My Wolf’s Bane(34)
I happily drove off with Zack, thinking about our shopping tomorrow. Wait. That was when we had the get-together with Trevor and Maya. After school, would I have time to car shop and still shower? “We’re all going out tomorrow night.”
He looked pensive a moment. “Trevor made dinner reservations for seven, so we’re not picking you up until six thirty. If you can get ready in an hour, we can still car shop if I drop you off at five thirty.”
That didn’t leave much time, but even an hour would be worth it. “I could meet you at your house after school.”
“It’s a deal.” Zack pulled into the lot of the deserted auto shop where I’d left my car. “Except I’ll pick you up at your house.”
“Sounds great. I’ll see you at school tomorrow.” I smiled, getting out of the Jeep.
Zack waited until I started my car before driving away. His bad attitude aside, he had great manners. Gentlemanly. Protective. But I couldn’t let his good side get to me. Not only because of his negative feelings for me, but also because I hadn’t forgotten he was seeing Gina on Saturday.
As soon as I arrived home, out of habit I automatically searched for my backpack to do my homework, then remembered I’d left it in my locker earlier when Gina derailed me. Damn. I’d have to arrive to school extra early tomorrow and get everything done before my first class.
I was dying to get out and feel the wind against my face. To run. The woods called to me, but it was still light outside and I didn’t want my neighbors to see me leaving. They might tell my parents, who didn’t need to know I was stealing away all by myself into the forest. They’d only worry. Even in the dark, I’d make sure to run fast enough that no one could identify the blur.
Common sense told me to stay home, away from mysterious wolves and anything else that lurked in the night, but the urge to stretch my legs triumphed. So, shortly after dinner, I changed into sweats and slipped out the back.
With more strength came better control of my body. I made only the faintest of sounds with each movement, which could be mistaken for a raccoon or some other small animal. I leaped over fences, sprinted through back yards and across the field, slowing when the trees appeared in front of me. The run had invigorated me, like my body hungered for it.
I scrambled up a tree trunk for a better view of the woods, then stopped, sensing a presence. Wolf? Peering down from a branch up high, I spotted a huge black wolf below and wondered if it was the same one as the night before. How many black wolves of that size could there be?
The wolf raised his snout and tested the air, which seemed fitting since my trail ended at the tree. I remained motionless above to not alert him of my presence. He seemed fairly tame last time, but for all I knew, he hadn’t gone after me because he’d just fed. What if he was hungry now?
After what felt like an eternity, he trotted off. Thankfully, not in the direction of my house. I seized the moment and dropped from my spot in the trees. Tomorrow, I needed to find a place to hang out that wasn’t inhabited by an oversized wolf. In the meantime, some wolf research was in order.
At home a few minutes later, I lounged on the sofa, my laptop resting on my thighs while the television blared to keep me company. The Internet offered endless information on wolves, so I easily found what I needed.
Sizes varied widely, depending on the type of wolf, with an average of forty to one hundred and twenty pounds. However, there were occasions, although rare, that wolves had been discovered in Canada, Alaska and Russia weighing up to two hundred pounds. Comparing my size to the wolf’s, I guessed he probably weighed at least that.
But it’s not like we were far enough north to warrant a two-hundred pounder. So, what was a big wolf his size doing so close to a Los Angeles suburb?
† † †
Friday morning, I arrived at school earlier than any sane student. Luckily, the diligent staff of Verdugo Hills Academy got started well before their pupils, opening the doors and giving me access to my locker. Retrieving the neglected backpack, I took it back to my car and powered through my homework.
I’d wrapped up the last of it when someone tapped on my window and I flinched. Zack pointed at the building, then disappeared. I checked the clock on the dash. Damn. If I didn’t hurry, I’d be late for my first class. Zack to the rescue again.
During lunch, before Trevor had a chance to monopolize Maya, I cornered her to plan the logistics of the upcoming evening out. Zack and Trevor had already arranged to pick up Maya, then me. I suggested that we all meet at a designated spot, but she insisted that Trevor was adamant about seeing us home safely. Great, so I’d be trapped with Zack and unable to leave anytime I wanted.