Chapter 2
1486 Words
Chapter 2: Uninvited Tension
Erica’s POV
The house settles into an uneasy quiet after the howl fades. It echoes in my mind longer than it should, like a thread tugging at the edges of a fraying sweater. I glance at Lucas again. He’s still by the window, his eyes narrow, his jaw set hard like he’s listening for something more.
"Must be a big one," Dad says, not even glancing up from his newspaper. "Wolves don't usually get that close to the village this time of year."
“They’re just hungry,” Mom says, setting a steaming mug of coffee in front of Lucas. She gives me a knowing glance. “Winter makes everything desperate.”
Lucas’s gaze flicks to me for a moment, too sharp, too focused. I cross my arms and lean against the counter, watching him closely. He takes the coffee, his fingers curling around the mug like he needs something to anchor him.
“Didn’t think wolves came this far down anymore,” I say, my voice casual, but my eyes are locked on him. “They afraid of something up there in the woods?”
For half a second, his eyes meet mine, and I swear there’s something there—something quick and fierce. But he hides it behind that stupid smirk.
“Wolves aren’t afraid of much,” he says, lifting the mug to his lips. “They only move when something bigger moves first.”
Bigger? I frown, my gaze narrowing. "Sounds like you know a lot about wolves, Lucas. You moonlighting as a wildlife expert now?"
He lowers the mug, his grin slow and deliberate. "Something like that."
"Well, aren't you full of mysteries," I mutter, turning toward the sink to rinse off my hands. I don’t need this. I came here to breathe, to figure out my life, not play guessing games with Lucas Greyson.
Footsteps pound down the stairs. Lily skids into the kitchen like a tornado, her curly hair wild and her face lit up with excitement.
“Uncle Jake’s here!” she announces, grinning wide as she runs straight into my dad’s side. “I saw his truck pull up!”
Sure enough, I hear the crunch of boots on snow and then the slam of a truck door. Moments later, the front door bursts open.
"Hey, losers!" Jake’s voice booms through the house. He walks in, stomping snow from his boots like he owns the place. My brother’s grin is big and boyish, the same as it’s always been, like he never grew up. He’s got his hoodie pulled over his messy blond hair, and his grin widens when he spots me.
“Look what the cat dragged back!” he says, throwing his arms wide.
“Please don’t hug me,” I say, but it’s useless. He’s already pulling me into a bear hug that lifts me clear off the floor. “Jake! Put me down!”
He laughs, setting me back on my feet. “Missed you too, sis.” His grin turns wicked as he sees Lucas. “Well, well. Look who decided to show his face.”
“Jake,” Lucas says, his voice lighter now, easy in that way guys are when they see their best friends. “Still got that big mouth, I see.”
“And still smarter than you,” Jake shoots back, tossing his coat on a chair. He bumps fists with Lucas, and for a moment, it’s like old times. Them being stupid, me being annoyed.
“Mom,” Jake calls, grabbing a cookie from the counter. “You still baking these dangerous things? You trying to ruin my perfect physique?”
“Perfect, huh?” I say, raising an eyebrow. “More like ‘barely functional.’”
Jake gasps, clutching his chest. “Betrayed by my own sister. I’ll never recover.” He glances at Lily, crouching down to her level. “What about you, Lil? Uncle Jake still the coolest?”
Lily beams. “You’re the second coolest.”
Jake gasps again, more dramatic this time. “Second? Who’s first?”
She points to Lucas. “He’s a billionaire.”
“Billionaires aren’t cool,” Jake says, ruffling her hair. “They’re just people with better wallets.”
“Still cooler than you,” she says with a grin, making Jake groan in mock pain.
The sound of another howl cuts through the air, this one louder, closer. It’s sharper than the first, and every conversation stops cold. Even Lily freezes, her eyes darting to the window.
"That one's real close," Dad mutters, his brows pulled together in a frown. He walks to the window and peers outside, his gaze sweeping over the snowy forest beyond. “Don’t like the sound of it.”
Lily moves closer to me, her little fingers curling around my hand. “Mom, are they gonna come here?” she asks, her voice small.
“No, baby,” I say quickly, squeezing her hand. “Wolves don’t come near people.”
“Not unless they have a reason,” Lucas says quietly.
I turn to him sharply. He’s still sitting at the table, his eyes on the window like he’s waiting for something to appear. His face is calm, but there’s tension in his shoulders, in his grip on the coffee mug.
“What reason would they have, Lucas?” I ask, keeping my tone light but pointed.
He doesn’t answer right away. His gaze shifts to me, slow and steady, and something in his eyes makes my chest tighten.
“Sometimes, they’re chasing something,” he says finally, his voice low. “And sometimes, they’re being chased.”
The room goes quiet again, heavier this time. I glance at Jake, expecting him to make a joke, but he’s watching Lucas, his smile gone.
“Well, whatever it is, they better stay in the woods,” Dad says firmly, walking back to his chair. “I’m not dealing with wild animals on my property.”
“Yeah,” Jake adds, his grin returning. “If they get too close, I’ll just throw Lucas out there. He can charm them with his billionaire smile.”
Laughter breaks the tension. Even Lucas chuckles, but there’s something off about it. Like it’s forced.
The rest of the evening goes on like normal—at least on the surface. Jake tells stories that make Lily laugh so hard she snorts. Mom fusses over everyone, filling plates, refilling coffee, and making sure I “look less like a zombie.”
But every so often, I catch Lucas watching the window. Watching the woods.
It’s like he’s waiting for something.
Later that night, I’m in my old bedroom, sitting on the edge of the bed while Lily brushes her teeth. The room’s smaller than I remember, the ceiling lower, the walls closer. But it’s familiar. Familiar in a way that makes me feel safe.
A tap at the window makes me jump. My heart leaps into my throat, and I twist toward it. Nothing’s there. Just snowflakes drifting down in the soft glow of the porch light.
I tell myself it’s nothing. Just my nerves playing tricks on me. But then I see it.
Tracks.
Big ones. Fresh ones.
They lead from the woods right up to the side of the house.
A chill races down my spine. I grab my phone, flick on the flashlight, and angle it toward the window. The beam of light cuts through the darkness. The tracks are there, clear as day.
Four prints. Too big to be a dog. Too wide to be anything but—
No. I shut off the flashlight, telling myself I’m imagining things. Wolves don’t come this close to houses. They just don’t.
“Mom, I’m done!” Lily calls, running into the room with her pajamas on backward.
“Hey, your shirt’s on wrong,” I say, pulling her close to fix it.
She giggles, twisting in my arms like a wild little pup. I pull her onto the bed, tucking her under the blanket, her eyes already starting to close.
I lie next to her, stroking her hair until her breathing slows. I tell myself everything is fine.
But it’s not.
Because as I stare at the window, I see them.
Eyes.
Two glowing eyes, watching from the edge of the forest.
I squeeze my eyes shut, my heart pounding so hard I can feel it in my ears.
When I open them again, the eyes are gone.
But the tracks are still there.
And now I’m wide awake, every sound in the house too loud, every shadow too long.
Lucas’s words echo in my mind.
“Sometimes, they’re being chased.”
I lie still, my hand resting on Lily’s back.
I don’t know who’s chasing who.
But I know one thing for sure.
Something’s out there. And it’s watching.
- Writer
