Page 293 of Warlords, Witches & Wolves

From my spot looking out the second story window, it resembled a dog only much bigger. As though it sensed me watching, its head jerked in my direction. My heart leaped into my throat and I jumped back.

Great. Wild dogs lived in the forest behind Joan’s house. Now I couldn’t even use the tire swing.

Once my heart stopped pounding, I inched closer to the window and took another peek. With its gaze locked in my direction, the animal stepped closer to the yard. Slowly, more of its body became visible. A long, narrow nose. I gravitated closer to the glass, kneeling on the window seat to get a better look. Dark, almost black fur. It must be a wolf. I’d never seen one in the wild and I never expected they’d be so…breathtaking.

The wolf stalked closer, now only a few feet from the grass. Wolves were predators, hunters, but Joan’s yard only offered dead plants. What did it want?

I considered calling out to Joan, but a strange sensation stirring in my middle made me remain silent. The wolf inched further forward, hesitant to step on the grass but evidently compelled to do just that.

My hand itched to sketch the magnificent creature, my fingers twitching to rake through its glossy fur. A fierce black wolf here in Woodland Falls.

It didn’t act like a predator. Maybe this place wasn’t so bad after all.

“Mia?” Joan beckoned from downstairs.

Mesmerized by the wolf and a yearning to see its whole body, a reply stalled in my throat. I couldn't take my eyes off it, let alone turn away.

I held my breath as the wolf breached the tree line. With my palm flattened on the window, I leaned forward until my breath fogged the glass. I sent a silent plea for the wolf to come closer. To rescue me. Then I wouldn’t spend an entire summer vacation alone in a dreary, country town.

When the wolf lowered its front paws on the grass, it stilled. Waited. Like one of those cowboy standoffs. The wolf met me halfway and my turn was next. A weird thrill I only ever got during art class made me ache to run downstairs, burst out the back door, and into the forest. I could forget why my mother dumped me here. I could run away and live in the woods.

Just me and the wolf forever.

“Mia?”

I squealed and spun to find Joan standing in the doorway. That woman was stealthy.

She smiled. “Didn’t you hear me calling you?”

Yes.“Sorry, I was looking at…”

“At what?” She frowned and stepped inside my room.

That stirring in my gut intensified, telling me to keep my new friend a secret for now. At least until I knew Joan wouldn’t call someone to take the wolf away or worse, shoot it with the shotgun hanging on the wall by the back door. If that happened, I’d never see it again and my forest escape plan would fail before it even began.

“Nothing. It was nothing.”

She waited a few seconds before nodding. “All right. Supper’s ready. Come down before it gets cold.”

“Sure.”

As her footsteps trailed back down the stairs, I peered out the window to where the wolf halted a few seconds ago. Only now, it was gone.

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