JADE: Don’t worry about us! Your father and I will handle whatever comes up.
LIAM: I know. I know. Tell Gray I said hi.
JADE: I will. Love you!
LIAM: Love you too!
After paying the bill at the diner, I step out into the cool evening air, feeling a mix of anticipation and apprehension about what lies ahead. “Whispering Pines Trailer Park,” I mumble to myself and get into the car.
As I pull into the trailer park, I’m greeted by rows of mobile homes, their exteriors weathered by time and neglect. It’s quiet, except for the distant sound of chirping crickets and the sound of my footsteps crunching on the gravel.
Approaching one of the trailers, I can’t shake the feeling of trepidation that grips me.
It smells of wolf…and something else.
I knock on the door, but there’s no answer. With a sense of unease, I try the handle, and it turns. Pushing the door open, I step into the dimly lit interior. The furnishings are worn and outdated, and the air is heavy with the scent of dust and neglect.
“Hello?” I call out, with little hope of a response.
I move through the cramped space, searching for any sign of Elias or his grandmother. The place feels abandoned and I realize this is a dead end. As I turn to leave, I notice a photo album lying on a dusty shelf.
Curiosity piqued, I pick it up and flip through the pages, my heart skipping a beat when I come across a picture of Elias and what must be his grandmother. They look happy, the photo capturing a moment of simple joy. But it’s the next photo that catches my eye—a picture of a young boy, his smile wide and infectious. “And who are you?” I murmur.
Just then, I’m startled by a sudden rustling outside the trailer. My pulse quickens, and I step outside, coming face to face with a young black wolf. Its eyes lock with mine in a silent exchange.
For a moment, we just stare at each other. Then, with a flick of his tail, the wolf turns and disappears into the darkness, leaving me alone with my thoughts and a few unanswered questions.
What the fuck?
Chapter 33
Selene
Isit at my desk, angrily sipping on my blood, the metallic taste doing nothing to quell the fury bubbling inside me. How dare Liam show his face at school after what happened? The nerve!
The minutes tick by in a blur as I try to focus on the lesson, but my mind keeps drifting back to Liam and the tangled mess of emotions he stirs in me. Every glance in his little brother’s direction sends a jolt of anger coursing through me, and I can feel the tension building with each passing moment.
Finally, the bell rings, signaling the end of class, but there’s no relief in sight. Instead, Grayson approaches me, his expression somber and troubled. My heart sinks as he tells me he’s heading home and can’t be tutored today. Is it because of Liam? Did he warn his brother to stay away from me?
I nod solemnly, trying to push aside the worry gnawing at me. “Yeah, sure, Grayson. No problem. I have papers to grade anyway,” I say, forcing a smile that feels more like a grimace. “Take care of yourself.”
He gives me a sympathetic look before turning to leave, and I feel a pang of guilt for dragging him into this mess.
A bit desperately, I say, “I hope you know I wouldn’t hurt you.”
Grayson nods in understanding. “Liam knows, too.” His words send a thrill through me that I quickly suppress.
“Be careful, Grayson,” I tell him, forcing a smile. “See you tomorrow.” With that, I watch him go, my mind still swirling with thoughts of Liam and the complicated mess we’ve found ourselves in.
The classroom is eerily quiet as I finish grading papers. The empty chairs and deserted desks cast long shadows in the dim light. The air feels heavy with anticipation, and a sense of foreboding settles over me like a dark cloud.
I pick up the new phone I picked up just before work and contemplate setting it up.
I can do that at home, I think to myself. I want a shower and to rest after the day I just had.
I need the comfort of my familiar surroundings.
As I gather my things, the creak of a window catches my attention, making me start.