r first official day. The air smelled like polished wood and fresh pai

over. Devon Grey was a puzzle she couldn't figure out. His intense gaze, his cryptic wa

to dwell on it now. Today

Clara barely looked

id, popping a piece o

ous smile. "Yeah. I

on's in the main gallery. Tr

inked. "Wh

lready gone bac

ath, Melissa turned an

collection of paintings. His sharp gray

late,"

ened. "What?

d toward the clock o

her lip. "

ost like he was amused

as one of t

d, turning without wai

crambled

gallery, Devon spoke in his

d. "It's about understanding it. Every painting

ed, determin

anvas. It was an abstract piece, fu

you see?"

t people would say it was just splashes of co

rokes aren't random. They frame the lighter are

irst. Then, he nodded s

ed she hadn't said some

id, moving again. "

ngs. She had helped take inventory, arranged a few new

tense presence, sh

h an old inventory log, she

tings had no re

acquisition details. Just a

ned around the folder as

eath h

ng was of

its silver eyes glowing under a full moon. It st

s stomac

wolf. A male. And they

lse pounded

erewolf-she

lis

e file shut, h

, watching her with his us

," he said. Not a qu

ned the file toward him. "This pai

is normally composed fac

eyes. "You know wha

ce stretched

ed closer, placing a hand on t

this-" she tapped the photo, voice rising, "-looks exactly l

t waver. "What do

tru

like he was debating something.

painting, Melissa

lood ran co

"You don't remember, but

ad. "That's... t

calm, but there was somethi

d. "Why do I feel like y

ed into a thin lin

s breath

h

vered painting in the fart

s skin p

aid softly, "do yo

allowe

t have to do w

e edge of the cloth. With one

sa ga

the same one from the fil

ale werewolf was s

room

real. This

s. Every part of her was scream

tepped

you?" His voice wa

s mouth

est. The strange s

s all

head, forcing out the wor

rkened. "Not ye

eath shudder

n, she knew

as waking u

as no stopp