Page 43 of The Alpha Dire Wolf
Boom-boom.
Boom-boom.
The drums heralded my end, my doom. When the wolf caught me, they would go silent. I didn’t know how, but I was sure that’s what would happen.
Just as I was certain the wolf was a he. My gut, my “sixth-sense” instinct, was telling me I was right, and I believed it. I always believed it. Why wouldn’t I? It was never wrong, had never led me astray. I trusted it.
Boom-boom.
I stumbled in the dark, glancing over my shoulder. As always, the eyes were right there. Bright. Clear. Unblinking.
“What do you want from me?”I screamed at it.
There was no response. I ran on, and on, and on, wondering if I was actually going anywhere. Was I on a treadmill? What was this all about?
Boom-boom.
Boom-boom.
The drums were growing louder.
The shadows grew thinner.
I looked around wildly as I could suddenly see. Up ahead was a river, the waters running fast and deep. Somehow I knew, if I could just clear the river, I would be safe from the wolf. It wouldn’t follow.
Charging ahead, through the trees that grew right to the banks on either side, I gathered myself and flung my body out into the river, trying to get as far as possible. But I didn’t landin the water. Somehow, I cleared the entire thing, landing on the far side, bouncing and rolling twice.
The wolf didn’t follow. It stood on the far bank, its entire form visible now, mottled gray fur with paws that sank into the soft, wet ground.
Boom-boom.
The drums were very close now.
The wolf stood still. Watching. Waiting.
Boom-boom.
The wolf whined unhappily.
I smiled, glad to have frustrated it, made it angry to have not gotten me. Apparently it didn’t want to cross the river.
A single word flitted through my head:Why?
Boom-boom.
If I could jump the distance, surely it could do so even easier. It was a wolf!
The giant beast must have sensed my thoughts. It bared its teeth and crouched low. Was it about to come after me?
Hairs stood all over my body. Warning signs. The wolf wasn’t looking at me. It was lookingpastme.
Boom-boom.
Boom-boom.
Boom-boom.
The drumbeat was getting faster and faster. Practically right on top of one another.
