Wolf Six's Salvation

Jackson turned to assist Turner, but he had already taken the man down. It had taken less than thirty seconds for the two men to take down four armed men. Turner shook his head as though he had water in his ears as his teeth receded and lost their dagger-like qualities. Jackson could feel the fur receding into his skin and his hands tingled as they returned to their human form.

The four men weren't dead. Jackson could still hear their hearts beating. They would need medical attention, but all four would live. He wondered if their bosses would believe their story of the two monsters that attacked them and foiled their plans.

What concerned him was that they were most definitely military.

Jackson turned around slowly, hoping that most of his transformation had returned him to human before he faced Chloe. She had been able to see the whole thing. There was no way to have prevented it and still keep her safe. There just hadn't been time. Whatever hope he had of impressing her with his charm and wit was gone. She had seen the beast. There was no way she would ever want to be with a monster.

She stepped out from the shadow of the dumpster, a large heavy stick hanging limply in her hand. She didn't flinch when she looked at him though and the hope that surged through him could have powered a city.

"Are they dead?" she asked, quietly stepping up to the two Weres. She was pale as a ghost and trembling, but she kept her voice steady.

"No. They're all still alive." Turner replied, stepping over to one. He knelt down and began rifling through the unconscious man's pockets. Jackson did the same to another man, but found nothing on his identity but a tattoo of a phoenix. He'd look it up later. Dr. Turner finally pulled out a piece of paper from the last man's pocket. The paper shook in his hand, and Jackson knew it wasn't from the wind.

"What is it?" Chloe asked, dropping her stick and wrapping her arms around herself. The fact that she hadn't bolted spoke volumes about her self-control. Or lack of sanity.

Dr. Turner rose and showed her the paper. On it was a printed picture of her. Her school ID photo, to be exact. She let out a small whimper, but that was all. She was shaking and all he wanted to do was wrap his arms around her and tell her that everything was going to be okay, but he wasn't sure how she would respond. Dr. Turner was impressed with how well she was taking this already. After all, she did just see her college adviser and another man morph into deadly killing machines to take out four men determined to kill her.

Chloe took in a deep, shuddering breath and closed her eyes before slowly releasing it. When she opened her eyes, she frowned at the four men still lying unconscious in the cold. She had obviously hoped they would disappear when her eyes had been closed.

"Well, I'm not really up for a sandwich anymore," she said simply.

Dr. Turner laughed, coming over and hugging her. She burrowed into his shoulder, and Jackson felt the tug of jealousy. He wished he could be the one holding her, putting a hand in her hair to soothe her fears. But she wasn't his.

"I'll buy you a pizza," Turner told her, looking down at her like a caring parent. She gave him a weak smile and he squeezed her into him.

Jackson shifted his feet slightly, uncomfortable at the emotions rolling around in his stomach. There was too much jealousy and want rolling around inside of him, especially toward someone he had only just met a day before.

"There's a cheap motel on Third Street. We can pay cash," Turner said, releasing the shaking girl. Her color was returning which was good. Dr. Turner put his hand on her shoulder. "Chloe, you are not going home tonight. I'm afraid they've found you."

Chapter 14

The three of them hurried quickly and quietly to Dr. Turner's car. Jackson opened the passenger door to let Chloe ride shotgun and she gave him a small smile. She wasn't sure how she felt about him yet, but the act of chivalry was still charming.

Once the car started, Chloe cranked the heat, letting it blast to try and make herself feel warm again. She was looking forward to a hot shower at the motel. Even if she didn't have any of her things, she would still enjoy the water and getting the cold ache out of her toes.

They rode in easy silence for the short trip to Third Street. Dr. Turner hadn't been kidding when he said it was a cheap motel. Chloe had never seen anything so rundown and sad looking. Suddenly, she was a little bit more hesitant about the shower. The place didn't even look like it had consistent running water.

Dr. Turner parked the car and hurried into the main office, returning a

fter only a moment with a key for a room. Together, the three of them entered a very run down motel room on the second floor.

Jackson sniffed the air hesitantly as they entered, then shrugged. "Could be worse," he murmured.

"It's not pretty, but it's safe. I know the owner. He won't tell a soul you're here. His business depends on discretion." Dr. Turner pulled the threadbare shades over the windows.

Chloe stepped into the center of the room. At least it was warm. She looked at the two men standing in front of her and wondered if she really had seen what she thought. As much as she wished it had all been in her head, though, she knew it was true. She bit her lip and looked up at her mentor.

"Dr. Turner." Chloe paused as she took a breath and then let the words out as quickly as she could. "What are you two?"

"After all this, I think you can call me Quent. That's what my friends call me." He gave her a fatherly smile. "I think you know what we are."

Chloe shifted her gaze to Jackson. He was still breathtakingly handsome. Despite knowing what he was, she still felt an implicit and complete trust toward him, not to mention an ever increasing attraction as well. She should be terrified of him, but no matter how hard she tried, she only felt trust. To be perfectly honest, she had been more afraid that her attackers were going to hurt him than of him changing.

"I saw you both change. Become stronger. Your eyes and teeth, and..." she faltered slightly at the intense memory.

"And what, Chloe?" Quent coaxed. His eyes were soft as he looked at her. He knew this was hard but that she needed to say it herself in order to truly believe it.

"You're both werewolves."