A Howling Heart
Chapter eight

I blink rapidly. The memories that have just come to me are a vicious loop that makes my fury build rapidly-his uncle up, wide-eyed and vengeful. Me scrambling to grab his medication. His hands around my throat and then... "I was here. You lied! How could you?" My lips curl with disgust. "Do you take me for a fool? You think I'm someone you can manipulate for your little games, or is this purely about protecting your violent uncle?"

I'm not sure what's gotten into me. I've never been one to scream and swear profusely while fighting with someone, but this town just brings the animal out of me. I shove him away, stumbling backward from him.

"I was here." I look up at one of the second-story windows. The curtains move, and I point accusingly. "See? Someone is up there. Someone is moving things, and if you said you two are the only ones here right now, then who would it be? Don't you dare lie to me!"

Matias's expression hardens like stone.

Frustration springs me into action. I shove at his chest. "You're protecting your uncle! He attacked me! And you tried to make me seem crazy? I don't know how I forgot or why it's barely coming to me now, but it happened!" He moves forward, reaching out to me, and I jump backward and scream.

"Don't touch me!" I hold up my hands defensively. "How can you go from being cold and assuring me I wasn't here and then trying to console me and act like you didn't play a part in protecting that monster!" His hands tighten into fists. He reaches for me once more. "Fae-"

I don't heed his warning tone as I cut him off. "No! Everything out of your mouth is a lie!"

My angry rant is cut off by growling directly behind me. I whip around so fast my head spins as I spot the wolf in front of me, growling and ready to pounce a strangled scream tears from my lips. Crap!

"Oh, no, no, no, no!"

I knew wolves were in the woods but never expected them to get this close. That's a hazard!

I stand still, careful that if I move, it'll attack.

Yeah, so much, "for they don't bother anyone unless they are bothered."

"I'm going to die... I'm really going to die."

Why did we move back? Why? Was this what my mother meant by this place being dangerous? The wolves just go out and attack whoever at any point?

I shiver as the wolf's tongue licks its teeth.

"Matias!" A surge of adrenaline bursts through my body, and I whip around, taking wide strides and throwing myself against his chest, yelping like the wolf howls. We're gonna die!

I bury my face in his neck, aware of how the contact makes my body feel on fire, but not in a painful way. I'm keenly aware of him shhhh'ing me and stroking my back before he moves around me. The loss of his touch is more alarming than I thought it would be.

I reach for him, searching like a lost child for the arms of my protection.

With a stern shake of his head, he points at me accusingly. "Remain there. Understand? Getting in the way is not going to help-"

"I won't let you sacrifice yourself!"

I watch, pure horror on my face, as he moves toward the wolf wordlessly. I watch their exchange while on edge.

It's going to eat him! I just know it!

His silence completely freaks me out as he stares the wolf down. Seconds tick by. I cringe, wrapping my arms around myself while waiting for the inevitable attack. Just the thought of the wolf lunging at Matias has this protective urge flowing through me to intercept and protect him.

"Matias! Please! It's going to hurt you!"

"No. He will not!"

With one last flex of Matias's shoulders, the wolf whimpers and runs off into the distance.

What?

I don't understand why the wolf didn't attack. It had every opportunity to. It makes no sense.

I open my mouth to say something, but I'm at a loss for words.

I need to get the hell out of here.

I don't know how he got that thing to leave, whether he intimidated it, but this whole thing has me completely freaked!

I rapidly shake my head, one line in sight. The van. My escape.

"This has been a nightmare..." I move past him quickly, but I'm stopped by him grabbing hold of my swaying arm and whipping me around to face him. I press my hand into his chest and attempt to step back, but his grip remains firm. "Let me go!"

"Are you sure that's what you want?"

I hate how he mutters my uncertainty, and it ends up materializing in the form of my yearning when I should be shoving him completely away.

"You don't know what I want."

"Neither do you."

He really is a jerk.

His eyes narrow, and for a moment, I think I've uttered it aloud... not that I would completely care, considering it's true. He completely disregards my feelings and always puts words in my mouth. "Come back to me later tonight."

"No."

"You will." He nods matter-of-factly.

How does he know that?

"Because, vos anima mea."

"I want to leave now.".

It takes everything in me to mutter that, but he releases me with one more slight shove.

"Until tonight, Fae."

It is not happening.

He whips around wordlessly and stalks back towards the house, and I realize he's still clutching the bottle in his hand.

He is so intense! It's infuriating and intriguing at the same time. It's so unfair because all it does is mess with my head and is clearly going to make me do something completely stupid.

I shake my head, trying to convince myself not to go as I get back in my van. My mind fills with the wild wolf, and I clutch my steering wheel. I'm in disbelief.

As I pull away, shuddering while looking at the house in the rearview mirror.

I'd be insane to go back.

My denial runs wild for a minute until I'm no longer able to lie to myself.

I don't know if I can resist.