Page 7 of Dead Wolf Walking (Bad Moon Academy 1)
“I think it’s time for you to go,” I say to the drunk guy, trying to defuse the situation.
“Bitch, you’re not the manager.” He swings around to face me, stepping closer.
Cringing away from his boozy breath, I get ready to tell this dude exactly who I am, but I don’t get a chance. The guy with dark hair slams his palm against the back of the drunk dude’s neck, pinching his skin and hauling him toward the door, dodging the sloppy punches thrown his way.
“Adler!” I shout over my shoulder.
“Already on it,” he says, jogging after the two guys.
The blond one rushes after him, probably to get his friend out of trouble.
Sometimes I hate work. This is two shitty nights in a row. Glancing at the clock, I groan when I realize I still have four hours left.
Fucking great.
* * *
“Do you want a ride home?”Adler asks, locking the cash drawer and turning off the lights behind the bar.
I tuck my tips in my pocket and strip off my apron, tossing it in the dirty linen bin. “No, I don’t mind the walk.”
Normally, I’d take the ride, but I need the five-block walk to decompress. After Adler sent the drunk dude off in a cab, he made the other guys leave. The rest of the night went without a hitch.
He comes around the bar to stand next to me. I meet his eyes, trying not to get lost in the deep amber colors. He’s so ruggedly handsome—the slight stubble covering his jawline, the veins popping out on his forearms, and his dark blue flannel shirt would make any woman weak in the knees. Adler is one of those guys who’s effortlessly handsome; he could roll out of bed and still make me drool.
Bringing his eyebrows together, he frowns. “Text me when you make it home.”
“Sure,” I say, following him to the back door. No, I’m not checking out the way his jeans hug his ass.
I’m glad he doesn’t try to force the ride on me, especially since I can’t go for a run. My mind needs a total reset, and I can only get that if my blood is pumping or by drinking. What I wouldn’t give to snatch a bottle of whiskey and drown out the world.
But I can’t. I promised Aunt Lou.
Waiting while he locks the door, I check the parking lot to make sure there’s no one lingering. Luckily for me, it seems all our patrons went home.
“Catch you later.” With a nod in my direction, he heads to an old blue Chevy.
I set off toward home, walking along the street, shoving my hands into my pockets. Dark clouds cover the moon, but there’s enough light from the streetlamps to make me feel less paranoid. The mace wasn’t much help with a wolf, but it’ll definitely help if some jerk tries to take me by surprise. Or at least, I hope it will. After last night, I think I need to work on my pull-out game.
Adler’s truck rumbles past, and he lifts his hand to wave before continuing on. I watch his brake lights disappear, picking up my pace to make the most of the walk. I get past the main street which runs through the town, turning right on Frisken Road. The sidewalk breaks away and a gravel path takes its place. Aunt Lou’s house is at the edge of town, right before the woods begin.
As I’m crossing from one side of the road to the other, a wolf howls. My heart skips, and I run toward the house. It’s half a block away. Another howl sounds, a different wolf this time.
This one is closer and distinctly different.
My spine tingles, and the hair on my arms stands.
I squint, trying to peer into the trees, but I can’t see a thing. Holding on to my phone in one hand and clutching my pepper spray in my other, I pick up my speed. Glancing behind me, I notice the clouds breaking apart, revealing the round globe of the moon.
Stopping dead in my tracks, I whirl around and gaze at it. The sky breathes in, rushing toward me. I lift my hand, hoping to connect with the power it holds, but something snaps, and I scream at the pain, collapsing to the ground.
My leg. It’s broken.
Before I can figure out what the hell happened, my other leg snaps, twisting at a weird angle and drawing a strangled groan from my lips. Something soft and fuzzy ripples over my arms. I try to get away from whatever is touching me, but my fingers crack.
“What?” is all I can get out before my jaw elongates, creaking and morphing from a human’s mouth to something other.
Something… wolfish.
