Wolf Sprung

Chapter One

Chapter One

KARA SHIVERED, her thin summer jacket doing nothing to shield her from the cold. The weather was considerably chilly this time of year. With summer just around the corner, Kara hadn’t expected the Rocky Mountains to be so cold in May. Rushing to get on the road, she hadn’t bothered to pack anything warmer. Used to hot weather, Kara did not own any thick overcoats either.

Even inside the car, she sneezed, and sniffed, her nose sensitive. That was probably her fault too, she’d never gotten around to getting the heater fixed. It still generated warm air, but not enough to protect her properly. Living in Arizona, she’d never really needed to get it fixed. Now she regretted it.

She’d been regretting all of things a lately, like not returning Laney’s phone calls when she should’ve. Maybe then her sister wouldn’t have gone missing. They’d been fighting over their mother again. Just thinking about that dead bitch made her stomach twist in a knot. Kara didn’t know what made her more upset, the fact that she was finally dead or that Kara would never get see her again.

 Her knuckles turned white while holding onto the steering wheel. Kara sighed deeply, trying to let of her anger. It was hard to let go. The mother she knew had abandoned her, had left her with a father who’d barely tolerated her existence. A part of Kara still blamed her for it. 

Her childhood hadn't been very happy one. She couldn’t even call herself a Grim Castor. In laymen’s terms, a witch. Her powers limited to only a few spells, and parlor tricks. On rare occasions she’d maybe get a vision, that’s if she tried hard enough

Technically, she was a witch, but not really. Her mother a werewolf, but what did that make Kara? A witch? A wolf? Neither actually. Though her magic wasn’t strong, her witchy genes had prevailed because Kara had never grown tail. Much to her father’s disappointment.  

Gritting her teeth, Kara’s eyes focused back onto the road, her beat up car, whining and sputtering to a stop off to the side. Looking down at her cell phone, the GPS had told her to stop here, but she saw no sign that read Cedar Valley. There was nothing but an empty road ahead. Rolling her eyes, Kara threw her cell phone onto the seat beside her, muttering a curse underneath her breath.

That’s what she got for buying a cheap phone service.

Turning around, she headed back again, thinking she might have missed it, but no.  Confused and frustrated, she made another U-turn, and decided to drive back to gas station she’d seen a little way back. She’d rather waste time asking for directions than try to find it herself.  

 Like the first time she had pulled up to fill her tank, Kara was the only car parked at the gas station. Leaving it on idle, she got out. The bell above dinged as she opened the door. The same man from before still sat behind the counter, sipping his coffee and reading a newspaper. He looked up at her as she had walked in, raising a thick brow and giving her a not to friendly smile.

   “Back again so soon, girly?"

His throaty voice made her hesitate, and not liking the look he was giving her. He obviously hadn’t wanted to see her again. For someone who rarely got any customers, she’d thought he’d be more welcoming.

Clearing her throat, she’d pulled out a small crumpled map from her back pocket. “I need some help finding some directions.”

He grunted and spoke again before she could finish asking. “What’s a pretty girl like you doing out in a place like this? Its best you head back where you came from. People like you don’t belong here.”

Kara ignored his last comment. That’s not what she wanted to hear. If hadn’t been for her little sister, Kara would’ve gladly taken his advice. She hated the cold, she didn’t understand how anyone could live up here, human or not.