A Race Lost - Chapter 14 - Hidden Monsters

Photo credit: limowreck666 / Foter / CC BY-NC-ND
Tom and Saal faced off against the remaining wolf. They'd been lucky enough to track them and found the pack a mere two miles from the car. Two more wolves lay wounded with their tails tucked. Tom's rage burned inside like a broiler oven as he snarled at a former friend. He stood as a wolf again with his fangs dripping saliva and ready to end the stand off. 

The sound of Jill's terrified screams caught his ear. Tom's mood faltered. He cut a quick glance at Saal who's expression matched his own. The wolf before them bolted toward the sound and howled. Tom tore through the woods intent on getting to her first as Saal raced after the wolf. Tom dodge across a busy highway amid honks and screeching tires to gain the lead.  A small light filtered through the dark woods. It grew lighter as Tom made his way to the restaurant were he'd left Jill. He saw the wolf off to the side with Saal close on his tail. Flashing lights were now visible through the cluster of trees. Tom had no choice but to shift to his human form and lose precious ground. 

"Jill!" he shouted as he broke through the tree line. 
"Daddy!" Jill stomped the officer's foot and wrenched herself away and ran. 

An unimaginable pain settled on Tom as he realized he would lose the race. His heart slammed to a halt as he saw the whole chain of events tick by as if in slow motion. The wolf emerged from a row of cars and launched himself at Jill. She'd seem him just in time to throw her hands up to protect herself but only for a moment. The wolf's powerful jaws clamped down hard on her arm. He shook his muzzle and wrenched her off her feet, slamming her into the unforgiving asphalt. Tom's legs nearly buckled as he saw her lying motionless beneath her attacker. The wolf released her arm and stood poised to sink its blood soaked canines into her exposed neck.