Chapter 80: Like A Blood Hound Layla's Bedroom, The Quinn Residence, The Backwoods, Temperance, South Dakota... Layla had been half asleep when Brick had slipped out of her bed and proceeded to get dressed. He didn't seem to mind the blood that covered his clothes nor the fact that they had holes in them. His cut was untouched aside from a few splatters of blood that could easily be washed off given the material and it was all he cared for despite what became of his shirt, which he left on the living room floor. Brick seemed to dust himself off and turned his attention to venturing back toward Layla's bedroom. She'd still been half asleep when he gently kissed her on the forehead and left her to her own devices. He knew already that she'd need her rest given her shift and school had been on the horizon as he headed back out the front door, recalling how he had crawled from where he'd been shot to her front porch, never more grateful than he had been in that moment that she'd bee

Chapter 82: The Drawing Of Conclusions Road Side Rest Stop, Open Highway, Outskirts... The roar of bike engines had been steady as Brick Kenneally and the remaining members of The Howler M.C. met at a rest stop between towns as they filled up on gas and a few snacks before they managed to reach their newly acquired destination. It was a sweltering day, and the sun beat down on them as if it had an agenda. Brick found a moment or two alone while his crew geared up and hydrated. His thoughts returned to Layla and the time he'd spent with her. She saved his life, something he never would have expected when he first met her in the back of Earl's Diner, there was no fear, no hesitation, and a measure of protectiveness he had not seen nor felt since he'd left home. For a moment, he wondered how she'd react to finding out that not everything about him had been as it seemed. As close as they had gotten in the past few weeks, he had not even remotely approached the subject to inform her

Chapter 84 : Moonlit Madness Road Side Rest Stop, Open Highway, Outskirts... A final puff on the long thin white cigarette had seen Brick Kenneally tossing it onto the ground and stamping it out with his dark-colored workboot. He had a rather annoyed look that filed across his face as he took in the slightly spicy air that surrounded them. His nostrils flared and his muscles tensed as he took his time surveying the area. It had been a while since he'd really taken in the sights, having been so caught up with the current missing persons case and spending as much time with Layla as possible. A near-death experience had been just the thing to make him further appreciate the life he had as he noted the shifting of the wind that blew around him. He took a moment to reflect on his journey thus far and had been glad that he rolled into Temperance when he did, despite it being a pitstop for another package they had intended to intercept. His reluctance to give in to the call of the mo

Chapter 86: The Reeling From A Feral MindDeep Woods, Open Forrest, Outskirts... Once more the heat from the looming sun had beat down upon the naked and utterly confused Brick Kenneally as he attempted to rouse and make sense of his surroundings. He had still been more than a bit nauseous following his latest stint in terms of his wolfish nature. He had not been accustomed to ingesting human flesh and blood often and when he did it wasn't something he'd been proud of whenever he'd gotten back to himself following a transformation. This time had been no different as Brick struggled to get to his feet and make sense of how he'd gotten so far from his target. He recalled that he'd been hunting a particular fellow and as a result ended up catching his prey in more ways than one. Brick took his time getting his bearings as he moved rather gingerly amid the leaves and fallen twigs he had seen better mornings following his transformations after a full moon and days like this were not

Chapter 88: Cold-Blooded Comfort The Quinn Residence, The Backwoods, Temperance, South Dakota... By the time Layla Quinn had finished her rather lengthy and trying shift at Earl's Diner, she had managed to make it home in time to find the house a mess and the doors wide open. Brutus had been on the front porch looking as tired and worn out as ever but he greeted Layla warmly as he wagged his tail and looked up at her fondly. She smiled at him happy to see him home and her Daddy's truck out front but he'd been packing it up for some reason. Curious as to what her father had been up to now, Layla ventured into the house and noticed the mess he'd made of the place inside as well with clothes and shoes thrown every which way and boxes dumped out in the middle of the livingroom floor. She had been slightly annoyed given all the time she had taken out of her day to clean up so that he'd notice it only for him to come through like a tornado and mess it all up again dragging things out