CALL ON A DISTANT PACK

t with a force that

the tension of the conversation with Xavier

of the forest still rang in her

ing room, her chest ris

mbling. "It wasn't a random scream," Xavi

rossed, eyes narrowed at the dista

sank. "A messag

. "They're calling you, Evelyn." It's their way of saying

n's voice, panic threat

they care

t... "n

s making Evelyn feel even smaller. "You'r

e shoulder... It's all con

whispered,

he connected, he tried to grasp the truth

e a mistake."

y, mean tone. "Denial

and they won't stop unti

fists, anger bubblin

eans anything to me!" I don't

soothing hand

u're stronger than you think.

ng," Evelyn whispe

way, needing space to thin

e large mirror hang

sted vines and flowers. She had always been there, a silen

ed different. The air around

loser, even when every instinct

ly heard him. She was already walking towards

r ran down her spine. Her reflection st

reflection seemed to glow, like waves of heat rising from the asphalt. "Why is

erced the air, but it was too late. The mirro

hdrew her hand, but the

ion. "Evelyn, come back!" Xavier barked, bu

had turned to him w

into slits. His skin darkened, and his hair grew long along his cheeks

whispered, her

ck hit the wall. "It's

olden eyes filled with something ancient and ruthless. Then he looked, a

urious now, and she grabbed her n

be mi

arely a whisper, her eyes fixed on the

d a paw and pressed on t

r cracked, thin lines radiati

, breaking the connection. As s

turned, but the crack was there, a sta

d?" Evelyn asked,

ection," Doreen s

wolf in you is waking u

id, her hands gripping the lock

me?" Xavier took a step fo

lion is a

you that are sleeping.

any of this!" Evelyn cried, tears streaming

istant scream cut her off. It was closer

er said in a low

ndow. The courtyard of the house was bathed in moonligh

bers in the darkness, doz

entre, its golden eyes fixed on her with

pered, her voice barely audible.

. As the screams grew louder, Evelyn

r began to burn, the pa

g her shoulder as he

d into darkness was the golden-eyed wolf that