Page 70 of Tempting Fate

I shove a hand through my hair. No big life decisions after ten at night. Except the one where I’m going to talk to Patch and Jamie, but I’ve been thinking about that all day, so it hardly counts.

Never mind. Time to go to bed. Things will be better in the morning.

I turn to go, and the wolf comes prowling out of the shadows behind me. I press the camera clipped to my jacket. I want to take my phone out, but it’s looking at me—It’s looking at me like it wants me to pay attention, which is a silly thing to think, but I think it anyway.

I hold out a hand. I don’t know if I mean to ward it off or if I want it to come closer. “Easy,” I murmur, keeping my voice low, quiet. “You’re okay. I’m not going to hurt you.”

The wolf cocks its head to one side. My eyes dart down. His head, sorry. His ears go back, but his hackles don’t rise. He doesn’t show his teeth.

“I think I know you,” I murmur, and the wolf whines, taking a step closer.

I can’t run. My heart is beating so hard it might burst and my limbs are all shaky, fear making me feel sick, but I can’t run. If I run, the wolf will chase me, and there’s not a chance I’ll get away.

The wolf whines again, making that strange little inquisitive sound like dogs do. It comes closer, step by step, and I want to pull my hand in, but I don’t. I don’t.

Not even when a wet nose presses against it, amber eyes staring up into mine.

Fuck.

The wolf stands there for a moment, and its breath is hot against my palm, but then its ears flick back. It turns its head, letting out a growl, but just as I think it’s going to head for the shadow making its way up the street—a person returning home from work, maybe, or a night out—it instead sprints into the darkness again.

I try to catch my breath. I feel suddenly bereft, like despite everything, I’m alone in the world, and I want to chase the wolf, to follow it back to its den, even if that’s obviously the worst idea I’ve ever had.

I shake my head instead and dart out of sight. Time to go home. No more chasing wolves; at least not tonight.