Chapter Eight

Skyler wrapped a comforting arm around me as we watched Connor, his big frame shuddering with the effort of holding Vaughn down, restraining his best friend.

When the clouds obscuring the moon lifted, the moonlight shone upon the three werewolves, but the moon’s rays didn’t seem to affect Xavier. Only Vaughn and Connor had gone full wolf, and it seemed that Connor’s transformation was voluntary, Vaughn’s less so.

Xavier pulled out a needle from the first-aid kit.

“What’s that?” I asked.

“Tranc,” he said succinctly, before he injected it into Vaughn’s arm. He went limp, his body still.

“Is he breathing?” I asked. My palms were sweating. My heart was beating so fast I thought I was going to faint. “It doesn’t look like he’s breathing.”

Vaughn’s entire body convulsed, but when I tried to go to him, Connor stopped me. “Give Xavier a minute.”

Xavier picked up Vaughn and laid him gently on one of the patio tables. “He’s coming out of it,” he murmured. “Skyler, can you bring me a pitcher of water? But don’t let anyone follow you.”

She squeezed my hand briefly before darting back into the main part of the bar.

With a groan, Connor shifted back into human form, and I quickly averted my eyes as he bent to pick up his discarded clothing.

Skyler came back with the water and handed it to Xavier. He poured a glass and drank it while we stared at him.

“What? I was thirsty,” Xavier said. His quip lessened the tension in my spine. I didn’t think he’d be joking if Vaughn was in trouble.

Vaughn roused slowly and sat up.

“Careful,” Connor said.

Vaughn groaned and put his hand to his head. “What happened?”

“First shift’s a bitch,” Connor said.

“Do you think they’ll fight now?” Skyler asked.

My eyebrows knit together. “What do you mean?” My brain was still processing the fact that Connor Mahoney was a werewolf and I hadn’t had a clue.

“You know, two werewolves in a brutal battle to decide who will be alpha,” she replied.

Connor smirked. “That’s not the way it works,” he said. “No fights to the death.” He didn’t say it, but I knew he was thinking it. Not like vampires.

“So how do werewolves decide who is boss?” I asked.

“We arm wrestle for it,” he said, deadpan.

“So you’ve never had to kill anyone?” I asked.

“I didn’t say that,” he replied. “Vaughn will be okay. He has to learn to control the wolf inside him.”

“What happens if Vaughn can’t control his wolf?”

“Then we’ll help him,” Connor replied.

“We’re a team,” Xavier added. “There’s no fighting for dominance.”

“Then how do you choose your leader?” I asked.

Xavier’s dimples made an appearance when he was amused. “We vote on it, like normal people.”

“Good thing, because I don’t think Vaughn’s in any shape to challenge anybody right now,” I said. He groaned as his bones seemed to settle back into his human form. I wasn’t sure he even realized we were there with him.

“His clothes are trashed,” I said.

“I have some sweats that should fit him in the gym bag in my car,” Connor said. “Tansy, would you mind getting them?” He tossed me the keys.

“I’ll go with you,” Skyler said.

“It’s okay,” I said. “While I get the clothes, could you go check in with the Old Crones? Tell them that we’re hanging with Vaughn and Connor for the rest of the night or something.” It wasn’t a lie, but I also wasn’t ready to face Granny right now. She’d take one look at me and see the freak-out written all over my face.

I spotted an exit that I thought would lead to the parking lot. From there, I followed the sidewalk, which led to a dark corner. Connor’s orange Challenger was easy to spot, but I had to pass by what looked like a tiny outside break area next to the Dumpsters. There were a couple of chairs, and the ground was littered with cigarette butts. The streetlight had either burned out or had been busted out.

I found Connor’s gym bag and grabbed it. No way was I touching anything in there, even if it was just a pair of clean sweats. The shoes he wore to the gym were probably in there, too.

When I got back to the patio, I was relieved to see Vaughn was more alert and was now sitting at the table instead of laying on top of it.

I handed the gym bag to Connor, and he rummaged through it before pulling out some clothes and handed them to Vaughn.

I started to turn my back, but Vaughn reached for my hand. “It’s not anything you haven’t seen before,” he reminded me in a low voice.

My face felt hot, but I stayed next to him, just in case he lost consciousness or something. Connor must have had the same idea, because he stayed at Vaughn’s other side.

Vaughn dropped my hand so he could remove his torn clothing. He shrugged on a new shirt and pants and put the torn items on the chair.

“I’ll put these in the trash,” I said. Then I quirked an eyebrow at Vaughn. “Unless you’d rather save them?”

He grinned at me. “I don’t think I need them for a memory book or anything.” His smile faded. The reality of what had happened was probably hitting him.

Nobody said anything, and I realized Connor and Xavier were waiting for me to leave. They obviously wanted to speak to Vaughn alone.

I exhaled loudly. At least now I knew why Vaughn had been acting so weird. I caught the scent of fresh blood and froze.

I scanned the area, looking for the source. My fangs extended, my heart sped up, and my stomach growled. So gross.

I followed the metallic scent. In the shadows of an old oak at the edge of the property, I saw someone bent over a prone figure. The smell of blood was stronger here.

I dropped the gym bag. “Hey, what are you doing? Let go of them.”

I flicked on the flashlight on my phone and aimed it at them, then wished I hadn’t. Travis Jure, alleged reformed vampire, was standing over a bloody werewolf. And I was pretty sure that whoever it was, they were dead.

I screamed.