Coming Home

A young werewolf sat against the wall, fists clenched and bloodied.

"I'll show them," he growled under his breath, red eyes gleaming with a mix of fury and pain. "All of them will learn what it's like to lose everything."

20 years later...

Katelyn's POV

My name is Katelyn. My friends call me Katie. I'm headed back to California after way too long living in Arizona with my ex-husband. Lexie, my sister, warned me. She said he wasn't the right guy, but of course, stubborn me didn't listen.

Even Carrie Underwood rubbed it in. As I pulled into a gas station, "Good Girl" started playing on the radio. I laughed, but it wasn't a happy laugh. More of a 'what-a-mess-I've-made' kind of laugh. The woman filling her car next to me glanced over like I was a weirdo. Well, I kinda am. I wanted to cry instead, and when I did, she got even more weirded out. Fun times.

Back in California now, I'm starving. 

"Siri, find the nearest restaurant…" 

No response. 

"Siri, FIND THE NEAREST RESTAURANT!" 

Still nothing. My patience was already running thin. 

"SIRI! SHOW ME WHERE I CAN GET SOME FOOD!" 

Finally, she wakes up. A restaurant around the corner. "Good enough," I mutter. Dumb Siri.

I'm just about to make the turn when people start screaming and running. Out of cars, out of buildings, everywhere. I slam on the brakes and stare at the chaos. What the hell is going on?

Before I can make sense of it, a man pounds on my window, making me jump. 

"Why are you sitting here? Are you crazy?!" he yells, sweat pouring down his face. 

I just blink at him, too stunned to react. He shakes his head and takes off with the rest of the crowd. Well, that was weird. Bored, I glance at my phone, scrolling through a mountain of unread messages. Then my car shakes.

THUD. THUD. THUD.

I freeze. Earthquake? No… something else. I slump lower in my seat, gripping the steering wheel as if it'll protect me. What am I doing? Then I see it—an enormous... mechanical...wolf? The mechanical wolf was stomping through the streets.

"What the fudge?" 

My eyes widen, heart pounding in my chest. What is this place really? Is it a villain and hero city or something like that? I sighed dreamily at the thought. I would love to meet their hero. Then the military rolls in—police cars, helicopters. Missiles.... MISSILES?! Is it really that bad?

"Shoot," I whisper. Looks like I'll need to pull a Fast & Furious if I wanna survive this mess.

A police car drifts into view, stopping right next to me. I blink in disbelief as my dad steps out of the passenger seat, all serious and in control. I stay quiet, watching the missiles fly, the gunfire ringing in the air. Weirdly enough, I almost drift off into sleep.

But then—THUD! A massive wolf crashes in front of my car. I sit up, heart racing again. Through the debris, I think I see someone—a man—looking right at me. Did he see me? Before I can figure it out, he disappears into the smoke.

Who was that? I know I shouldn't, but something makes me want to follow. I quietly get out of the car and chase after the shadowy figure. My legs are burning, and I'm falling behind. 

I can't lose him now!

Jason's POV

Finally, I've escaped. The metal casing of the machine has shielded me long enough. The couch practically groans under my weight as I collapse onto it. 

"One more fight like that, and I'll be dead before the chief of police becomes president," I mutter with a dark chuckle. "Heh. Heh, heh. That's funny."

Hur? Why do I hear screaming? It's close. Too close. I groan, irritated. Can't people read the signs? 'No Trespassing' means stay out!