What Hunts the Wolf

Chapter 2 : New Home

Two Months Later

Why did they have to die?

The question loops endlessly in my mind as I stare at the two coffins in front of me.

Ma.

Pa.

Gone.

Just like that.

The wind brushes past me, lifting strands of my mint-green hair into my face. I don’t bother moving them. My eyes stay locked on the headstones, memorizing every detail like I’m afraid they’ll disappear too.

I miss them.

More than I can even begin to put into words.

I can't believe that I have to go live with my auntie in Europe. I think bitterly. But she’s the only one in the family willing to take me in.

Apparently, I’m “bad luck.”

“Allison, come on, dear.” I blink, forcing myself back into the present.

My auntie stands a few feet away, her expression tight, controlled. I nod and follow her, my steps slow, reluctant.

“When we get home, we are to dye your hair back brown,” she says without warning. “And remove the piercings as well.”

I let out a quiet huff, irritation sparking despite everything else.

“As if Ma dyed my hair,” I snapped. “I’m not changing it. Not now. Not ever.”

She stiffens.

“Fine,” she says after a moment, her tone clipped.

But I can feel the disapproval rolling off her in waves.

A few hours and one long flight later.

“Your room is the last door on the right.”

Her voice echoes faintly through the old house as she sets her bags down. I barely respond.

Kicking off my shoes, I take in the space around me—worn floors, faded walls, the faint smell of age lingering in the air.

Grabbing Kozmo’s bright red carrier, I head upstairs. The steps creak under my weight as I pass a bathroom and what must be her bedroom.

My room is…

Rough.

A sagging bed. A dresser that looks like it might collapse if I breathe on it too hard. An old window, slightly crooked in its frame.

“Why am I here?” I whisper, dragging a hand through my hair.

“Allison! You have school tomorrow!” Auntie calls from downstairs.

I squeeze my eyes shut.

“Okay!” I shout back.

Letting Kozmo out of his cage, I drop onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling.

This is my life now.

Whether I like it or not.

An hour later.

Sleep doesn’t come. Every time I close my eyes, I see it again—

The blood.

My mother’s face. The empty side of the bed.

I sit up with a sharp inhale and swing my legs over the side.

The window calls to me.

Without thinking too hard about it, I grab my art supplies and climb out, gripping the lattice as I lower myself down.

It creaks beneath me.

“I guess it’ll hold,” I mutter.

For now. I slowly walk across the backyard. The woods pull me in without resistance. Step by step, I move deeper, until I find a small clearing.

Perfect.

I drop my bag and tilt my head back, staring at the open sky above me.

“f**k!”

The word tears out of me, raw and broken as tears finally spill over. I collapse into the damp grass, burying my face in my hands. Knees slowly getting wet from the dew on the grass.

Time passes.

I don’t know how long.

Eventually, the tears stop.

They always do. Sniffling, I pull my sketchbook out and flip to a blank page, letting my pencil move across the paper.

Lines. Shapes. Shadows.

Something I can control.

Snap.

My hand freezes.

Snap. Snap. Snap.

I lift my head slowly. Looking around the small clearing.

“Hello?”

Silence answers me. Then—movement.

A shadow flickers to my left. I whip around.

“Okay, not funny,” I say, my voice tighter now.

Something moves behind me.

Too fast.

Too close.

Before I can react, something slams into me, knocking the air from my lungs as I hit the ground hard. A low, guttural growl vibrates through the air.

My vision clears just enough—

And my heart stops.

A massive black wolf looms over me. Its golden eyes lock onto mine, unblinking.

Unnatural.

Saliva drips from its jaws, hitting my chest. That’s what snaps me out of it.I swing blindly, my sketchbook connecting with its face.

It jerks back just enough.

Enough for me to run.

I scramble to my feet and bolt toward the nearest tree, adrenaline flooding my system.I barely make it two steps up before—

Pain explodes through my leg. So sharp and sudden it makes it hard to breathe.

Teeth sink deep into my calf, ripping a scream from my throat.

I kick wildly, connecting with its face again. This time, it lets go.

I climb higher, faster, not stopping until I’m out of reach.

“Ow…” I choke out, dragging my leg onto the branch.

Blood soaks through my jeans. The wolf circles below, growling low and steady.

Then it stops.

Another shape emerges from the darkness.

A second wolf. Just as large. Just as black.

It looks up at me for a long moment—

Then turns away.

The first follows.

And just like that…

They’re gone. I stay there, frozen, barely breathing, until I’m sure they won’t come back.Then I climb down and limp my way home.

Or… what I hope is home.

By the time I drag myself back through my window, exhaustion hits me like a wave. I barely make it to the bathroom before collapsing onto the floor, fumbling for supplies to wrap my leg.

“Meow?”

Kozmo slips in beside me.

“It’s okay,” I whisper, running a hand down his back. “We’re okay.”

Even if I don’t believe it.

I catch my reflection in the mirror. Dark circles. Pale skin.

A stranger is staring back at me.

Clutching Kozmo a little tighter, I make my way back to bed.

And this time…

Sleep comes fast.