OV's in th

ri

d an eye agains

d, burying pack members myself. I had arranged flimsy truce

đứng at the front of a classroom while my buddy

he word still fel

tation, just acknowledgment so strong it almost compelled a shift in a packed hallway.

en years old. Someon

east she a

e bell rang, merciful and sharp, letting a wave of bodies into the hallway. He

rs, rain,

d ahead, host

" I mumble

or myself as i

empty. The walls still seemed too near. Her presence lingered like he

this was not

unrest infiltrating the forests. Not a curse encased in improbable deci

rted the school; every stride fa

and wary, the forest towered past the parking lot. My

d through me the minute

, and gut instinct. Sinking into the familiar weight of fur and strength a

y. I r

e earth blurred under me. I could detect the aromas of foxes, deer, fara

seeped into the atmo

sprang u

powerfully, an awareness warning flare. Hac

sent right away.

pering like secrets, the woodland whispered around me. Something felt not qui

used and mus

heavy, erratic scratch for

t stop t

's vi

ate was w

g long shadows over the unused area. Gold and red stained the wi

d the ability

ed my head when it got too noisy. Charcoal dust on my finger

hat was insuf

y canvas. Gray eyes, a nocturnal forest, the heat of a kis

the brush,

d window came a s

t my

d like...

rest pressed right up against the school ground

y skin p

the growl came before a sudd

ack from

ce sounded smal

ears. The charged air was heavy, like before a st

adow shifted.

de the window. Deep and wrathful, there was a growl then fol

ing else rather

grabbed my bag. It explode

cre

s Point

ere blazing with insanity and hunger. Pursuing somethin

fri

d

nted him

irly, snapping and slashing, yet dread caused him to be sloppy. I growl

no att

aws closing around his neck just hard eno

scream.

k caugh

oise; every sense screamed protect. The cowardice ult

fter him. Her

ra's per

, I collide

Warm.

ike the floor, str

voice said urgentl

rne. No

without thinking, fingers burrowing

he respond

gh my heart crashed against my ribs, I felt sec

me, his eyes scanning my face with a f

be here alone

believe.

more than I had said, t

far-off scream-sen

u must return home," he

g-" I'll get i

s tone broached

ard and nodde

doorway and scanned the shadows. Charged, danger

outside. "

. I said,

t very still f

d, "You're

and went back i

elve times that n

my home from my bedroom window. The moon was ascending,

faster the l

mething ancient and pow

sibly, I knew it w