower over the Lupus who was suddenly not so brave anymore.

Pat stood beside me, his own Feral dead on the floor with its head somewhere detached from its body. I clamped my paw on my side to stop the bleeding as much as I could. "You will die now," I snarled.

"Or the boy will," came the voice of the tall one as he came down the stairs with Dylan held kicking and punching by the throat. "Step aside, Pat. And no use hiding your change now, Jon. Angus will be told soon enough."

"Put Dylan down and I'll let you leave here alive." All that did was get Dylan's throat squeezed tighter and he wheezed out a help. I judged if I could grab Dylan before he was hurt further and knew I could not. Pat and I stepped back. He relaxed his grip. "Why? What has he done?"

"You don't know? Then I won't enlighten you. You Lunais filth! You should never have been born." He was slowly walking down the stairs. "Change back, garbage, or I'll just kill him right here." We did as ordered, my falling to my knees as I could not keep my balance with the wounds and change. "Hmm, I like that view. Lunais, on their knees in front of me. You too, Pat. On your knees." Pat growled but did as ordered. "Useless dogs! I..."

He was cut off as his brain was splattered all over my wall by a bullet fired from a gun outside. I barely heard the silenced gun, but I saw its results. Dylan was dropped and he fell down the last few stairs in a heap of tears, but he was otherwise unhurt from what I could see. The last Lupus went wide-eyed and dove for the door only to stop as he too was killed by a single shot, this one to the heart. I could see the neat hole was splattered with silver nitrate. Someone watched too many movies...thank you Hollywood. "Dylan!" I crawled to him as best as I could.

He looked at me and waved me to stay. "I'm okay," he said hoarsely and looked out the door with wide eyes. I didn't stay as told and went to him to look him over, the pendant still wrapped around my hand.

Pat stood and went to the door. "Nice shot Darius." My head whipped around to see the man come through the door with his son who had a high powered rifle, the kind that would take the head off a Lycanthrope. "Jon, how's the cut?"

"Bleeding but not as bad as it could be. These scratches are worse." I looked up when Darius came in and crouched.

"I would say we needed to get you to the hospital for the scratches, but that's useless. What I want to know is how you can touch silver and hide your scent." He was not demanding, just curious. "Silver knife and you're still alive. Neat trick. Tommy, call a few Hunters, ones that won't let this event be talked about." He nodded and pulled out a cell phone. "Damn Ferals right in the city. This is not good."

"No kidding. Dad should be told." Pat was setting about cleaning up the Ferals' bodies as best as he could.

"I already called him when we scented them." He looked at Dylan. "You well enough to grab some bandages for Jon? If not just sit tight." Dylan got up and stumbled up the stairs, proving he was being brave to do this with a hurt ankle and rapidly growing bruises around his throat. "Brave kid you got there."

"You have no idea. Darius, thank. Really. You saved his life."

He smiled tightly. "I'm glad a Lupus could atone a bit for previous wrongs against the kid." Darius stepped aside to help me up and Dylan came in with all the bandages in the house, Neosporin, and of all things wolfsbane. "Resourceful little guy."

"If someone gets wind he was scratched, they'll smell this on him and it should keep his secret a bit longer." Tommy looked very impressed as he was talking on the phone.

"They'll be here in ten minutes. The Leader...is pulling up now. Shall I go home, Pop?"

Darius was thinking about it when Pat spoke up. "No. Let my father meet you. It's always a good thing to be in favor of the Leader." Darius nodded to his words and took the bandages from Dylan to help wrap me up.

Mr. Andrews came in looking about as angry as I had ever seen him and he glared at the bodies as if he could kill them all over again. His scent was furious but he was fully in control. "Darius, glad you were in the neighborhood. You boy okay?"

"I'm fine, Dad, just a few bites really. Jon's got a silver knife wound as you can see. Your little trick did the work, however you did it. Dylan?"

"Been better but not a scratch on me. Just a sore throat."

The Leader nodded sagely. "Glad to see you're okay. Relatively speaking of course. You, young man." He turned to Tommy. "Thomas, right?" He looked completely shocked the Leader knew his name. "Nice shot there. How far away were you?"

"Maybe a hundred yards, sir." He pointed out the door. "Over by the azaleas." that was across the street and down five houses.

"Well done. You're, what, fifteen now?" He nodded. "Good. Darius, with your permission, I would like to sponsor him for Hunter training. We could use a good shot like him."

Darius looked a bit shocked. Hunters were rarely selected so young, being chosen usually after they finish college. And to be sponsored by the Leader...he had never heard of such a thing. "When he graduates, and if he wants it."

Mr. Andrews looked at Tommy. "And would you like that? If not, then I will have to find some suitable way to repay you since you saved the life of Dylan, possibly my son, and a valued member of the company and a man worthy of respect."

I smiled at the thoughtful look on the boy's face. I was also smiling because he had put Dylan's name first, as if that was the biggest thought in his mind. "Well, sir, I would like that, but that being three years away, I might change my mind or worse."

"Then...hmm...and internship in the company mail room for now. Two hours a night and eight hours on either Saturday or Sunday, provided your grades are steady, with full benefits and pay. If you choose to not become a Hunter, then you'll have real world experience and a job reference for your future."

That was a great offer and one no one would pass up. "Thank you, sir. That would be amazing."

"Then it's settled. I'll drop the message to Mr. McLeod. You'll start after the next moon." That was in a bit over a week. "The authorities have arrived. Jon, can you and Dylan stay with Pat tonight while we clean this mess up?"

"Yeah. You can tell me the official story tomorrow. B&E?"

"Sound about right. Drunken idiot had the wrong house I say." We all nodded, including Darius and Tommy. "Gather your things. Pat, get a few things for Jon while he's checked out." Five Hunters in police and paramedic uniforms came in, the lights from their vehicles rousing the neighbors enough to form a group around my house.

"Nothing to see here," said one of them. "Ma'am please step back onto the sidewalk."

"I think it would be best if we had your gun for now," said an officer to Tommy who handed it over a bit reluctantly. "Good shot though, kid."

While I was taken outside for the paramedics to look over, Darius stood by. "Jon, how long have you been infected?"

"Actually, a bit over two months. A week after I got here. Pat and I got a bit rowdy." Darius chuckled.

"Ah. Nice choice of words. And you came out Lunais-infected rather than Lupus." I told him our theories on why and about the silver pendant. "I knew Travis was tricky, but to so that with silver without anyone knowing...amazing."

"Travis?"

"Oh. Mr. Andrews." He was on a first name basis with the Leader. "The head of the Hunters in my pack-father." I looked confused and I know I did. "Um, like a mentor program for newly infected. Like an adoption into a pack family." That I understood.

"Huh. That explains how Tommy had Hunters on his phone high enough to not be asked questions."

"Yeah. Michael loves Tommy since he never had kids of his own. He's pack-father to, I think, thirty Lupus." That was a large foster family. "Jon, I will tell you that your secret is safe with me. While I will not speak ill of the Leader-in-Waiting, I do not fully endorse some of his beliefs and know why you feel you must keep this from him."

"Thanks Darius. Perhaps once this has been cleaned up you and Tommy could come over for dinner some time. Bring your daughter. That way Tommy can see Lunais are not really filth and Dylan can know some other Lupus other than Mr. Andrews."

Darius nodded. "You are a good man, Jon. That boy needs someone like you in his life. I would like that. Maybe it will help Tommy break away from his group of friends too. If they're saying things like that I don't think I want him associating with them anymore anyway." Darius and I talked while I was stitched up on the spot and told I would live and to call if anything got worse. Then I was set free and Darius went home with Tommy who was still getting praise from the Hunters discreetly.

Dylan waved a good bye to them and I knew it was genuine. Now the big question is why? What was Dylan to make him a target?