The Alpha Dire Wolf

Up close, he looked even worse. Blood was everywhere. “Oh, god,” I said, repeating it over at least half a dozen times. “You need an ambulance. I’ve got to go get you help. There’s so much blood, Linc, oh my god.” Full-blown panic was setting in. I was babbling, my voice rising to a fever…

Which is when three wolves flashed through the open area out of nowhere. Each struck with fresh force, ripping the elk apart. One of them even took a leg with it. The beast looked one way, and another wolf would hit it, leaving it vulnerable. I pounced, bearing it to the ground. This time I…

Only … only he had never actuallysaid that, I now realized. He’d deflected. Introduced himself, without saying a word. “So maybe I found the guardian,” I said to the journal entry. “But whatnow , Grandma? You didn’t tell me what to do after that. I’ve got nothing to go on. How do I retie this…

“I am working to protect our pack,” I said to everyone. “Not betray it. If I am successful, none of you will get hurt. Once I know her plan, once I have her in my grasp, we can counter it and protect everyone, including our pups.” Again, I felt dirty for included that last, a…

After the death of my grandmother and loss of relationship, I was more than a bit lonely. Any friend was a good friend right about now, at least while I was still in New Lockwood. “If you say so.” Charlene didn’t sound fully convinced, but she didn’t push harder. I drove on, my head on…

A tissue was clasped in my right hand, damp with the few remaining tears I’d shed after finally having a letdown from the accident. My eyes were half-closed, breathing slow and on the verge of lulling me into sleep. I was finally relaxed and ready to- I jerked upright, fingernails digging into the fabric as…

“Being aware it’s dumb means it’s not as dumb as you think,” Gerratt said. I nodded for Chase to ask. “What, exactly, are we looking for in there?” “No idea,” I said. “Anything. Everything. Something is going on, and right now we’re operating blindly. We need more information. Any information. Keep your eyes open. Watch…

So it was, when I pulled to a halt at the banks of the Dyne River, that all of us were breathing deeply, but not harsh. Taking time to recover, I scouted it out, not enjoying what I saw. The ground was mushy and soft, but not from the water. The undergrowth was rotted and…

I had gotten halfway to the cover of the trees when the wind shifted and came around. The stiff breeze rustled the leaves and flung new scents my direction. I tested the air and received a surprise. There was wolf on the wind this night. Padding forward slowly, I avoided the spill of yellowed light…

Walter Mayhew’s smile became so big it was like turning on a high beam. “Of course you may. My firm, and me specifically, I might add, was in charge of your grandmother’s estate. What is nowyour estate. All of it.” He cocked his head sideways. “Assuming youare the Sylvie Anne Wilson, granddaughter of Helen Wilson,…