Wolf's Bane

Chapter 1

Creaking wood sounded as a youthful male stepped down the stairs of the two-story home. The sound of television brought blue eyes directed toward the living room. Sitting on a plush beige couch was a heavy male in a white muscle shirt. A hand was grasping at a can with a white label. The smell of alcohol caused the male to revolt and plug his nose. Hide it, Sam. Shaking his head, he turned to the kitchen on the right side of the room. Inside was a petite woman in a blue summer dress. Her arms were elbow-deep in a sink of soapy water. Reaching around her waist, the young male hugged the woman before kissing her cheek. "Morning, mom."

"Oh, Sam, I didn't hear you."

"Been practicing my stealth." He let go of his mother and backed up enough for the woman to dry her hands. Sam's eyes went to the television again just as the morning news began to play. Most of it was inaudible to Sam, as he didn't care what was happening around the small town of Darby, but his attention was soon glued to the screen as a story came to prompt.

"Local police officers are still searching for the killer of Ms. Diane McKeller. The thirty-six-year-old was found in her place of work late in the night by the janitorial staff a week ago." Sam's mother looked from the television to her son before raising a brow. "Wasn't that your therapist Sam?" His eyes moved to his mother as the anchor continued the story. The voice of the television muffled as the young male shrugged. "Yeah, I guess I got to get a new one." The woman could tell something was not right. Her expression had become concerned, but she decided it would be best not to bug her son.

"Boy, aren't you going to school?!" The heavy man spoke from the couch before crashing his can and tossing it toward the kitchen. The label was now readable, and Sam scowled in disgust. "Woman, bring me another beer." Sam looked at his mother, his blue eyes pleading with her, but she shook her head and motioned him to go.

"Alright, I'll be home at four, if not before." He kissed his mother again before heading out the front door. "Bye, Tom." He mocked before shutting the front door and leaving down the dirt path that connected to the main road.

Darby was small. The only main attraction was a "Mom and Pops" restaurant directly across from the high school. After school, Many students would go there for lunch if they had the money. Sam had a better idea than school today, though.

Walking as if he were going to school, Sam soon cut off to the left and moved to the forested area surrounding the small town. His empty backpack was the perfect suitcase for his clothes, and he began to strip after trekking for a few miles. With his body bare to the environment, he allowed the beast within to take over. A flash of light erupted beneath his tan skin before a Canidae of black showed in his place. Tilting its head back, the beast let out a gorgeous, tri-toned howl.

Luna--

A pair of green eyes walked from the bathroom into the kitchen in a small house a few blocks away. The house was not very big, nor were there many people in it. The first thing the girl did was grab a piece of bread and put it in the toaster. She took another slice out and held it with her mouth as she put the bread bag away. Once her hands were free, she began to eat the non-toasted bread in her mouth as she sat at the table.

"Hey, Gage. Hurry up, or we're going to be late." The redhead pulled out her phone while waiting for her younger sister to leave her room.

"Hey, Luna, I don't think this looks right." A small voice stated these words, and she slowly stepped out of the bedroom. The girl has put on her shirt inside out. Her head was placed inside the armhole instead of where the head should go.

"How did you do that? Come here," Luna put the last piece of the bread she was chewing on into her mouth before stretching her arms out to the helpless child she called a sibling. The small child slowly moved over to her older sister before lifting her arms. The shirt slowly got lifted off the child, which freed her now wild bright red hair. Without the shirt, you could quickly tell they were related. It wasn't long before the shirt had been put on correctly, and Gage began to put on her shoes.

"Once your toast is made, you'll have to eat it on the way, okay? We can't be late this time." Luna began scrolling through her phone. She didn't have that many friends on any form of social media. She loved to read books during her spare time instead. It was only a couple more seconds before the toast popped out of the toaster. "Alright, Gage, let's go." She grabbed the toast, handed it to her sister, and left the house.

It was about a thirty-minute walk from elementary and middle school. Luna’s sister was only in the 3rd grade, so once she dropped off Gage, she walked the extra 10 minutes to high school. Upon arrival, she was not greeted by friends. She was among the last few people to find her way into the building and her locker. Her locker was number 135. She liked having this locker because the person who was supposed to have the locker beside her would rarely show up. It is easy to keep up with things when you have extra space to keep things. It helped with her messy lifestyle.

"So, Red. Another day of school, huh?" The voice caused Luna to jump slightly, and her books almost fell out of her hand. This was the worst part of her day. She never understood why she was the target. "Look, Zach. Not today, okay?" Her green eyes tried to pierce their way through his brain before trying to walk around him. The only thing she found was his foot being slightly in the way, causing the girl to fall over. Her curly hair fell in front of her face as she dropped her book to catch herself. She last needed to go to work with a broken leg.

"Little clumsy today, are we? How does someone like you work as a waitress?" Zach began to laugh a bit before kicking some of her papers into the middle of the hallway. It wasn't long before the boy had walked off to go to his class while Luna picked up her things during the late bell.

Hours went by for what seemed like days. Luna was ready to leave and go to work. She was the first to stand and leave the building as soon as the bell rang. While walking across the street, Luna looked at her, now scratched-up, hand. It had stopped bleeding, but the pain still lingered. She shook it off before reaching back for her work outfit and apron.

This was her favorite part of the day. She loved to work and loved the people she worked with. However, she didn't make enough for it to matter. After putting on her outfit and apron, she quickly went behind the counter and waited for customers to come in.

"Hey, Luna. Glad you made it. We are a little short-staffed." An older lady was about to carry out a food tray just as Luna made it behind the counter.

"Who's missing?"

"Steven. He called in sick."

"Oh boy. I gotcha Jane." Luna picked up an order pad and a pen before walking to a table that had just sat down. She didn't look up who it was before she had made it to the table. She had already made a mistake. "What can I do for you?" Luna acted as if the group didn't know who she was. Though pretty white girls are pretty good at remembering outcasts.

"Oh, Red. How lovely." One of the girls suddenly smiled at the fact. "We'd like some coffee, and we all want chicken salads, hold the onions." Luna nodded before silently walking off. It wasn't long before she heard the girls giggling.

After bringing the food to her first table, Luna began helping take out other people's food. The first two passes were the same. However, on the third way through, she noticed someone different than before. He was sitting at the bar, staring down at a piece of paper. It must be new. She thought before finishing up her last carry-outs.

A couple of seconds after delivering, her worst nightmare comes true. Zach steps inside the building for the first time all year. Her green eyes stare down at the boy as she tries to hide behind the counter to avoid him. "Luna, what are you doing? Get back to it, missy." Jane lightly tapped the girl's shoulder. Taking a deep breath, Luna takes her order pad and makes her way to Zach. Zach had decided to sit with the preppy girls she had served earlier. "M-may I help you?" She tried to hide, but the pad was not quite big enough to conceal the giant red fluff ball on her head.

"Oh. Red! What a surprise. I didn't know you worked here. Would have come sooner." Zach gave a smile before leaning up against the table. He was obviously lying. He had seen her working there the last time he was in the cafe. The head female of the table casually looks at Zach, who seems not to be paying attention to her. "Zach! Order already."

"Oh right, I want your spiciest dish. You understand, right, Red?" Zach lightly nudged her with his elbow, causing her to move over slightly. She couldn't stand him messing with her.

"Fine. Anything else?"

"Some water to cool it down."

Luna's face was hot red. She knew what he was implying and didn't like it. But she wrote it down anyway before walking off to deliver the ticket. "Asshole," she said in a hushed tone once she was back behind the counter.

Sam --

I should be good now. Right? Sam looked around the wooded area before the light engulfed him, and he stood on bare feet. He had heard the bell that let out the kids at the school and began to walk to his hidden backpack for his clothes. Getting dressed quickly, though he didn't bother putting on his shoes. Sam walked to the tree's edge as his eyes scanned the streets. It was busy now, not unusual for the midday rush.

Digging into his backpack, he pulled out his wallet. The billfold held the money he had earned from mowing lawns. "I need a real job." He muttered as he counted a total of forty dollars. Sighing, he stuck his wallet into his front right pocket and walked toward the town center. The center, of course, is where the town's main attraction was.

Tucking the braid that hung down his back under his black tee, Sam watched the students walking home. Many glared at him, but none outright spoke in his direction. Keen ears always caught the whispers as they walked away. "He's such a weirdo."

"Heard his mother f****d a dog." Each whisper caught in his ears, but he always remained calm even though the inner beast clawed to be set free.

Reaching the restaurant, Sam entered the door and looked around. Instantly the sight of so many had him backed up. A lump caught in his throat before he moved to the counter and sat on a stool. "Can I getcha anything?"

"Just looking for a job." Sam's voice was calm as his ears caught each conversation. It was hard for him to stay focused on the woman that talked to him. It wasn't until his eyes saw the sheet of paper waved at him that he returned complete focus to her. "Just fill this out?" He questioned, and she nodded. It shouldn't be too hard.

With the paper filled out, he slid it to the other side of the counter. Standing, he turned to see a waitress walking away from a table. The natural red of her hair was like a flame and caused his eyes to brighten. She seemed distressed, though. My eyes trailed the direction she had come from. Zach, a low growl, caught in his throat before he began to walk toward the male.

Zach was always smug when he hung around the women of the school. Always thought he was a "big man on campus." Sam hated it, and he loathed the guy Zach had become. Upon reaching the table, Sam placed both hands on the wooden top and stared directly at Zach. "We need to talk."

"Woah, man, can't it wait till I eat my food?"

"Fine," Sam growled and sat beside one of the women Zach hung out with. His elbows rested on the tabletop, and his eyes never left Zach's face. He didn't care anymore. He would talk with Zach, even with the whores nearby. "Look, man, you need to quit your shit."

"What are you talking about?"

"The disrespect toward the workers here." Sam's head moved so he could look at the back room where the waitress had entered. Zach began to laugh now. "Samuel has a thing for Red?"

"No, dude, but it is wrong to f**k with people while they work. You're smarter than that. Use your damn brain." Sam growled and smashed his hand against the table. It was loud but not loud enough for the other patrons to hear. Zach slightly jumped and looked at Sam with wide eyes. Was that a hint of the beast coming from the young man's eyes? Sam took a breath and straightened up now. His hands pressed against the table. Luna came out as soon as the food was ready. She wanted to get this order over with as fast as possible. Luna managed to carry everything on one tray with one hand. It was easy to see that she had been doing this for a long time. When she got to the table, the first thing she felt was a hand touching her backside. Zach smiled only slightly as he looked straight at Sam to see if he could get any reaction.

"Zach, stop. Take your stupid food." Luna placed the plate in front of him and the water cup. Her face was now red. It was red in anger and embarrassment.

Zach looked towards the redhead only to laugh. "You look a little hot there, Red. Why don't you cool off." It was a quick movement of Zach reaching for his water and dumping it on the girl. The other girls at the table only began pulling out their phones to record the ordeal. Luna sat there stunned. Not once in her entire career had anyone done this to her.

The whole place was quiet besides the commotion and the small fits of giggling. "Y-you know what? I don't have to deal with you. Jane, I'm going home!" Her green eyes looked at Zach as they began to swell, and then towards the boy she saw had moved over to the table. Her trust in them instantly faded. She wasn't going to trust someone who was friends with him. It wasn't long before she threw her apron on the ground and walked out of the restaurant.

Sam could only watch as the water sprayed over the girl's clothing. The distress he had felt coming from her only grew as she spoke towards Zach. The moment she had left, Sam stood and glared at Zach. "You're a dumb ass." He bent down and picked up the girl's apron before walking out of the building after her.

She wasn't hard to find. The scent that waved off her apron had the beast inside tracking. He didn't know where she could have gone, and the entire town smelt of her. Enough! I'm not walking all over town looking for her. Sighing, he balled up the wet apron and began to walk home. "Looks like I'm going to school tomorrow."

His head lowered as he watched his bare feet move over the road's asphalt. The doors opening and closing behind him had his ears twitching. "Hey! Sam!" The voice was familiar. Shifting his head and turning around so he could walk backward, Sam watched Zach leave the restaurant. "What do you want, Zach?"

"You wanted to talk to me, remember?"

"I've said my peace." Sam stopped walking, which let Zach get closer. The moment the men were a few feet from one another, Sam could feel challenged in the air. Zach was different now. He wasn't the same skinny boy from elementary. "But you haven't, Sam. I know you." Zach poked himself in the head a few times only to roll his shoulders. "There is something you're not saying."

Sam shook his head. Does he want to challenge me? But why? It wasn't until Zach threw the first punch that Sam understood. The force of the punch had struck Sam in the jaw. This caused his head to whip to the left. Stumbling back, Sam shook his head again to clear it. "What the f**k is on your mind, Samuel?!"

"Nothing," Sam growled, only to swing a punch at Zach. His balled fist had hit the guy in the cheek, but Zach could see the intensity of Sam's eyes. The standard dull blue had brightened to a neon electric shade. The beast was awake, and Zach wanted our territory. As Zach backed up, Sam braced himself. He knew this move way too well. Zach soon charged toward Sam, only for the tan-skinned boy to move out of the way. This caused Zach to smack, head first, into a light post. The clang of metal-against-skull sounded before Sam shook his head. "Learn from your mistakes, bird brain." Stepping over the knocked-out male, Sam continued his walk home.

Luna--

Luna waved goodbye to Gage and the teachers at the elementary school. Gage was skipping back home before she realized her sister's clothes. The skipping had stopped as she began to poke the wet spot on Luna's stomach. "Why are you wet?"

"Oh, I just fell in a puddle." Luna smiled a bit as she looked down at her little sister.

"What are we going to eat, sister?" When Gage asked that, Luna mentally facepalmed herself as she realized she had forgotten to pick up something from work. Luna had the littlest cooking ability nor the food at home to do so. "Well, we can see what we have at the house. Maybe mom left a cookbook at home somewhere. Who knows." Luna moved her hair out of her face as she continued to walk. Gage went to grab her sister's hand, only to grab the injured hand. This caused the scratch to reopen slightly and her hand to jerk away. "Sister?" Gage looked up at her sister. Even though she was young, she could tell something was wrong.

"Nothing, Gage. I fell down, remember? I'll fix it when we get home." Luna's swollen eyes gave away the fact she wasn't okay. She didn't like lying to her sister like that, but what was she to tell a young child? However, Gage didn't think prying into it would improve things. She began to hum a light tune in her head as she started skipping back home.