Kim held the massive wolf back. She was the only one strong enough. "Sarah, baby, come back to me." Sarah snarled, snapping over her shoulder, desperate to reach the woman Thomas was desperately trying to save. "Come on, my girl. I know it's driving you crazy. It's driving me crazy too."

  Thomas had torn off his shirt, pressing it to the wound. "Please, sweetheart. Thomas is your friend. We're going to scare him if we can't talk about this." She pushed every emotional button she could. "She's already down. Everyone's safe."

  Slowly, Sarah returned to human form-pausing briefly as hybrid, then thinking better of it and shifting fully human. "Did she hurt Thomas?"

  Thomas answered, voice steady despite the blood. "I'm okay, my girl. But it'll hurt me if I can't get her to a hospital."

  "I have to destroy that dagger!" Sarah demanded. "I'm the only one with fangs!"

  "When they take it out at the hospital, we'll go get it together," Kim promised. She felt the pull too-the cursed artifact screamed in her senses.

  Macy appeared at the top of the stairs. "Can you call an ambulance?" Kim asked.

  "Already done. Adam's on the phone with them now." Macy saw Sarah's distress. "Hey, Snowball," she said quietly.

  "What say we go get you some clothes, hmm? Thomas and Kim can handle this." She held out her hand. "And you know my nudity rules."

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  "You have to destroy the dagger!" Sarah insisted.

  "We will," Kim promised again.

  Sarah let Macy lead her away. Kim mouthed a small "thank you" behind Sarah's back as Macy led her away.

  Kim came up behind Thomas. "Thank you," he said, fighting to keep Jill alive.

  "I don't know if we're at thank you yet," Kim replied dangerously. "I'm just willing to be a bit more patient."

  "That dagger is dangerous," she continued. She didn't know how she knew-only that every instinct screamed it.

  "When the ambulance arrives, I'll pull it out. Sarah can destroy it."

  "What the hell is this woman, Thomas?" Kim asked. Her mind was clear now, sharp.

  "I don't know how to answer that right now. But there was a time she was a friend. It was a mistake I made that led her here. So please-let me save her." He pleaded.

  Kim nodded.

  True to his word, when the ambulance arrived, Thomas pulled the evil dagger free and handed it to Kim. "I'm going to the hospital with her. I'll call Macy or one of them when I have an update. And for the love of God, don't let your mother have any of that wine!"

  Kim already knew. The wine smelled rancid now. She could hear Shannon and Adam pouring it down the sink.

  When the ambulance left with Thomas, Kim went to join her friends.

  Sarah was in jeans and a T-shirt someone had found for her. "As promised," Kim said, lifting the dagger. It burned in her hands.

  Sarah transformed into hybrid form without tearing the clothes. Kim tossed the dagger in the air and Sarah brought her jaws down hard-destroying it.

  Macy stared. "You mean this was an option all that time!?" She demanded playfully. "From now on, save the nudity for Shannon!"

  "Hey," Shannon returned. "Gay yes. Into little kids no!"

  Kim was deadly serious. It cut through the banter, drawing all eyes to her. "Macy, can you still get that AR-15?"

  "Holy fuck yes!" Macy said.

  "We're not waiting for the adults. The best of them barely hold it together. We're not waiting for the full moon. Me and Sarah are going to find that thing and kill it. Anyone who can handle a gun can come. This ends tonight!"

  Macy practically jumped out of her seat. "Give me an hour."