(1) Puppet (Preview)

Two: Coffee and Strangers

It was eerily quiet as each of us made our way back to Carter's house. I could still hear the sound of the wolf's cry in my mind; like it was telling a sad story and nobody was listening.

"Don't let em in," Crystal mumbled incoherently, slicing through the thick silence. I could tell she thought I was someone else, as I was the one who helped her walk. Her head leaned against mine and her voice lowered to a whisper. "The rogues will kill innocent people, so we better stop em!"

Rogue. Pages and pages of notes were stuffed under my bed about that topic.

"I think you've had enough for tonight," Donovan stated flatly. He gently took her away from me and carried her to the house. I narrowed my eyes at him. Secrets; so many secrets.

Carter shushed us after entering the mansion. We crept up the stairs without uttering a peep.

We were on the top floor, about to rush into his bedroom, when a creaking from another door stopped us dead in our tracks. One by one, we peaked over our shoulders to see a man standing with a stern expression and folded arms. He did not seem pleased.

"What's going on?"

"We were out by the lake," Carter informed in a low voice. One would only notice if one paid attention; his demeanour, usually casual and care free, was suddenly rigged and... angry, almost. "There are wolves out there."

The mayor, Henry, nodded his head once with his eyes showing a flash of recognition. He was quick to hide that look, but not quick enough for me to miss it. "Get to sleep, kids."

"That was a lot easier than I thought it would be," I said after we closed the bedroom door behind us.

Carter shrugged his shoulders, indifference rolling off of them.

Believe it or not, Carter's bed was large enough to fit all of us. I regretted the moment I first saw his bed; I asked why he needed it to be such a big one. The answer gave me nightmares.

Crystal flattened her body along the foot of the bed. Kat and I were in the middle with Carter beside me and Donovan beside her.

Carter and I were facing each other. Growing up with him, I'd learned how to read him. By the slight crook in his brow, passable as a glare, I knew something was up. Hearing snores from somewhere else on the bed, I decided to keep quiet. Instead, I mouthed the words, 'what's wrong?'

He shook his head slowly. I didn't push. My eyes closed tightly and I tried to think of anything else besides the sound of that wolf's howl. It was familiar.

Once my dreams began and I laid eyes on beautiful silver fur, I knew who that howl belonged to.

It was my beast. He came back.

♦

The next morning, I was the first to wake up. As a pleasant surprise, I got up headache-free and was able to stretch my arms without feeling like the world was going to spin. The sun playfully danced through the glass doors. I stepped outside onto the balcony and admired the beautiful view that Carter woke up to every day. I popped in my pills, grimacing as they went down my throat dry.

Despite the feeling of knives traveling down my throat, the morning air felt nice enough on my skin for me to relax in momentary bliss.

The sensation of my phone vibrating in my pocket sent a flurry of chills down my spine. Not needing to glance down at the ID, I pressed the device to the side of my face, feeling as my shoulders arched forward.