"Is she awake?"

"No. You said you guys found her mauled, correct? I'd be surprised if she wakes up soon."

"It's been five days. I wouldn't necessarily call that soon."

"That's why you have your job Ranger, and I have mine."

The doctor walked down the hallway. Milo resumed staring through the glass pane into the dreary room. A modest size with a large window that showed the rainy urban landscape beneath. Machines took up a majority of the room. Along with the hospital bed Khalia was resting in. A drab green sofa sat tucked away in the corner.

Her chest staggered as it rose. Long pauses between made Milo chew on his lip. Bandages were speckled across her face. Peeping left and right, he turned the handle, rushing into the room. While he wasn't family and this is illegal, he is a Ranger, and he needed to know what animal caused this mayhem.

"What the hell attacked you guys?"

Milo stood bedside next to the broken girl. His mind back at the cabins. Returning from the coast, they were ready to search for the elusive animal. However, it wasn't the animal they stumbled upon when reaching the cabins.

Walking, everything looked fine until Milo saw the blood trail. It twisted and turned, stopping at a Jeep. From there, it took Elaina only seconds to notice the decomposing mass of flesh on the porch. Her phone was out instantly.

Milo took the opportunity to search the clearing. He didn't make it two steps before spotting the first body. He could tell it was a male and that was it. Any other distinctive details were unrecognizable. Bile bubbled in his gut. Looking he spotted another.

"Damn."

Milo stood in a daze. It wasn't the bodies themselves that had him rooted in position. It's the absolute carnage, the rage.

"Halifax! Halifax someone's alive!"

Milo ran in the direction of his name being called, spotting Elaina along the clearing edge. From his angle, she was staring at broken tree branches. He made it to her side huffing.

They both stared in utter shock. The girl, the druggie, was breathing so shallow she looked unmoving. The puncture wounds and cuts were numerous along her frame. Elaina's face became devoid of emotion as she went into investigator mode.

"It'll be a while for the ambulance. We need to stop her bleeding. Find anything!"

Milo had frantically snatched clothes, tape, anything in his car to stop Khalia's bleeding. Vast amounts of her wounds were concentrated around her thighs and groin. He left that area for Elaina to bandage.

Sighing, Milo replayed their interaction over with different approaches he could have taken. He could have hit the Bimbo and sent them to the hospital, fine them for drugs, anything.

"I should have sent you all packing. Goddamn it!"

Unconsciously he grabbed his Menthols, not realizing his mistake until two drags in.

"Ah shit!"

*~*~*

Khalia stirred; the acrid smoke tickling her nose. Twitching, she tried to move her arms but no avail. It felt like boulders laid atop them. Each inhale sent a pain shooting through her. Khalia's thought of her last memory Theo's voice, while he mauled and violated her repeatedly. She wasn't spared mercy for the time they shared. She didn't deserve mercy. Her chest constricted.

Am I alive? How? Why?

"...J-Jay? Are you here?"

*~*~*

Milo stopped midway picking up his flattened cig. A soft creak drew his attention to the bed. He hesitated when Khalia wriggled uncomfortably. Hoarsely she whispered the same name over and over until it became a piercing screech. Perturbed, he ran for the door.

"Hey! Nurse! I need you in here!"

A woman peeked from the front desk down the hall. Her plump face twisted with concern as she hurried over. Arriving to the door she gave him a questionable look. Sheepishly he stepped aside.

In the blink of an eye the room was swallowed by uniforms. Two doctors stood away from the nurses, conversing in whispers. They motioned to Khalia every so often, nodding their heads with analytical expressions. Her cries diminished when they administered morphine.

Dimming the lights, they pulled the bandages off her eyes. Milo watched as she flinched, instinctively wanting to shield her face. He watched confusion and fear cast its light on her while she looked around.

Not wanting to be detected, he slowly inched towards the exit. He was gone before she could question his presence. Outside the door Milo listened to the doctor's breakdown her most heinous injuries. His stomach grumbled, forcing him to reflect on when he had his last meal. Heading towards the elevator Milo reached into his pocket. Pulling out some change and his phone he occupied the vending machine.

"Detective Tabares speaking."

"Why isn't my number saved?"

"Why on earth would I save your number?"

"Well, you harassed me last week so that's reason enough."

"I helped you patrol the coast. We're even. I told you already Halifax, you are not allowed to help with this case any longer. I already got reprimanded for bring you to a crime scene."

"She's awake."

Milo heard a loud bang on the other end, and something clatter to the floor. Chuckling, the bag of corn chips tasted sweeter with each cuss word she spewed.

"When did she wake up! You're at the hospital! Why are you at the hospital?"

"Not too long ago. The doctors are checking her over now."

"Well, how is she? Oh, never mind, you're not family you can't go in."

"Yeah, right...anyway when do you plan on coming down?"

"Really? McDermott is giving the scene one last walk-thru. We won't be able to interview her until tomorrow morning."

"Let me join."

"Halifax..."

"Give me this Elaina. We both saw that bear and the cabins. I need to know what out there."

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

Milo stepped aside as the elevator dinged, letting a couple exit. He hit the button for the main floor.

"McDermott isn't going to let you sit in."

"Think of something to tell him and meet me here two hours."

"Whose case is this Halifax?"

"Ours, hurry up."

Milo hit end. Leaning against the wall he stared up at his reflection. He was close to his life returning to normal. Once this animal was bagged, he'd be back writing citations and helping lost hikers. The simple life.

*~*~*

"Miss Schaffer, Miss Schaffer? Can you hear me?"

Khalia's body twitched at the booming voice. It had a delicate rumble, soothing almost. The striking smell of cigarettes seized her again, causing her nose to wrinkle. Opening her eyes, she glared, blinking a few times to alleviate the burn.

Instantly she recognized the Ranger. Accompanied by a woman, they stood at the end of her bed, close to her casted feet. Alarmed, she went to move her legs, but her body was still uncooperative. The timed doses of morphine weren't helping either.

Khalia took in his salt and pepper beard that was missing a few brushings. His cheeks were hollow and dark bags rested under his eyes. His sun-kissed skin was lightening, giving way to an average tan. Khalia didn't recall him looking this haggard last she saw him.

Shifting her gaze to the woman her features were stern, but her eyes and lips held a pleasurable softness. No hollow cheeks nor dark circles marred her face. The smell wafting from her reminded Khalia of sunflowers and leather. Creases lined Khalia's forehead at the specific smell.

Elaina walked across and sat next to Khalia's bedside. Digging in her satchel, she pulled out a tape recorder.

"I'm not...doing an interview." The tacky and foul taste on her tongue made her grimace.

Elaina produced a small smile, "Oh no, I'm not a reporter. I find it easier than taking notes."

Hitting record she cleared her throat.

"I'm Detective Elaina Tabares. I work for the Federal Bureau of Investigations. This is Ranger Milo Halifax; he is a Ranger at Cape Disappointment; you camped there last week. Is it okay if we ask questions about what happened on June 15, 2023?"

Khalia's hand gripped the sheet, her face riddled with confusion.

"Oh...right. The doctor told me a week passed."

"Please, tell us what happened."

Khalia pursed her lips, sweat tickled the underside of her jaw. Her heart thrummed violently. Hot tears ran along her bandages. In the short span of them being there the room felt like an inferno. The sooner they left the better.

"My friends and I, every year we get together for a trip..."

Khalia started slowly, recanting beginning to the bloody ending. There were moments she froze, a fog clouding her mind. Other times, she needed coaxing. But the majority, she broke down in a weeping mess.

Once she wrapped up the last of what happened, a tingling sensation when down her back gazing into their eyes. Their reactions had to be one of disbelief. She just told them it's a werewolf. That her friends and family were dead because of a fairytale fucking beast. A complete loon she sounded.

As suspected Milo's brows were furrowed, and a grimace contorted his face. Elaina's eyes shifted around Khalia's body, matching injury to telling. Khalia twiddled her thumbs, keeping her gaze low.

"How...how much drugs did you guys do?"

"Ranger Halifax!"

"Werewolf? She's saying for the past two weeks I've been looking for a werewolf. A. Fucking. Werewolf."

"Do you know what severe trauma is?"

"Yes, I know what severe trauma is. I also know what LSD is."

Milo paced back and forth in the room, shrugging out of Elaina's grip, he soon exited. Narrowing her stare, she fixed her mouth to cuss him clean the fuck out. Stopping only because an inferno erupted in her chest. Throwing her head back, Khalia's jaw locked, and she ground her teeth.

"Miss Schaffer, I apologi- Miss Schaffer?"

With hooded eyes, Khalia saw her lips moving, but heard only the rapid beat of her own heart. Elaina's eyes grew to saucers.

It's so painful. Please, stop the pain.

Khalia soon felt hands rip at the flimsy sheet off her body. It hit the floor like a wet rag, and sweat pelted her. Many masked faces stared down at her. The distortion in her vision made them elongated. Raising her hand to rub her eyes, she cried when it was forcefully brought down.

"Ice! Lots of ice!"

Her hand flinched at the coldness that enveloped it. Relief was brief, the cold becoming a throbbing pain. Frantically, she tried to pry it off, only to have them throw 6 more bags on top her. Her stomach bubbled and saliva ran from the corners of her mouth. Closing her eyes, she shuddered violently.

When Khalia opened them again, she found herself in some woods. A sharp slapping sound resonated rhythmically through the trees. Moans tickled her ear, and she hesitated to continue forwards.

What is this? Where am I?

Reaching where the grunts and groans increased, Khalia held her breath. The odor of sweat filled the air, mixed with a fragrance she found alluring. It was a heavy musk, rendering her frozen in place. Darting out her tongue she dragged it across her lips, as if she could get a better taste. Finding her nerve, she peeked from behind the tree. Immediately her heart dashed.

*~*~*

Theo dragged his tongue along the spine of the woman under him. Ending at her shoulder he bit down harshly while his other hand squeezed her pale hip. Tentative laughter saturated the air, reacting to his painful touches. Grabbing her long red locks he yanked her up, trailing slobbery kisses on her neck.

Luck has blessed me.

With satisfying his bloodlust not too long ago and now, stumbling upon a rogue bitch in heat, life is being generous. The whore offered her body in exchange for passage. It wasn't his territory, but he enjoyed an easy fuck. Reposition he laid on the ground, demanding she get on top. She kept her eyes down and did as told. An action he found slightly annoying. When her pussy slid on his dick he growled. A hotdog in a hallway.

Watching her movements, he couldn't help but compare them to Khalia. Maybe it was her nerves. She was stiff and awkward, barely making any noise. With Khalia, he choked when she got on her knees and spread her tongue over her thick lips. Placing her hands behind her back, she had sat there, lust drunk, a wicked glint in her eyes.

His cock jumped to attention and it wasn't long before she gagged and moaned with every thrust down her throat. She worked his john till he came, and he enjoyed every bit of it. Thinking of his previous lover, mixed with the heat of the current, Theo surrendered to arousal.

An exasperated growl as he threw the woman off him. She yelped when he turned her over, plunging in deep. His hands forcefully pressed down on her shoulders, claws drawing blood.

"Bitch, keep your ass up." Raising his hand he smacked her, making the birds nearby scatter.

Theo's eyes had dissolved to their darkened hue. His beast rests on the surface, waiting to take the rogue how nature intended. Though his pleasure soon gave way to heat inside him. It started in his groin, improving the sensation tenfold. With each thrust, he pictured the russet skin beauty. The smell of warm jasmine and orange citrus permeated his nostrils. Moaning, he cut his gaze fleetingly to the woods, then hesitated in stride.

Standing there, she gawked at him. Her face contorted with confusion and fear. A thin gown hung loosely over her body. Blinking, she disappeared. The growl that left his body this time was one of frustration, and growing pain.

Something's wrong...

Suddenly, images of Khalia flickered through like a film reel, becoming more detailed as they went. The heat intensified, boiling his stomach and chest, to the point where he ceased. Noticing, the rogue turned back to stare at him.

He doubled over on top of her, clutching his head. She squirmed out from under him. Standing, Theo saw the frightful look on her face.

"Have mercy!"

Swiveling, she ran. Theo could hear the cracking of her bones as she shifted. Snarling, Theo swore to track the cunt down.

Needle-like pangs tickled his clavicle. It concentrated in one area, growing progressively painful. Reaching his hand up, Theo touched the sensitive area. His eyes widened as he felt two rough circular scars.

There were a few instances recorded back then but he remembered. Theo laughed before it grew into furor. Jumping up he crouched on his hands and feet, taking a deep inhalation of the dirt below. "Lia baby, you survived! Fate picked a good one I see! The hunt continues!"

Smiling, this discovery changed things. With his body no longer suffering, Theo glared in the direction of the rogue. He knew he'd have to make it back to the Cape promptly. Howls broke out not far from him.

"Seems I overstayed."

Shifting, Theo took a quick whiff of the rogues' clothing.

Can't fuck right and wants mercy?

He guffawed at her idiocy. Giving his fur a good shake, his paws created divots in the ground when he took off. Before long, a piercing scream reverberated in the woods. Another successful hunt.