Chapter 4

Topher sat on a couch with an energy drink in his hands as he listened to Bale enlighten them about the history of the reptiles.

"The bad blood between werewolves and reptiles is as old as time itself." He said, emphasizing his words with hand gestures. "Notwithstanding the number of things we had in common, we were always at each other's neck. You should know, two kings can't rule a kingdom. Each creature was always seeking to dominate the other. And in this side of town, the reptiles were winning, well not until the werewolves in Michigan united and drove them away. At least that's what my father and grandfather told me when I was a boy." He concluded.

"And why are they back all of a sudden?" Topher asked him.

"I don't know, maybe vengeance?"

"Vengeance? Then why attack me first?"

"Maybe they're trying to start from the bottom up. No offense there." Bale replied.

"None was taken, but this is crazy," Topher muttered. "Anyways I'm leaving now. I'll see you guys later" he excused himself then left.

"You shouldn't have said that" Jane scolded Bale after Topher left

"What?" he asked confused.

"Starting from the bottom. It really sounded like you were belittling him."

"But I didn't mean it that way. Besides, he didn't pick offense"

"Maybe, but it's wrong to talk to him like that even if you're an alpha and stronger than him," Jane said her piece. "That aside, are you going to call him?" she asked

"Who?"

"The druid"

"Yea, this could be a serious threat," Bale answered while dialing a number on his phone.

"Yes?" The person whom he was calling answered from the other end.

"Hendell, I think we have a situation," he told the druid.

"The reptiles? I know. News travels fast."

"Do you think they're connected to the death of those alpha's?" he asked.

"I'm not sure. Maybe. Because aside from it being one of our kind, that's the only logical explanation behind the death of those men." Hendell sounded stressed.

"But why come back now after all these years? Were they given an invitation?"

"Maybe they've been here all along, hiding in the dark, waiting till they got stronger. I don't know, there are way too many options here. Just send the message to as many packs as you can. Everyone needs to watch their backs. These are dangerous times."

Penelope sat behind her PC, venting last night's frustration on her keyboard as she did her projects. "The nerve of him. How could he?" she fumed in her head, as she recalled the uneventful ride home. She was mad that he had the audacity to scold her even though he was the one at fault.

"I'm so not going to talk to him for a week. No two weeks. That's his punishment" she muttered to herself while her fingers danced furiously on her keyboard. She took a sip from the soda can near her, then continued to do her work till she heard a creaking sound. The clicking sounds on her keyboard ceased immediately as she glanced about her warily to find where the noise came from. Everything looked normal to her, except for her open window which she could've sworn she had closed, so she rose to her feet to go shut it properly this time. When she got to the window, she looked out into the streets to check if there was anything unusual going on before she finally shut it.

"So you're not going to talk to me for two weeks?" Penelope nearly jumped out of her skeleton when she heard Topher speak behind her.

"Jeez! What the hell was that? How did you get inside here?" she bombarded him with questions, still breathing hard from the shock she had just experienced.

"Through the window obviously. God, that look on your face is priceless" he made fun of her for being frightened.

"And what the hell are you doing here?" she asked Topher while trying to keep a straight face."

" I came to see you. Aren't you excited to see me?"

"After what you did last night? No"

"C'mon Penny. Why are you acting like this? I thought we talked about this last night. Or is it your time of the month?" Topher joked

"This has nothing to do with my period. Besides, I just had it." she scowled at him.

"C'mon don't be like that. I thought I said I was sorry?" Topher tried to hold her hand but she withdrew it.

"That's what you always say. Just tell me the truth for once. Where did you really go last night?" she demanded an answer. "I swear I'm not going to talk to you again if you don't tell me" she threatened.

"Penny, I can't tell you. I don't want to scare you." Topher said calmly, holding Penelope's gaze with his beautiful dark espresso eyes.

"Then leave my house. And don't come back until you're ready to tell me the truth" Penelope said, then turned to leave before he grabbed her hand.

"Ok I will tell you everything" he sounded desperate. "The thing is... I'm a.... " he swallowed hard, prepping himself for the next big words. "I'm a fool," he said, taking Penelope by surprise.

"You think this is a joke?" she asked, puzzled

"I know what I said. I'm a fool for leaving you like that and going to get some fancy contact lens, just like one of the many stupid things I've done to you. And I'm sorry. I'll never do them again." Topher said instead when he couldn't find the courage to tell Penelope the real truth.

"Sure you're an idiot... " Penelope was still saying before Topher kissed her, invading her mouth with his tongue, and when she couldn't handle it anymore, she kissed him back. And just like that, she forgave him.

Topher felt guilty that he was toying with her emotions, but it was the only thing he could do. He couldn't tell her the truth because he was scared she'd leave him if she found out he was a werewolf. Sure Penelope was obsessed with werewolves, but she didn't see them as angels. She saw them as monsters.

Sif glanced at her watch as she rushed through the reports she was reading.

"Quarter past eight" she muttered as she jotted something quickly on her notepad then she logged off from her computer, grabbed her jacket, and left her desk.

"Hey, Candace. You still working on that case?" She asked Penelope's mom when she reached her desk.

"Mhmm, I still have a lot on my plate. You going already?" she asked.

"Yea, It's my son's birthday today, he'd kill me if I'm late." she joked. "Alright goodnight. Goodnight guys!" she greeted the other officers, then left the station.

Sif shrugged on her jacket to keep her warm as she walked towards her car. It had just rained so it was still cold outside. She glanced about her and noticed that the street lamps were off.

"Piece of junks. A little wind and they've broken again," she muttered while unlocking her car, then she stilled as soon as her super sensitive ears picked the sound of some movements behind her.

"Who's there?" she reached for her Glock 22 with one swift move.

"It'ss okay werewolf. It'ss jusst uss." she heard behind her, and when she turned...

Candace and the rest of the officers were still busy working their butts off before they heard two gunshots right outside the station. They all armed themselves and ran outside the station to meet with whoever had come to attack them, but what they saw instead surprised them. They saw Sif. lying lifeless on the streets. Broken and torn apart.