Five

"Susannah, drive!" Jesse yelled at me. But before I could do that, the werewolf stepped in front of us, growling menacingly. It raises one huge fist to slam it into my windshield.

"Duck!" Jesse pulled me under our seats. He reached into the back and pulled out an ornate silver dagger, and send it flying to the werewolf. It struck the werewolf on the shoulder.

The werewolf hissed. With one swipe of its paw, it tore the Camaro's door right off its hinges. It reached inside and grabbed me from under my seat.

"Jesse!" I screamed. "Get the wolfsbane!" I am not going to faint like a girl and scream for the guy to save me. I am going to remain calm. I am—

POW! The scent of the werewolf almost knocked me senseless. It smells worse than barf soaked in petroleum. I think I am ready to faint now.

"Susannah!" Jesse had lassoed a rope around the werewolf's neck, and was attempting to strangle it. The werewolf growled and backhanded Jesse. Jesse fell to the floor and hit his head on a rock. He did not move.

"Jesse!" I screamed. I hit the werewolf with my back. "Let me down! Or I'll kill you!"

The werewolf grunted when I poked my clutch in his eye. He released me and I fell down in a heap, spraining my ankle.

"Ouch!" I winced. I spotted headlights and I quickly ran to the bend, waving my arms around. "Help! A werewolf is after me!"

The car stopped in front of me, blinding me with its light. I covered my eyes and stared at the convertible. A silver BMW. How do I know this car?

"Hi, Suze. Going somewhere?" A familiar voice taunted.

I raised my eyes and stared in horror at Paul Slater, fellow mediator and… werewolf.

The werewolf behind me dropped to all fours as a form of salutation. Paul smirked. I sent him to escort you to our wedding, Suze."

What? "What wedding?" I asked.

"Our wedding. You see, Suze, I planned to create a whole new race of super mediators. Combined with my lycanthropic DNA and your mediator abilities, we will create an army of werewolves. We will take over the world. No one can stop us, or they'll end up like that priest…"

"You killed Father Dominic?" I asked in horror. "How could you?"

"He figured out about my plan, Suze. He talked to me to persuade me to stop my wrongdoings. Ha! He paid for it." Paul laughed.

"But…why maul Christian hitchhikers?" I asked.

"I am planning to recruit their ghosts to make undead werewolves, Suze. Let me guess…the priest became a ghost, right? So how about I ask him to be our high priest to engage us in holy matrimony?" Paul smiled at me. "Plus, the Christian werewolves hates the Catholic church. I don't have to persuade them long to nail the priest to that cross like Jesus Christ, honey."
My mind reeled. I took a step backwards.

"And if you're thinking of going anywhere, think again. I have sent wedding 'gifts' to your family, and some of my comrades, too. So if you don't agree…well, your family will be recruited."

I don't believe it. First he's holding me hostage, then blackmailing me. What a jerk. I sneaked a look at Jesse, willing him to wake up. But he didn't move.

Paul followed my gaze and his smile hardened. He barked at the crouching werewolf. "Finish him!" The werewolf leaped up to sink his teeth into Jesse's flesh.

"NO!" I placed myself in front of Jesse. "Kill me first if you must kill him," I said defiantly, chin jutting out in determination. Paul sighed.

"Fine. As long as you agreed to say 'I do' when the priest ask you if you want to marry me. And to receive my kiss of eternal life…" Paul smirked.

I think he meant receive the werewolf curse. "Fine," I said.

"Bring him along." Paul jerked a thumb in Jesse's direction. "Kill him if she tries to escape. The werewolf picked Jesse up and dumped him at the back of Paul's convertible. Paul opened the door, bowed, and waved for me to seat down first. Not knowing what to do, I went in.

I can't let them kill Jesse. I didn't travel back to the past just to see him getting mauled or me being a beta werewolf. But how can I escape?