FIC: Wolves at the Gate (Family Secrets)

[valeriev84]

Title: Wolves at the Gate
Series: Family Secrets
Author: Valerie Vancollie (valeriev84 [at] hotmail.com)
Characters: Don, Billy Cooper
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Don runs into trouble when the fugitive he and Billy are hunting turns out to be more than human.
Spoilers: Man Hunt
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Numb3rs characters, items or situations. I only lay claim to the original aspects of the fic.

Don managed to get off two wild shots before the large wolf was on top of him, knocking him to the ground and he had to resort to using his gun to block the animal's teeth from going for his throat instead.

"Coop!" Don cried out desperately, trying in vain to knock the crazed animal off of him.

What the hell was happening? Wolves were only supposed to attack people when they were starving.

Or had rabies.

The horrifying thought occurred to him just as he heard a howl over the snarling of the wolf on top of him. He felt his blood freeze at the thought of more of the creatures; he'd be ripped apart!

The attack came so suddenly that Don could only stare at the moon and stars for a second before he realized the wolf had been dislodged from atop him. Leaping to his feet, he was confronted by a bloody fight between the black furred wolf that had attacked him and a new reddish-brown one. Although a part of him urged him to run while he could, he was unable to tear his eyes from the snarling wolves. Then, abruptly, it was over with the reddish-brown one sinking it's teeth into the other wolf's throat.

Don had his gun up and pointing at the wolf even before it finished turning towards him. Instead of crouching to pounce or continuing to snarl, the wolf whined and lowered itself to the ground. Confused, Don considered his options but froze as the carcass of the black wolf seemed to shimmer before morphing into the form of the fugitive he and Coop had chased into the woods.

"What the hell?" Don muttered, not believing his eyes.

The reddish-brown wolf seemed to sigh before it too shimmered and transformed.

"Coop?!"