Werewolves Rule: The Rule Series, #2

By Kasi Blake

A new beautiful enemy appears on the scene, saving Jack's life, and he wonders why. Does she just enjoy killing vampires, or does she want something from him? His suspicions grow when he learns she was friends with Silver years ago. Isobel continues to pop up, causing trouble for everyone. Then things get crazy, and Jack remembers his past. Can he and Silver survive what's coming?

 

This is the second book in the Rule Series. These books should be read in order. Start with Vampires Rule.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kasi Blake
• Release date: May 8, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223223696

Kasi Blake

Kasi Blake learned that writing was her superpower when she was in the third grade. The teacher asked the students to write a short (one-page) story about a pet monster for Halloween. She heard the other kids all saying they were doing vampires and werewolves, so she chose to write about a pet mummy. Her story made the entire classroom erupt with laughter. That's when she realized words had power. Then when she was in high school, she had to write a short story for a class and put it off until the last minute. While talking to friends that morning, she scribbled it out and handed it in. The teacher thought she'd plagiarized it. It was that good.. Later in college, her writing ability saved her from failing history. Kasi currently lives on a farm in the Midwest with cows, chickens, ducks, a dog, and a few stray cats.

Book preview

Chapter One

A NIGHTMARE

BLOOD SEEPED THROUGH Jack’s tightly aligned fingers. No matter how hard he pressed on the wound, it continued to hemorrhage, and he was beyond scared. During his time as a vampire, Jack had become unusually attuned to the workings of his own body. He didn’t need a psychic to tell him that he was in deep trouble. The blood should have stopped flowing by now. In fact, the wound should have completely healed over fifteen minutes ago.

Although he wasn’t a vampire anymore, Jack still had some of the powers, including instantaneous healing. When he cut himself while shaving last week, the wound had healed before the single-syllable curse word left his mouth. Too bad the power didn’t seem to be working today.

He desperately wanted to look down to measure the growing red stain on his shirt, but he couldn’t risk drawing his brother’s attention to it. He covertly stole a glance at Billy instead. Passing streetlights illuminated Billy’s face in short rolls of light. His profile was rigid, and his lips compressed into a hard line. He stared straight ahead, hands tight on the steering wheel as if he was trying to strangle it.

Jack knew the signs; Billy was pissed off.

Who could blame him after the night they’d had?

Jack, relatively new to the art of hunting, couldn’t believe what a disaster a simple werewolf-hunt had become. Two huge werewolves on steroids had nearly killed them. At least Billy had only gotten kicked, punched, and thrown around like a softball. He sported a puffy eye, maybe a couple of bruised ribs, but those were the extent of his injuries.

One of the werewolves had stabbed Jack with a knife. A knife! Whoever heard of a stupid werewolf using a blade? What had happened to the good old days when they’d relied on their claws?

Burning pain spread throughout his middle, growing in intensity with each passing second. He struggled to breathe. Perspiration dotted his upper lip and forehead. Then the car hit a bump, and the abrupt movement threatened to rip the wound open another inch. Somehow Jack managed to bite back a startled yelp. His hand tightened on the wound. Exhaustion battled the pain to see which could take him down first. His eyes drifted shut. Some rest might help him to heal faster.

Are you dying? Billy asked. His odd toneless voice cut through the silence, a bomb in a peaceful village. Jack reluctantly forced his eyes open and turned his head against the vinyl seat to reassure his brother. Before he could say anything, Billy added, Seriously. Do I need to take you to the hospital or what?

Course not. Jack’s voice cracked under the strain. He cleared his throat and tried again. I’m fine.

You don’t look fine.

I heal fast. Remember?

Yeah, it’s like having Superman for a brother.

Sarcasm. Poor Billy hadn’t completely adjusted to having a freak show living under his roof. Their relationship remained strained even in the best of times. Jack’s eyelids grew heavy. They closed of their own volition as he mumbled, Just need some sleep.

He barely heard his brother’s taut warning.

Yeah, well, if you see a bright light, stay the hell away from it.

Mmm hmm.

Jack began to drift, unattached thoughts floating through his mind like confused cars headed in opposite directions. He lost his tenuous grasp on reality. Sleep claimed him on a temporary basis, and he went willingly into the comforting darkness. At least the pain didn’t follow him down. He was safe and comfortable... for the moment.

☼

The dream began.

Jack sprinted across uneven ground covered with thick foliage and surrounded by tall trees that blocked out direct sunlight. Once again, he played two parts, spectator and participant. He stood off to the side and watched himself jump over a fallen log, weave around a tree, and race across a grassy knoll. Even with the expanded viewpoint, it took him a while to realize he had four legs.  

A majestic gray wolf, he began to run faster. No longer a spectator, his two halves melded together until he was the wolf in every possible sense of the word. A breeze ruffled his fur as he raced the wind. It felt incredible, better than anything in his recent memories.

A whistle pierced the peaceful morning air. He stopped, cocked his head to the left, and his triangular fur-covered ears tilted as they tried to identify the noise. That was when he saw the girl in the distance. She waved her arm high in the air, back and forth like a stranded survivor on an island when a plane flies over. She definitely wanted him to notice her. Her dark hair blew back long enough to reveal an angular face with almond-shaped eyes and full lips.

Her name eluded him, but he was certain he should know it. If he dug deep enough, he’d eventually find it. He was supposed to know her. Confused, he waited for her to say something. Maybe she would introduce herself. His muscles tightened, and a horrible feeling assaulted his nerves.

Something bad was about to happen.

Instinct told him it was time to change from wolf to man. Closing his eyes, he tried to force the transformation and his body shook with the effort. An uncomfortable squeezing on his internal organs almost made him lose control of his bowels. His paws refused to hold him up any longer; he collapsed.

Tobias! the brunette shouted.

Tobias? The name didn’t belong to him, and yet it did. His mind reeled, torn in two different directions at once, until he thought insanity was just around the corner. At some point, his name had been Tobias, and he had been a werewolf. He had known the brunette girl, had been close to her, in fact, but he still couldn’t remember her name. Memories tried to push their way forward, but he forced them back into a mental closet. He slammed the door shut. He would have locked it too if he could. Somehow, he knew the memories would come with a great deal of pain.

Better not to give in to them.

Knowing it was a dream, Jack tried to open his physical eyes. He screamed silently to force himself awake. It didn’t work. He focused on being in the car with his brother, headed for home, yet he remained trapped in the wolf’s body. What now?

A quake of epic proportions shook him from head to paws. For a moment, he thought the world around him was coming undone, changing, but it was only him. First, he went hot all over with what had to be a raging fever. Then his body seemed to melt into liquid and expand, shifting until he was standing on two human feet. Now he knew what it felt like to be a werewolf. It totally sucked beyond measure.

The brunette crooked a finger at him, and a seductive smile played on her lips. I’ve been waiting for you, Tobias. Come to me.

Without thinking, he instantly moved to obey.

Jack?

The familiar voice wafted over him, calming him like nothing else could. It soothed his nerves and settled his queasy stomach. He turned to find Silver on the opposite side of the meadow. Wary, her eyes glided back and forth between him and the new girl. There was a slight hesitation before she lifted her hand and held it out to him. She seemed desperate to talk to him, but she didn’t even try to meet him halfway. It was almost as if her feet were glued to the ground.

He started in her direction.

Tobias, no! You have to come to me.

Jack looked at the brunette again. She appeared to be in great distress over something. Maybe she needed his help. He turned, prepared to go to her first, but Silver screamed for him. Jack, I need you! I can’t explain right now. You have to trust me. Please.

Of course, he trusted her. With an apologetic smile for the brunette, he went to Silver, running as fast as he could on two human legs. By the time he reached her, he was out of breath. Funny, it hadn’t seemed like she was that far away when he’d started out.

What is it? he asked, panting lightly. What’s wrong?

Nothing’s wrong. Her lips parted in a dazzling smile, and her eyes sparkled like blue diamonds. It was odd how one smile from her could fill him with unbelievable joy. She beamed up at him and said, Everything’s great now. You chose me.

What are you talking about?

Look out! she screamed, her wide eyes on something just over his shoulder.

Jack spun around. The brunette was right there, so close he could feel her hot breath on his cheek. How had she crossed the meadow so quickly? Before he could ask the question, she took a step back and whipped around in a tight circle, a long blade in her hands. There wasn’t time for him to react. The sword hit him hard in the throat, sliced through flesh and bone with a single whack. His head fell off his shoulders and rolled across the leaf-covered ground. The brunette’s unemotional voice punctuated the brutal act with a period instead of an exclamation point.

Sorry, Tobias. But you asked for it.

☼

The car screeched to an abrupt stop, and Jack flew forward in his seat. The sudden movement woke him instantly. His hands automatically went out to keep his face from hitting the dashboard. Frantic, his gaze whipped around, trying to acclimate himself to his new surroundings. He took a quick inventory of his body. Everything seemed to be in place—including his head.

That crazy brunette had killed him, and it had seemed so real. They say when you see yourself die in a dream, you actually die. Good thing they were wrong.

He glanced out the passenger side window at the farmhouse he shared with his younger brother. A few of the downstairs windows blazed with golden light, welcoming them home. He could go inside, watch television and relax. The one thing he wasn’t going to do was try to sleep again. If he didn’t have another dream all year, it would still be too soon.

Jack worked on regulating his breathing. More sweat accumulated on his face and under his arms. Another wave of pain shot through his abdomen. Something was definitely wrong. Maybe he was coming down with the flu. It didn’t have to be a horrible malfunction of his powers. Mortals were known to get sick.

For the last time, are you one hundred percent sure you’re okay? Billy shut the engine off. He turned to Jack, a deep scowl in place. I've dug up dead bodies that looked better than you do right now.

Jack hesitated before lifting the bottom of his shirt to check the wound. The bloody edges pulsated as his flesh tried to renew and recover. For some reason, it was taking longer than usual, but he was going to live. Relief flooded his system. Trying hard not to sound as surprised as he felt, he said, It’s healing. See?

Let’s get you inside.

Don’t you have a date tonight?

Billy had a new girlfriend, a nurse at the local hospital. She worked the night shift so Billy could only see her in the early morning hours between work and sleep. Jack had no idea what Billy had told her that he did for a living. Jack hadn’t bothered to ask. Billy got weird about things like that. He carefully guarded his privacy now that he was an adult.

Billy shrugged. I’ll call Mary and cancel. She’ll understand.

No, she won’t. Jack couldn’t believe Billy was going to blow off the only girl he’d liked in three years just to stay home and watch him heal. Not unless you’re going to explain the whole werewolf thing to her.

Billy glared at him. You know I’m not going to do that. She’d flip out. She’s normal, not like us. I need to keep her in the dark, at least for now.

Jack silently agreed. The regular folks living in Bliss, Nebraska, did not need to know about the werewolf problem. They lived in blissful ignorance—hence the name. Jack opened the car door and slowly climbed out. His hand held tight to the wound, making sure his guts didn’t spill all over the ground. He leaned back in through the open window for a second and said, Go on your date. I’m fine.

Are you sure?

I can call you if I need anything. Just go.

Billy nodded. He couldn’t contain the smile threatening to overtake his face. A familiar light danced in his eyes, and Jack knew his brother was thinking about his girlfriend. What a goofy smile. Idiot.

Jack hoped he didn’t get that expression on his face when he thought about Silver. He took a few steps back and watched Billy drive down the long dirt road leading away from their farmhouse. The tires kicked up a wall of dust. Jack lifted a hand and waved. It took a lot of effort. His abdomen burned like crazy. Once again, he wondered why he wasn’t healing faster.

A new scent caught his attention; there were vampires nearby.

His hand froze in mid-wave, and a chill shot through him. Jack watched Billy's taillights fade into the distance, his only hope for survival—gone. He considered chasing his brother down the road, yelling for help, but that would just put Billy at risk, too. There were weapons in the trunk and in the house. Jack didn’t have anything on him. His wound continued to bleed, and he was physically exhausted from the earlier battle. He couldn't handle a violent confrontation with vampires. Not yet.

A flash of panic clogged his throat.

For four months now, ever since his magical transformation from vampire to human, he’d had a target on his back. It seemed like every werewolf and vampire within a thousand-mile radius wanted to kill him. Silver and her mom had warned him this would happen. He hadn’t truly believed it. Because he was destined to kill the head werewolf and stop the oncoming war between the two species, every creature of the night wanted to be the one to bag him.

Maybe he had time to get out his cell and call Silver’s parents. They were professional hunters, and they didn’t live that far from his house. He might be able to keep the vampires busy until help arrived.  

A new hope infiltrated his brain. It was possible that he smelled a friendly vampire. It could even be an old friend from his past. Cowboy might have returned to make amends. That would be a nice, unexpected surprise.

He glanced up at the house and found a familiar vampire standing on the front porch. Every hope he had of surviving the night went up in invisible flames. It was the last vampire he wanted to see: Blaine. If he was Superman, Blaine was Lex Luthor. For the second time in his seventeen years, he was going to die, and this death would be worse than the first because vampires were notoriously imaginative. A werewolf would rip you apart, but a vampire could do so much worse.

Blaine stepped forward until he stood directly under the porch light. It gave him the spotlight he continuously craved. With white hair halfway down his back, ridiculously fair skin even for a vampire, and blue eyes so transparent the color was almost nonexistent, Blaine was known as the Albino Vampire.

Is it true? Blaine asked, although he apparently already knew the answer. His voice had an annoying sing-song quality to it that Jack was certain had to be as fake as his bleached hair. Blaine’s raucous laughter filled the air. It is. You’re human now. Look, friends, look at our former rival, look what he’s become. What a special moment for us all.

Jack turned to see who Blaine was speaking to, and his heart nearly stopped beating. Several vampires lined up in front of the pasture fence. Jack recognized every last one of them, and a new fear crawled across his skin. They were going to torture him before they killed him.

Blaine continued to talk, loving the sound of his own voice. I heard the rumors, of course, we all did, but who could believe such a story? A vampire turning mortal? What a scandal. Friends, did you know Jackpot was abandoned by Cowboy? The rest of his group died sadly. It’s true. We have no fear of retaliation for killing him. No one will avenge him.

A few of the vampires snickered.

Jack swallowed the growing lump in his throat. It was possible he could stall long enough to heal, or perhaps Blaine would talk until the sun came up. Jack forced a smile and gave his plan a try because it was the only one he had. It’s been a long time, Blaine. How have things been going for you?

Dandy. My life is one perfect moment after another. I’m golden.

Good. I’d heard you were killed by a werewolf a couple years ago, but here you are. You can’t really trust rumors, I guess. Most of them aren’t worth the breath it takes to repeat them.

Blaine made a clicking sound with his tongue. "Not nice to try to fool an old friend. Won’t work. Not with me. I’ve been looking forward to this for so long, I just can’t tell you how much. We’ve been waiting here for hours, anxious to see you. Some of my friends thought you weren’t coming home, but I am so glad they were wrong. And look at you.

You haven’t changed a bit. Blaine put his hands together four times in a slow, soft clap. Good for you. I would hate to see those beautiful eyes get wrinkles under them. But never fear. Blaine is going to make sure that doesn’t happen to you. You should thank me for saving you from old age. I’ve seen what it does to people. Frankly, I’d rather be dead. Wouldn’t you?

Blaine advanced, and Jack held his ground even though he wanted to run as fast as he could in the opposite direction. He was trapped in a sea of vampires, too many to count. Blaine continued walking until he was only a few inches from Jack’s face.

I’ve been looking forward to this for so long, Blaine repeated. I am going to kill you, Jackpot, but don’t you worry. I’ll make it as slow and as painful as possible.

Don’t you mean quick and painless?

Blaine looked up at the sky for a moment while he chuckled to himself. His eyes returned to Jack, and he shook his head. No. I want it to be painful... and the more you fight, the longer and more painful your death will be.

Jack lifted his fists to defend himself. The movement caused pain to rip through his abdomen. Water filled his eyes, and his vision blurred. It was going to be a slaughter. How could he fight when he couldn’t see or move?

Before the Albino Vampire could attack, something strange happened. He got an odd look on his face. His eyes widened in surprise, and his mouth formed a silent ‘O’ when he looked down at his chest. Jack’s gaze followed. There was a small wooden point sticking out through a tear in his emerald green shirt. The tip was covered in blood. Blaine frowned at Jack and tried to speak. Nothing came out.

The Albino Vampire collapsed.

There was a girl standing behind him. Silver? Somehow, she’d known he needed her. It was that telepathy thing again. Their connection grew stronger every day. He rapidly blinked his eyes to clear his vision. Slowly, the girl’s features started to make sense to him. Dark hair appeared instead of blond. Another chill rocked Jack to the core of his being. Her face was familiar, but it wasn’t Silver. It was the girl who had killed him in his dream.

Jack gasped, more afraid of her than of Blaine. Who are you? What do you want?

Move!

Grabbing Jack by the front of his shirt, she jerked him forward and down at the same time. He fell onto the hard ground, landing beside Blaine. He rolled quickly onto his stomach. Loud, vicious sounds erupted in the surrounding air, and he realized she was fighting the group of vampires first. Then she would come back for him.

He didn’t know who to root for in this situation.

Blaine reached behind with one hand and grabbed the stake that protruded from his back. Sweat dripped down his pale face. Grunting, he pulled the stake out with a hard jerk. Unfortunately, the dark-haired girl had missed the Albino’s heart. Alive and grimacing, Blaine sneered in Jack’s direction before using vampire-speed to put distance between them. In a flash, Blaine was gone.

Jack gritted his teeth as he struggled to his knees. It was going to take a while for him to get up. In all his years, both as a mortal and as a vampire, he couldn’t remember feeling this weak or this helpless. Holding his breath, he struggled to his feet. What he saw when he turned around almost brought him to his knees again.

The girl stood alone in the center of a bloody massacre. Vampires simultaneously exploded like the finale at a Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular. It took a few minutes for the dust to settle. The girl waited patiently, a smug smile on her face. Incredible. She had killed a gang of vampires in the time it took for him to stand.

He shook his head in awe. How did you—?

How isn’t important.

But... He puffed his chest out. I could have handled them.

Right. You’re a tough guy.

I am. She had no idea. Five months ago, she would have been staking him. Now she was saving him. But why?

He didn’t trust her. She might have helped him out this time, but she had killed him earlier. Okay, it had been a dream, and Silver would tell him he couldn’t convict her for that, but there was something off about this girl. There was also something way too familiar about her. He asked, Do I know you from somewhere?

That’s an old pick-up line. If you’re going to flirt with me, at least be original.

He sputtered, I... I wasn’t flir—.

She cut his words off with a flick of her hand. Whatever.

Her eyes traveled the length of his body, and her cold expression told him she found him lacking in every possible way. For some reason, her response annoyed him. Her gaze returned to the bloody part of his shirt.

You’re bleeding. She spoke in a monotone without emotion.

That’s what I was trying to tell you. I could have easily taken the vampires out on my own, but I was in a fight with a rabid werewolf, and he stabbed me.

Stabbed? Her eyebrows rose with a semi-amused tilt. You found a werewolf that uses a knife?

They don't call me Jackpot for nothing.

You should go inside before you fall down. The one with the white hair got away. I’ll have to track him before it’s too late.

A thousand questions came to Jack’s mind. Who are you? Where did you come from? What’s your name? Why did you save me, and how did you do it?

She held a hand up, instantly stopping his stream of questions. Her feet were walking backward even as she spoke. Sorry. I don’t do interviews. I need to catch that white-haired freak vampire.

She spun on one foot and started down the dirt road. A sense of déjà vu clouded his otherwise logical mind. He’d felt this same way when he’d met Silver. Well, not exactly the same way. He’d practically fallen in love with Silver on sight. This girl was pretty enough, but he wasn’t interested in her, not like that. He just wanted her story. He wanted to know how she’d killed the vampires, and he wanted to know why he felt a connection with her.

If he didn’t do something fast, the night would swallow her whole.

Jack clutched his side, bent over, and faked a cry of pain. He hoped it sounded more realistic to the girl than it did to him. He felt like an idiot standing there hunched over, staring at his shoes. Was she going to return to help him or just keep walking? The anticipation couldn’t be denied. He peeked beneath lowered eyelashes.

Before he saw her, he felt her.

She clutched his elbow, pulled him straight up, and led him to the front door. Each step was painful. The wound hadn’t healed yet. Jack made a mental note to ask Silver about it