Faith With Wolves Book 2
7. Stranger Things Have Happened

Faith

I thought there was something strange about Marlo but I kept telling myself I was just imagining things. Cats are already strange creatures but noticing Marlo wouldn’t eat cat food, use a litter box, and like to be carried constantly had me suspicious.

I feel like I should have known better. When we found him, he smelled like a vampire but since he’s been with us his scent kept changing to different animals. Again, my denial kept me from investigating further.

“I cuddled with you. You laid right across my chest and I carried you everywhere like you were a freaking baby.” I shake my head in utter belief.

Marlo who is now back in his human form just sighs. Unlike werewolves, he’s still fully clothed in jeans and a black button-up shirt. The only thing he's missing is shoes as he stands barefoot in our bedroom.

“I’m sorry about that. If it makes you feel better I’m so gay so there was nothing sexual about it.”

“Well, that does make me feel a little better.” I shrug.

Caleb scoffs beside me. He’s been pacing the floor anxiously for the last five minutes. “It doesn’t make me feel any better. You saw my mate naked, cock blocked me, and lied to us! Why didn’t you tell us you were a shifter?”

“Look I’m sorry, but I had to make sure I could trust you,” Marlo says softly. “There aren’t very many of us shifters left and the ones who are alive are endangered of being hunted. That's why I was with the vampires. They protected me and I was their faithful companion.” he grins making his eyes sparkle with happiness.

I take a step closer to him. “Do you know what happened to them? Was it the virus that killed them?”

“No, it was hunters.” Marlo Answers. “Clive had noticed this same group of men at our last few shows. We thought they were just fans until we caught one of them snooping through our trailers. Angus my master threatened him, and we thought it was over until we found a note a week later attached to the windshield of our van.”

“What did it say?” I interrupt him eager for more information.”

Marlo’s throat tenses. “It said the end is near. The guys laughed it off as a prank, but it scared me. Shortly after that everyone got sick and died. I watched my best friends rip their hearts out because they couldn’t bear the pain.” He cries into his hands, and I wrap him in a hug. More tears fall and I rub his back trying to soothe him.

“What are the symptoms? How long were your friends sick before they died?’ Caleb begins rattling off questions.

Marlo wipes his tears away. “At first it was just a cough and fever. We thought it was the common cold. But then the blisters started and after that, they had a seizure and were gone. They didn’t stand a chance.” he says softly.

Caleb growls loudly. “How long Marlo? How long until your friends died?”

“A week, exactly seven days.”

Marlo gave us as much information as he could before Caleb was called away for an important phone call. He gave us a list of all the places they had traveled where the strange men were seen and their descriptions.

Caleb and I both believe the men were hunters of supernatural creatures. Marlo feels incredibly guilty because he believes they were after him. But I’m not so convinced that’s what going on. Still, I got Marlo to stick around longer as we try to replace out answers.

It's currently dinner time and since I have no idea how long Caleb will be I decided to head down to the dining room by myself. I’m starving after so many rounds of making love to my mate.

On the first floor of the pack house, we have a large commercial kitchen. The dining area is just as huge with ten large tables spread throughout where pack members can come and enjoy a meal if they want to.

The pack house serves about a hundred wolves who live in small dorm-like rooms on the other four floors. The top floor being strictly for the alpha and his family.

A delicious aroma I recognize as pot roast calls my name as I grab a plastic tray and head for the line. But first I’m stopped by my best friend Ruby.

“It’s Friday night Faith! You know what that means? We need to go to the club tonight.” She smiles at me expectantly.

“Ugh please don’t make me. The club is not the place for me. Sweaty humans trying to dance with me, overly loud music, and stupid girls who flirt with my mate!”

“Come on, it’s not that bad. I know it’ll be fun. There’s a new DJ and he’s supposed to be the best on this side of the country.”

“I have more important things to deal with. Caleb and I received some new information that could help us with a situation,” I whisper making sure no one else hears what I’m about to say.

I spend the next few minutes telling Ruby about the virus and how it led us to Marlo. I even tell her the truth about Marlo and how he’s taking refuge in our pack right now.

“I can’t believe Dallas never told me. I’m going to kick his ass when I see him.” her shock turns to anger quickly.

“Caleb commanded him not to tell anyone so he didn’t have a choice, I’m sorry. We couldn’t risk anyone in the pack replaceing out.”

She rolls her eyes. “He could have figured out a way to tell me. Dallas made a promise to always be careful. Acting like everything is normal when there’s a deadly virus out there is not careful.”

“I know.” I shush her. “But we have to continue like things are normal or everyone will panic causing chaos. Caleb and I have things under control and with this new information we’re getting closer to replaceing out what started it so we can replace a cure.”

“Well, if anyone can do it then it’s you, Faith. I’ve never met anyone more determined than you. Remember when you first started working at the bar and you couldn’t even make a margarita right?”

“Hey!” I growl and she laughs. “I knew how to make one. I’m just not used to making ones for humans. Back home we put blood and other herbs in ours.”

“Yeah, I remember when you tasted the one, I made. The face you made was hilarious.” She teases and makes a silly face making us both burst into a fit of laughter.

We continue to laugh over the fun times we had at O’Dell’s. Since meeting our mates, we haven’t been back to work, and we decided to go visit Aunt Kandy soon.

But our laughter is interrupted by a high-pitched scream. Ruby and I both turn our heads toward the noise to be greeted by a surprising sight.

“What the fuck! Marlo said he was gay!” Caleb appears beside me annoyed and also surprised by what we’re witnessing.

Ruby scoffs. “Yeah, he’s not gay, maybe bi.”

Dallas appears also. “Who the heck is that man kissing Iris?” he asks and all three of us answer him at the same time.

“Marlo.”

Caleb shakes his head. “That damn cat. Even as a human, he’s driving me crazy. If he’s Iris's mate that means he’ll be around more often. Fuck he’ll have to become a pack member.”

Dallas laughs. “Look on the bright side maybe now he won’t cock block you.”