Whispers in

h's

y ought to stop

g in a low, almost secretive manner. His gaze strayed to the win

I said, "I don't scare easily,"

y revealed me his name after I had pressured him hard enough. "Fear is not the issue here. Th

up for warmth and said, "Perhap

amusement. "They

th most of the tables deserted. Word had gotten around about the wolves, or what

go further. "Are you

piercing. "You mean the ones that a

rd and nodded.

stening. "They began many years ago. A few animals here and there, followed

y gut, I persisted. "What

"I've never seen one. And I'

ause I was afraid of the response. "What a

ious. "They're not

through me. "What

our head down and stay out of it,

self than to him,

breath and shaking his head, Joe

of the customers avoided making eye contact, instead focusing on the fire or their beverages. A l

table after

nd if I join

s from her. "Aren't you the on

into the seat and

ife stating things that no one wanted to hear. "You've got nerve

ly both,"

in. "Margot is the n

ded. "What can you tell me about the e

ile leaning back in her chair. "

responded

mysteries in this community that have been held for ages. W

With my pulse po

ome claim to have been cursed, while others claim to be the ones preventing

rks and how he had vanished into

type that is ambulatory during the day and

y further. Ethan was standing in the doorway as I turned aroun

voice that was a dema

her glass as she stiffened. "Tal

ling as he strolled across the room. He paused n

e tone, he said,

nd said, "I'm in the

rn yet hushed voice. "You'r

ot a pitying look. She nodded sl

l in the air when Ethan led me outdoors. The hamlet

led me to the edge of th

he said, "You're aski

s because nobody is an

uddenly. "Are you even aware

until I do, I'm n

eved he was going to protest. Rather,

hadow," he said finally

ywhere," I said,

ross his eyes as they sought mine. "You d

ain it to

ttural growl cut through the silence. It came fro

Shadows shifted between the trees, and for a moment, I

Ethan said, hi

u?" I asked,

said, his tone leavin

er this time. Ethan stepped forward, his bod

id without

n toward the tavern, my brea

nced back just in time to se

possibly, he