The Wolfs Maine - By Jinni James Page 0,27

Eight

I turned slowly, scared to death to know what I was turning around to see. It was either going to be Nicholas or a wolf that just killed him. There was no way I was coming out of this unharmed. I turned but I didn't see anything. I knew I felt something or someone behind me or maybe I'm just freaking out and imagining things. I begin to turn back around when I hear something. I swing around and still nothing until I look down and I see someone lying on the ground naked and bleeding so I bend over slowly to check. It's definitely not Nicholas; this man’s hair was much darker. I move the hair away from his eyes and realize its John! John was lying in front of me completely naked, curled up in a ball with cuts and scrapes all over him; he looked like he had just been through a war.

"John! Oh my God! John!" How was I going to help him? I couldn't carry him. I lifted my cell phone and began to dial 911 but no signal. I had to get him help and fast. Just then I heard rustling like someone running towards us. It can't be Nicholas; the man would kill us both. I had no idea what to do other than sit down in front of John and pray. Before I knew it a man was rushing towards me, it was Michael.

"Michael! What are you doing here?" Why I asked I'll never know.

"I sensed something was going on and then I called John twice and he didn't answer. It's not like him not to answer at least the second time I call so I came to the first place I could think of." He immediately bent down to examine John, looking him over carefully. He was checking his head, his back, his arms, his chest. Once satisfied he looked over at me.

"John will be fine Avalon. Are you okay?"

"No. I'm not okay. I'm freaking out." I couldn't stop shaking.

"I don't know what the hell is going on anymore! Why is John here? Why are you here? Why was there a wolf trying to kill Nicholas in my house? Not that I'm not grateful but it just doesn't make any sense." Michael was up and in front of me in the blink of an eye then he put my hands in his own.

"Avalon, everything is going to be fine. I need you to stop freaking out just for right now. All your questions will be answered very soon but right now we need to get John somewhere safe. Nicholas could very well still be fine and could head this direction any second. Let’s get you and John to his house and then we'll begin with your questions once everyone has rested." I don't know if it was the warmth of his hands or the calmness in his eyes but I immediately calmed down and thought about John. We needed to get him somewhere safe, especially if Nicholas is still out here.

"Okay Michael but how are we going to get him anywhere? He's hurt and not to mention naked. I tried calling for help but I don't have a signal." Michael bent down to John then began to lift him up into his strong arms. There was no way he was going to try to carry John was there? Michael picked John up like he was nothing.

"No worries Avalon. My car is just up the way, past those trees." He nodded towards the road I was headed for.

"But you can't carry John the entire way."

"Yes I can, if we go now." Michael started walking and I could hear him talking to John.

"You are one lucky bastard that I drove my car this time." I had no idea what Michael was talking about. What did he mean by ‘this time’?

He surely wouldn't have run the whole way here. Men and their stupid inside jokes. We made it to Michael’s car; he placed John in the back very carefully and then opened the passenger side door for me. I looked back at John to make sure he was okay as Michael got in the car and started to drive away.

The further away we got the better I felt. Nicholas would have no idea where John lives so we would be safe there. We could get to Johns house and I could help him heal. How on Earth did he get hurt so badly? Had