Page 24 of Sins of Autumn

“I do try my best.” I moved from the room and hunted down his leash, him trotting after me. His tail wagged furiously as I clipped it onto his collar. “Alright, big guy let’s go,” I murmured, heading toward the rear glass doors of the enclosed porch.

The outside lights were already on, casting a soft glow over the yard. The air was crisp, biting at my exposed skin as I stepped outside, closing the door behind us. I rubbed my arms through my sweater, grateful I’d kept it on. Moose trotted out ahead, sniffing around the manicured grass like he owned the place.

The yard was beautifully landscaped, with flowers and shrubs lining the edges, but beyond that was nothing but dense woods. The house stood in isolation, surrounded by the dark embrace of the woods, perfect for the quiet weekend. Now that night had fallen, the seclusion went from serene to unsettling.

The chilled air sobered me slightly as I kept pace with Moose. His rounded ears perked up near a cluster of bushes, his posture suddenly alert. I followed his gaze toward the tree line, my stomach knotting. The stillness around us seemed unnatural, the kind of silence that pressed in on you, amplifyingeverytiny sound. I heard a faintsnap, twigs breaking underfoot. The noise was distant, but it was enough to send a chill racing down my spine.

Moose stiffened, his muscular frame going rigid as his stub of a tail lowered. His body vibrated with tension, and I felt my own heartbeat spike in response.

“Don’t even think about it,” I whispered tightening my grip on his collar. He was well-trained, but he was still a dog. If something caught his attention, he could drag my ass straight into the woods without a second thought. The last thing I needed was to stumble after him, drunk and half-blind, into the dark.

I scanned the tree line again.

Shadows danced with the faint sway of branches in the breeze, but nothing moved. Nothing that I could see, yet the prickling sensation along my neck refused to go away. Moose let out a low growl, the sound barely audible. I tugged gently at his leash,

“Come on. Let’s go back inside.”

He didn’t budge. His body stayed taut, his gaze fixed on the same dark patch of forest as if he could see something I couldn’t. My eyes darted back to the tree line, desperate to find what had set him off. A rustle came, softer this time. I tightened my grip on Moose’s leash.

“Moose,” I whispered, my voice barely steady. “Let’s go.Now.”

This time, he obeyed, though his steps were reluctant, his attention still trained on the trees. I couldn’t shake the feeling that someone or something was watching us. My hands trembled slightly as I led him back toward the house, the porch light casting a pale glow ahead of us.

I locked the door firmly behind us, shaking off the unease that clung to me. “We’re fine,” I told myself and him, giving him a quick scratch behind the ears after I unclipped the leash. He padded off seemingly unbothered now. I stood there for a few minutes longer, chewing on my bottom lip as my eyes scanned the darkness outside through the windows. I felt stupid when I finally turned away and went to wash my hands.

“Are you good?” Cherish’s voice startled me as I reached the sink.

I hesitated, debating if I should say something or not. “Yeah. I just… I don’t know. It felt like someone was watching me out there.”

“Do you want me to send the guys out to check?”

“No,” I said quickly, shaking my head. “No, I didn’t see anything—just trees. Probably nothing. I had Moose out there with me.”

The voices of my friends and the music playing carried through the house, and I let the sound pull me out of my head. I dried my hands and Cherish passed me off a fresh drink.

“I made this while you were out there, figured you’d be ready for the next one.”

“Thanks,” I said, taking a sip.

The burn of the alcohol was a comfort as I followed her back into the dining room, where Daniella was already shuffling the Uno cards with a wicked grin plastered on her face.

We were well into the game, the sound of drunken laughter and slurred insults bouncing off the walls.

I wasn’t sure whether my vision was blurred from the alcohol or from the tears that kept coming as I laughed at Cherish’s attempt to cheat her way to victory.

It took my alcohol-muddled brain a few seconds to register the loud knock that echoed through the house, cutting through the music and conversation. We all exchanged uncertain looks.

“What the hell?” Liza slurred. “Did we order food?”

“No, Miss Piggy,” my sister teased, poking her side and earning a playful swat.

“I’ll see who it is,” Gabe said, pushing back his chair.

“Hold up,” I called, patting my lap to call Moose over. He trotted to my side, his tail wagging lazily as I grabbed his collar to keep him from running toward the door.

Another knock came louder this time, and Naija crept up behind Gabe as he headed for the foyer.

The dining room was tucked away, so none of us could see the door, only hear the knocks as they reverberated through the space. I heard the lock turn and then Gabe’s voice.

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