37. Get Off My Land

Joel

It was not going to plan.

Casper had gone AWOL and I'd found him injured and about to be hurt further by that bitch Sylvie.

I hadn't seen Casper in two years. Two whole fucking years, and when I did finally see him, it was to see his face screwed up in pain while he waited to meet his fate.

I saw red.

And Sylvie paid the price.

I'd only lost my shit once before, and that was a long time ago now, shortly after I first went rogue. It wasn't something I was proud of, and now I felt sick to my stomach that I'd hurt someone again.

Even though she deserved it. Even though she was about to try to kill Casper, and may have succeeded if I hadn't shown up. Even despite all of that, I still felt guilty for what I'd done.

I turned back into my human form and made my way towards Tom who I knew was keeping watch not far from here.

"Casper's down," I said to Tom.

"Is he ok?" he asked.

"I think he'll be fine. He seemed to have a wound to his left side, but that should heal. He just needs some time, so can you make sure no hunters head this way."

"Yeah sure," Tom replied.

I started to head off to find Sebastian.

"Wait," Tom said. "What are we going to do about a decoy?"

"I guess we'll have to find another," I said, walking away.

I made my way round the edge of the territory to the east wall where Sebastian was waiting with the team of police he had drafted in to help.

"Slight issue," I said as I approached Seb, "I need another decoy."

"What's happened to Casper?" he asked.

"Injured," I replied.

To be honest, I was somewhat relieved that Casper wasn't going to be the decoy. I'd had to adjust my plan seen as I didn't want Casper to see me, but now I could go back to my original idea.

"I'll do it," came a voice from my left.

I turned to see Mark step forward with a determined look on his face.

I considered it briefly.

"Fine, let me brief you on what you need to do."

I was in work mode today, and couldn't let my friendship with Mark distract me. His wolf was fast, and I knew he took instruction well, so he would be fine as the decoy.

I had to just put all my other feelings to the back of my mind. Like how dangerous this was. And how Lyla would kill me if anything happened to him.

Once Mark had his orders, I sent him off.

"Time to put this thing to bed," Sebastian said to me, holding out his hand.

"Yep," I said nodding, and giving his hand a firm shake.

"Good luck Joe."

I smirked, "I don't need luck, I need a bleeding miracle."

Sebastian laughed, then made his way back to his team.

I headed back into the woodland, making my way to where I knew Kane would be waiting.

I found him scowling angrily at his rifle.

"It's not working," he said, banging it against a rock.

"Here, use mine," I said, handing mine over.

He took the gun off me and aimed it into the trees. He let off a shot, sending some leaves and small branches fluttering to the ground.

"That's better," he said, with a wonky grin on his face.

I had to suppress a shudder. The guy really creeped me out.

"Come on," I said, beginning to walk, "I think I saw a wolf over by the stream earlier."

"Ok good," he replied, "I could do with some good target practice."

"Try not to shoot unless you have a clear shot," I said. "Too much noise and we're going to attract unwanted attention."

Kane grunted, but he knew I was right.

As we made our way through the woodland, suddenly there was a flash of grey fur, but as quickly as it appeared, it disappeared again.

"Did you see that!" Kane said excitedly.

"Yeah," I replied, "I think it went this way."

Time and time again, Kane was treated to a glimpse of a wolf, but never long enough for him to get a shot off.

Slowly we made our way through the woodland, and into an area of more open scrub land at the back of the manor.

Suddenly the wolf was there again, and this time it leapt at Kane, knocking him over, and pinning him down, his bared teeth near his throat.

I quickly ran over and booted the wolf as hard as I could, knocking it off Kane.

As Kane scrambled to his feet, the wolf changed form into a human being, right in front of us.

"Get the hell off my land," Mark growled.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" Kane said looking Mark up and down.

Slowly, more hunters began to appear from the woodland after hearing the commotion and having been in the area after being enticed in a similar fashion by glimpses of other wolves.

"I'll tell you all this, and I'll only tell you once," Mark shouted, addressing the crowd that was forming around him, "GET OFF MY LAND!"

Kane laughed, "Why would I take direction off a disgusting creature like you. You make me sick, standing there, acting all normal, but I know what you really are."

"What are you going on about?" Mark asked, a look of bewilderment on his face. "What do you think I am?"

"Don't play games with me," Kane spat out, "we all know what you are!"

"Then can someone here please tell me what I am?" Mark said, addressing the group that had gathered round.

"You're a werewolf," someone shouted.

Mark burst out laughing. "A werewolf? Really that's what you think I am?"

I looked across at Kane and could practically see the vein pumping on his neck. His fists were curled up tight, his jaw clenched shut. He was like a coiled spring waiting to fire.

"Gun please," Kane said, holding his hand out to me.

I passed him the gun I had picked up off the floor a few moments ago.

Kane pointed it at Mark.

"Whoa, Whoa, Whoa," Mark said holding both his hands up. "Are you crazy or something?"

"Change," Kane spat out at Mark.

"Change what? My clothes?" Mark replied with a smirk.

"Don't mess with me you piece of shit! CHANGE!"

"Is this guy for real?" Mark said addressing the spectators around him.

"Um, Kane, are you sure he's one of them?" a fairly small guy with glasses asked.

"For fuck's sake Pete, of course I'm sure. He just literally changed in front of me and Joe a few seconds ago."

"Um, I didn't actually see that," I said, clearly lying.

Kane stared at me in disbelief.

"What do you mean you didn't see it? He was literally stood right there," he said gesturing in front of us, "when he changed."

"I'm sorry," I said shrugging. "I know I saw a wolf before, but I didn't see him change."

The rage coming off Kane was visible. I could just imagine the red cloud of steam seeping from every pore in his body.

"You may have seen a wolf," said Mark. "I own some wolves and keep them in my grounds. I have a licence to do so. But I can assure you now, they are just regular wolves."

'DON"T TALK CRAP TO ME! I KNOW YOU WERE I WOLF. I SAW YOU! WITH MY OWN EYES!"

"What can I say?" Mark said, "Maybe you should get your eyes checked?"

"You think your clever don't you!" Kane sneered at Mark, "well you won't seem so clever with five holes in your chest," he said, waving the gun in Mark's direction.

"Hey man," Mark said, once again putting his arms up in surrender, "I don't know what your problem is, but I'm not a werewolf."

"Yeah Kane," another one of the guys said, "maybe we should leave. We can't be sure."

"Can't be sure?!" Kane said, still seething. "What part of 'I saw him change' don't you understand?"

"I don't know what you saw, but it wasn't me!" Mark pleaded. "Please someone, take that gun off him before he does something stupid."

"Don't you dare!" Kane spat at the guy nearest to him who had taken a step forward. "I'm going to prove it to you, to all of you that he's a werewolf. When a werewolf dies they always revert back to their wolf form, so when I kill him, you'll all see."

"That's a bit risky," said Pete again. "What if you got it wrong?"

"How could I have got it wrong?! I saw a wolf change into a man. How can I have got that wrong?!"

"I'm just saying that...."

"Well don't just say!" Kane interrupted.

"Kane, please put the gun down," I said, holding out my hand.

"Oh you'd like that, wouldn't you?" he said, "in fact I'm beginning to think you're one of them too. It's all a bit convenient that you somehow missed a wolf change into a man, right in front of your eyes."

"Maybe I didn't see it, because it didn't happen! Come on Kane, this is too risky even for you!"

"Yes, Kane, put the gun down," Pete piped up.

A general murmur went round the group, all encouraging Kane to back down.

"YOU'RE COWARDS THE LOT OF YOU!!" he shouted, then he aimed the gun at Mark and fired.

Mark flew backwards from the force of the bullet, and landed on the floor clutching his chest.

"Shit!" I said, running forward to where Mark was lying.

The rest of the group stood with their mouths open, looking horrified.

Mark let out a few pained gasps then went limp.

"Hey, hey," I said shaking him gently, "Wake up, please, wake up. Open your eyes."

I pulled back his hand from his chest and saw blood oozing out from where his hand had been.

I put my fingers on his neck to check for a pulse.

There was silence all around me.

"I can't feel anything," I said in a panic.

"He can't be dead," Kane said, a flicker of panic crossing his face. "He would have changed back into a wolf if he was dead."

I let out a cold laugh.

"I think he's dead Kane. Damn it! I told you not to do anything. Hell, we all told you! You've gone too far this time. And we're damned well not taking the fall for this."

I turned to face the group. "Go, the lot of you. Get out of here. Don't try and contact anyone in the group, and try to get an alibi for tonight. The group is disbanded."

The group looked around at each other, with fear in their eyes.

The sound of police sirens in the distance, seemed to snap them out of their trance as suddenly they bolted in different directions, running as if their lives depended on it.

Kane turned to flee, but suddenly found himself face to face with a glaring Nathan. He turned the other way only to be met by Jamie marching over. Then Ronan appeared on his left and Luke on his right.

Kane spun round, staring in panic at all these muscular guys glaring right at him, arms flexed, ready for a fight.

Sebastian walked over, flanked by a couple of uniformed police officers.

I took a pace back to let him in.

"Kane Fitzgerald, I'm arresting you on suspicion of the attempted murder of Mark Jameson. You do not have to say anything, but it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence. Do you understand?"

Kane looked like he had been slapped by a wet fish, his mouth hanging open, his eyes wide and full of disbelief.

"A-Attempted murder?" he stuttered out.

"Yes attempted murder," Mark said standing up and walking over to Kane.

If it was possible, Kane's jaw dropped further. Suddenly a look of realisation passed across his face and his head snapped round to face me.

"You!" he snarled. "This is all your doing?! You're dead meat Joe. Just you wait!"

"Yes well he'll be waiting for a long time," Sebastian said calmly as he put handcuffs on Kane. "Hopefully a very, long time."

The sirens were now all around the manor boundaries, and I could see that some of the other members of FLOW had been picked up as they tried to flee.

The police had been given strict instructions to keep up the illusion of Mark's death and make them sweat for a few hours in the police station before charging them with trespass.

"MARK!" came a sudden shriek and a frantic looking Lyla came bounding through the trees, launching herself into Mark's arms.

"Hey Lyla," he said, gripping her tightly.

"Don't you hey me!" she said, removing his arms and giving him a clout round the head. "Why didn't you tell me what you were doing?!"

"I didn't really have time, it all happened so quickly," he replied, rubbing his head from where Lyla had hit him.

Lyla ripped open his blood stained shirt to reveal a perfectly unblemished chest.

Mark grinned and opened his hand which contained the remnants of the blood capsule he'd squashed onto his chest when he went down.

"Why did you do it, what happened to Casper?"

"Shit, Casper!" I said, remembering he was injured. Surely he should have healed by now?

"Has anyone seen Casper?" Nathan asked.

A collection of heads all shook to indicate that he hadn't been seen by anyone.

Sebastian's radio than crackled into life.

"Seb, we have a man down out here. Says his name is Casper."

"Fuck!" I said, jogging towards the woods.

"Wait for me!" Jamie and Nathan called behind me.

I didn't have to wait, they were beside me in seconds, and together we ran through the woods to find out what had happened to Casper.

A/N.  Just two more updates to go......