Dani finished reading and quickly looked around, anxious to see him. A few cars passed on the street, but there was no sign of Jeff. She reread the note, taking in his writing, and climbed into her car. She drove around the block, hoping to see him, then headed home.

The evening passed without delay and soon she was ready to meet up with Jeff. She wore a short flimsy skirt, a white T-shirt, and his jacket. She let her long red hair fall haphazardly against her shoulders and face. She decided to walk to Tony’s, as it was only 3 blocks from her apartment. The air was cool, but Jeff’s jacket held her body heat in and she was very comfortable. The streetlights made a path for her to follow to the bar.

She entered the smoky room and let her eyes adjust to the lack of light. She didn’t see him anywhere and almost turned to go. She sucked in her breath though, moved to the bar, and ordered a beer. The bartender was a large man with long black hair that extended to his waist. It was very well kept and pulled back into a ponytail. He brought her the beer and said in a deep voice, "You’re here to meet Jeff."

Dani looked shocked and said, "Yes… I don’t think he’s here though."

"Yeah, he is. He’s over in the corner booth at the front." Then pointed to him.

Dani could see him hunched over in the booth, nursing a glass of clear liquid. "Thanks."

She made her way through the maze of tables to where Jeff sat. He looked up at her. His eyes were filled with sorrow and something else she couldn’t put her finger on, but he seemed happy to see her. He looked very tired.

"You came. I wasn’t sure if you would. Nice jacket."

"Look Jeff, I’m sorry for what I said; for what happened. I was hungover and confused and I just didn’t know what I wanted. But I do now. I want you."

"You may not after I tell you what I need to." He looked around the bar paranoid. "We can’t talk here. Let’s go for a ride."

Dani quickly downed her beer and they headed out of the bar. Jeff’s bike was parked across the street. They crossed and he handed her a helmet, then put on his own. He straddled the bike, then asked, "You ever been on one of these before?"

"Not a rice burner like this," Dani teased.

"Oh, great, you’re a comedian now…"

"Sorry, my dad’s strictly a Harley man. He’d die if he knew I was even a passenger on one of these." She hopped on behind Jeff and wrapped her arms around his waist. He tensed up for a minute, then relaxed as they headed out of town. Dani could feel his body heat against her chest. It was a wonderful feeling.

Jeff drove the bike for awhile, unable to stop for fear of Dani’s reaction to what he had to tell her. He finally pulled into a small parking lot at a remote reservoir. He shut off the engine and sat on the bike for a minute before dismounting and helping Dani off. They climbed the small hill and crawled down the rocky slope on the other side.

"Danielle," he began, "I’m sorry. I’m going to do my best to explain to you what’s going on here. I hope, I pray that you understand and are able to forgive me in the long run."

"Forgive you? Why?" Dani asked, her eyes searching Jeff’s for a sign of some kind.

Jeff sighed and turned from her, "Well, my intentions aren’t as they seem. I was sent to find you. I tried to tell you before, but couldn’t. I still shouldn’t be telling you. We may have to leave here soon. I’m not completely sure we’re alone now."

Dani looked around feeling a bit spooked. The water stretched black before them, lapping the shore. The rocks behind them rose as a wall, although it didn’t make her feel protected at all. Only vulnerable.

"Jeff, you’re scaring me. What’s going on?"

"There’s something you should know. I’m… I’m not like other people. I, um… change sometimes, into something I can’t really explain to you. It’s like there is a monster inside me, and he comes out sometimes."

"What do you mean? Like a personality thing?"

"No, I mean literally. I’m a… I’m a…" He almost couldn’t bring himself to say it. It was something that had haunted him, something he was afraid to say out loud. If he ignored it, then maybe it wasn’t real. But if he said it out loud, that made it real, and he couldn’t take it back once he said it.

"Jeff… what?"

"Danielle, I’m a werewolf."

Dani sat in silence for a moment. "A what? You’re kidding right? There’s no such thing."

"No, I’m sorry, I’m very serious. I’m proof that there is such a thing."

"Jeff, stop it. You’re being silly."

"Dani, did you see on the news about all those animal killings that keep happening?"

"Yeah…"

"That was me. Well, not just me. There are more of us. That’s why I’m not supposed to be telling you these things. I could get in serious trouble."

"More? How many more?" Dani sat slack jawed, staring at Jeff.

"Only two more, and my brother. It was his idea to find you."

"Find me? Why? What does this have to do with me?"

"I don’t really know. He says he knows you. Knows you from before."

"Before? Before what?"

"I don’t know. Just that he knows you. I’m supposed to get your trust, then take you to him, but I’m afraid to now. I don’t know what he’s going to do once he gets you."

"What do we do then? Leave, go somewhere?"

"No, that won’t work. We have a mental connection, my brother and I. He knows where I am, what I’m thinking. I’m sure he’s on his way to find me right now. I can feel his anger for telling you these things."

"Can’t you block it out?" Dani asked desperately.

"No, I have no control over it. It was Matt who established it. It is Matt who controls it. I can do nothing about it. We need to go now. He’s getting closer. I’m taking you home. I want you to lock your doors. Don’t open them to anyone. Not even me. Once morning comes, I’ll come get you. There’s a full moon tonight. By midnight the change will take place. We only have another half hour before then. We have to go now." Jeff stood up abruptly and pulled Dani off the rock she was sitting on. Dani brushed off her pants and climbed the rocks behind her.

When they reached the bike, she was about to put on her helmet again, when Jeff took her in her arms again and kissed her deeply. "I may not be able to do that again for a while. I don’t know what’s going to happen now. I have risked both of our lives in telling you these things. But I promise, I will do what I can to protect you and I will come back for you again." Then he climbed on the bike.

Dani straddled the bike behind him and held him close as he drove her home. She hid her head in his back, silently crying. Her mind was reeling. Did she believe what this man had just told her? She still didn’t know him very well, but something inside her felt as if she should trust him.

They reached her apartment and Jeff turned off the engine, but neither made a move. Dani just held him. "I don’t want you to go," she said.

"I know, but I have to. I’m not myself when the change occurs. I could hurt you without meaning to. That’s why I have to leave."

"Ok, but be careful."

"I will."

They kissed again and Dani walked to her door and let herself in. Jeff pulled away and headed for the country again. Neither one saw the three men standing in the shadows beyond the streetlight.