f turned to a

pounding like it was trying to outrun the memory. The air smelled like

re coming," I

rner of her mouth with the b

ped like a st

ft mine behind-if they were even still alive. I didn't k

k wasn't min

e alone. That meant others were out there. St

ey want?" I

t all predators want. Terr

still. Too still. No insects. No wind. Just the so

ow how many

't kno

death was just

ready run o

ollapsed on the couch, arm clutched to her ribs, w

acked rib," I sa

had

y that

wince gave her away w

d st

is often?"

st a

strangers who

ug. "You're not a

yes then. A softness. A ques

ebook. Leather-bound, the corners worn, the pages yellowed. She fli

rt of a magic contract. Old blood magic. It binds the wolf to silence. If the

I heard of

aid. "And because it only works

red a

g he was boun

pack leader. Pr

e. "You think they sen

ned. "As a scou

temples. My body still ached from the fight, and my min

hispered. "Why

That's the part I

ot I dragged out from the backroom, I dro

hts on. Maddox had men stationed outside the post office like a damn mili

him

hiding

d since the fire ten years ago. They said lightning struck it. I

rough broken stained glass. And at the altar, carved i

wed c

sn't

s a c

-my town-w

thing cold slithered up my spine. I wasn't ju

someone else's

ss-legged on the floor with her notebook open and several o

hem caug

had dark hair like mine, but his face was sharper, h

's t

d from the Nordic packs almost a decade ago. Rumor is, he start

the pict

k he's be

I saw him once. Years ago. In a drea

about wol

ones tha

white. A figure crouched in front of a bonfire. Symbol

s. Control. He doesn't just lead a pack.

asked. "Why

nd for the first tim

use o

ze. "

random loner who ran from a curse. You're the last of a blood

llowe

mily i

ir legac

cing. "You're saying the

no

d softly, "they'll tear this town

t, I didn

roof again, watching t

aid nothing at first, just handed m

nk about runn

ry d

nd

find reaso

at her.

e of them,

touch. We

moment, some

that had nothing t

a.m., I

wl. Not

vo

kull like a whisp

nan

ked u

too. Her eye

heard

odd

ng," she said. "H

ho

c. The

ce came

rked... You

, growling, tryin

nly as it came, th

ft behind

my arm-fain

circle from th

into