Te Iubsec...Forever.

8 Wolves!

So, the hike back to the car was much more manageable. We struck out that morning after breakfast, no more poking around creepy piles of rubble, no more channeling the past, no more talk of Vampires or Strigoi, or blood, fangs, none of that shit. Franceska was quiet but calm and happy, smiling much more, like a weight lifted from her mind. Occasionally we held hands as we walked, and I caught her staring at her ring more than once. It filled me with happiness and hope.

Honestly, I felt better too. Still not sure what I had seen or heard, if anything. That's one thing that was still not clear in my mind. I couldn't put it all together seamlessly. It was like remembering things I experienced while having a high fever; none of it made much sense, even though I had a loose idea of what had transpired. This hiking trip was all right, but not what I had imagined or hoped for.

Ches couldn't get close enough to me. No complaints about that, however. When we stopped to set up camp again; she helped with every step, chatting with me like she had done weeks before when we met. She rubbed my shoulders while I prepared our food and pressed herself against me by the fire while we ate and relaxed. "Things" seemed back to normal. I, for once in my life, couldn't wait to get the hell out of the woods and back home. I wanted to lay with Ches on the pile of pillows under the windows in her den, warm, comfortable, within feet of indoor plumbing, and away from those creepy Carpathian mountains.

We talked about the coming week. She would still have a few days off once we returned home, barring any emergencies. She wanted to eat at her favorite seafood bistro near the apartment, of course, wanted to go dancing, and surprisingly enough, she wanted to finally explore the Casino Royale with me. I had been putting that off since my first night in town. I felt relief in the idea of life getting back to normal.

In the tent, she bundled herself in the sleeping bag, pressed her bare back flatly against me, held my hand over her, and fell asleep in only a few moments. I could hear the change in her breathing, so when I moved, she barely stirred. I lay there on my back and finally fell asleep myself.

When my eyes opened, the darkness was near perfect, then slowly, the red embers of the once-roaring fire outside the tent came into focus. I lay there listening to Che's breathing, contemplating going outside to add more logs to the fire. She had turned to face me and had rested her head on my shoulder. I could hear nothing outside, no wind, no rustling trees, nothing. But, what in the hell had plucked me from my sleep? Then just as my eyes adjusted to the darkness, something passed in front of the tent between the glowing embers of the fire. There was no mistaking it. Whatever it was was large, too, large enough for me to notice. I flinched at sight and scrambled out of the sleeping bag, patting around my bag for my knife.

I felt the cold metal crosshatched grip and drew it to my side. I looked back at Ches, who was beginning to stir. I was catching my breath again when a strange cry, almost ear-piercing and angry taunting, came from the darkness behind the tent. I found myself involuntarily moving closer to Franceska, and in doing so, I disturbed her.

She groggily opened her eyes and looked at me sitting over her, facing the back of the tent in the darkness.

"Nick, dear, what is it?"

I was about to answer when the terrible cry came again, followed by a guttural growl that started my heart beating even faster. Franceska threw the covers back, slipped out of our bag, and held my arm.

"It's a wolf, Nick. I will take care of this."

"What?" I demanded.

The growl came again, this time moving to Franceska's side of our tent.

"Calm down, Nick, and watch me. Calm Nick," she said, kissing me softly and forcing eye contact.

She unzipped the tent without putting on a single stitch and started out. I was right behind her and brought the knife. She stepped out onto the cold, wet ground without even flinching. I managed to put on my boxers but nothing else, and I was instantly freezing.