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Fawna awoke late into the night. She was more exhausted than she’d thought. She didn’t even stir when Chaz Xanadu returned, slipped off her moccasins and put a goose down blanket over her. She looked out the window and saw the full moon amongst the stars. She heard a shriek then a long howl, like the howling of a wolf. It set her nerves on edge. Her thoughts went to Chaz. Had he slept outside once again. She rushed to the door and yelled for him out on the porch.
Chaz left the cabin but did not venture far. He wanted this nightmare to end. Against his better judgement, he’d given in to the wanton lust of the werelion inside him, the beast that longed for her. He loved her and wanted to protect her. He left her knowing she’d be safer if he drew the danger away from her.
He made camp about a half mile down the road, and pulled out his weapons. He took the silver bullets out of his knapsack and loaded them into his rifle. If he couldn’t control the werelion inside him, he’d make sure the animal would not harm her. He built a fire, sat down and rested upon the nearby tree and waited.
He fell asleep with his rifle in his lap. Snap! Chaz awoke in an instant when he heard the branch. Someone was coming up the trail. He stood behind the tree with the rifle firm in his grip.
“Ughhhhh!” Chaz grunted as the large branch hit him from behind forcing him to drop his weapon. He fell, dazed, but the blow did not knock him out. He looked up from the ground to see his attacker—Brock Adams.
He’d lied when he told Fawna he was hunting a mountain lion. The sheriff had told him that Brock Adams had escaped from the jail and was probably headed for the mountains.
After Chaz had enjoyed dinner the night the plane had landed with Charles, Sophie, Nonny, Tory, Simon and the twins and agreed to stay with them in Magic, Brock had escaped. Chaz didn’t want to put Tory’s family in harms way and he definitely didn’t want any of the stranded airplane passengers—especially Fawna—to have to encounter Brock, who’d be looking for hostages as leverage. He and the sheriff decided it would be best to try and draw Brock away from Magic.
He knew he should have turned Fawna away when she showed up—and at first he tried, but he couldn’t. He reasoned she’d be safe with him. His Ripper powers had him more in control of the lion and the hawk and the werewolf that lived inside him—even when the moon was full. But if he ever needed the strength of the strongest beast inside him—it was now. His eyes flashed an angry neon yellow, and the lion began to overtake him. He let out a low growl that became more ferocious and the animal took hold of his soul and began to sprout a powerful lion’s mane, hair and long, strong claws.
Brock froze when he heard the growl. He watched in amazement as man turned to magnificent beast. The beast lunged, planting his powerful paws on the man’s chest.
“Help! Help!” He cowered as the beast began to speak.
“Not even the Empress of Empathy could save your soul. You must be put down so you can no longer do harm to anyone.”
Chaz’s animal clamped his claws over Brocks heart and began to chant in the Ancient Ripper Language. A circle as black as coal enclosed over Brock’s chest as his skin began to swell. He screeched in agony as his body tremored. Craaaaaaack. His ribs broke and whoooosh! His heart flew out of his chest. Chaz transformed back into human form, clasped the heart and encased it in his special case to take to the Cave of the Ancients after he checked on Fawna and made sure she was still resting.
He gathered his rifle and his belongings and went to holster them onto his horse. He gasped, dropped his knapsack and ran to her as he lay on the ground near the trail.
