Michele Hauf - Ghost Wolf

“I haven’t found anything exactly like what I saw. At first I thought it could be an incarnation of Fenrir, but I doubt that. This one comes close.” She tapped a page in an open book that featured Chibiabos. “It’s a Native American legend, and this area of the state is steeped in Indian traditions. There’s a reservation not far from here. Or this one.”

She pulled another book before her and Beck leaned over, though it didn’t seem as if he were interested, but rather distracted. And not in a good way. She could sense his tension and smell not so much anger as concern.

“Here.” She picked up the picture she’d printed out earlier. “This is the best shot I could get of it.”

He took the photo and looked it over. It was a blurred image of something white. Could be the abominable snowman for the clarity. If she hadn’t seen it with her own eyes, she’d never be able to look at the picture and say, Yes, that’s a werewolf.

“What do you intend to prove by getting a picture?” he asked. “I know you want the internship, and that requires a winning article, but why this story?”

“It’s what I know.”

Beck frowned.

“Okay, I know I’m treading dangerous territory with our breed. We’re all about secrecy.”

“And for good reason.”

“Right, and I get that. But the ghost wolf is already out there. The humans are making it out to be some evil creature. But I think of the ghost wolf as more of a superhero.”

“Right, your hero in a cape theory. It’s nonsense, Daisy.”

“I didn’t say he wore a cape.” But that he’d dismissed it as nonsense hurt. Daisy lifted her chin. “And I want to make sure it’s not hunted as a monster, but rather honored as something that made the hunters take a pause to rethink their motives toward mindless killing. The ghost wolf is helping the wolves.”

“A noble goal, but...” Beck sighed and turned to sit against the table, facing her. He clutched the table edge and leaned forward, entreating, “What if one of these nights a hunter’s bullet goes astray and you get hit? Daisy, this story is not worth the risk.”

“So long as it’s not a silver bullet, I’m good.”

“Silver—Daisy. Wait.” Beck stood, his hands pressed together, going to his face. “Silver.”

“Right. That’s the only thing that can kill us.”

“Yes, but...fuck.”

“Beck? What’s wrong?”

She could sense his increased heartbeats. As well, her heartbeat sped up. What had she said? His mood had shifted from concern to something like angst. He must be thinking about his father. She had heard he had been with him when he’d been murdered.

“I don’t know why I haven’t been pursuing this all along.”

“Pursuing what?” she asked.

“The shotgun shell that killed my father had silver in it.”

“That’s odd. Aren’t most shells filled with lead shot?”

“Exactly. So the hunter had to have made it special. And to use silver...he had to have known what he was hunting. Who would do something like that?”

“You think it wasn’t a human?” Daisy asked. “Vampire?”

“Huh?” He found her gaze, as if coming up from the depths, his eyes focusing on hers. “No, it wasn’t a vampire. I jumped on him that night, held him down. He was human, and though I was in wolf shape at the time, I felt his fright.”

“That’s to be expected if a wolf attacks you.”

“I didn’t attack him. I just...kept him away from my father’s body.”

Daisy sucked in her lip. They were moving into intimate territory, and she felt the need for caution. It hurt Beck to retell this information, but that he trusted her to reveal a few details was immense.

“I have to go check on something,” he said. “This is big.” He started toward the door. “I’m sorry. I had come here to spend some time with you. But this is important.”

“I understand. I have your digits now.” She rushed to beat him to the door and pressed her shoulders to it as he arrived before the threshold. “I want to help you, Beck.”

“I don’t need any help. And I don’t want you getting shot in your quest for a picture of a creature that could very likely kill you. Will you promise me to stay out of the forests? Please, Daisy?”

That wasn’t something she could promise. And she was smart; she knew when she was in danger, and she hadn’t felt it yet. Not even when the ghost wolf had walked right up to her.

She touched Beck’s cheek and traced his stubble-darkened jaw. His thoughts were miles away, back at his father’s side as he’d died in the forest. She didn’t know how to deal with grief. It hadn’t touched her life. And it had only been a few months since he’d lost his father. He seemed normal and stoic on the outside, but could he be a bundle of agony on the inside?

“Have you spoken to anyone about this? Losing your father?”

“Why? I’m not a weepy girl, Daisy. Something bad happened. I’m dealing. If anyone needs help, it’s my mother. She’s— Hell. I’ve got to go. I’m sorry about this.”

“Don’t apologize. I just... Can we make another date? Tomorrow night? I’ll cook if you come over.”

“I’d like that. You like wine?”

“Sounds good. Bring red. I’ll make meat and potatoes.”

He bracketed her head with his palms and bent his forehead to hers again. “You could win my heart, you know that, Daisy Blu?”

“I’ll give it a try.”

“You don’t need to try, just...be you.”

He kissed her again, this time holding still at her mouth. She thought she felt his heartbeat in that touch. And in the seconds that her heart stood still, Daisy knew she would try for that win, whether or not he wanted her to.

Chapter 7

Beck found his mother in the kitchen cleaning the copper-tiled backsplash behind the stove. Why she cooked was beyond him, but he was glad to see her not sulking in the big easy chair where she and Dad had always snuggled. She looked good, actually had color in her cheeks, and greeted him with a genuine hug and a kiss.

“How you feeling?” he asked.

“I’m well.” She patted her growing belly. “I have a doctor’s appointment tomorrow.”

“Do you want me to come along with you?”

“No, you don’t have to. But you’re a sweetie to offer. Did you go to the iceworks the other night?”

“I did.”

“By yourself?” she asked in a tone that implied she had already deduced the answer.

“Why do you ask?”

“I haven’t been a complete hermit since your father’s death. I talk to Blu on the phone once in a while. She said her son Malakai was all in a huff because he saw his daughter with my son. I only have one son—at the moment—so...”

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