Chapter 6

Turns out what they said was true. Dominic did have a good heart, or so it seemed.

I'd spent most of last night with him. Once I let my guard down and allowed him in, an invisible force connected us. I still found it strange. I'd never felt so attached to someone I barely knew. The attraction between us felt almost supernatural—as if we shared some invisible bond.

It was just past 6 AM, and I was preparing for my first run since moving to Wolf Creek. I'm not exactly a fitness enthusiast, but I do enjoy early morning jogs. There was no beach like in Malibu here, but the forest outside my door would have to do for now.

I fastened my watch to my wrist and placed my empty coffee cup in the sink. Sarah was still in bed; all these early mornings were taking their toll on her. I pressed play and headed out the back door to begin my journey.

An hour later, I had completely given up. I was lost, surrounded by identical-looking trees, and my phone had no signal at all. Being unfamiliar with the area and the countless forking paths made everything worse. I'd thought it would be a simple loop trail, but clearly, I was wrong.

"Why do I always get myself into these troublesome situations?" I groaned, wiping sweat from my forehead. I'd only wanted to clear my head with a run. I slid down against a tree trunk, hugging my knees to my chest. Maybe I should just pick a direction and try my luck? At least it was still early, with plenty of daylight remaining.

The snap of a twig nearby made me freeze. My heart pounded as I scanned the surrounding trees.

"Riley?"

I immediately felt hopeful and got to my feet.

"You have no idea how happy I am to see you," I said, my voice filled with relief.

Lucas stood before me with two friends, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "Lost?"

"Who knew these woods were so complicated? Can you help me get back?" I asked, trying not to sound too desperate.

"Of course, we were heading back anyway. Riley, this is Fred and Rick—you'll see them around school when you start." Lucas gestured to his companions before asking, "What are you doing out here?"

"Isn't it obvious?" I grinned, pointing to my running gear. "I like to run, usually on a beach, but since there isn't one here, I chose the forest."

"You shouldn't come out here alone. It's not safe," Lucas warned, his expression suddenly turning serious.

"Apparently there have been wolf sightings in these woods," he continued. "And I'm not talking about small wolves—I mean real beasts, The kind that make seasoned hunters turn back."

I couldn't help but laugh. "Wolves? Really? Are you trying to scare me?"

Lucas didn't join in my laughter. "I'm serious. Tim saw four of them here a few weeks ago, but he couldn't get close enough for proof. From what I've heard, there's a pack in these woods."

"A pack of wild wolves?" I asked skeptically.

"Don't say I didn't warn you," he shrugged.

As we walked in comfortable silence, I thought about what he had said. I seemed to have heard wolf howls on my first night here. But wolf packs in Montana? It seemed both plausible and strangely ominous. The boys walked slightly ahead of me, occasionally checking back to make sure I was keeping up. Before I knew it, we were standing outside my back gate.

"Thank you for helping me. Without you nearby, I might have been stuck out there for hours."

"Anytime, Riley," Lucas replied with a warm smile. "But seriously, don't go back there alone again. I'd hate to see a pretty girl get eaten." He winked, casually saluted me, then jogged off to catch up with his friends.

Before I even entered, I could smell fresh coffee. Opening the back door, I froze—my grandmother wasn't alone. Dominic, his father William Blackwood, and several friends were sitting in my kitchen eating breakfast.

"Enjoy your run?" Sarah asked, handing me a cup of coffee. I was glad she had seen my note. My grandmother was always a worrier, especially since we moved to this unfamiliar place.

"I got lost," I grinned, immediately drawing Dominic's attention.

"Riley, you need to be careful out there," Sarah said, her voice full of concern. "There could be all sorts of things lurking in those woods. Promise me if you go running again, you'll take someone with you."

"I'm fine. I made it back in one piece, didn't I?" I sipped my coffee, feeling Dominic's intense gaze. I realized he had a habit of staring like that.

"You should listen to your grandmother," William said firmly, setting down his cup. "Anything could happen out there."

"I ran into Lucas and he brought me back. No big deal," I shrugged.

"Lucas?" Dominic hissed, his knuckles turning white from gripping his cup. "Fucking Lucas."

He bared his teeth, standing up so suddenly that his chair crashed to the floor. I won't lie—he scared me. His reaction, his posture... he looked ready to kill someone.

"Dominic," his father warned, his tone low but carrying undeniable authority.

Then Dominic began to shake, his entire body trembling with what seemed like barely contained rage.

"Riley, could you do me a favor?" William asked, but I couldn't move. I seemed to be in a trance, unable to look away from Dominic's transformation. William gently gripped my shoulders. "Go get Nina." The second request snapped me out of it, and I ran all the way to the Blackwood house.

Bursting through the front door without knocking, my cheeks instantly burned hot at what I saw. Nina's intimate moment with Lucas left me completely unsure how to interrupt. I quickly turned away, biting my lip.

"I'm sorry, but you need to come with me now. Your father—"

And then I heard it.