Chapter 51: The Weighing Of Pros And Cons

The Lovell Residence, South Pasture, Colorado.....

Frantic in her search for her husband amid the darkness and the vastness of the south pasture, Rae Lovell moved about cautious in her steps but willful in her intent, she had known all too well what horrors the beast that dwelled deep inside him would bring if left to its own devices and she shuddered to think of him amid mutilated corpses and covered in blood as he had been during one of his previous shifts amid the call of the moonlight. She'd been halfway to the center of the darkened pasture when the hulking black-furred beast came running up toward her barreling through the grass at top speed once it caught her scent. Rae steeled herself as she awaited its arrival not at all afraid of it as she had not been back when she was the first privy to the strange beast that her husband became. The closer he got to her, the more she noted the blood that covered his body.

The ability of the creature to remain in control seemed to have slipped as it collapsed a ways away from Rae as it began growling and convulsing amid the grass as Rae watched in wonder and concern in equal measure. The thick black fur receded leaving behind slightly olive oil-colored flesh stained via the deep crimson of blood as Rae stood amid the soft blowing breeze that swept passed her. She still held no fear of the fiend that began to disappear before her eyes and give way to her confused and fully naked husband as he lay on the grass reeling from the pain of his body shifting and regressing as his moon-based transformation came to an end.

Rae rushed over to him at that moment, unable to imagine the amount of pain he'd endured as s result of his transformation. He growled and groaned after reverting to his normal status and muscle-toned mortal form. Rae sighed in relief when Duke opened his blue eyes despite his relative confusion as he took in the sight of her.

"Duke," she said dropping to her knees beside him.

"Rae?" he asked unsure of what had happened to him. "W-What are we doing out here?"

Rae touched his blood-stained face and smiled pleased that he'd been back to his normal appearance.

"Shhhh," she said softly stroking his blood-covered cheek. "Let's get you back inside."

Duke looked upon his wife still unsure of what happened to him.

"You should be in bed," he said, recalling the doctor's news. "You need your rest for the baby."

He placed a bloodied hand on her belly and slowly made his way to his feet. He towered above her in seconds as he stood up and wrapped his arms around her. Rae had not seemed to mind the blood and he'd forgotten he was covered in it as he lifted his wife off the ground and carried her back toward the house. They had not said a word as Duke took her through the front door and back to his childhood bedroom.

The chill of the early morning air was all around them as they moved through the old place.

DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

Duko's Childhood Bedroom, The Lovell Residence, South Pasture, Colorado.....

No longer concerned about himself, Duke turned his full attention toward his wife and the unborn child lying Rae on the bed as he sat beside her on his knees feeling her belly beneath his hand as he checked on their child. He left her on the bed and made his way to the bathroom and climbed into the tub after turning on the shower. He didn't recall much aside from awakening and finding his wife outside in the elements and being covered in blood, but he was glad to have come to his senses. He guessed his affliction had been in full effect even here in Colorado as he stood beneath the steady stream of rushing water that soaked his body and did away with all the crimson pigmentation that lingered from the blood that covered him.

He didn't even recall awakening in the first place, his weary mind was so filled with memories of the past and ambitious notions of the future. Duke stood beneath the rushing water as it soaked every part of him as he leaned against the tile. He had grand plans for himself and his new wife and they included their unborn child. Rae had mentioned moving to New Jersey and he was all for it. There was even the old camera that would be decent enough to get them there as riding his bike wasn't ideal with Rae being pregnant.

The weary man decided to focus on his future if he could help it.

While he couldn't go back and change the outcome of what happened during the war, he could move forward and accept that he had survived his ordeal twice over and look to the plans Rae had for their future. It was an odd thing for him to hope for something good to come his way after a near on lifetime of pain and disappointment, but these days even his father and he were on speaking terms and equally looking forward to the arrival of another new addition to their small family.

Duke washed up, taking notice of him being in his thoughts so long that the water was turning cold and the early lights of dawn were coming up over the horizon. He would never forget his experience in Iraq but he had new experiences to look forward to, he wasn't in the least kidding himself about the troubles that would crop up ahead but he was particularly pleased that Rae would be there beside him.

The brute of a man finished his shower after lathering up once more and allowing the water to rinse his body via the showerhead before he stepped out into the cold morning air and ventured back to his childhood bedroom where Rae had been still asleep and looked to have been quite comfortable.

He treated her to a small smile before climbing into bed with her and wrapping his semi-wet arms around her thin frame as he placed a hand on her belly. He closed his eyes and drifted off into a peaceful slumber this time around as he'd been confident about what the future would bring as opposed to the horrors of the past.