WOLVES WITHIN WALLS

day, casting long rectangles across her half-unpacked boxes and the tired curve of her spine. She stood up from bed, and walked

made it, u

ments that smelled like regret and old takeouts. Just silence, space, and the luxury of be

like...a man? No. Two. No. Three? Their shadows moved unnaturally, like they were built from smoke. One of them looked up s

ne. Immediately,

ed to herself, shaking off the co

s, sleek furniture that looked like it belonged in a magazine rather than a home. The only

ealtor handed her the keys with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Don

ere only

ys anyway. The price was a steal. And who car

o the weird. She

d into bed again and the city's sound faded int

ratc

berate. Righ

yes fle

ed. But the sound continued. A slow scr

," she whispered, because naming a fear m

Three quick taps

ra f

e wa

oth

t of bed and tiptoed to the door.

ne was

xce

jerked

ned and exquisite black suit, he looked like he'd stepped out of a fashion ad-but something about him was wrong. His

ose silv

ions. Like a storm

shut and backed away. Her

inutes

en t

didn't

******

in the building lobby. The concierge smiled too widely, and

e other tenants on my floo

rge replied, still smiling.

tated. "Then who

across the man's face, his smili

"B

e said smoothly. "Corporate storag

te storag

rning light and let the lie se

*******

The alley was quiet. No strange movements

ed away-an

anding in h

Stillness that felt like

"H

oor unlocked," he

e ha

uilding," he continued, voi

thing-a lamp-and raised it

move. Didn't

e not sa

into my home and thr

Not quite a smile.

hen he

next, empty space and a spinning la

art slamming against her ribs.

htmare. She must be sleep

had t

orning, there

from the kitchen to the door. N

had walked in from a place th

*******

ready to demand answers. But the office was closed

e building had s

-she searched. Deep dives. Weird forums. Obscure message boards. She followed

she fo

rporate retreats," and hush-hush lawsuits. Every building they touched h

ing was own

, chilled to the bone. A na

cien

ace of the Ferae Cons

ly blurry image the

lood ra

lver

**********

Barred her door with a room divider

idn't

umps on her body and opened her

m standi

a suit

scars etched into his skin l

to leave," h

ook. "Who the

who's trying to

rly and mockingly.

aught the scent of rain and me

rim

r," he said. "But th

"W

"The ones who never

is no 25t

ated the

d quietly. "You just

his pocket and tossed

A

Engraved with a

he said, "run. Use that key. The eleva

then

dow, muscles rippling beneath skin

l learn what'

t from th

re was no body. No bloo

a howl rising through the s