Spirit Of The Wolf Collection

Chapter 5-1

She couldn’t sleep and the nightmare was taunting her again. Giving up her vain attempt at rest, Nicole got up and went into the living room. Her eyes peered into the dark room, looking for something to do. They barely paused on the bookshelf, that idea disregarded almost immediately. She wasn’t really in the mood to read. She wouldn’t be able to concentrate on it enough. Her eyes moved on to the kitchen and the coffee that was just waiting to be brewed. The smell was almost real, as she imagined the warm liquid flowing down her throat, but that idea was also disregarded quickly. Sleep had not begun its pull on her yet. It was possible she could stay up for quite some time on her own. She should hold off on the coffee until she was really tired. Then it would be the most beneficial.

Sure fingers reached for the light switch but withdrew before turning the light on. Let it be dark, it suited her mood better. Besides, it wasn’t as if she needed the light to get around, she knew the apartment like the back of her hand.

Maybe some fresh air and watching the stars would make her feel better. She gripped the cold metal door handle and turned, a gasp escaping her mouth. A black wolf stared up at her, a wolf with beautiful blue-green eyes. He appeared to be exactly like the one that saved her the night before. It had to be him. He’d led her home, and wolves didn’t just wander around Connecticut cities every day.

Following instincts rather than reason, she knelt beside the wolf and laid a hand on its fur. “How did you get up here?” she questioned. She looked around, and her gaze fell on the fire escape stairs. “I guess you must have come up there.” The wolf leaned into her stroking touch. He emitted a low growl of contentment, sending warm breath across her skin.

She wondered if Meg was right. He wasn’t acting like a wild animal. Wild wolves didn’t stand vigil on an exposed balcony when they could be safe in a den with their pack. Could he be a spirit animal or a protector? The wind blew through the rails, and she felt the goosebumps raise on his flesh. He was no spirit. He was out here in the cold for her, watching over her. Why?

She felt a stab of guilt and wondered if she should invite him inside. He was still an animal, but for some crazy reason she couldn’t figure out, she trusted him. Maybe, it didn’t matter. What if he preferred to be outside? “Do you want to come inside?” she thought. The wolf was on his feet and inside without needing any further coaxing. “I guess that’s a yes.” Nicole stared in surprise. Maybe he was a spirit, after all. How else could he respond to her thoughts? Still confused, she got to her feet, following the wolf inside.

“Do you want to come inside?”She tried to stay awake, not wanting to revisit the nightmare, but even with drinking her habitual cup of coffee, sleep eventually reclaimed her.

The sound of birdsong greeted Nicole when she awoke. It took a moment to figure out what she was doing on the couch, but when the wolf moved beside her, she quickly remembered everything. She sat up, aware of a crick in her neck and pain throughout her back, and stretched her arms above her head. “Str… e… ee… tch,” she groaned, ending with a yawn. The wolf bounded off the couch, much too energetic for her liking. How could anyone have so much energy this early in the morning? True, she had taken that long walk yesterday, but that was different. She hadn’t wanted to be awake and out and about. She’d just had too many things on her mind.

She poured a bowl of water for the wolf and went to change her clothes, running on autopilot most of the way. When she came back, the wolf was curled up on the couch. She scratched affectionately behind his ear and sat down beside him. “Maybe you should come over more often. I actually got some sleep last night, albeit on the couch, but sleep is sleep, right?” Still running her hand across his fur, Nicole leaned back and stared off into space. “I just wish I could do something about these nightmares. I thought I was over them, but this makes two nights in the same week. Why now, after all these years?” She sighed, beginning to feel slightly trapped in the small apartment, as if the walls were closing in and she had no way to get out. It seemed she couldn’t escape the nightmare anywhere. “I need some fresh air,” she said to herself.

Nicole stood up and walked swiftly to the balcony. The sharp cold air sent renewed energy coursing through her sluggish veins and with her eyes closed, she tilted her head back and took in a deep breath. The wind took control of her hair, blowing it in whatever direction it chose. Standing with her hands on the rail, she felt the wolf rub against her legs, and drew herself back to the present. Inhaling one more deep breath, Nicole opened her eyes and lowered herself onto her knees, beside the wolf. She rubbed her fingers across the back of his neck and his fur presses into her hand and arm. It was so comforting she was reluctant to let it end, but she had things to do.

“I have to go to class now, but something tells me this isn’t the last time we’ll see each other,” she mused. Pushing off her legs with her hands, Nicole got to her feet and watched the wolf turn and leave down the fire escape. She remained on the balcony until she could no longer hear his paws on the metal, then reentered her apartment, closing the balcony doors behind her. Her life was getting interesting.

* * *

“Why does every teacher assign papers and schedule tests at the same time?” Nicole muttered to herself. Between the SES and her growing mountain of homework, she’d never get the chance to read the book on Stonehenge she’d checked out, much less the one on psychics. She dropped her pencil and leaned back with a sigh. “Do they get together and plan it?”

“Probably,” a voice announced behind her.

Startled, Nicole turned around and saw John heading in her direction. She must be tired, she thought, if he could walk up without her hearing him. Hardly anyone could manage to catch her off guard normally. “Hey, John.”

She must be tired,if he could walk up without her hearing him.“Hey, what’s this I heard about you getting attacked last night?” John asked, avoiding pointless pleasantries and getting straight to the point.

“Word travels fast.” Nicole closed her book and put the discarded pencil away. She wouldn’t be getting any more work done for now. “Look, it was nothing. A couple of thugs tried to rough me up a bit, but I’m fine.”

John shook his head in exasperation. “Yeah, only because some stranger happened upon you. Who was he, anyway?” he asked, settling onto the chair by her side.

The campus gossips must be working overtime. How could he have heard all of that, especially so soon? It had to be his friend, that attorney, Anderson. “His name’s David Coverton.”

“Coverton? Never heard of him. Anyway,” he said, frowning, “you’ve got to be more careful. You’re not exactly on everyone’s ‘A’ list right now. You—”

“Hey guys. What’s going on?” Meg asked with her typical cheerfulness as she approached the table.

“Nicole almost got herself killed again is what,” John announced.

Nicole groaned.

Meg sat down across from Nicole, glancing back and forth between the two. “What happened this time?” she asked.

“She was attacked right outside her apartment building.”

“Are you okay?” she asked Nicole, her voice filled with concern.

“Yes, I’m fine.” Nicole rolled her eyes. “A guy named David Coverton showed up and helped me.”

“Did I hear my name?”

Nicole turned in her chair to see David standing behind her. Just seeing him was enough to take her breath away. A shiver ran up her spine being near him again. Nicole looked up into his blue-green eyes, noticing the green was more prevalent today. Such a deep, beautiful green, full and pure with small specks of blue mixed through for effect, creating the most amazing eyes she’d ever had the pleasure of gazing into. It took a few seconds before she regained her presence of mind.

She surveyed her now-crowded study area and decided humor was the best defense against well-meaning friends. “What is this, Grand Central Station?” She tried to keep her voice steady but failed, wavering when she glanced back at David. “What are you doing here?”

David looked at Nicole, wondering again what had made him enter the library. He certainly hadn’t planned on doing it. He’d only planned to keep an eye on her, make sure no one else tried anything. But then he’d found himself walking through the library doors and heading straight towards her. It seemed where she was concerned, his mind just didn’t get a vote. Now he had no idea what to say or do next. Through much self-control he managed not to fidget. “I was driving by and saw you come in here. Thought I’d check if you were still okay?”

Nicole rolled her eyes again. “Why does everyone keep asking me that? I’m fine.”

David took a breath and glanced back at the library door. This had been a mistake. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bother you.”

A twinge of guilt knotted in Nicole’s chest when he turned to leave. “I’m sorry. That was rude of me, especially considering what you did yesterday.” She waited for David to turn back and meet her gaze. “Thank you.”

She was rewarded by a soft smile when David turned back to the group.

After glancing around the table at the other two people sitting there, his entire focus was fixed on Nicole. He heard the other young girl speaking and managed, with a good deal of difficulty, to shift his attention away from Nicole long enough to catch her say, “So, you’re the one who saved Nicole.” She stood up and offered him her hand. “My name’s Meghan Freeman. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

David took the proffered hand and brushed a light kiss across the back of it. “The pleasure is mine.”

Meg was momentarily at a loss, a rarity for her. “You’re very chivalrous.” She finally managed.

“I try,” he said, smiling. Who would ever have thought, during his misspent youth, that he would ever have been described as chivalrous? His father would have never believed he was the same person who left all those years ago. Then again, maybe he wasn’t. David quickly pushed back an unexpected pang of sadness. This was neither the time nor the place to delve into those feelings.

“My name is John Markham.” For a reason John couldn’t explain, he knew immediately that he liked this guy. Regardless of what he’d done to help Nicole, David Coverton, seemed to exude an aura of trust. Being one to follow his instincts, John stood and shook David’s hand firmly. “I want to thank you for what you did for Nicole.”