Page 24 of Through the Wicked Wood

The fur on his nose is short and coarse, the wetness of his snout is cold against my clammy hand as he nuzzles deeper into my touch. A low vibration exudes from his throat as I stroke the bridge of his nose a few more times. My hand moves up to scratch behind his ear, the thick fur is lush against my palm.

“What are you doing all the way up here?” I whisper, disbelief still making me doubt that this is truly happening. Wolves are only known to roam the southern forest, but maybe he got lost. Turned around somehow.

Licking my hands, the wolf whimpers as I begin to pull away. Taking a step back, I get a better gauge of how large he really is. Standing on all fours, he reaches just below my shoulders. I graze my hand over the top of his head and down his back. His fur, perfectly woven gray and white. No matted blood as I last saw him by the river.

“Do you have a name?” I ask, as if it’s a completely sane thing to be doing. Then, before I can question my sanity further, a word splays itself across my mind. In a flash it’s there, and even quicker, it disappears.

“Alaric,” I say the name aloud as the wolf bows his head, bumping me under my chin with his snout. My laugh startles both the wolf and myself, we both jump back which only makes me laugh harder. Entranced by this powerful animal, the sharp snapping of branches coming from behind us draws me from my haze.

“Elora!”

Sorin’s voice cuts through the woods, the crunch of leaves loud and prominent as he makes his way closer. I open my mouth to shout that I’m okay but the moment I do, the wolf bolts in the opposite direction and down the hill.

“Alaric, wait!” I whisper after him, but I’m too late. His figure disappears down the hill and into the deepest part of the woods.

Sorin’s breathing is heavy as he reaches me. Did he run all the way here? I don’t bother turning around as he approaches, my mind transfixed on what has just happened. I can’t tear away from the direction the wolf ran to.

A new voice pops into my head.

“Follow him,” the angelic voice whispers in my ear. Ethereal. Ancient. Without giving it another thought, I take a step toward the hill. Only, before I can make it any further Sorin’s hand wraps around the back of my arm.

“Elora, I heard a howl and—” he cuts himself short, noticing my hesitation. My eyes drag from his, down his body, landing where his hand grips my arm.

Stammering, he drops my arm. “I…I’m sorry, I just thought I heard a howl and when I couldn’t find you at the house I…” His voice trails off as he tucks his hands into his pockets. He wears his worry the same way he wears all his other emotions. Blatantly.

“Something told me to come here,” he continues, running a hand through his hair. His face truly looks perplexed, but I can’t find it in me to care at the moment. “That I’d find you. I can’t explain it. I just felt…” He shakes his head, letting loose a long breath. “So, are you all right?”

Relaxing my face, I attempt to let go of my frustrations. He is genuinely concerned about my wellbeing. Likely to ensure his guide into Valebridge stays intact, but concerned nonetheless.

“I’m fine,” I offer. “I came out here because I needed some air and then…” I let my words linger, glancing toward the ground. How absurd will it sound if I explain that I ran into the wolf from a few days ago and instead of ripping my throat out, it nuzzled my hand and let me scratch its back?

He'll think you’re crazy.

I let out a long sigh as the voices in my head return. The weight of their burden resting heavily on my shoulders once again.

“Then I heard something, a howl, like you said. I was just on my way back to the house.” Guilt lines my stomach as I lie to Sorin. I want to trust him and for him to trust me. But whatever this is with the wolf, I need time to figure it out on my own first.

Studying me for a moment, he gives his head a quick nod. “I’m glad you’re okay.” He appears genuine, despite how harsh I was just moments ago. Turning on his heels, he heads back in the direction of the house. With a final look to the hill where the wolf disappeared, I reluctantly turn to follow him.

Glancing back over his shoulder, Sorin says, “I was coming back to the house to look for you anyway.” I lock eyes with him briefly before he turns his head away. If he hadn’t followed me into the woods, I could have followed the wolf. Could have found…

There’s nothing for you here, Elora.

“I was thinking I could show you around Loxley before we have dinner together.” Sorin’s words catch me off guard.

“Dinner?” I snap, frustrated to have an obligation to attend to later. Frustrated I have so many questions from today and no answers. First Agnes, then the wolf. And now, a dinner of all things.

Stopping, he looks back at me and lets out an irritated sigh. “If you have something better to do, by all means. I’m sure Agnes wouldn’t mind the company.” His smirk reveals that damn dimple and I have to stop myself from tripping over a branch at the sight of it. Get it together, Elora, I tell myself. I push my way past him, taking the lead on the final stretch through the woods.

A day alone with Agnes after this morning’s encounter sounds about as enjoyable as a day spent with a fire throwing sprite. “That all sounds fine,” I grumble, keeping my eyes to the ground.

Chapter 13

Elora

We stop briefly back at the main house to drop off our cloaks now that the clouds have burned off. Sorin disappeared to his bedroom, giving me a few moments of much needed silence as I recoup in Sam’s room.

My mind races thinking of the wolf in the woods. Alaric, I remind myself. This connection with him is unlike anything I’ve ever felt before and I begin to doubt what I actually experienced. Did I really hear his voice in my head? Or was that just another trick my mind so often plays. And the other voice? Where did it come from?

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