*** [Six Years Later] ***
It's been a harrowing experience, but yet a fulfilling one at the same time. My freedom didn't come easy, mind you. After a month after I ran away from the pack, the assholes informed the Wolven Council of my defection. The council then declared me a wanted rogue, as if I had done a great misdeed.
I used magical runes that I had tattooed on the back of my neck to change my appearance and scent. Instead of white hair and pale gray eyes, I sported black hair and hazel eyes. After my transformation, I entered the police academy and became a police officer. It was funny what money could buy. A few thousand dollars in a corrupt official's hand, and not even the police could find me among them. My new alias held up even under the scrutiny of the law. I spent the next three years working in New York City before transferring to a small town in Massachusetts.
Haven's Point was a small community of a thousand. Most of the inhabitants of the harbor town were supernatural. I chose the town because there were no packs around. One less problem, I had to contend with. It took me two years before the town's sheriff appointed me as his deputy. I loved the town and its people, but one downside of living in such a small town was that people usually dove headfirst into your business. Luckily, I was able to keep my real identity from being discovered so far. The only people who knew of me were the Sheriff and his family.
Edward Miller was a beast of a man, standing at six feet two inches with a muscled body, which could stop a bull in its tracks. Ironically, he was a bear shifter, so I wouldn't have put it past the man to challenge a bull to a fight and walk out the other end without a scratch. And yet, despite his imposing image, he was a big softy when it came to his children and wife.
I woke up from another nightmare with the alarm clock shrilling beside me. I groaned as I fumbled for the snooze button. Once the ruckus died down, my lovely little minx made herself known by sitting on my chest, meowing at me to wake up. Her hazel eyes bore into me while she pawed at my chest. I chuckled and then rubbed the back of her head, making her purr in delight. Her name was Cookie. Yip. Cookie. The lovely feline was a tortoiseshell cat. With a beautiful pelt speckled with black and orange.
After the short petting session, I placed Cookie on the bed and headed downstairs. Once I reached the kitchen, I switched on the coffeemaker and made breakfast. Soon, the smell of bacon and scrambled eggs wafted through the cabin. Just as I plated my food, Cookie jumped onto the marbled countertop. She stared at my food, waiting for hers. I chuckled as I opened the overhead cupboard. Retrieving a can of tuna, I walked over to her bowl.
After I prepared Cookie's meal, I grabbed my plate of food and walked out onto the patio. A gentle breeze brushed against me as I approached a table in the corner of the wooden deck overlooking the forest below. Cold steel bit into my naked back as I sat down. The fresh air of the forest helped to dispel the lingering effects of the nightmares I had since I lost my pup to those jerks. Every time I jolted awake, the cries of my infant rang in my ears.
Shaking my head, I quickly scarfed down my food before heading back into the cabin. My little cabin wasn't much to look at, but it was home. There were only three rooms: two bedrooms and a study. The master bedroom was on the second floor with an en-suite attached. The second bedroom was downstairs, next to the study and guest bathroom (not that I had any guests staying over). Then there was the open-spaced living room with a small kitchen to round off the living space.
I quickly washed the dirty dishes before I headed back upstairs. Cookie followed me, weaving through my legs. I swear, she wanted to kill me. It was a miracle that I didn't accidentally step on her while going up the stairs and break my neck falling. I then made the bed before taking a hot shower.
The mirror over the white vanity squeaked when I wiped off the steam. My once snow-white hair was no more; I tattooed a series of runes down my spine, which would change my facial and body structure to a degree. I never had to waste my time touching up or dyeing my hair now and then. I dragged a comb through my jet-black hair, before tying my locks into a man-bun.
After I finished brushing my teeth, I put on my dark navy police uniform. Clasping on my gun belt, I then walked down, heading for the front door. A meow interrupted me before I could reach for the handle. I turned around to see Cookie looking at me, waving her tail around behind her.
"Behave yourself, do you hear me, Cookie?" I said. Her eyes narrowed as if judging me. "Stop terrorizing the birds on the back deck. Cleaning up all the bird droppings isn't fun."
Cookie continued staring at me before licking her paws. Great. She's ignoring me. I sighed as the cat turned and strolled off to her scratching post. I really needed human contact before I went bat-shit crazy. Opening the front door, I headed out. Locking the door, I walked over to my police cruiser.
🌕🩸🌲🌙🐾 Deputy Omega 🐾🌙 🌲🩸🌕
While driving through the town, I waved at the townspeople as I made my way toward the sheriff's station. Our dispatcher's draconian voice croaked orders to my fellow officers on the beat. Tabitha was the gossip queen of Haven's Point. There wasn't a story or juicy piece of gossip the old lady hadn't heard of first. It was a wonder she had any time left in her day to do her work.
I drove past the harbor, smiling at the fishermen who were heading out to sea. It was a sunny day, which was rare in Haven's Point. Most of the time it either rained or snowed. So, seeing most of the townspeople enjoying the sunny weather wasn't such a surprise. As I neared the police station, the smile on my face turned sour. My heart stuttered for a second when I spotted several F.B.I. SUVs parked in front of the red-brick building.
I parked my cruiser, watching two agents smoking beside their cars. A sense of dread pooled my stomach into knots. I took a deep breath, gripping the steering wheel. Don't be silly, Caleb. They're not here for you... Not that my inner monolog did anything to quell the bile rising in my throat. In the four years that I've been living in this town, we've never had the F.B.I. visiting us.
Steeling my resolve, I pushed the car door open and climbed out of the car. With a swift step, I entered the building. I didn't need to draw much attention to myself. As I reached the front desk, the rookie, Sahiwal, greeted me with a toothy grin.
"What's up, deputy?" greeted Sahiwal. He flicked the ballpoint pen between his fingers.
I huffed out and replied, "Nothing much, but it can't be said for what's going on here." I glanced toward the sheriff's office. Two men were talking to Edward through the window blinds, overlooking the main floor. "What's the feds doing here, of all places?"
Sahiwal straightened his posture and then glared in the same direction. "Hell, if I know. The assholes strutted in here and started barking orders. Douchebags."
I chuckled before walking toward Edward's office. Along the way, I dropped off my messenger bag at my desk. Taking a seat, I reached over to the inbox basket and retrieved a file. I sighed while glaring at the name of the suspect in my next case. Timothy Anderson, the town's official delinquent. The young lion shifter made it his life's goal to piss off the police as much as he could.
I needed another cup of coffee before I dealt with this case: the little pussycat had the capability for mass destruction. How he didn't end up in juvie was another mystery to me, but I suspected his parents had begged Edward to let him off with community service and a heavy fine. The sheriff was a big softy, but I wondered when Timothy would ride out his luck.
Before I grabbed my mug, the door behind me opened. "Thorton! Get your ass in here." The office door slammed shut.
Edward's command slammed the air out of my lungs. Crap! Just my luck. There goes my goal of avoiding the dogs of hell. I wanted to stay as far away as possible from them, but it seemed the sheriff had other ideas. With no other option, I rose to my feet and walked toward the office. With a final breath, I steeled my resolve and opened the door.
Here goes nothing.