Chapter Two
914 Words
The next morning, Claire’s mind was still on the mysterious man from the night before. She stood at her kitchen counter, staring into her mug of coffee as if the swirling liquid held the answers to the questions Ethan had left her with. Who was he? Why had he refused her care? And how had he managed to walk away from injuries that would have put anyone else in a hospital bed for weeks?
A soft chime from her phone pulled her from her thoughts. It was a message from Grace, the clinic’s receptionist.
**Grace:** *Don’t forget about the town meeting tonight. Mayor’s expecting everyone to be there.*
Claire sighed, setting her mug down. She had completely forgotten about the meeting, a routine gathering where the mayor droned on about budgets and community projects. Normally, Claire would have tuned out most of it, but today, her thoughts were consumed by Ethan.
After a quick breakfast, Claire grabbed her bag and headed out. The crisp morning air bit at her cheeks as she locked the door behind her. The walk to the clinic was short, and as she rounded the corner, she noticed Sheriff Logan standing by the entrance, his tall frame unmistakable.
“Morning, Doc,” he greeted, tipping his hat. His sharp eyes studied her with their usual mix of curiosity and concern. “Everything okay?”
“Morning, Sheriff,” Claire replied, forcing a smile. “Just another long night.”
Logan raised an eyebrow. “Anything unusual?”
Claire hesitated. She trusted Logan; he’d been a steady presence in the town for years. But something about Ethan’s visit felt… personal, like a secret she wasn’t ready to share.
“Just a late-night patient,” she said finally. “Nothing I couldn’t handle.”
Logan’s gaze lingered on her for a moment before he nodded. “Well, you let me know if anything… unusual comes up. We’ve had reports of strange activity near the woods.”
Claire’s stomach tightened. “Strange activity?” she echoed, trying to keep her voice casual.
“Tracks,” Logan said, his expression darkening. “Bigger than any animal we’ve got around here. And last night, someone reported hearing howls. Didn’t sound like coyotes.”
Claire’s heart skipped a beat, but she forced a laugh. “Maybe it’s just a wolf passing through.”
“Maybe,” Logan said, though his tone suggested he wasn’t convinced. “Just keep your eyes open, Doc.”
Claire nodded and made her way inside, her thoughts racing. Was Ethan connected to the “strange activity” Logan had mentioned? The claw marks on his chest flashed in her mind, and she couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling settling in her gut.
---
The clinic was busy that morning, a steady stream of patients keeping Claire’s hands full. By lunchtime, she’d almost managed to push Ethan to the back of her mind. Almost. As she stepped outside for a breath of fresh air, she noticed something on the ground near the edge of the parking lot.
A single, large paw print.
Claire knelt down, her pulse quickening. The print was too large to belong to any dog she’d ever seen, and the depth of it suggested whatever made it was heavy. She glanced around, but the lot was empty, the surrounding woods eerily quiet.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps behind her. She turned quickly, her heart leaping, but it was only Grace.
“Hey, Doc,” Grace said, holding up a takeout bag. “Thought you might’ve skipped lunch again, so I grabbed you something.”
Claire smiled, standing up and brushing her hands on her coat. “Thanks, Grace. You’re a lifesaver.”
Grace followed her gaze to the ground. “What are you looking at?”
“Nothing,” Claire said quickly, stepping away from the print. “Just needed some air.”
Grace frowned but didn’t press. “Well, don’t forget about the meeting tonight. You know how the mayor gets when people skip out.”
Claire nodded, taking the bag from Grace. “I’ll be there.”
---
The town meeting was held in the old community hall, its worn wooden floors creaking under the weight of the gathering crowd. Claire took a seat near the back, her mind still preoccupied with Ethan and the paw print she’d found. As the mayor droned on about road repairs and funding for the local school, she found herself scanning the room, half-expecting Ethan to appear out of nowhere.
Halfway through the meeting, the doors at the back of the hall creaked open. Claire turned, her breath catching as a tall figure slipped inside. For a moment, she thought it was Ethan, but as the man stepped into the light, she realized it was someone else. He was broad-shouldered, his presence commanding, and his sharp eyes scanned the room as if searching for someone.
He locked eyes with Claire.
A chill ran down her spine. There was something familiar about him, something that set her nerves on edge. He gave her a small nod before turning his attention to the mayor, but Claire couldn’t shake the feeling that he’d singled her out for a reason.
As the meeting dragged on, Claire’s unease grew. She had a sinking feeling that whatever was happening in the woods, whatever had brought Ethan to her clinic, was far from over. And she was somehow caught in the middle of it all.
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