Howl (Monster Boyfriends #1)

Chapter 34

Chapter Thirty-Four

RAEGAN

A t first, I’m not sure what just happened.

I felt a quick sting of pain on my forearm, but I didn’t see where it came from. I assume it had to be from the guy’s weapon he’d been hiding, but I was moved out of the way so quickly, I didn’t get a chance to see.

Only a second ago I was tucked away safely in Jamie’s arms, but now I’m surrounded by Aidan’s cool touch. He’s pulling me backward into the crowd and away from the space that’s opened up around Jamie and the assailant. I watch in what feels like slow motion as Jamie’s back muscles tense and grow in front of my eyes.

His flannel rips in half and hangs from his arms in shreds. His back hunches as his body curls inward, all while muscles stretch and lengthen. His knees bend backward. His neck thickens. And in a matter of seconds, a wolf replaces a full grown man.

Seeing Jamie shift is shocking—scary even—but seeing the menace in his eyes as a wolf is more terrifying than anything I’ve ever seen before.

The man stands unflinching as Jamie pounces, even when Jamie’s teeth come within inches of his face. He just steps out of the way as if he’s a superhero dodging a bullet. They both move with such agile speed.

The crowd lets out a collective scream, and people start running in different directions. I don’t know which way is what, but Aidan manages to direct us to the sidewalk and out of the chaos. The tourists have all scattered, but everyone else is staring open-mouthed at the sight of a fully shifted wolf. Like me, I don’t think most of Shadow Hills’ residents have seen the werewolves in their wolf forms, so this must be a huge shock.

Jamie then catches the man by his pant leg forcing him to the ground. I fear how far he is willing to go now that he’s in the body of a predator. He has every reason to mutilate this stranger beyond recognition for what he’s done, but Jamie’s attacks feel personal. Like he knows him.

I whirl around to face Aidan. “Do you know who that is?”

He doesn’t answer. Right now he’s busy ripping off the bottom half of his button up. He pulls my injured arm out of my sweater and I wince. Blood trickles down to my fingers as he tightens the scrap of material around the gash. It’s starting to pulse with pain. When Aidan is done, he scans the crowd as if looking for someone.

I decide to discard my sweater, now torn and stained with blood anyway, leaving my simple white baby tee underneath. “Who is that?” I demand, this time more urgently.

Aidan’s jaw clenches. “I don’t know. But he smells like a wolf.” His words are clipped like it’s taking all of his concentration to speak. My blood must be getting to him. Instinctively, I take a step back, but he grabs my uninjured arm.

“Stay with me,” he says firmly. “I’m fine.”

I’m not entirely sure he’s telling the truth, but I trust him enough to look back to the scene before us just as the man is getting back to his feet. Jamie’s attention isn’t where it’s supposed to be. He’s looking at me, probably checking to make sure I’m alright.

The man takes advantage of Jamie’s distraction. “Look at you,” he taunts, “shifting into the thing you hate only when it serves you.”

Is this man another werewolf? If so, why are they infighting? He’s clearly confident, steady in whatever his reasoning is, but unless he plans to shift himself, he should know better than to bait a massive werewolf while in his human form.

Jamie snarls, teeth bared.

“Don’t you wanna know why I finally decided to make my move?” the man continues. Jamie simply paces back and forth, biding his time.

Just attack him! I scream internally. But then I think better of it. No one else knows the man is a werewolf. If Jamie attacks a man who looks human in front of the entire town, he could face major repercussions. That has to be why he’s waiting for the right moment.

“My dear cousin called saying he’s in jail and needed help, so I bailed him out.”

My stomach drops. Is he talking about Patrick?

“He’s really pissed at you,” the man continues. “He wanted to come to the festival himself—look you in the eye—but I told him I’d have his back.” He leers, a wicked grin cutting across his face. “All the more reason to finally put you in your place.”

Jamie looks like he’s ready to shred this man to ribbons and rip out his sternum, but I can’t let him make that mistake. Not unless the other werewolf shifts.

I fight against Aidan’s hold around my upper arm and attempt to run out there. Maybe Jamie will recognize me and back off, not wanting to cause me harm. But Aidan’s grip is like a statue, unwavering and solid.

“Why don’t you do something?” I yell. Why can’t you just step in and diffuse the situation like last time?

Aidan looks from me to Jamie and back again. He knows he should stop his friend from doing something he can’t take back, yet he continues to stand here.

“Aidan!”

He only presses his lips together and glances around uneasily, then he grimaces and squeezes his eyes shut. “I can’t. Seeing me will only make it worse.”

“Why?” I’m feeling frenzied. I can’t help thinking we’re only moments from something really terrible happening, and it’s going to be all my fault.

“Because,” Aidan barks, and I flinch, “I’m a vampire, Raegan. My smell will just distract him. It doesn’t matter that we’re friends. While he’s fully shifted, his senses only tell him there’s another predator in his territory, and he’ll have to focus on me instead.”

I don’t want it to, but his explanation makes sense.

Suddenly, Aidan's eyes lock onto something in the distance. Some one .

“Stop!”

I scan the crowd wildly trying to find the source of the booming voice. Then I see him. Rhett is running toward us from the other end of the street. He’s not wearing the leather jacket this time, just a plain black T-shirt and jeans. His heavy boots pound against the cobblestones as he races to the scene, long red hair flying behind him.

My initial reaction is to groan at the sight of another werewolf, but then I remember he’s the alpha. They’ll have to listen to him.

“Banks,” Rhett bellows the name, coming to a halt directly behind where the other werewolf is standing. “Stop this, now .”

The alpha’s voice is steady and calm, but his tone is direct, leaving no room for question. Both Jamie and the other man—Banks—seem to have a physical reaction to Rhett’s words. Jamie tucks his head low while Banks jerks like a shiver just wracked his spine.

“This is over,” Rhett commands. “Both of you, go back to the camp. I’ll meet you there.”

Jamie looks away from his alpha, and I think he might attempt to defy him, but then I realize he’s looking for me. I move to the front of the crowd and hold Jamie’s stare. I nod my head, letting him know I’m okay. Then he’s bounding past the stunned spectators and heading straight for the woods outside of town. I let out the breath I didn’t realize I was holding.

“Raegan.” I’m startled by my name being called, but it’s Rhett. “Come with me.”