Homecoming by Heath Stallcup Page A

years ago and—”
    “That was just a few months ago for me.” Her voice was growling again and Laura suddenly felt very cornered.
    “Well maybe if you hadn’t killed and eaten his wife and daughter in the woods, he wouldn’t have hunted you down and shot you.” Laura wasn’t sure who was more shocked. Jennifer when she heard her words, or herself for saying them.
    “What did you say?”
    “I’m sorry.” Laura stood up and pushed her chair in. “This was a bad idea. I should go.”
    “No, wait.” Jennifer hopped down from her chair and followed her a few steps before stopping her. “Did you say that I killed…” she paused as she choked on her own words.
    Laura avoided her gaze but nodded. “Yes, but I wasn’t supposed to mention it.  I’m sorry.” She tried to turn away again when Jennifer stepped in her way. “Please, I need to leave.”
    “No, wait.” Jennifer’s eyes betrayed her as they filled with tears. “Please. I don’t…” she choked again and held a hand to her mouth. “I didn’t know.”
    Laura stood still and watched as Jennifer got herself under control. “Um, Laura, right? Would you walk with me?” Her voice was so different now that Laura wasn’t sure it came from the same woman. She seemed to have struck more than a nerve with Jennifer and the hardened façade had cracked and was falling away. “Please?”
    Laura found herself nodding even though she really wanted to turn and run to her hotel room. The two women stepped slowly toward the beach, the soft sand sinking under them as they strolled toward the breaking waves. “Okay, so tell me more. Please?”
    Laura looked to her to make sure she was serious. Jennifer had both arms wrapped around herself as if she could steady herself without help. Laura stepped a little closer so that she wouldn’t need to raise her voice. “Matt had taken his family camping in the woods. It just happened to be a full moon. They were all attacked, and he was the only survivor. Afterwards, he shifted. The military had a decision to make. Either kill him to try to find out why he shifted, or use him to hunt down…your kind. They chose the latter.
    “Eventually he tracked you down. It was in his haste and anger that he shot you. But it wasn’t his decision to put you on ice for all that time.” Laura watched for Jennifer’s reaction and was surprised to see a tear run down her face. “In time, his anger died, and he fought to get you released. The brass said no.”
    Jennifer stopped and stared at the sun slowly setting on the ocean. It seemed a long time before her voice spoke up again. “How old was she?”
    “Who?”
    “His daughter?”
    Laura shrugged slightly. “I’m not exactly sure. I think she was around nine or ten.”
    Jennifer’s shoulders began shaking as she sobbed, and she slowly collapsed to the white sandy beach. Laura sat down beside her and wrapped a reassuring arm around her shoulder. “You really didn’t know, did you?”
    Jennifer shook her head. “On the full moon, the wolf takes control. I don’t even have memories of what it does.” She turned her face to Laura’s shoulder and cried harder. “I’ve always tried to be so careful. Going deep into the woods on the full moon.”
    Laura nodded and stroked her hair. “I know,” she soothed. “And so does Matt. Now.”
    “How? How could he know? How could he…” she trailed off.
    “He’s a wolf too, now, remember? He’s met a lot of other wolves since then, and he’s learned a lot.” Laura pulled the young girl closer and rubbed her arm. “The night you ‘escaped’ the base? He really wasn’t trying to hurt you. He wanted to explain things to you.”
    Jennifer suddenly sat up. “Oh, my God! I nearly killed him when…” She turned her worried face to Laura. “Is he? I mean, did he…”
    “You saw him when he came here looking for you, didn’t you? He’s okay. It took him a while to recover, but he’s fine. I think his pride is hurt