INSPECTOR MAY STEPHEN

I rushed and hugged my family.

"I miss you both so much," I said.

"We miss you too, Emily," my dad responded.

"Get off me, Em," my sister teased.

I let my sister and father out of my embrace and greeted the woman who stood close to them, "Good morning." She looked like a trained combatant, clad in a blue police uniform with a Colt M4 Carbine slung over her shoulders. She was just as tall as my dad, and I presumed she was in her forties.

"Dad, who is she?" I asked, whispering to my dad.

"Inspector May Stephen," my uncle shook the right hand of the strange woman.

"Adam, I see you haven't changed a bit," Mrs. May said.

"Well, the world hasn't changed. So, why would I?" my uncle countered, retrieving his hand from the grip of Mrs. May. "Emily, this is Mrs. May Stephen; she's a police officer and also a good family friend. The type you call when there's chaos."

My father turned his head towards James and asked, "Who is he?"

My uncle patted James on the shoulders and answered, "This is James Walters. He saved us from the hands of the werewolves."

"Literally," I said.

"Well, thank you so much, Mr. Walters," My sister expressed her gratitude. "I'm sure my sister has been a pain in the ass."

"You're welcome," James responded. "She is extraordinarily strong, you know."

"Of course, she is," my father said. "When things became tough, I had to contact May to help us. She came as soon as she got my message."

"We all need to leave this place," Mrs. May proposed. "The Mayor has gotten news that there has been rampant killing here in the woods. This place will be flooded with cops soon."

"Good point. James, our friend here, knows these woods like his backyard," my uncle revealed. "We need to act fast."

"James, please lead the way," my father requested.

James nodded and started making headway.

As we walked, the joy of finally seeing my family washed over me. I could feel my heart burning with euphoria.

I nestled close to my sister to share what I had seen.

"I saw it," I began.

"What?" Emma asked.

"The Alpha," I answered. "It was huge, had dark brown fur, and had glowing red eyes. It matched father's description."

"Jesus Christ. Are you serious?"

"I tried to kill it. It just walked into the forest as if nothing happened."

"Just like that?"

"Why do you think it just disappeared? I mean, it could have taken all three of us down."

"Seems it's keeping us for the perfect time."

"Should I tell Dad?"

"Don't tell him now," my sister answered. "He won't leave here if you tell him."

My dad turned back and inquired, "Is everything alright, kids?"

"Yeah," I answered.

"Everything is great," my sister added.

Everyone halted the moment we all heard the sound of an animal growling.

"What in the world is that?" Mrs. May questioned.

"Probably a werewolf," my uncle said.

Everyone placed their backs against each other and cocked their guns. I swallowed, shaking with fear.

"That's no werewolf," my father revealed. Suddenly, everywhere became silent.

My uncle leaned forward and caught sight of an angry animal rushing towards him. He cleared the path, and the bear swept my father off his feet.

"It's a bear," I shouted.

James jumped on the bear's back and tried to remove his dagger from his belt. The bear roared and flung him on the ground.

"Ouch!" James cried.

My uncle cocked his gun and fired at the bear's side. It roared, throwing its hands in the air and dash, ed toward my uncle. Emma aimed towards its head and fired. The bear fell lifeless before my uncle.

My uncle placed his hands on his knees, sighed, and commended, "Good shot, Emma. Good shot."

"What in God's name is going on here?" Inspector May questioned. "Someone should get me out of here before I lose my mind."

My father stood to his feet and helped James up. "Well done, kiddo," my father applauded Emma.

Emma nodded.

"That's a huge meal right there," my uncle said. "Are you sure we're leaving that behind?"

James carried the bear on his shoulders and said, "Let's go."

We got to where we had parked our truck and were greeted by an astonishing sight - our truck burning ferociously. Next to it was a bike that was also burning. I presumed it belonged to the inspector.

"Great!" Emma hissed. "Our lives are just great."

I facepalmed and said, "How are we going to escape the cops now?"

"How did they do this?" James questioned.

"Werewolves can turn into human beings. They must have poured gasoline on both vehicles," my father stated. "I'm just wondering how we're all going to get home."

"I know where the cops are going to follow, and I know a path to get to your house from here. One that the police won't follow," Inspector May said.

"Let me guess? It's far," my uncle said.

Mrs. May nodded.

"Let's just go," I said. "I don't want to get arrested."

Mrs. May led the way, and we all followed suit, trekking in the dead of the night with the radiant light from the moon.

In front, Mrs. May nestled towards my father.

"You're going to kill these kids if you continue this endless vendetta," Mrs. May started.

"They're already used to it," my father said, lightly.

"Used to what? Seeing repulsive sights or doing despicable things? Who gets used to that? Huh?"

"They've never said they don't want to go."

"Or you didn't listen? When will you understand that Sophia is dead and no one can bring her back? John, you're doing stupid things. Things that'll get you killed."

"Isn't it better to be dead than to have nothing to live for?" my father whispered.

"Live for? So these kids mean nothing to you? Have you gone mad?"

"Leave me alone, May. Just stay out of the family's business," my father yelled, bringing everyone to a pause.

May shook her head and said, "You should have been the one to die that night." She continued her walk forward.

My father paused, while everyone else walked past him. I perceived that May's words drove him deep into a moment of introspection. One that made him think about everything over again.

My father was jolted back into reality when my sister yelled, "Dad, aren't you coming?"

My dad shook his head and moved forward. "Yeah, I'm coming," he said.