Dark Moon Falls

Chapter Four - Logan

She felt warmth radiating over her abdomen as her flesh tightened, forcing her to wince as her eyes popped open at the sensation.

Standing over her was a robust blond, her hands on Madison's stomach, stitching the wounds together, as she smiled down at her. “I was wondering how long you were going to lie there pretending to still be unconscious," she said, her lips twisted up in a smirk. Then, the woman winked at Madison. “Don't fret it, dearie. If I was you, I'd be still as a dead mouse, too, until I found out where I was and who was talking around me." She gestured to a man standing behind her with dark hair and shoulders that begged to be massaged. Or at least held onto tightly. “Logan here isn't as intuitive as I am. You could have laid there for weeks, and he never would have known you were awake."

The man behind the woman—Logan—just rolled his dark green eyes as he slid his strong hands to his hips, drawing Madison's gaze to follow the gesture. Her eyes settled on the slight bulge in the man's crotch, which was almost at eye-level with her. Realizing where her gaze had landed, she quickly jerked her attention away, but not before she noticed another smirk on Dara's face. The blond woman winked at her.

“I knew she was awake," Logan said with a shake of his head. “I'm not as clueless as you think." He offered Madison a forced smile. “I was just giving the lady here time to trust us and open her eyes on her own, instead of using magical tricks to rush her."

Dara gave a soft laugh. “You keep telling yourself that. And, I don't do magical tricks, and you know it. Otherwise, you wouldn't have called me."

Madison almost laughed when she saw the look Logan shot the witch, but the jarring shot pain throughout her torso again, and she stopped. The German Shepherd must have felt her pain as he moved over and draped his head over her waist as he looked up at her with his sympathetic eyes.

Dara just grinned down at her. “Well, that's a good sign. The wolf attack hasn't left you without a sense of humor. Now, mind telling us who you are and how you got these gashes?" The witch's expression turned serious as she sat back away from Madison, her hands covered in blood—Madison's blood.

Madison felt herself pale, her eyes locked on the other woman's hands. “Madison," she said. “Madison Cross. I stumbled across some rogues attacking a campsite while I was out walking." Her voice was weak, distant even to her ears as she pictured the scene she came across in the dim evening. “I'm staying…" She took a deep breath. “I was staying out at Dark Moon Mountain Park, just needing to get away from the city for a bit." She sighed, resting back into her pillows. “That was a mistake. There were four of them, and they were just toying with the campers." She glanced up into Dara's light blue eyes. “Like a cat will toy with a mouse before killing it. I heard the people screaming and went to see what it was or if I could help. Then, I just froze as I saw the m******e in front of me. Two of the campers—both male—had already been killed, ripped open at the necks. One of the rogues kept stabbing the man he held while the other two men shoved the girl around the campsite, laughing every time she screamed." Madison swallowed as she saw the scene again in her mind, the panic she felt making her shake. “Suddenly, another one appeared in front of me, leering as if a fresh toy had arrived. I tried to get away, but one shifted and started chasing me. I stumbled over a rock or a branch or my own two feet, I don't know. I hit my head when I hit the ground. I found a branch next to me and shoved upward, stabbing the wolf, but not before I felt his claws ripping into my side and stomach." She closed her eyes, the vision of the wolf's paw swinging toward her as the man stood there in mid-shift. “I got back up and started running." She shook her head. “I'm not even sure how I made it to wherever you found me or how long I laid there."

Logan shuffled his feet where he stood as he blew a disgusted breath, crossing his thick arms over his chest, a chest Madison found herself very much wanting to lay her head on. “They're getting bolder," he said, referring to the rogues, Madison was sure. “People are enjoying the fall weather, and the rogues are taking full advantage of unwary travelers. I'll call Sheriff Templeton and let him know about the attack. He'll inform Elias, I'm sure. And the park rangers. I'm sure they'll send someone out to investigate." He glanced at Madison, his brows pinched. “Could you tell if they were all wolves? Any humans or witches among them?" Rogues could be anyone. The only thing they had in common, really, was the fact they didn't like following the laws of the land.

Madison shook her head. “I saw one wolf. I couldn't tell what the others were."

Dara turned to Logan, her hands held out in front of her so she didn't get Madison's blood on anything. Madison wished the woman would just go wash her hands. “You still have an issue," Dara said.

Logan nodded, his lips pressed into a thin line as he stared at Madison.

Madison bounced her gaze back and forth between the others. “I'm the issue, aren't I?"

The others nodded. “You're the only witness," Logan said. “They'll want to silence you before you can identify them."

Madison laid her head back on the pillow, closing her eyes. “Great. Just f*****g great."