Werewolf Queen

He opened his eyes and fear flashed through them. I didn't wait for him to change before I was on him. I tossed him across the room as he tried to change but I wouldn't let him sit for very long. I wanted him to fucking suffer. The men grabbed him while he was down and I stalked toward him.

Brent

I watched as she changed back and pure evil look in her eyes. I didn't fear for the rogue I now feared for my life and Jack and Brian's. I had only seen the look once before on a person and what happened next wasn't very pretty.

"Take him to the house outside of town. Put him in the cellar. I'll be there in a few minutes."

I just nodded once and force the man up the stairs. I didn't look back.

Jade came in her black car and we were all waiting above the cellar. The rogue was chained below. She brought a large handled box and didn't look at us as she made her way down the stairs and closed the heavy door behind her. I heard the locks and her footsteps proceed farther down.

It didn't take long for the screams to start. I looked at my brothers and they were just listening.

"Remind me not to ever get on her psycho side." Brian said.

"Agreed." I said. "Let's go dig a hole to put him in."

They nodded and we found two shovels. We took turns at the digging until it was ten feet deep. I could still hear the screams. My god what was she doing to him? Scratch that, I didn't want to know.

It was at sunset when the door finally unlocked and she came out covered in blood. She now added a bag to her luggage.

"The bastard died too quickly." She said and threw the stuff in her trunk.

Jack and I went down to retrieve the body and our shoes actually splattered blood around. She wasn't clean at all about it. I took one look at the rogue and turned my head. It was headless like I knew it would be but there were pieces missing. His dick was one. Fingers and toes were gone but those were quickly found on the ground. The severed member never was.

Daniel met us on the dirt road outside of Oakley Farm. At first he thought Jade was hurt and then realized it wasn't her blood. She tossed the bag at him and he opened it.

"Their records cleaned, now." She pretty much demanded.

"The body?" He asked.

"Ten feet under and covered in Lyme. Jack and Brian are cleaning the evidence." I said. I felt bad for them but happy she chose me to come with her. I really didn't want to be in that mess.

"How do you know it was him?" Daniel asked.

"Because he confessed to it after I told him I would just hand him over to you. He was a rogue anyways, he was a murderer. He deserved what he got."

"Rogue?"

"They live off of human flesh." I said. "They are the worst of the lycans."

"I see." He said. "You best get showered before someone sees you like that and I get a phone call. Hard to explain you covered in blood."

"Deer hunting." I said.

"It's not the season."

"Ok, Snake hunting." She told him.

"Snakes don't have that much blood."

"A lot of them do."

"You have snake hunting here?"

"You find a snake you kill it." She said. "They're mostly rattlers and bull snakes. Some garden snakes but the hawks eat those."

"This is one weird town." I said.

"It's southwest Oklahoma. We're all rednecks here." She said.

"Yep, if it can't be fixed with duct tape and baling wire it can't be fixed." Daniel said.

"Ain't that the truth." Jade said and went to her car. "Now let's go home so I can get this crud off me."

"Yes ma'am." I said and followed after her.

Brian and Jack were going to run home when they were done. If there wasn't such a high fire danger I recommended setting it on fire but unfortunately it was so dry that everything would go up. We got home and I distracted the neighbor as Jade made a run for it inside. I said she was sick and running for the bathroom. It was the best thing I could think of. I really hated nosy neighbors.

She was already in the shower when I went into the house. I went to the kitchen and grabbed a trash bag and went to the bathroom. I grabbed the bloody clothes and stuck them in there. I would burn them after she went to bed.

"Out damned spot!" She said in jest as I smelled her bodywash.

"Everything okay?" I asked.

"Peachy." She said. Her voice was upbeat. "So do you think any different of me now?"

"What you did was justified. A little dramatic but justified."

She peered from behind the curtain and smiled at me. All the blood was off her face at least. It was a big grin that showed her teeth. I'd never seen her smile like that. It lit up her face and her eyes. Everything but her face was covered by the curtain but I had the weirdest feeling in the pit of my stomach. "I'm going to take these out of here." I said wanting an excuse to leave the bathroom.

She fingered me to come closer to her and I did without a second thought. Her hand shot out and she grabbed the scruff of my shirt and pulled me into a hard kiss. Her lips were soft and warm and very wet from the shower. She released me just after a brief second.

"What was that about?" I asked.

"Checking something." She said and disappeared behind the curtain.

"Care to elaborate?"

"No." She said and started to hum. Her mood was actually starting to scare me a little.

I left the bathroom and Brian and Jack made their way into the living room. They were covered in blood and carrying their shoes.

"All clean boss. I'm going to be smelling bleach for years." Brian said.

"Everything else get done?" I asked.

"Yep, the money, everything." Jack whispered extremely low.

"Alright then." I said and sat on the couch.

"You sit on my furniture with blood on you I'll ring your neck." Jade called from the bathroom. "I'll be out in a minute."

"Yes ma'am!" Jack said back.

"By the way, we're moving tomorrow. Daniel is letting me rent his farm house a couple miles outside of town. It's got four bedrooms so we each have our privacy and land hidden by trees." She said. "We'll get started with The Enlightened in a couple of months."

"Why so long?" Brian asked.

"Train me how to fight properly and not just snapping my teeth." She said coming out of the bathroom in just a towel. "Shower is free." She said and went to her bedroom. She came back out with a large trash bag. "Daniel, dad, and James went through their stuff. It's not designer brand but it will have to do until we can get you guys some clothes. Burn what you had of Derek's. I'm sick of smelling him." She went back to her bedroom and closed the door.

I knocked on her door and waited for her welcome before I entered.

"We can get our own clothes you know. It's just we had to leave at less than a moment's notice and weren't able to pack."

"I know hun, and the six thousand you put in my bank account is going back on you guys."

"How did you know about that so soon?"

She tossed me her phone and it was on a message; a text message bank statement, how convenient.

"I get them any time something is put in or taken out of my bank."

"We figured the funeral set you back since the family only paid a portion."

"And so did my dad."

"We already have that handled. By the way, where did someone so young get so much money?" I asked looking at the total of her bank.

"My mother had a large life insurance policy. Dad got half and I got half. I never touched it. It's been collecting interest for six years." She said.

I whistled in amazement. She went to her dresser and pulled out a large shirt and underwear. I turned to leave.

"You've seen it all before. You're the one that told me to get used to nudity because it is unavoidable."

"Closer to the full moon but we are still three weeks away from it. You have mastered the change like a pro, so no problems with unplanned changes."

"Is something the matter Brent?" She asked.

"No, why?"

"You're blushing." She got that smile again.

I could feel my face burning and I walked out of the room.

Jack and Brian claimed the twin beds in the second bedroom that used to be Nikki and Jessie's room. I claimed the couch. I laid there and stared at the ceiling. This was so different than what I was used to. I was used to running, used to being wolf more than human. Could I stay under a roof for a long time? I wanted to be free. I knew running wasn't freedom but the open land called to me. The moon whispered my name on the wind.

I got up and went to the door planning a quick run but a noise stopped me. I could barely hear it over Brian's snoring but it was there. I made my way in the dark to Jade's room and put my ear against the door. There it was again. I opened the door quietly and Jade was laying in her bed crying quietly on her side. More like sobbing but trying not to wake anyone.

I went to the side of the bed and sat down on the edge of the mattress. I leaned over and kissed her cheek and moved hair from her eyes. This was her mourning; in the dark and alone where no one could see. I laid down beside her and rubbed my hand up and down her arm in comfort.

Jack came in and laid down on the other side. Brian's snores still filled the house. When that boy went to sleep, he was out until someone threw something at him.

We never spoke a word but just held her. She eventually calmed down and her tears stopped. She had her head in my chest and her legs intertwined with Jack's. Her breathing deepened her heart slowed and so did Jack's. So much for my run. This was a little better.

I kissed the top of her head and breathed in the vanilla aroma of her. I eventually fell asleep as well.

The next morning came and I woke to bacon. Jack was still asleep next to me but Jade wasn't between us. I could hear the bacon sizzling and Brian's snores. I got up and went to the bathroom first. Three new toothbrushes were on the sink. I smiled. As a werewolf we didn't deal with plaque or bad breath. The disease took out all those germs and left the good ones. Also three folded piles of clothes with a sticky note with each of our names. She had been busy. I grabbed the one with my name and examined them. She chose black cargo pants for me and I white t-shirt. I did my business and got dressed.

The entire living room was in boxes as well as the kitchen. She was standing over a frying pan of bacon and I smelled biscuits in the oven. I wanted to walk up to her and wrap my arms around her but fought the urge.

I instead went to the coffee maker where four cups sat, each a different color. The red one already had cream colored coffee in it so I took the dark purple one. A green and yellow cup remained. I noticed a blue one smashed on the floor and swept into the corner along with the dirt from the floor.

"Don't like blue?" I asked.

"Hate it." She replied and took the bacon out of the pan and added it to the huge pile next to the stove. She put more in the pan and opened the oven. She grabbed the oven mitt and pulled out massive biscuits. "Homemade." She said.

I noticed eggs and sausage were already done along with a large pile of pancakes.

"How long have you been up?"

"Since four." She answered.

I looked at the clock and it was close to 11. "You could have woken us."

"I'm mean but I'm not cruel. I'm not going to wake you guys up after only 3 hours." She said and flipped the bacon. A large pop of grease got her arm and she jumped only to stare intently at her arm. I went over to her and took the fork out of her hand and led her to the sink. The blister was already disappearing. "It's neat." She said. "Only hurts for a moment or two."

"That's not healthy for you." I said and ran cool water. I made her put her arm under it. She looked up at me and she looked so tired. It was like the light drained from her eyes.

She smiled and took her arm out from under the faucet and flicked me with cold water and turned off the tap. She went back to the bacon and pulled it out of the pan and turned the fire off. She hopped up on a clear space of counter next to me and looked around the kitchen. It was empty without all of its decorations.

She put her hand my shoulder and I looked at her. I went in front of her and she put her arms behind my neck and put her head on my shoulder.

"I thought I wouldn't be able to stand you in human form." She said quietly.

"Well we don't want to jump each other's bones now do we?" I chuckled and put my arms around her. "I want comfort not sex and we seem to be giving that to each other like a real pack does."

"We're a pack?" She asked.

"We act like one. What do you feel towards us? You know we want to protect you but how do you feel?" I asked and she rose up and looked into my eyes.

"I can't really explain it. I want to be near you three, to hold the three of you. When I touch you guys I feel calm, I feel loved, and I've never felt like that. You're right; it has nothing to do with sex but comfort. I don't want any of you three in that way. But I already love you guys and it would break my heart if you left."

I put my forehead on hers and she closed her eyes. "You know when we are wolf it will be different. We haven't been wolves since that day."

"I know I'm itching for a run. Maybe after moving we all can go running." She said.

"That sounds great." Jack said coming in and eyeing the food. "So we're a pack?" He asked as Brian came in.

"You know you heard what we said, don't act like you didn't." I said and looked at them.

"What I meant was Jade is staying with us? You know a pack is forever." He said.

Brian made himself a cup of coffee and sat down at the table.

"Dig in. Plates are in the dishwasher with the forks." Jade said and Jack went up to her. She kissed his cheek before he grabbed a plate.

We ate in silence except for the radio playing music and random news and commercials. Nothing much had changed in the news. Record high temperatures, still problems with North Korea. Nothing out of the ordinary. We did have a small chance of thunderstorms later but Jade said she doubted it would happen. She had said, "Unless it's raining don't believe the meteorologist on rain. We get enough that we're not a desert but not enough for anything."

Most of the food was gone when we were done. Just a couple of strips of bacon and a single pancake left.

"So full." Jade said and put her head on the table.

"Go take a nap and we'll handle things." Jack said.

"You don't even know where it's at." She said.

"I'm sure we'll be of help." Daniel said as he and Jim walked in with James.

"Not going to argue then. If you need me just wake me up." She said and got up. She left the kitchen.

Jade

I laid down in my bed that now smelled like Brent and Jack. I hit the pillow and I was out. My dreams bothered me. It was the reason I woke up in the first place so early.

I was in a burning building with a mutilated man coming towards me. He had no head but was able to stab me and the flames stopped me every time I tried to get away. I finally hid in a small room behind a large shelf. Over the smoke I could smell something horrible. Rotting flesh and blood. I screamed as the rotting headless corpse found me.

I woke up with a start. Brent was over me with his hand on my shoulder. I sat up and wrapped my arms around him.

"We only have your bed left." He said and lifted me up. I looked around the room and everything was gone. He carried me to the living room and I made him put me down. The only thing that remained was a picture on the wall of a Polaroid. Nikki, Jessie, Derek, and I were standing arm in arm. I pulled the picture off the wall and ripped it in half where only Nikki and I were in it. I left the other piece on the ground and we walked out of the house. I left the key in the mailbox as instructed to do by my landlord.

Brian and Jack brought out my bed and loaded it in the back of Daniel's truck. Daniel was sitting in the cab waiting. I went up to the driver side and he looked at me.

"You look tired."

"Restless sleep." I answered. "Can you do me a favor and take that to the dump instead? I want to get a new bed."

"Sure. You want to get rid of the twin ones? Your dad just left with them, I bet I could call him and he'll turn around."

"Yeah." I replied. "Thanks Daniel." I went to walk away.

"She's at peace Jade, remember that."

"I know, I just wish I was. What I did to that man is haunting me. I went too far. My beast went too far."

"You wanted revenge. Any woman would have done the same, be her human or something else. Why do you truly regret it?"

"He died too soon." I said and walked to my car. I let Brent drive. I know, shocking. We drove to the new house with no words ever muttered. We passed the line of trees down the dirt road to the large house. It was two stories and a faded green color. There was an old fashioned barn a couple hundred feet away, yes it was red.

I walked up the steps to the front door and everything was already unpacked.

"Why didn't you guys ever wake me up? I could've done this." I said.

"Because you needed sleep, the last couple of days have taken their toll on you." Brian said coming inside behind me. "So what are we going to use for beds?"

"Well we can sleep in the living room tonight and tomorrow we'll go to Lawton and go shopping." I said. "I'm just sick of smelling them."

"We do understand that." Jack said.

Twenty minutes later dad and Daniel came by with tons of food and dad's smoker. James had brought a girl with him. She was pretty. She had brown hair and brown eyes and her face was pale with freckles. She seemed really shy. She told us her name was Marcia and she came from Granite.

James knew our secret mainly because he was around a lot the last couple of days. He figured it out on his own and I didn't lie to him. I knew the kid since he was born I would give him more respect than a stupid lie. Marcia on the other hand didn't know and we had to watch everything we did or said.

Marcia graciously helped me in the kitchen as I prepared all the meat and food. It was good to be around someone else with a vagina even though she was younger than me.

"I graduated this year." She said. "James told me you and Nikki graduated in '07."

"Yep. Best four years of my life. It just gets harder after that." I said.

"So are you going to rebuild Rumors? My dad and I ate there every Sunday, you make awesome omelets."

"Thanks hun, and I don't know." I said making patties for burgers. "Rumors was my baby and I feel like I've lost it. I know it was just a building but I spent years running it and maintaining it and just like that it was gone."

"What were you doing when you found out what happened?" She asked.

She was curious and I had to come up with a quick lie. "I was in Hobart grocery shopping when my friend called me." I said. I was actually fucking Brent down in a cellar in half wolf form. I didn't tell her that.

"So are all those guys your boyfriends?" She looked at me while pausing from cutting lettuce.

"None of them are. They are friends that needed a place to stay." I said.

"Jade I don't want to sound mean. I'm not stupid. I see the way they look at you and the way you touch them. Friends don't do that."

"You're not being mean hun, but I'm being honest, they are just friends."

She went back to cutting the lettuce. "Well even if they're more than that, more power to you. I'd want more than one man. I don't ever want to settle down and have kids."

"Wrong talk for a small town girl. In small towns we are raised to graduate, get married as soon as we do and have lots of kids. I had once planned five myself."

"What happened to that idea?"

"I grew up." I answered and made the last patty and washed my hands and moved to slicing tomatoes. "So what do you have planned now that you're out of school?"

"I was thinking of taking the summer off and then going to study in France. I've got money saved up for it."