Page 13 of Running with Direwolves
“Okay, okay.” He scrubbed his hand over his stubbled cheek. “I get it. I get it.” He turned back to the cage. “I’ll figure something out. I will.”
The direwolf sat and stared at him with his chin tipped. Almost as if saying, “I’ll be here waiting, go get on with it.”
“I’m sorry, I can see you feel passionate about this and—”
“Sienna.” Tarl’s voice had quieted. “You have no idea how I feel about this.”
And with that he strode away, back past the cages and to the gate. Then he was gone.
She looked at the direwolf. “You have quite the fan there, don’t you?”
He tipped his head, his attention on her absolute.
“And get ready for a whole load more,” she said. “The entire world wants to see you.”
****
Sienna’s day was a whirlwind of activity. There was the vet who was concerned about weight loss, then the press conference in which she’d been nominated as speaker, and a bunch of local dignitaries to meet, then the zoo’s board members who were full of questions and a crowd of excited schoolchildren.
Although she’d been polite and engaging, her stress levels had gone up as the hours had gone by. The direwolf was very unhappy and not enjoying the people and the cameras. The howls of the gray wolves were a constant background noise and a few times she’d seen him hang his head as though utterly despairing of his situation.
When it came time for her to go home, Ted was back on duty.
“I am sorry about this noise,” she said. “I gave them extra dinner to shut them up.”
“Didn’t work, did it?” He pulled out a couple of earplugs and dropped them on top of his book. “But I have come prepared.” He sat at his screens. “So, all good.”
“Very sensible.” She touched his shoulder. “See you in the morning.”
“You be careful out there, it’s dark already now the clocks have changed.”
“I haven’t far to go.”
Chapter Four
Sienna zipped her hoodie up to her chin and strode out into the darkness. Overhead the stars had dotted the sky and the honks of cabs sounded a long way off through the trees.
She made for her usual alleyway, frustrated when two of the lampposts weren’t lit. Quickening her pace, she glanced around. It was a walk she’d done a hundred times and more, but still the park tunnels freaked her out a little when it was dark. She blamed some horror movie she’d watched years ago.
The scent of mulch hung in the damp air and something above her, a squirrel most likely, shook a branch. Bracing for the tunnel, she considered sprinting through it but resisted. It would be okay. It always had been before.
“Hey you. Stop!” a deep voice and a flash of silver.
Her heart stuttered and adrenaline shot into her system. “What the?” She gasped and clenched her fists.
“I’ve seen you on the TV today, you’re rich, hand it over.”
A tall man wearing a black hoodie pulled up tight so all she could really see was his nose and a dark moustache, emerged from the shadows.
“What? I’m not rich. I’m not on TV.” She took a step backward.
He followed her. “Purse. Now.”
“I don’t have one!”
He spat and stepped closer with a long sharp knife waving in front of him. “Don’t lie, all girls have a purse.”
“I only have a phone.” She reached into her pocket.
