Runaway Wolf Girl

Chapter One

She could hear the low rumblings of a growl forming deep in Duncan's throat. His hair was raised along his neck and he stood stiff-legged, staring out the living room window.

Minna tensed, clutching the handle of her coffee mug, her eyes wide with fear as she watched Duncan, the unease quickly rising in the pit of her stomach.

"What is it, boy?" she asked, her voice hoarse as the words caught hard in her throat. She tried to swallow, but her mouth was dry- her tongue a scratchy and harsh piece of flesh against the inside of her cheeks.

Duncan merely growled in response, his gaze unfaltering, his stance unwavering.

Minna's wolf rolled her eyes, indifferent to the growls coming from the furry monster standing by the window. She found him all too annoying, and "a waste of resources," as she liked to remind Minna whenever he did something unsavory. Which was often. Like the time he rolled on the dead pigeon when Minna had taken him for a walk.

You know he's not very bright, she told Minna, sticking her nose up at the little dog. Her wolf was not a fan of the newest addition to their makeshift pack.

But Minna's gut was doing the worst kind of aerobics performance, giving her a bad case of the jitters, and she had to know what Duncan saw, or who he saw.

Suit yourself, but I am telling you it's nothing, her wolf replied.

Creeping toward Duncan's side, Minna raised her head, steeling herself to gaze out the window as she slowly pulled back the corners of the curtains. Her heart hammered loudly, banging against her ribs. She could practically taste the fear overtaking every cell in her body, gripping her insides with cold, unyielding hands.

There's no way they found me, she told herself desperately, faking a reassurance she most certainly did not feel. There was no possible way they'd already discovered her whereabouts, especially not this quickly. She had done better this time around, had done too good a job for them to have found her. She had covered her tracks, masked her scent, changed route more than a dozen times. She'd kept her real name this time, which was probably a huge mistake. But she'd had to- she'd changed names so many times, she was beginning to dissociate from her true identity. She couldn't do that. She couldn't forget herself, and, right now, her name was all that she had left.

There were days she had taken to staring at her reflection, watching her mouth move as she said her given name, reminding herself who she really was.

"Minna Harrow," she'd whisper fiercely. "Minna Harrow," she'd say, over and over, until the very sound of it grew numb and tasteless, just whispers on blank breath.

There were dark circles beneath her eyes, and tiny lines forming far too early on her thin face. She barely recognized herself anymore.

No matter what she did, they'd always managed to find her. They'd be there, waiting for her just outside, hoping she misstepped, even once, and then... she'd be gone.

Not going to happen, her wolf said.

Minna wasn't so sure.

Why do you doubt us? her wolf demanded. We are strong, she insisted, strong together.

But Minna didn't want to chance it. Unless her wolf knew something she didn't, she didn't want to risk her neck. She'd come too far to lose it all- not after everything she'd already had taken from her.

Gritting her teeth, Minna slowly peered around the edge of the curtain, mentally preparing herself for whatever stood on the other side...

A cat sat, big and fat, casually grooming its orange paws, paying no mind to Duncan's growls or Minna's frightened stare.

She heaved a sigh and sank against the wall, patting Duncan and offering him a scratch behind the ears.

"All that hullaballoo over a cat." She shook her head and made a face, allowing relief to wash over her body. Her shoulders sagged and she turned her head from side-to-side, rubbing the tension from the muscles in her neck before standing and stretching, her arms reaching high to the ceiling.

Placing her hands on her hips, she glared at Duncan, silently cursing him for putting her through such an emotional rollercoaster so early in the day. She felt like she'd run a marathon and crossed the finish line, only to be hit by a truck, and it wasn't even eight o' clock in the morning!

Her wolf was not a happy camper either.

She growled at Duncan, her eyes flashing. She was angry he had caused Minna such distress over a cat. She'd suggested, quite often, that they find a better situation for Duncan, specifically NOT with them, but Minna had grown attached. Minna always had a soft spot for the weak... and the stupid. Her wolf glared at the dumb dog. He definitely fell into both categories.

Duncan appeared unconcerned. He whined and pawed the window, gazing at Minna expectantly and wagging his tail.

"We don't eat cats," she scolded. Her wolf agreed.

He c****d his head at them.

"No," she repeated firmly. "That behavior is beneath us."

She paused before adding, "And you already had breakfast." She'd even given him an extra half cup of kibble as a treat.

Duncan lowered his head and heaved a sigh. She furrowed her brow and looked at him very seriously.

"Cats have way too much fur," she lectured, walking barefoot to the tiny kitchen and rinsing her coffee mug in the sink. Duncan trailed sadly after, his ears down and tail drooping dejectedly. "They're not for eating, and you know what would happen to you if you actually tried to pin a cat?" Minna looked down at Duncan expectantly and he gave her a slow, uncertain wag. "That cat would tear you to shreds," she said solemnly.

The dog sneezed and eyed her.

"No, I'm being serious- that cat would destroy you."

She listened patiently while Duncan voiced his denials and she shook her head.

"No, I'm not underestimating your abilities," she assured him. "But you seem to be overestimating yours. Cats are vicious when they're cornered and you do not want to be on the receiving end of their claws. They're more likely to tear your nose to bits than you are to win any back alley stand-off, and I happen to like your cute little nose intact. I'm pretty sure you do, too."

Duncan scoffed and shook his head.

Minna glared at him. "I should just throw you outside with that big orange tomcat and let you see for yourself," she threatened, annoyed that he was still arguing with her. Duncan spun madly in circles, yapping excitedly, and Minna wrinkled her nose in disgust. "I won't throw you out there," she informed him, watching his entire body droop with disappointment, "but goodness knows I should. Maybe that cat would knock some sense into you."

He agreed that she should definitely throw him outside with the tomcat, and she rolled her eyes, ignoring his attempts to persuade her to make good on her threat.

Happy to be safe, she treated herself to a chocolate chip cookie (she totally deserved it after going through that unnecessary scare) and hummed, throwing the angry little mutt a dog biscuit, which he ate begrudgingly, even as he continued announcing his dissatisfaction between bites. He tried so hard to look fierce, with a serious scowling face, and it only succeeded in making him look more like a bounding, bumbling teddy bear.

She smiled before biting her lip, her mind turning her fears over and over in her mind. Thank the goddess it wasn't them, she thought, ignoring Duncan's pleas and yips while she readied herself for work. She wasn't naive enough to make-believe she'd remain safe forever, but at least, for now...

She looked out the window once more and repressed a shudder.