THE WOLF’S CURSE

Chapter 6

Alec

By the time I reach the next campsite, the sun is low in the sky, casting long shadows across the forest floor. My body is a symphony of aches—my shoulders are stiff, my legs feel like lead, and my feet are throbbing in my boots. But the sight of the clearing makes it all worth it.

It’s a small, secluded spot nestled between towering pines, with a narrow stream cutting through the rocks nearby. The water is crystal clear, its surface glinting in the late afternoon light, and the sound of it bubbling over the stones is like music after hours of silence.

I drop my backpack against a large tree, the weight lifting off my shoulders a relief. My shirt is soaked with sweat, clinging to my skin, and I peel it off, tossing it over a low branch to dry. The air is cooler here, a welcome change from the heat of the trail, and I take a moment to just breathe, letting the stillness of the forest settle over me.

I pull the satellite phone from my bag, my fingers brushing against the Tupperware container with Dad’s ashes as I do. The sight of it makes my chest tighten, but I push the feeling aside for now. Jamie’s voice is what I need right now—something familiar, something grounding.

The phone buzzes as it connects, and after a few rings, she picks up.

“Alec?” Her voice is soft but urgent, and I can hear the relief in it.

“Hey, Jamie,” I say, leaning back against the tree. “I’m at the next stop. Just wanted to let you know I’m okay.”

“Thank God,” she breathes. “I’ve been worried sick. How’s it going out there?”

“It’s… intense,” I admit, running a hand through my hair. “The trail’s rougher than I expected, and the forest—it’s beautiful, but it’s also kind of eerie. I keep feeling like I’m being watched.”

There’s a pause on the other end, and I can picture her chewing on her bottom lip, the way she always does when she’s worried. “Alec, are you sure you’re okay? You sound… I don’t know, off.”

“I’m fine,” I say quickly, forcing a smile even though she can’t see it. “Just tired, that’s all. But I’m safe, I promise. And I’ve got the satellite phone if anything happens.”

She doesn’t respond right away, and I can hear the hesitation in her silence. “I just miss you,” she says finally, her voice quiet. “I hate that you’re out there alone.”

“I miss you too,” I say, my chest tightening. “But I’ll be back before you know it. And I’ll have so many stories to tell you.”

“You better,” she says, and I can hear the smile in her voice now. “And Alec?”

“Yeah?”

“Be careful. I love you.”

“I love you too,” I say, my voice softening. “I’ll call you tomorrow, okay?”

“Okay. Stay safe.”

I hang up, the silence of the forest rushing back in as soon as the call ends. I sit there for a moment, the phone in my hand, letting Jamie’s words sink in. Her voice is a lifeline, a reminder of the world I’ll eventually return to, but out here, it feels distant, almost unreal.

I tuck the phone back into my bag and glance over at the stream. The water looks inviting, its surface rippling gently in the breeze, and the idea of washing off the sweat and grime of the trail is too good to resist.

I strip down to my boxer briefs, the cool air biting at my skin, and walk over to the edge of the stream. The rocks are smooth under my feet, worn down by years of flowing water, and I step in carefully, the cold hitting me like a shock.

The water is icy, sending a shiver up my spine as it laps at my ankles, but it’s also refreshing, washing away the heat and exhaustion of the day. I wade in deeper, the current tugging at my legs, until I’m waist-deep. The sensation is incredible—the cold numbing my sore muscles, the water swirling around me, the sound of it rushing over the rocks filling my ears.

I dunk my head under, the cold stealing my breath for a moment, and when I come up, I feel alive in a way I haven’t in days. The water drips from my hair, running down my face and neck, and I tilt my head back, letting the sun warm my skin.

For a moment, I’m a kid again, standing in the lake with Dad, his hands guiding me as I learned to swim. He’d been so patient, so encouraging, even when I was scared. “Just let the water hold you,” he’d said. “It’s stronger than you think.”

I close my eyes, letting the memory wash over me, and for the first time in weeks, I feel close to him. The forest, the stream, the ache in my muscles—it’s all part of this journey, this way of honoring him.

I’m still leaning back in the water, my eyes closed, the coolness of the stream soothing my aching muscles, when I feel it—a shift in the air, a presence that wasn’t there before. My eyes snap open, and I sit up, the water rippling around me as I turn my head.

And there she is.

Standing a few feet away, close to my bag, is a woman. She’s unlike anyone I’ve ever seen—her dark hair hangs in long, wild waves to her elbows, framing a face that’s both striking and unsettling. Her skin is tanned, almost golden in the fading light, and her eyes… her eyes are what stop me cold. They’re a luminous yellow, like the glow of a predator in the dark, and they’re fixed on me with an intensity that makes my breath catch.

For a moment, we just stare at each other, the silence between us heavy and electric. My mind races, trying to make sense of what I’m seeing. She’s completely naked, her body athletic and flawless, but there’s something feral about her, something that makes my instincts scream.

“Uh—hi,” I say, my voice breaking the silence. It comes out awkward, strained, and I immediately regret it. The air between us feels charged, like the moment before a storm, and I force myself to keep my eyes on hers, not letting them wander.

She doesn’t respond. Instead, she narrows her eyes, tilting her head slightly to one side as if studying me. Her jaw tightens, and I can see the tension in her body, the way her hands clench into fists at her sides. She looks like she’s ready to bolt—or attack.

“Are you lost?” I ask, my voice softer now, trying to sound calm despite the pounding of my heart. “Do you need help?”

She tilts her head to the other side, her eyes never leaving mine. There’s something unnerving about the way she moves, the way she watches me—like I’m the one who’s out of place here.

I swallow hard, my throat dry despite the water around me. This has to be a hallucination, some kind of exhaustion-induced mirage. But she’s real, standing there, staring at me with those impossible eyes.

Slowly, I stand, the water dripping from my body as I rise to my full height. The stream is waist-deep here, and I keep my movements careful, deliberate, not wanting to startle her. She takes a calculated step back, her body tense, her fists still clenched.

“It’s okay,” I say, holding my hands out in what I hope is a non-threatening gesture. “I’m just standing. Who are you? Is your camp nearby? Can I help you? Can I call someone?”

She doesn’t answer at first, her gaze flickering over me, taking in every detail. Then, finally, she speaks, her voice soft and low but with an edge that sends a shiver down my spine.

“Help you,” she repeats, her tone almost questioning, as if she’s testing the words.

“Yes, help,” I say, nodding. “Do you need help?”

I take a slow step forward, the water sloshing around my legs, and that’s when she moves. Her body tenses, and in an instant, she turns and bolts, disappearing into the trees with a speed that’s almost inhuman.

“Wait!” I call after her, but she’s gone, the forest swallowing her up as if she were never there.

I stand there for a moment, frozen, the water cooling around me as my mind races. What the hell was that? A naked girl in the forest? Her eyes, her voice, the way she moved—it was all so surreal, so impossible.

I wade out of the stream, my legs shaky, and grab my shirt from the branch, pulling it on quickly. My heart is still pounding, my skin prickling with a mix of adrenaline and unease. I glance around the clearing, half-expecting her to reappear, but the forest is quiet, the only sound the gentle rush of the stream.

For a long time, I just stand there, staring at the spot where she disappeared, trying to make sense of what just happened. But the more I think about it, the less sense it makes.

Who was she? And why did she run?