I sunk back into the seat. Great.
Liam let go of the gas, letting the car coast down the hill and around the bend. It choked and shuddered as we got to the bottom and the road straightened. A small mom and pop station appeared up ahead on the left just as Liam anticipated, and we slowly hobbled in. Once parked, the engine fizzled out.
"I'll be right back," he said.
Liam took off out the door before I could even say anything. I sighed and leaned back in the plush leather seat. Glancing out the window, I could see him inside, paying the attendant at the register. The man behind the counter seemed pleased to be actually having business at this remote location, for he was smiling and making conversation with Liam.
A shadow moved by the window, startling me. I turned in the seat, but the blind spot blocked my view. Not wanting to remove my seat belt, I ignored it, resting my head against the glass. I couldn't see Liam anymore and my mind went back to the photo. Could Liam do something like that? Would he? His reaction bothered me the most. He seemed so different. My stomach didn't feel right.
A hand slammed down on the roof of the car and I jumped, as a large burly man moved passed, dragging his palm along the hood. He spat on the pavement, and coughed. With hunched shoulders, he moved quickly towards the station, glancing about as if someone might be following him. The uneasy pit in my gut grew. I still didn't see Liam.
I shifted in my seat and rolled down the window, needing some air. The scent of musky pine hit my nose and despite the nervous tangle in my mind, I felt relieved. Liam walked over and leaned his elbow against the sill, pump in his other hand. "Sorry, got to talking. The guy in there's an old friend of mine. I hope your dad isn't going to be too upset. It's kind of late."
"Why? Are you afraid of what he'll think of you?"
Liam chuckled. "Maybe."
I pulled the little watch head from my pocket. Quarter to six. Dad didn't usually get home from the hospital until seven. "You're in luck. We still have some time. He won't kill you yet."
The irony of my word 'kill' got lost in my throat. I needed to stop these thoughts. Liam didn't kill anyone. He was an Alpha. He had to keep track of these things. I really wasn't being fair. My nerves were just messing with me again.
Two loud gunshots snapped me to attention and I froze. Through the front window I saw the attendant collapse out of sight. I tried to scream, but nothing came out. Liam pushed himself off the car and tore across the parking lot to the small building.
"Liam?" My words came out like a garbled squeak. I couldn't breathe or think right.
A pair of large hands landed on the driver's side window and I screamed. The man spat on the ground and then started shaking the handle.
"Open the door!"
I tried to bury myself down in the car. He growled in frustration and moved around to my side. I forgot my window was down. He reached in and grabbed me by the shoulder, placing the tip of his gun to my temple. "Give me the car!"
Something landed on the roof with a crunch. A hand came down and lifted the gunman up off the ground, hurling him away from me. The man crashed into a hard plastic trash container with a groan. Liam jumped down beside my window, crouching on all fours. His lips rose over his teeth with a low snarl. He turned his head towards me and I gasped. Nothing about him looked human. His eyes burned gold and to my horror, his jaw had shifted forward, giving his entire face a more elongated, wolf look. Sharp canine teeth sliced down, piercing through his curled lips.
I didn't know if I wanted to laugh with relief or pass out from fear.
The gunman groaned as he pushed several pieces of garbage off him, and started to his knees. Liam turned from me, springing from his position, and landed on top of the man. The man tried to scramble away, but Liam caught him by the shirt, and dragged him back.
The man thrashed and hollered. "Get away from me you freak!"
Liam lifted him up by his collar. With a ripping snarl, he opened his mouth wide, brushing his teeth to the man's neck.
I couldn't look. My heart pounded so fast I couldn't even feel anything but the thunderous rhythm shaking my body. The album picture screamed in my head and I started to hyperventilate.
Another shot crackled across the lot, and to my horror, I watched Liam drop to the pavement.
"Liam!" I cried.
My fingers felt numb as I fought with the door handle. "Open! Open!"
Tears clouded my vision and I furiously blinked them away. I fidgeted with the door handle. This time, it swung free. My legs seemed to have forgotten how to work. I stumbled out of the car, landing on my hands and knees. My palms burned, but I could have cared less. I needed to get to Liam. Finding my feet, I started forward.
Liam gasped as if suddenly coming to, and his head shot up in my direction. "Charlotte, get back! Run. Get out of here now."
He shook and trembled. A set of razor sharp claws began to push through the tips of his fingers. I blocked it out, seeing the blood covering his shirt.
"No, I won't leave you," I said.
"Just go...please."
Arms wrapped around me and I screamed. The hot metal butt of a gun painfully pressed into my neck.
"Get away from me you freak, or she's dies," the gunman said.
Everything in me dropped as ice flushed through my body. My lower lip trembled. 'I'm sorry,' I mouthed to Liam as tears fell down my cheeks.
Liam groaned, holding his stomach. The claws extended further as he rolled to his side, staggering to his feet. The skin around his face and shoulders rippled and stretched.
"What are you?" the man asked. The gun burned against my skin, hot from the prior shot.
Liam lifted his half human gaze to the man with a low reverberating snarl. Sweat broke across his brow. "You're going to die."
Liam moved so fast, I didn't even see him. All I felt was the impact of his body, knocking me to the ground. The gun skittered across the pavement and I turned my head to see the man had fallen too. Liam lifted him by the neck of his shirt and threw him into the gas tank. It cracked and the stench of gasoline filled the air.
The man moaned and rolled to his side. Liam started towards him and the man raised his hands defensively. "Don't hurt me. Please," he said. "I didn't mean it. I wasn't going to hurt her. I didn't mean it."
"Liam, let him go," a voice said from behind me.
I turned to see the station attendant standing in the doorway to shop. I had to blink twice. How did he...? I thought he got shot.
Liam tilted his head to the side, as if listening, but didn't stop. Stepping closer, he exposed his elongated teeth and slowly licked his lips. The claws at his side opened and closed. I swallowed hard. He was really going to kill him. I couldn't believe this.
"I called the cops," the attendant said, his voice calm. He reminded me of one of those trained professionals who talked people out of jumping off buildings. "They're on their way. They'll be here any minute now. Everyone's safe. He doesn't have the gun anymore."
I got up off the ground, but my body wouldn't stop shaking. I took a few brave steps toward Liam and gently placed my fingers on the back of his shoulder. His skin rippled under my touch. "Liam, please," I whispered. "I want to go home."
Liam gasped at my touch. His arms dropped from the gunman and his skin tightened and firmed under my fingers. The sharp claws that had erupted under his nails, slid back, retracting, along with his extended teeth and jowls.
When he turned to look at me, his features were normal, but his eyes were wide. "Charlotte," he whispered. "How did you...do that?"
"What do you mean?" I asked. "What'd I do?"
The gunman scrambled to his feet.
"Hold it." The attendant grabbed the gun and aimed it at the man.
"Look, I don't want anything to do with you freaks, okay?"