ng afternoon light, trying to push aside the unease that clung to her since her patient's ominous words. She set the jar

he said, his voice low

im, surprised. "Is

le, his rugged features set in s

one. She glanced back at the empty clinic and then at the street behind hi

going?" she as

n said. "You need to see

her arms. "The forest? A

r, which means you're going to hear things about this town-things that don't make sense. If you w

d down on her, and against her

this is some k

" Kieran s

ab her coat and gloves before

-

erness. Maren's breath formed clouds in the frigid air, and the cold gnawed at her through her layer

ng for?" she asked, her vo

ieran replied w

most collided with him before realizing he was stari

their feet was st

. The snow was disturbed, as though something h

ring. They were large, far too large to belong to a human, w

though she alread

olf," Kieran

to follow the trail,

she said. "This co

eyes narrowing. "It *is* dangerous.

d nodded, following him

-

. A deer carcass lay in the snow, torn apart w

he murmured, her voice

reed. "That's what I've b

g the deep gashes that scored its flank.

saying 'it.' What are we

that's been killing in Winterveil for generati

hesitated, the word feeling abs

swer was blunt, de

any sign that he was joking. But

hough her voice wavered. "There'

r start believing. Because whether or not you think they'

but the sound of a distant howl

st night in Winterveil, low and mournful,

, his hand moving to the

him, every instinct screaming at h

-

cident, but the tension didn't ease. Kieran stoppe

g else you need t

rying to mask her fear wi

ne of this town. It doesn't affect everyone, but th

nd you're saying this curse i

us. Someone in this town is losing

ng to do with the cold. "And you

has to be. Because if I

unnerved her. "How do you

ening. "Because I've seen it happen before. A

and Maren felt a sudden, overwhelming urge

-

oom, staring at the cracked ceiling

t is one

t, the evidence she had seen in t

gain, louder th

throat. She scrambled to the window, pulling back

ted in snow. But in the shadows near th

o far away to make out clearly, but the figur

head turning to

d as the figure rose onto its hind

ment that felt like an eternity

, her mind racing. She didn't be

t there in the snow.