The Shadow Wolf by Bonnie Vanak

leather shoe.
    Her heart pounded as she swept aside dead leaves and pine needles. The body had been hastily buried. Swallowing revulsion, she scraped at earth and leaves until her fingers struck flesh.
    The round, plump face of a middle-aged woman stared sightlessly, her mouth frozen in horrified shock. She’d been strangled.
    Megan sat back on her haunches, her body shaking. Cold dread pitted in her stomach. This was the real Angie.
    That thing back in the living room, alone now with Gabriel and the twins, what was it?
    I found a body out back. It’s the real Angie. Get the girls out now.
    Racing toward the house, her breath violent sobs, she sent the message over and over, hoping it wasn’t too late.
    Â 
    Slamming down his anger and worry, Gabriel opened all his Draicon senses. The cold stench of rotting garbage leaked through this Angie’s scent. Flatness showed in her hard gaze.
    He glanced at the girls, wondering how the hell to get them out without endangering them. If he used his powers…
    Jennifer stared at the woman. “What’s wrong with your eyes?”
    Gabriel suppressed a groan. The guilelessness of the young.
    Angie gave a motherly smile. Then she showed all her teeth.
    Her yellowed, pointed teeth.
    The face shifted to a shade of mottled gray. “I’ve been waiting for you,” grated the cold, dead voice.
    Jillian and Jennifer screamed. Megan spoke into his mind. Get the girls out now.
    Bounding off the sofa, Gabriel scooped up a twin in each arm. “Dammit,” he exploded. “It’s a setup. Get out!”
    As he dumped them outside the porch, the twins ran for the van, their hands fumbling at the door handle.
    Who was the plant? Who had betrayed him?
    His heart dropped to his stomach as he heard the familiar click of a weapon cocked back. He raised his hands to call forth his powers and destroy the entity who was on the front porch.
    Megan rounded the corner.
    Stay there, I’m coming for you. Don’t move, he ordered.
    Shadow replaced Megan’s form. Tracking her scent, he sensed her dancing from tree to tree. Gabriel thrust all his powers into the Morph, but the creature resisted his efforts. The Morph raised the gun. Bullets popped and splintered the ground. Gabriel cursed and ran towards Megan as she stepped behind a tree, her form flickering. He pushed her aside and dove forward in the line of fire. The smell of cordite filled the air. A bullet tore through his lower torso. Two more hit his side.
    He put a hand to his belly, agony exploding through his side, warmth spreading through his parted fingers. A groan rumbled deep in his chest. He’d survive.
    He saw the fake Angie point the weapon toward him. Suddenly, it jerked out of her hands. She gave a loud shriek as it danced in the air.
    Jennifer.
    Pain and rage roared, bringing out the beast. Gabriel held his stomach, fighting down the instinct to shift and fight. He had to look after Megan and the twins.
    Instead he hurled all his magick at the fake Angie, barreling into her head with the force of a tractor trailer. You have a brain aneurysm rupturing. Your head is exploding in pain. You will die.
    A shrill scream came from near the house. He dragged him self to the van, knowing what would happen. In minutes, the fake Angie would be dead from the power of suggestion.
    He crawled into the van as Megan scrambled into the driver’s side. She cranked the ignition and hit the gas pedal.
    A white-hot razor sliced through his belly. Gabriel bit back a rich curse as he peeled off his shirt. He glanced downward at the blood pumping through his splayed fingers.
    Mixed in with the crimson of his life’s blood was a sluggish silver liquid.
    Megan looked in horror at his wound. “Silver bullets?”
    â€œWorse.” He struggled to speak through the pain. “Hollow bullets…liquid silver.”
    The surest and most painful way to kill him. He slumped on the seat, his guts on