The Shepard's Agony Read Free

Larry said. “No, no, Bill and I were just making a small transaction.”
    Gwen blinked. “He wants you to fix his car?” she asked. Larry was the pack mechanic ; the guy pack member s went to when they wanted a discount on auto repair . But , as far as Gwen knew , he’d never had anyone sign anything for work he did under the table.
    Larry placed his hands in his pockets and smiled. Gwen could sense pride radiating from him and she wondered why. “No, nothing like that, but, uh, is this about Jonathan?” he asked.
    With that , Gwen remembered to be angry . She crossed her arms and tried to look the part. “That was really embarrassing,” she said without the anger she’d intended. It was impossible to be angry with him, he was her father. But , she wanted him to know that she didn’t need him to set her up on dates.
    Larry put his arms around her shoulders. “I’m sorry , baby girl . You know I worry. I just want to see you happy.”
    Gwen melted, her anger completely gone. He just didn’t want to see the same thing that happened to him happen to her. “It wasn’t that bad,” she mumbled
    “You tried phoning him enough.”
    “That was days ago.”
    “You didn’t leave your apartment for a week.”
    “I was sick.”
    Larry made a disbelieving face.
    “Well, what about you? Not like you’ve been out on a date in a while.”
    Larry flushed at the change in subject. “I …”
    “ Just take Elaine out to dinner or something. I know you want to, I can feel it every time you two are near each other.” Now Gwen was grinning as Larry shifted his feet. She enjoyed watching him squirm.
    “ I said I’d give John a chance , now you have to do the same thing,” she said.
    Larry’s shrugged as if it were no big deal. “Okay, but I don’t understand how your watching out for me came about .”
    It should have been obvious. “I want to see you happy , too.”
    Larry’s aging face broke out in a wide smile that transformed him. He looked younger. He cupped her cheeks with his palms like when she was a little girl and kissed her forehead before slinging an arm around her shoulder.
    “So , I guess this means Jonathan spoke with you?” He had a knowing grin on his face and he leaned in to sniff. “I can smell him on you.”
    “Daddy…” Gwen shoved him away, folding her arms again. He changed the subject back again.
    “It wasn’t so bad.” Larry was grinning from ear to ear at his victory.
    Gwen shook her head. “You know, most fathers hate the idea of their daughters dating anyone at all.”
    “ I’m not like most fathers , and better Johnathan then some heartless, human—”
    “Dad!”
    “Right, sorry. Where is he anyway?”
    Gwen shrugged. “Waiting for me in the woods, I guess. We’re gonna go hunting.”
    “ Well, don’t you let me keep you ,” Larry said, shoving her towards the door. “Just don’t fill up too much before dinner . And don’t spend all your time chasing each other’s tails, you two should talk first.”
    “ Daddy! ”
    “Bye!”
    Larry was running down the hall and out of sight . Gwen blinked at his retreating form until he was turning a corner and out of sight. Being a werewolf family was one thing, but there was nothing normal about her dad.

Chapter Two
     
    It was a good run. Gwen’s body felt nice and stretched, her heart was racing. Her nose hurt from slamming it into a rabbit hole that was too small for her face as the fast , little creature got lucky and escaped.
    It wouldn’t have been that bad if John hadn’t been snickering at her, his own catch still in his mouth.
    A wolf song howled in the air and Gwen shook herself off, her entire body a flurry of fur, snort ing as she got back to four paws.
    She was about to lunge at John with their new game when another piercing howl tore through the woods. Both pairs of ear s perked , turning toward the sound. It was not a howl of fun or laughter, but of anger and suffering.
    Several whines followed, then there