Read Werewolf Parallel for Free Online Page B

Cameron instinctively ducked, but it was reaching for its nose. After what felt like an eternity – in which its claws made a horrendous scraping sound – the lion straightened.
    “You can board.” Its attention shifted to Morgan and Eve. “I’ll eat these two instead.”
    “Make that starters only.” Morgan snaked a hand down his neck, snagging a leather cord, and pulled up a yellowed ivory disc. “You see this? It’s a bone-debt, yeah? Between Janus and my pack.” He spun the disc, dangling it in front of the lion. Scratched crudely on one side was a crescent shape; the reverse had the now-familiar two-faced silhouette. “Debts have to be paid.” He cast a sympathetic glance at Eve. “Sorry, no sense us both ending up lion-chow, is there?”
    “Thanks so
much
,” said Eve.
    The lion emitted a drawn-out gravelly sound that might’ve been a sigh. “Yes. This is valid. It dates from the Old Time, the glory days of Rome; I can scent it. You may pass.”
    Morgan edged around the lion and joined Cameron in the doorway of the train.
    “What about Eve?” Cameron hissed.
    “I don’t know, do I?”
    There was a whistle scream, a
shush
of steam, and the engine began to send up fresh clouds of smoke.
    “Two aboard, and the train’s about to go. That leaves you.” The lion eyed Eve. “Barely a snack.”
    “So why bother?” Eve’s chin stuck out, although the tremor in her voice betrayed her anxiety. “You shouldn’t eat between meals, that’s what I’ve heard –”
    “Thanks for the advice, but I think I will. You looked the most delicious anyway.” With the casual grace of a predator, the lion began to amble towards her.
    “Do something!” Cameron shouted.
    “Like what, exactly?” Morgan shrugged wildly. “I don’t want her to get munched any more than you, but right now I’m out of plans!”
    “We’ve got to try!” Cameron dashed toward the cat, charging at its flank, trying to shove it off course. Smashing into its stone bulk felt exactly like running into a wall. The creature didn’t shift at all.
    “Mmm, satisfying,” said the lion. “Perhaps your friend could scritch my other side, even me out?” Another whistle-blast sounded and, with a groan of metal, the steam engine began to pull out from the station.
    Eve was backing away as fast as she could. Her feet skittered on a patch of drool-marbles, and for a moment she seemed to moonwalk, then she toppled backwards onto the platform. The lion was almost on top of her.
    Cameron’s eyes widened. An image had shot into his head, of a vast wardrobe his dad once moved. It had seemed unshiftable, wedged into the corner of a room, but his dad had tipped the wardrobe back on one edge and handed Cameron some ball-bearings to slide underneath. Once in place, they’d been able to
roll
it…
    “With me! Morgan!”
    He raced to the creature’s rear as the wolf-boy joined him. “When I say ‘now’, shove as hard as you can!”
    “Wha–?”
    “Don’t argue – just push!” Cameron shouted. “Eve – you’ve gotta roll
fast
, away from the platform’s edge!”
    Tucking her arms in, the girl spun towards the station.
    “NOW!”
    Cameron and Morgan slammed their full weight into the creature’s rump.
    With a crunching sound the huge beast slid, its flat stone feet rolling helplessly on its own patch of marble drool. Its blank eyes bulged as it slipped and skittered. Gaining pace, it trundled forward, crashing headfirst off the platform and onto the tracks with an almighty yowl.
    “That – was – amazing!” Eve gasped. “You’re a genius!”
    “Never mind that, come on!” Morgan gestured towards the engine that was now gathering speed, pulling away from the platform. “We’ve got a train to catch!”

CHAPTER 4
Roman Railway
    They leapt aboard just as the train passed the far end of the platform, and collapsed into the carriage in a heap. Cameron struggled to his feet, took hold of a convenient railing, and leaned out into the