He had to get Adele, get her to a safe place. Then get back to the clubhouse, get the Prez to call a meeting. That should help them narrow their search areas, at the very least. Perhaps there was something in the files as well, deposits made at certain ATM's or banks, something they could put tech on to sort. Either way, it felt like he'd discovered something important, something that would eventually lead them where they needed to be to put an end to this shit.
Making his way to the door, he leaned against it, giving it a sharp rap with his knuckles. He still didn't know if there were any more lurking about, but they hadn't showed themselves when their pack members had died, so he figured he didn't need to worry about them too much yet, if at all. He needed to patch himself up, to heal. Then figure out how to get them both out of there safely.
It took a long time for the door to ease open, at least it seemed that way to him. When it swung outward, it revealed Adele, her face pale and worried as she stared at him. He knew part of it was likely all the blood coating him, but he had no doubts that she'd been watching, that part of the expression on her face was fear... of him. Of what he was.
“I'll explain later, Adele. I promise. I won't hurt you. I just need...” His voice stuttered to a stop as the world swam in front of his eyes. He had a moment to try to brace himself before he felt himself losing balance, the impact with the floor jarring. Vaguely, he heard Adele shouting at him, her hands shaking him, but he didn't have the energy to respond and tell her he was alright. His last thought before he lost consciousness was that he must have lost more blood than he thought, if this was the result.
He didn't know how long he'd been there when he blinked, eyes cracking open. He was still on the floor just inside the door, but thankfully it had been closed and the alarm was glowing softly, so Adele had reset it once he'd passed out. Going to sit up, he frowned, glancing down at himself. He was... naked. He usually used his electrokinesis to fashion clothes from the energy surrounding him after he shifted. Did he not do that this time?
He supposed with pain, he may have forgotten. He didn't think Adele would have had the strength to lift him and undress him, likely why he was still on the floor as well. In addition to being naked, his wounds had been cleaned and bandaged, only a pinkish haze remaining on his skin where she couldn't wipe him down well enough with the washcloths she must have brought over from the kitchen.
He appreciated the effort. Stopping the blood flow temporarily would allow him to heal faster, leaving them in less danger of another attack going badly with him not at full strength. Managing to sit up and lean against the wall, he froze there as he spotted Adele. She sat a couple of feet away from him, surrounded by bloodied clothes, a bottle of antiseptic, and a first aid box sitting opened next to her.
Her face was still pale, features drawn. When he met her gaze, she inched backward a few inches, putting more space between them. She was terrified. He supposed he couldn't blame her. After everything that had happened to her, this was likely the final straw to it all, the one thing she couldn't handle with grace and understanding. She'd just seen her new lover shift into a leopard and fight a group of animals on her property, leaving their dead bodies on the lawn. Anyone would be a bit shell-shocked.
He sighed before speaking, not knowing how else to soothe her. “What do you want to know? I'll tell you what I can, as far as I understand it, if it will help.”
Adele shook her head, opening her mouth and closing it several times, like she couldn't figure out what to ask first, or how to phrase what she wanted to ask. Finally, she whispered the one question he didn't have a great answer for. “How...? I saw you. You were a man. And then you weren't. How is that possible? I know I wasn't seeing things, but this can't be right.”
“You weren't seeing things. I can change into the form of a leopard at will. I don't know how it's possible genetically or physically. I'm sure people smarter than me have answered the question, but I don't know much about it. Just that when I was protecting the woman I told you about when I was younger and got shot, I shifted for the first time. It was fucking terrifying, I had no idea what had happened, what to do.”
“The guys from the club took me in, taught me what I needed to know. They gave me a family and a home, a pack. What you saw tonight was a group of rogues. We believe they are the ones kidnapping shifter women for their pelts and were working with your father. My job was to find a possible location for their nest so we can attempt a rescue and justice.”
She picked at the hem of her shirt for a bit, lost in thought, before she thought of another question to ask. “Are you still you? When you aren't? Would you hurt me? Someone else? I mean... you aren't human. Not really. And leopards are wild animals. Does that make you one when
