Page 1 of Dead Wolf Walking (Bad Moon Academy 1)
Chapter 1
Raven
An ear-splitting howl fills the air around me. The smaller critters in the dark forest surrounding me grow silent, as if they can hide from whatever is prowling through the woods. My heart skips a beat, and the hair on the nape of my neck stands at attention. I stop running and spin, searching for whatever animal lies in the darkness.
Peering through the trees, I curse myself for being such a baby. There’s nothing there but fallen leaves, bare branches, and a bird or two. Glancing at the night sky, I wrinkle my nose and shake my head. The woods are always intimidating during the full moon. There’s something sinister about the way the white light bounces between branches and filters to the ground, casting looming shadow creatures about. There’s something sinister about the way the canopy presses in, as if wanting to crush me.
Another howl rises through the trees, and I hold my breath, waiting for another. The forest goes quiet. There’s something sinister about the silence.
Wherever the creature is, it’s close enough to put me on high alert. I about-face and head home, sprinting along the woodland path. Normally, I run in the morning, but tonight, after getting home from a shitty shift at work, I needed to be surrounded by trees. Needed to feel the air rushing over me, washing away the leering stares of men who see me as nothing more than a toy. I hate working at the bar when Aunt Lou isn’t there.
I come to the curve in the path and slow my pace so I don’t fall. There’s enough brush I can’t see what’s on the other side of the bend, but I push through, letting my paranoia fall away.
There’s nothing out here that can hurt me; I have my pepper spray.
Even I don’t believe the lie. There are plenty of wild animals out here. I’ve been lucky enough to avoid them so far. It seems tonight my luck has run out.
“Fuck.” I slide to a stop, staring at the wolf standing in front of me.
With glowing, nocturnal yellow eyes, he stands taller than a Great Dane, shifting on his feet, the slight movement making my breath quicken. This is not a friendly neighborhood dog; this is a beast who can kill me. Heart pulsing as I hold his menacing gaze, I lift my hands up to show I’m not a threat.
“Nice wolf,” I say in a soft voice.
The wolf bares its teeth, saliva dripping onto the dirt. I take a step back when it growls. Shivers shoot down my spine. He isnota nice wolf. Grabbing my pepper spray from my pocket, I start to work the top off. My fingers slip. I curse, trying again to open the stupid spray can.
They’re supposed to be easy access.Easy, my ass.
Finally my fingers find purchase, and I wrench off the cap. As if sensing my will to fight, the wolf leans back on its haunches and leaps. I don’t have enough time to raise my hand and shoot him with the spray. I scream at the top of my lungs and pinch my eyes shut as he crashes into me.
I topple over, landing on the earth with a hard thud. Growling and leaning toward me, he bares his teeth, making my entire body tremble. Some of that hot saliva drips on my face, and I cringe away from him, trying not to whimper. The worst thing I can do right now is show how afraid I am, but with him standing over me, it’s hard to be brave.
Aunt Lou would be so mad at me. If she knew I was out running tonight, I’d be dead. Though I guess it doesn’t matter because I’m as good as dead now. The wolf snaps his teeth; they clack inches from my nose.
Gripping the pepper spray, I press my body farther into the ground. Sharp rocks dig into my back. The wolf releases a deep growl, one that vibrates from his chest and into mine, making my heart stutter to a stop for a few seconds before it begins to pound so hard and fast that I can’t hear anything but its thudding and the wolf’s warning noises. I know without a doubt he’s going to bite me, and I won’t have enough time to spray him. I know without a doubt when he does, it’ll hurt. And I know without a doubt, I can’t escape.
For the last time, I let my scream rip through the air, praying someone hears my desperate cry and saves me.
The wolf strikes, biting my left shoulder. My fingers on that side of my body unclench and the small can slips from my hand. Pain lances through me, lighting up every nerve with excruciating hurt. I’ve never been bitten before, not even by a dog or cat. This is far worse than I ever imagined being attacked by a wild animal could be. With his teeth firmly embedded in my skin, he shakes his head, ripping apart my muscles.
He’s going to kill me.
With my last dredges of strength, I lift my uninjured arm and slam my fist into his nose, taking satisfaction in the way he whines. His teeth tear from me, covered in blood.
Glancing at my shoulder, I see a mangled mess of ripped flesh and blood. There is so much. Too much. I scream again, stomach turning at the sight, but I can’t seem to look away. The wolf lifts its head and echoes the sound with another howl. Gooseflesh ripples down my arm as our voices intertwine almost seamlessly. Sounds warble as a wave of dizziness crashes over me.
NO. I can’t pass out. I have to stay awake, otherwise I’ll be an easy kill. Fight; I have to fight him. No matter how much my mind is screaming at me to stay awake, I can’t. My eyes flutter closed and everything goes black.
* * *
I can’t breathe.
Running as fast as I can, pumping my arms and legs like I never have before, I sprint through the night. It doesn’t matter how fast I am: he is faster.
His breath is warm against my ankles. Those razor-sharp teeth brush my skin.
For what feels like the hundredth time, I scream into the night.
“Raven, get up.”
