Page 4 of Snows Sinful Seven

“Of course!” She takes the money and rushes to grab it for me.

While I wait, I look around, a happy feeling settling inside me. This village is my happy place; the people are like my family. It’s the one place I have that my father can’t take away from me.

No one from the palace comes here, all of them too good to go near the poor—the exact words of my father. How messed up is that?

As my eyes slowly take in the subtle changes, my attention catches on something in the tree line. I squint, trying to get a better look. Then my eyes go wide.

No, I have to be seeing things, right?

In the shadows of the trees stands a seven-foot-tall figure. The only thing that size around here are the wolves, a pack of six Lycans that live deep within the forest.

I’ve never seen one myself, but I’ve heard they come to the village every now and again. For the most part, they live in solitude. They have an arrangement with my father. He leaves them alone, and they do the same.

My father has often talked about how much he hates that deal, but even he’s not stupid enough to mess with monsters. We’re merely humans. They are otherworldly.

While magic does play a part in our world, that's not what they are. They are simply beasts stuck in their form. Maybe they’re born like that, maybe they’re cursed. I’ve never bothered to find out more.

Two glowing eyes lock with mine, and it’s as if all the air within my lungs seizes.

My heart pounds, hands growing clammy.What the heck is wrong with me?

“Snow?” Mrs. Bark’s voice has me jumping. I spin around to find her frowning. “Are you alright?”

“Yes.” I nod a little too quickly. “I’m fine.”

She looks behind me, eyes scanning the treeline. When I look back over, I find nothing, and I’m able to settle my heart.

“Here you go, love.” She hands me a box with one hand and my change with the other.

“You keep it,” I tell her, not taking the money.

“But, Snow, the pastry is only five dollars.”

I smile softly and close her hand, making her fingers curl around the money. “Keep it.”

She swallows hard but nods. “At least let me get you something else.”

That has me smiling again. “I wouldn’t say no to a burger and fries.”

Mrs. Bark laughs. “I should have known.”

“Could you make it two orders?”

Along with the bakery, her husband runs a little pub on the other side of the building that serves the best burgers and fries.

Another fifteen minutes later, I have two bags of food. With the sun now set, I start to rush home. I might know this trail very well, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a risk to walk. It’s nighttime, and it’s surrounded by the forest. I could easily run into a bear or a coyote.

Or even a wolf. If one of the members of the pack ran into me, would they hurt me?

The town doesn’t seem too scared of them. From what I’ve heard, they’re nice enough. But in the dark, all alone, would that change?

Not wanting to find out, I practically run home.

A half an hour later, I’m back in the palace unseen. I should head straight to my room and eat the food, then hide the evidence.

But as I head towards my part of the palace, I can’t help but be pulled towards the room that’s been assigned to Regina.

At least my father had the decency to give her her own private space and not force her to share a bed with him.

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