Samuel hated the moon. It hung low and fat over the quiet town, silver light bleeding through the pines-an ever-present reminder of the nightmare it had made of his life. Please God, not tonight. He prayed.

  As the sun sank, he stumbled toward St. Agnes Church. Father Jeffery saw him from the steps and rushed him inside. The pain was already starting-bones grinding, skin tightening like it might tear as the monster fought its way out.

  "Downstairs, son," Jeffery said, gentle but urgent. "I wish you'd let me talk to her. She's a friend."

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  "No!" Samuel snarled-immediately sorry, but the anger fought it down. They had converted the church sub basement into a reinforced room where Jeffery kept the meat locked away.

  The giant ape-man appeared before the sub basement doorway-ferocious, eight feet of matted fur and muscle, fangs protruding in a snarl. Two more loomed behind him, eyes glowing in the dim light. Jeffery stepped back, terror flashing across his face.

  "You want to fight?" Samuel's voice was a loud growl, barely human. Five of them filled the basement now. "Why can't you just leave me alone?"

  Blinding pain exploded through him as the wolf tore itself out of his body-muscles ripping, spine cracking, a howl ripping from his throat. The only blessing was that for Samuel it all went dark.