Page 4 of Spike

"That's right," Clive said, relaxing a little.

I didn't like the way he closely examined me. My inner wolf was telling me to bolt as soon as I could.

"It would be poor form to just leave without saying goodbye to Jack, don't you think?" Clive asked.

"I just need some fresh air, that's all," I said.

"With your bag?" Clive asked, nodding to the pack I was clutching too tightly.

I forced myself to relax my hold on the strap and met his gaze evenly.

"I need to grab some stuff from my car," I said, keeping my voice casual.

"What's going on here?" asked a gruff voice.

A fit, gray-haired man in his fifties approached. Suddenly, it was hard to breathe.

The intense and massive aura coming off from this wolf... I realized, was overwhelming. It didn't take a genius to figure out this was the lead alpha of the Blue Vale Wolf Pack.

"Who is this, Clive?" the older werewolf asked.

"This is Gray," Clive said, providing no more information.

"Gray? I see. It's a pleasure to meet you, young wolf," Olaf said, extending a hand towards me.

Confused, I shook it, surprised by the strength in his fingers. I found it odd Olaf didn't seem surprised by my name.

Maybe Jack had informed Olaf he took a stray in for the night, or maybe it happened all the time in this pack.

Olaf soon left Clive and me alone, and I could breathe a little easier again.

"Alright then. I'll tell Jack to expect you later," Clive said with a smile I distrusted even more than the one Jack flashed me the night before.

I avoided a shudder as I exited through the front door. I could still feel Clive's stare behind me.

Once the door shut, the first thing I did was sprint for my car. Something felt very wrong here, I decided, and I didn't want to be a part of it.

2

SPIKE

I woke up, drenched in sweat, my whole body shaking. It felt like my skin was pulled tight over my bones, as if my inner grizzly was about to burst out.

The nightmare was still vivid, haunting my thoughts. For ten years now, I'd been reliving the same dream on this particular night — Austin, his smile wide, grabbing my hand, mischief sparkling in his blue eyes.

It was a clear summer day, the air thick with the scent of pine and freshly turned earth.

Austin and I, dumb and fearless, decided to skip the weekly clan meeting and challenge fate by entering the off-limits territory.

We felt invincible, ignorant of the dangers lurking around us.

Deeper into the forbidden woods, a chill crawled up my spine. I could still remember Austin, squeezing my hand and teasing me.

"What's the worst that could happen?" Austin had asked.

Those were the last words he ever said to me. Austin's laughter vanished, replaced by terrified screams.

I felt his hand slipping away, the memory engraved into my soul like a haunting scar.

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