Her lycan senses kicked into hyperdrive before she exited the vehicle. She took a quick surveillance of her surroundings, inhaling the numerous aromas that made up the night, taking mental notes of all the chaos her supernatural eyes could devour. Blood and carcasses were strewn across the unlit highway as if the sky had simply opened up and dropped the animals from unimaginable heights. From the smell of the blood, the mutilated bodies were cattle, but there was also a faint scent of—

A sudden movement caught her eyes as she glanced toward the front of the overturned truck. The image clear to her, she immediately flung the door open and charged toward the cowboy boots that shifted and scraped against the gravel and dry soil. She slid on her knees, and she came to an immediate stop beside the human victim.

Her instincts had been correct. This was another malicious lycan attack. Glancing down at the menacing tear marks in the flesh of the man's shoulders and back, she knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that rogue werewolves had brutalized this poor man. And for what? She growled to herself. To make more monsters? The attacks were becoming worse, more violent, and dangerous for everyone in Silent Falls. Something drastic had to be done and soon.

Glancing up at the sky, she muttered, "Poor bastard." The full moon was only a week away. She could feel the heat of the moon along her skin. The fine hairs at the nape of her neck rose with awareness.

Glancing back down at the man in her arms, she whispered aloud, "If you knew what was in store for you, you'd have preferred they'd killed you instead."

With a heavy sigh, she pulled her cell phone from her hip pocket. "Gavin, I've got an animal attack victim in pretty bad shape in need of medical assistance on highway five just north of Murphy's Ranch." She sucked in a sharp breath. "Before you head out here, notify Doc Brock that his help is required, and please let him know that he's going to need to bring some heavy machinery with him. We've got about a dozen slaughtered cows blocking the road."

"Animal attack?" Gavin's knowing voice clearly told her he knew exactly what kind of animal attack she was referring to. He was the only person, besides the pack of peaceful werewolves that lived in Silent Falls, that even knew lycans or shape–shifters existed, and he helped her to keep it that way.

"Yes," she hissed. "Now hurry. This guy's not looking so hot."

Before she closed her phone, Gavin said, "On my way." She immediately placed her cell back into her pocket.

Easing the driver onto his back, she used her leg to keep his head slightly elevated. His eyes batted open, and his hands came up in a blink, gripping hold of her shirt, pulling her closer to him. A trickle of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.

"Help me," he stuttered, choking on the blood that filled the back of his throat. "Wild beasts at..." His voice trailed off as his body fought the exhaustion ravaging him.

He wouldn't die. Not now. His body was already infected with the lycan anomaly, and the transition was certainly underway. The man might have been covered in blood, but she could smell the changes in him. Lycanthropy worked fast. Soon he'd be stronger, faster, his vision sharper, and there'd be no way to stop him if he wanted to turn rogue. Silence couldn't allow that to happen, and she wouldn't. Not in her town.

"Just lie still. Help's on the way." She placed her hand over top of his, and his trembling grip loosened. His heavy–lidded eyes closed once again as he drifted back into unconsciousness. She cradled him in her arms, using her accelerated body heat to keep him warm. He was shaking like a leaf, most likely from loss of blood and shock.

Reaching into his denim coat pocket, she pulled his wallet free and flipped it open. "Lance Hickman from Kerrville, Texas," she murmured and blew out a hard sympathetic breath, staring down at the blood–covered face of the man she couldn't help but pity. His life would be hell soon, and that was only if she decided to let him live.

"Well, Mr. Hickman, welcome to Silent Falls."