My Wolf’s Bane(39)

He thrust it at me. I took the juicy burger, licked my lips and sunk my teeth into it. As I chewed, the flavor melted on my tongue and my taste buds rejoiced. I started to hand the burger back to Zack, but before he had a chance to take it, I swallowed and brought the burger back to my lips. Opening wide, I shoved it in.

Zack chuckled. “Should we order another one?”

Heat rushed into my cheeks and I pushed the food toward him. “Sorry.”

His eyes danced with amusement, the dimple in his left cheek appearing. “You can eat that and I’ll order my own. It’s totally fine. I think you need it more than I do.”

“No!” I finished chewing the stolen bite and swallowed, so I could talk. “I don’t know what came over me.”

“The movie starts in forty-five minutes,” Trevor reminded us.

When the check arrived, Trevor insisted on picking up the entire tab. It didn’t feel right, since it wasn’t a real date. But since he’d snatched it up and left the table to pay, I had no other choice.

Maya beamed when he returned to the table. “That’s so sweet of you.”

Zack and I led the way to the Jeep with Maya and Trevor lagging behind. Arriving at the car, I turned as they strolled toward us. Trevor looked at her adoringly, stopping to capture some stray hairs that had fallen over her eyes. She paused too, smiling up at him shyly. Gently, he brushed them off her face.

I wanted someone to look at me like that. The same way my parents looked at each other. I knew I was still young and didn’t need to settle down yet. But my age didn’t stop me from dreaming. I didn’t want to kiss a bunch of frogs first or compromise ever again.

† † †

In the dark theatre, Trevor and Maya sat in the middle with Zack and me on the ends, all loaded with popcorn and soda. The movie was an unimpressive action flick, but it provided cover where I didn’t have to do anything but take up space next to Maya. When the movie finished, we called it a night, but I would’ve loved to stop for a burger.

When Zack dropped me off and said goodnight, he was strangely pleasant as he walked me to my door. He didn’t scowl at me or anything. “No walking in the woods alone tonight. You’re safer at home,” he warned.

I rolled my eyes. “I’ll be fine.”

“All alone with wolves? Really?”

His show of concern made me want to agree. “I’ll consider that before I do anything rash. I promise.”

“Good.” He waved, then jumped into his Jeep and drove away. Maya and Trevor waved goodbye from the back window.

At home, I zoomed up the stairs, already stripping off the dress. Once in my room, I tossed it on my bed and kicked off my heels. I couldn’t wait to be in the woods and wasn’t planning on taking time to find a different forest without strange wolves. Throwing on sweats, a T-shirt and some sneakers, I tore out of the house.

The wind on my face soothed me and I lifted my chin to see the glowing twinkles in the darkness above. With my heightened senses, I drew in the night scents of pine and earth. My ears picked up the chirps of crickets and a small animal rustling in the nearby brush.

I’d never felt better in my life.

What undiscovered powers did I have? With my body’s ability to heal rapidly, could I be killed? Would I require a stake through the heart like a vampire or a silver bullet like a werewolf? Werewolves, vampires and leprechauns… I chuckled softly to myself at the absurdity of my thoughts as I raced past my neighbors.

Like lightning, I charged through the forest, with furry little animals scampering in my wake. As my lungs effortlessly took in air, a familiar scent wafted toward me and I slid to a halt, bits of dirt spraying the nearby shrubs.

Wolf.

He came into view beyond a clump of trees, dark and magnificent. A few yards away, he hesitated, almost as though he didn’t want to scare me. I can’t explain why I suddenly felt comfortable with this wild beast, but I did.

“I’m not in danger with you, right?”

He sat on his haunches and swung his head side-to-side as if answering no. I was not going to make anything out of that. He couldn’t possibly have understood me, nor could he know sign language.

I took his cue and sat on a nearby boulder. “So what’s your story?”

He rose, then slowly edged a few feet toward me. About a yard away, he sat again, his eyes alert. This was the closest I’d ever gotten to him, close enough to see into his deep green eyes and admire how the moon glinted off his dark fur. Beautiful.

I’d already been out for a while and the need for speed had subsided. “I should get going. See you here tomorrow?”

He barked once, then stood on all fours when I rose from the boulder.