Hunter Moon & the Red Wolf: Stories from Bennett Bay, #3

By Stephen del Mar

Wolves! Wolves have returned to Florida, or at least in eastern Big Cypress County, and no one knows why or how. Janos Pac, the new Witch of the Wood, is desperately trying to hold Flora May's old Circle together, but things are falling apart despite his best efforts. Stone, the youngest member of the group, is the only one to show up for Samhain. After his first cup of tea, the blue kind, things take an unexpected turn. A plot by the dragons is unearthed and everyone's on the watch for owls. Beware the owls! 

"Hunter Moon & the Red Wolf" is the third book in the Stories from Bennett Bay series.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bennett Bay Press
• Release date: May 6, 2019
• ISBN: 9781386175834

Book preview

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Hunter Moon & the Red Wolf

Stories from Bennett Bay: Book Three

Stephen del Mar

HM title graphicBBP_long-a

Table of Contents

Title Page

Part I A Night in Savannah

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Part II All Hallows’ Eve Morning

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Part III All Hallows’ Eve Afternoon

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Part IV All Hallows Eve Night

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Chapter Thirty

Chapter Thirty-One

Chapter Thirty-Two

Chapter Thirty-Three

Chapter Thirty-Four

Chapter Thirty-Five

Chapter Thirty-Six

Part V All Hallows’ Day Early Morning

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Chapter Forty

Chapter Forty-One

Chapter Forty-Two

Chapter Forty-Three

Chapter Forty-Four

Chapter Forty-Five

Chapter Forty-Six

Chapter Forty-Seven

Chapter Forty-Eight

Chapter Forty-Nine

Chapter Fifty

Chapter Fifty-One

Chapter Fifty-Two

Chapter Fifty-Three

Chapter Fifty-Four

Chapter Fifty-Five

Chapter Fifty-Six

Chapter Fifty-Seven

Chapter Fifty-Eight

Chapter Fifty-Nine

Chapter Sixty

Chapter Sixty-One

Chapter Sixty-Two

Chapter Sixty-Three

Part VI All Hallows’ Day Afternoon

Chapter Sixty-Four

Chapter Sixty-Five

Chapter Sixty-Six

Chapter Sixty-Seven

Chapter Sixty-Eight

Chapter Sixty-Nine

Chapter Seventy

Part VII All Hallows’ Day Night

Chapter Seventy-One

Chapter Seventy-Two

Chapter Seventy-Three

Acknowledgements

Author Info

Copyright

Part I

A Night in Savannah

Chapter One

Hunter stopped and sniffed. She’d lost the boy in the dark and was relying on his scent. The back alley behind the seafood restaurant was pungent and the Savannah River stank this close to the port. She continued down the alley. She knew he came this way and he hadn’t doubled back. The question was, did he know she was after him? She needed to get past the dumpsters. She’d detected stress in his scent, but not the fear of pursuit. It was stressful being a street dog. What drove him to the city? Why didn’t he hide out in the swamps with his kind? He was an easy kill now.

Her earpiece buzzed, You found him yet?

She frowned, pulled her phone out and texted back, Silence! They can hear, you know!

A gruff voice snorted in her ear, We’ve got him, don’t care how well the little barker can hear. That fag bar’s at the end of the street, bet he’s gone to ground in there. I’ll cover the front.

She frowned and hurried on. It wouldn’t be good if he went in there. She’d researched the area after they’d spotted the kid running with a pack of hustlers. The Bilge Rat was a dive bar on the Savannah riverfront near the port. It had the reputation of being a place where longshoremen and sailors could pick up some young, boy butt cheap—no questions asked. A great place for street kids to turn a trick. Not the kind of place the Old Man would fit in or keep his opinions to himself for long.

The wind shifted, blowing the stench of rotting seafood back toward the river behind her. She sniffed again. He was there. His scent mixed with the musky smell of man sex, old semen, and urine. She edged down the alley, staying in the shadows.

Up ahead a blue light illuminated the back entrance to the bar. Behind the dumpster, a thickly built man, in work clothes and an orange vest, leaned against the grimy brick wall. A young man knelt before him. His head bobbing up and down. Hunter inched forward. She pulled a taser from her leather jacket.

The man grabbed a handful of the boy’s shaggy black hair and said, Yeah, suck it you little Mexican fag. He looked up from the boy and saw her. What the fuck?

The boy pulled his face from the man’s crotch. Hunter touched her earpiece. He’s made me.

The boy leapt to his feet and dashed toward the end of the alley. The man tried to put his saliva-covered erection back in his jeans. Fucking bitch!

Hunter pointed her taser pistol at him. He threw his hands up and his penis flopped out into the night again. Be glad I’m not Vice, she said as she passed.

The man asked, Fuck. Are you a cop? But, she was already gone.

Chapter Two

The black van screeched to a halt blocking the end of the alley. An old man with scraggly gray hair and week-old stubble on his face pushed open the driver’s side door. He slid out of the seat and winced when his left foot touched the ground. He pulled a rifle from behind the seat and aimed it at the boy. "On your knees cachorro, bet you like it on your knees."

The boy turned. There was enough light here at the end of the alley for Hunter to see his face. His black eyes locked onto hers. A tear ran down his smooth cheek. Then he put his head down and charged her. She raised the taser, took aim and fired. The boy screamed as his body convulsed. She could smell the urine as he wet himself.

Judas limped forward, keeping his rifle trained on the boy. She ran forward pulling the zip-tie restraints out of the pouch on her belt. She did his hands first, in front of him, then his ankles. She took another tie out and connected his wrists and ankles together. Good, Judas said. Get the van. I’ll watch the dog. And hurry. One of these do-gooder cocksuckers might have a soft spot for the street trash. We don’t need the cops in on this. Hunter gave him a curt nod and sprinted for the van.

He took another step forward and held the tip of the rifle to the boy’s lips. "Make a sound cachorro and the rats’ll have dog brain for dinner." He spat on the boy.

The van pulled up next to him and Hunter jumped out. She slid open the side cargo door and went back to the boy. I’ll need help to get him in the van.

Judas grunted and grabbed the boy’s right arm as she lifted his left one. They dragged him over to the van and hoisted him in. I’ll drive, Judas said.

Hunter looked at him. Shouldn’t we verify?

Kind of late for that, don’t you think? You said you were sure, when you picked him out.

I’m sure, she snapped. And I’m also sure, I’d rather be caught with a bound animal in the van and not a kidnapped teenager.

Well, we’re not going to do it sitting here, blocking an alleyway. There’s a place by the river about a mile back. He sneered, Think we can make it five minutes without being discovered?

She glared at him.

He said, Good and if you’re wrong we can dump the body. Either way, we’re cleaning the streets of vermin tonight. Go ahead and get him ready. He slid the cargo door closed and limped around and climbed into the driver’s seat.

Hunter opened a toolbox and pulled out a hunting knife. The boy gasped. She ignored him as she cut off his shirt. "Hermana, why you doing this? Why you with him?"

She whispered, I’m not your sister. You should have stayed with your pack out in the swamp. Why’d you come into the city?

His black eyes bored into her. I can smell you, sister. And the swamp isn’t safe, is it? You hunt there too. But my pack’s not there. They don’t want my kind.

She unbuckled his belt and then started slitting the leg of his jeans. So what were you doing here?

You saw. Turning tricks. Need cash to get away.

She rolled him over and started cutting the other side of his pants. To go where?

Sanctuary.

She stopped. There is no safe place for your kind.

He whispered, Our kind.

She held the point of the knife to his throat. A drop of blood oozed from his smooth skin. I’m not a perversion like you. Tell me where you were going?

I’m not a traitor, he said.

Judas yelled, For God’s sake, haven’t you muzzled that thing yet? You aren’t talking to it are you?

Sorry, Father, she said.

Father? the boy sputtered.

She punched him in the face and ordered, Quiet dog. She pulled a muzzle made of thick, black-rubber straps from the toolbox, then attached it to his head, keeping his mouth tightly shut. He struggled, but she held the knife up. You know this can cut more than your clothes.

The boy’s body went limp and she made the final cut on his pants. She pulled them off his body and then his shoes and socks. It only took a second to remove his underwear. There was something on the inside of his thigh, just below his testicles. She took a headlight out of the toolbox and strapped it on. Hey, he’s been marked.

Judas called back, What?

He’s a runaway. There’s a barcode and a number here on his leg.

The van made a sharp left. You said you scanned for a ping when you first spotted him. They came to a stop. Judas killed the engine and made his way back to her. She took a scanner out of the toolbox and ran it over the boy’s body. Nothing.

Judas kicked at the boy. Roll him over.

Hunter turned him over.

Judas said, Yup, look at his shoulder. That fresh scar. Had someone cut it out, boy? We’ll have to check the number, but I bet he was part of that big break out from the North Carolina farm.

She looked up at him. Are you sure? I didn’t know they had exotic breeds. Don’t they specialize in the Timbers and the Eurasians?

Yes, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have a selection of others. And, his kind have been slipping in with the illegals. I know we need them to pick the crops since the damn niggers won’t do it anymore, but do they have to bring their unnatural filth with them?

She shot him a look.

What? Judas said. You have something to say?

So are we going to take him back to the farm for the reward?

He shook his head. No profit in that. Lose money by the time we drive all the way up to the mountains and back. He kicked a plastic stool over to the boy and lowered himself down on it with a groan. Damn leg. He looked at the boy. Yeah, one of your kind got my leg when I was training with my daddy. Cut his head off and had it mounted on my bedroom wall. He leaned over the boy. Keep your light on him. He lifted the boy’s eyelid to examine his eye. Then slid part of the muzzle back so he could look at his teeth. He ran his hands over the boy’s body and came to his genitals. Well, it’d be nice if they were bigger, but he’s still young—can’t have everything. Those kooky alternative medicine types do like the younger ones, I hear, and maybe Krycul can milk him a few times before he’s processed. God knows what they use shifter semen for, but I’m sure they’d pay mighty fine for it. He winced as he stood up. Might as well give him the shot now. Like you said, we don’t want them to find us with a naked boy. They’d think we we’re some kind of perverts or something.

Hunter nodded. She pulled a flat leather case out of the inside pocket of her jacket and unzipped it. It held a vial of yellow-green liquid and four syringes. She held the bottle up and plunged the needle through the rubber membrane. The boy began struggling again as she filled the syringe. She put the vial back in the case, closed it, and put it back in her pocket. She avoided looking at his face as she stabbed the needle into his ass cheek. Even with the muzzle he screamed. They always screamed—screamed, pissed and shit themselves. Then they changed. She snatched up the remnants of the boy’s pants and headed for the passenger seat.

Judas called after her, I never understood why you don’t want to watch?

She ignored him and tried to ignore the muffled screams of the boy. Eventually they’d become muffled howls and snarls. Then he’d pass out and when he woke up, he’d be a wolf in a cage waiting for his organs to be harvested for folk medicine. He’s just an animal—not even an animal. He’s some kind of unholy mutation, she told herself.

Judas had parked under a street lamp. She used its light coming through the windshield to go through the pockets in the boy’s pants. She found eighty-three dollars and some change. She stuck the cash in her pocket. In the back pocket, she found a folded up bus ticket. He was going somewhere. She unfolded it. One-way to some place in Florida called Cooter Crossing. In the front pocket was a little bit of an index card. On it someone had printed, The Jumble. What the hell? she whispered. She slid the card into her jacket and looked back at the ticket. She pulled her phone out and opened the map app. She typed in Cooter Crossing and waited. She had to zoom in several times to find anything. It was just a dot on a river in west central Florida. She was surprised that a bus would even stop there.

Her father came up. It’s finished. What do you have there?

Bus ticket to Florida. She held the phone out to him. You ever hear of Cooter Crossing?

He shook his head as he looked at the map on the phone. Nope. What do you think? Might be a pack down there he was trying to get to. I’d expect a Mexican wolf to head west to find his own kind. But, then, Florida’s known for its invasive species.

So should we head down there?

He slid into the driver’s seat. I think we need to unload this carcass and get our cash. We’ll run it by Krycul, if it has to do with wolves in the southeast, he knows about it.

She nodded as he put the van in reverse and pulled out of the parking lot. Did you find anything else, he asked.

She shook her head. Just some cash.

God and you touched it? Probably came from those fags he was sucking off.

Money’s money, she said. It’s all dirty.

Hum, he said and gave her a sideways glance. You okay, Honey?

She gave him a little smile. Of course, Daddy, why wouldn’t I be?

No reason. But what did it say to you? You know you’re supposed to muzzle them right away. Can’t trust the words of a dog.

Nothing. Just lies about being a human and letting him go.

Judas snorted. Lies and more lies. Damn dog. Well, he’s young and healthy. We should get a good price for him and Krycul won’t care if he’s got a farm brand. In the end, meat’s meat.

Chapter Three

Krycul Processing and Packing was in the old, rundown industrial part of the city. The area was even more desolate late at night. Hunter never liked this place. The smells of terror and death always unnerved her. Judas pulled the van up to the security gate. An old man wearing a uniform came out of the guardhouse. Judas rolled down his window and showed him his vendor ID. The old man scanned it with his tablet. Kind of late for deliveries. What do you have in there?

Delivery for the Specialty Meats Division. I talked to Mr. Krycul personally. He’s expecting us.

The guard looked down at his tablet. Oh, you mean Mr. Karl. Yes. He came in an hour ago. You’d never find his brother, Mr. Otto, at the factory this time of night. But then, he doesn’t think much of the SMD either. I have to agree. Why we keep an entire building for processing things like emus and llamas, I’ll never understand. What kind of critter did you say you had in there?

Hunter leaned forward. Daddy, what’s wrong? Mr. Krycul did tell us to hurry. He didn’t want to be here all night.

Judas turned to her and said, Now, you be patient, Honey, we have to go through the proper procedures. Not our fault if we’re held up and he has to wait. It’s his company after all. He makes the rules.

He turned back to the guard. I’m sorry. What were you saying?

The guard shook his head. Not important. He gave the other guard in the guardhouse a hand signal and the gate opened. You all have a good night.

Judas smiled. Thank you, sir. He started snickering as soon as the window was back up. Nice one. I’m sure some governmental agency would get their panties in a knot if they knew how special some of the meat is that old Mr. Karl’s processing.

Hunter said, I don’t think Mr. Otto would like it either.

Yes, Judas said. He was always the weaker brother. Don’t know why old man Krycul left the controlling interest in the plant to him.

Weak? She wondered. Or just not cruel? She looked away from him. The poultry processing building was lit up. Chickens were in such high demand they ran the plant around the clock. A number of workers stood around outside smoking. As they drove past, she noticed most of them looked Hispanic. What would they think of the boy we have in the back? Then she had to remind herself, he wasn’t a boy—really. Judas headed the van toward the opposite side of the complex.

The building with the Specialty Meats sign on it was smaller than most of the factory buildings and set further back, closer to the river. The receiving door stood open and a black Town Car sat next to it. A large man in a dark suit leaned against the back of the car talking on his phone. There he is, said Judas. The man stayed on his phone, but waved them into the building.

Judas pulled up next to a heavy-duty cage on a pallet-jack and turned off the engine. He glanced in the rear-view mirror. You know the routine. You smile and look pretty and I’ll do the talking. Don’t bring up the mark. The dog’s chip’s gone so he might not notice.

When has Karl Krycul not inspected every inch of every animal they ever brought in? And I thought you said he wouldn’t care? She thought, but she just nodded at him. She looked at the mirror on her side of the van. The door rolled shut as Krycul walked toward them. Two large men in coveralls joined him. Judas smiled. Payday.

Chapter Four

The two men dragged the wolf out of the van and laid it on top of the cage. Krycul walked over and ran his hand through the fur. Mexican—maybe a coyote mix, and a young one. He looked at Judas. Pretty nice coat for a wild wolf.

Judas swallowed. Yes. Makes him more valuable doesn’t it? Market for shifter pelts I imagine.

Krycul grunted. One of the men handed him a scanner. He ran it over the wolf’s body and looked at the results.

See, Judas said. No chip. We never got a ping when we sighted him.

Krycul handed the scanner back to his man and then made a flipping motion with his hand. The two men flipped the wolf over and one of them snipped the zip ties restraining the unconscious wolf’s legs. Where’d you trap him?

Down on the river—near the docks. Running with a pack of street kids. Found him sucking cock for cash—real animal.

Krycul ran his hand through the pelt. How’d you spot him?

Judas gave him a look and a quick glance at Hunter.

Krycul nodded. Miss, your daddy needs to pay you more. He stopped and leaned in closer to the wolf’s shoulder. What’s this? There’s a wound here.

Judas shifted, trying to take the weight off his bad leg. Is there? Well, he didn’t come quietly. They never do.

Krycul held out his hand and one of his men put a flashlight in it. He examined the spot on the shoulder more closely. This is at least a week old. He nodded to his men and then turned the wolf over on its back. Its legs spread apart and its tongue lolled out of its mouth. He used the light to examine the inside of the animal’s hind legs. He pulled his phone out and took a photo. He turned to Judas. So do you have anything else about this dog you want to tell me?

Judas shifted again, but held Krycul’s gaze. Did you find something?

Krycul said to his men. Cage it and give it another blocker shot. We don’t need the damn thing changing on us. He turned to Judas. Office. Now.

Judas didn’t like taking orders from anyone, but if he wanted payment, he’d have to play the obedient dog. He whispered to Hunter as he limped after Krycul, You stay here.

But—

He cut her off. "I said, stay!"

She turned around and slammed the van’s cargo door closed and then got in the driver’s seat. She watched Krycul wait at the office door. She didn’t trust him. And she didn’t trust the man limping across the floor toward him, because she knew he wasn’t her father. He didn’t smell right. Everything about her life stank.

Chapter Five

Krycul slammed the office door as Judas limped past him. Moon, what the hell were you thinking?

Judas leaned against a table on the other side of the office. Thinking? Don’t know if I was thinking anything. I was expecting to get a fair price on an animal I delivered. I’ve always gotten a fair deal from your family. Your daddy was a good man. Like you.

Krycul frowned and turned away, looking out the office window. Judas smiled at his back. He knew the comment about Karl’s father would dig at him. Moon, you may be the best tracker I work with, but that’s still small time compared to the business I get from the farms. If I had to rely on you and you’re lot, we’d still be processing in the back yard, stringing the vermin up from the old oak tree like my grandpappy did.

The smile on Judas Moon’s face melted away. I bring you plenty of business. And I get you stuff you won’t find on those farms. Tell me your clients don’t pay premium for free range.

Krycul spun around. He pointed out the window. That dog’s not free range! You tried to scam me. Don’t you get it? You aren’t important enough for me to risk pissing off the farms. Stick to what that tamed bitch of yours can find out in the backwaters and leave the bounty-hunting to the farm boys.

Judas held out his hands. We did scan him. He already had the chip out. How were we supposed to know—What? You think we should have let him go?

Krycul shook his head. No. But you knew he was a run-away. That’s the issue here. Judas, this is a dangerous business. We walk a thin line. We’ve got to have trust among ourselves. Otherwise, the wolves win.

Wolves win? Judas snorted. They’re too damn stupid. Ruled by their instincts—so loyal, so dedicated to their pack.

Krycul looked back out the window at the Moon’s van. That’s how you get them to turn against their own isn’t it? Their loyalty to you.

Judas limped over to him. "Yup, learned it from my daddy. Raised a few pups up as my brothers. Nothing can hunt a wolf like another wolf. The trick is keeping them from knowing they’re a wolf. He always said, Raise them up as part of the family