Page 73 of The Howl
“Fenris, I wasn’t trying to be mean. It’s just not easy being around you.”
He looked down at my hand then met my gaze.
“I know you don’t have a mean bone in your body. You just need to trust yourself more. Stay. I’m due for a run, anyway.”
He patted my hand then left. If I wasn’t mean, why did I feel like such a horrible person at the moment?
Alone, I looked around the cabin. There wasn’t much to do other than sit in a chair and watch the fire. So I did. The crackle of the wood and flicker of the flames was as soothing as it was mesmerizing.
Kicking off my shoes, I made myself comfortable. The log burned down, and I added two more, not yet ready to leave. As Fenris had pointed out, I needed this place. I had nowhere else to hide from my life problems.
The cabin grew warmer, and my eyelids grew heavier.
I knew I was dreaming the moment I was walking through a forest. Only this time, there weren’t any skunks. Food, hung by strings, dangled from the trees. Everywhere I looked, there were cakes. Spiced cakes. Chocolate cakes. The further I walked, the more decadent they became. Saliva pooled in my mouth. I needed to eat one. Instead of grabbing it, I opened my mouth and pulled a strand of energy from it. The tree shook, vibrating the ground on which I stood.
It scared me. No, it terrified me. Everything about the dream was wrong, but I didn’t understand why.
“Shh…” the tree echoed. “You’re safe. Take what you need.”
Another cake dangled in front of my face. Lava cake. I wanted it so badly. I opened my mouth and consumed it. And the next one. And the next. They didn’t stop appearing, and I didn’t stop feeding until I felt bloated with cakes.
I smiled and smacked my lips. In that moment, I knew what was wrong with the dream. My cakes tasted like Fenris.
With a gasp, I sat up in my chair and looked around the cabin. I was alone, the logs nothing more than coals. Yet, the taste of Fenris lingered.
I grabbed my shoes and jacket and hurried toward the door. On the porch, I almost tripped on Fenris’s pile of clothes. Pausing, I scanned the trees. Everything was quiet. I bent down and touched the material. Still cold.
“Thank the gods,” I whispered.
Calmer, I shrugged into the jacket, slipped on my shoes, then retraced my steps back to the car. It didn’t seem to take me long because I wasn’t yet freezing when I got in. The seat was cold, though. I started the car and noted it was after midnight and probably safe enough to go home.
I executed a tight Y-turn and headed out the way we’d come. Having lived in Uttira for four years, I knew about where I was. The werewolves occupied a large chunk of land west of town. As long as I headed east, I’d eventually hit a familiar road or the barrier. I shivered and hoped I didn’t get that far. Accidentally running into the barrier that kept all the underage creatures locked in wasn’t a pleasant experience. I recalled that it had taken days for the smell of burnt hair to fade from my sinuses.
At the end of the road, I turned left. The headlights illuminated the trees on the other side, and I caught a flash of eyes. I really hoped it wasn’t one of Fenris’s girls. I’d feel horrible if they discovered his hiding place because of me.
I watched the mirror, trying to see what or who it was, but nothing showed up in my tail lights. Unsure what to do, I decided to text Fenris when I got home, just to give him a heads up. It took almost an hour to find my way back, though.
Thankfully, most of the house was dark when I pulled into the garage. I sat there for a minute and debated what to say. Fenris’s phone was likely still on the porch, and who knew who was there to see what I sent him.
Thanks for giving me a quiet place to stay. I hope it doesn’t cause you any trouble.
I waited, but there was no immediate answer. He was either still out running or finally sleeping.
Tucking my phone into my purse, I went inside and quietly made my way to my room.
* * *
“Wakey,wakey. I have something better than eggs and bakey.”
I tiredly opened my eyes and looked up at my mom’s smiling face.
“Well? What do you think?”
A hand settled on my stomach, and a male rumble of appreciation resonated in my left ear. A full-grown tongue licked my right ear.
I bolted from the bed, clipping the testicles of one of the boys based on his groan. Shaking, I stared down at the pair. They’d been under the covers with me. Naked. The one who wasn’t cupping himself grinned at me.
“What’s wrong?” Mom asked, looking from me to the boys.
