"Hey mom, I'm almost there, the bus got stuck in traffic on the interstate, so we're going to be a bit late. I should make it to Gran's house by dinner. I know you're busy, but please call me back." Rosalind ended the voicemail. Who was she kidding? Her mother was never going to call back. She let out a long sigh as she fiddled with her locket, the only gift her mom had ever given to her. She must have thought it would somehow make up for the fact that she was always running off, without notice leaving her daughter to fend for herself. She tightly clenched the locket in her fists. She wasn't sure why she still wore it, her mother would never change, she knew that now. Rosalind didn't want to think about her mother's negligence anymore, so she closed her eyes and slept for the rest of the drive.
543Please respect copyright.PENANAo7CnIL6oiw
"Alright everybody, this is the last stop!" The bus driver called out.
543Please respect copyright.PENANAkaNWjq3BCe
Rosalind made sure she was the first person to step off the bus. She was immediately greeted by a crisp autumn breeze and the wind whistled a happy melody as if it was celebrating her return. It was good to be home.
543Please respect copyright.PENANA50JkAXlJkX
Since her mother had first run off when she was a child Rosalind had lived in the town Rosewood with her Gran. Last year her mom appeared on their doorstep without warning. She gave a long tearful confession about what a terrible mother she had been. She said she was sorry for leaving and things would be different. It was all a lie. Gran had tried to warn her, but Rosalind didn't listen. She wanted to believe things could change. Gran was right about everything. Now she was back at Rosewood and nothing could make her leave it again. She just hoped she could convince Gran to take her back.
543Please respect copyright.PENANAlZGJBh2CLh
She quickly grabbed her luggage and began her walk to Gran's house. She had walked down this trail more times than she could count. Usually, she'd be greeted by birds chirping and animals frolicking but today the forest was eerily silent.
543Please respect copyright.PENANAdLJtRWS2qf
A wooden sign with the words "BEWARE OF WOLF!" spray-painted across it was nailed to a tree. She took a step closer and noticed claw marks carved into the base of the tree. She didn't know of any creature big enough to make marks like those. She was starting to feel unsafe out here all alone.
543Please respect copyright.PENANAPWxO8J3X8Z
A loud crash sounded from the woods.
543Please respect copyright.PENANAbavs07nXAo
She quickened her pace. Why was she nervous? She's hiked this trail hundreds of times and never seen anything scarier than a woodchuck.
543Please respect copyright.PENANAqZgHeuWvdy
She let out a high-pitched shriek as she bumped into someone on the road.
543Please respect copyright.PENANACF4kpOZEHv
"Hey! Watch it!" Three boys in their early twenties wearing all black leather blocked her path. She had been so distracted she hadn't even noticed them standing there. She gazed up to get a better view of the man she had bumped into. He had dark brown spiky hair, cold hazel eyes, and a piercing on his bottom lip.
543Please respect copyright.PENANAb9fWypFP1Z
Rosalind tried to regain her composure. "I'm sorry for bumping into you, I should probably just get out of your way." She attempted to maneuver her way around them, but they continued to block her.
543Please respect copyright.PENANABLXo3mQJkg
"What's a pretty girl like you doing in the middle of the woods all alone?" a scrawny boy with greasy shoulder-length hair asked, looking her up and down.
543Please respect copyright.PENANAa2AJwbD9U3
"Stop being creepy, Heath!" The boy with the lip piercing elbowed him in the stomach.
543Please respect copyright.PENANAh2moIawLZo
"Come on, Chandler, I'm just asking a question. Am I not allowed to ask questions anymore?" The scrawny boy clutched his stomach as he recovered from the blow.
543Please respect copyright.PENANAoxPAePfmUR
"Shut up, Heath!"
543Please respect copyright.PENANAoggAyz4OnL
Rosalind forced a smile and tried her hardest to hide her discomfort. "I'm on my way to my grandmother's house."
543Please respect copyright.PENANAuZHHiRiq1p
"It doesn't matter why you're here because either way, we can't let you through," Chandler stated with a scowl on his face. He stood up taller and crossed his arms in a defensive posture to illustrate his point.
543Please respect copyright.PENANAxUmTjdR8Rq
"What? You need to let me through!" She protested.
543Please respect copyright.PENANAqEqHdiIMl5
Chandler inched closer. "Are we gonna have a problem?" he growled in her face. His breath stunk like tobacco.
543Please respect copyright.PENANAAwI18Qzugu
"Back off!" The third boy spoke up for the first time. He was a tall, slender boy with dark skin and curly hair. "If her grandmother lives in the forest maybe she has some information that would be valuable to our cause."
543Please respect copyright.PENANAcfw2NIKALb
"Hey, boss said that I'd be the one calling the shots!"Chandler argued.
543Please respect copyright.PENANAXPfgawLZLD
His eyes shot daggers at Chandler. "Our boss also said to retrieve any possible leads."
543Please respect copyright.PENANAs96mDdjXyr
Chandler cursed under his breath. He glanced back and forth between the boy and Rosalind then eventually said, "Fine!"
543Please respect copyright.PENANAACnUK5cwyd
The third boy stepped forward to question her.
543Please respect copyright.PENANAGRqXSoqQ8H
"Don't even think about lying," Heath called out. "Duke has a sixth sense about these things."
543Please respect copyright.PENANAGThbzU1KTI
Duke glared at Heath and began the interrogation. "Do you happen to know anything about a wolf that lives in these woods?"
543Please respect copyright.PENANAOiv6hbpsst
"It's a large forest. I'm sure plenty of wolves live here," she replied.
543Please respect copyright.PENANADoiqpsjLmg
Duke flipped through his notes, then pulled out a night vision photograph of a massive wolf with blood dripping down its mouth. "I'm referring to one supersized wolf. This beast has been terrorizing a local farm. It's already eaten three of their pigs. Have you heard about it?"
543Please respect copyright.PENANAsAJ0RpdOO3
"I'm sorry, I don't know anything about this."
543Please respect copyright.PENANA92UoJoPEhQ
He raised an eyebrow. "When was the last time you were in Rosewood?"
543Please respect copyright.PENANALxStBkcHlL
"Roughly, six months ago."
543Please respect copyright.PENANAPcKbZC3U0F
"Where have you been since then?"
543Please respect copyright.PENANAdcnMrTmNrg
"I've been living in Manhattan with my mom." These questions were getting much too personal for her comfort. "Can I go now?"
543Please respect copyright.PENANA3ypN3N2HU8
His amber eyes pierced through her dark brown ones. "Are you absolutely positive you don't know anything about the wolf?"
543Please respect copyright.PENANAnjihpQvp0f
"Yes."
543Please respect copyright.PENANACRVbeElGLO
Duke handed her a business card with a phone number and the words, The Silver Huntsmen, written on it. "Call us if you find any information about the wolf, for the safety of everyone in Rosewood."
543Please respect copyright.PENANAtQ3nBdufac
"Yeah, sure." She promptly stuffed the card in her pocket and made a run for it, nearly bumping into Chandler a second time.
543Please respect copyright.PENANA0adzRtMayN
What a bunch of creeps! What even is a Silver Huntsman? Are they some sort of animal control? Her stomach tied itself into knots. Whoever they were she hoped she wouldn't run into them again for a long time. She didn't stop running until she reached her grandmother's doorstep
543Please respect copyright.PENANA1RDkkkpdah
543Please respect copyright.PENANA7ogbNnhkPm
Gran lived in a small log cabin on the outskirts of Rosewood. She spent most of her time conducting experiments on the local plant life. She refused to share any of the details of her research with anyone. Most of the town thought she was crazy, and they were probably right, Gran had a tendency to ramble about the most bizarre things. A few people claimed she was secretly brilliant.
543Please respect copyright.PENANAYE2JKVC9Mn
A steady stream of smoke flowed from the chimney and the sound of pots and pans clashing together came from inside the house. Gran was definitely home.
543Please respect copyright.PENANA190qLzgWOl
Rosalind let out a nervous sigh. She had no idea how she was going to convince Gran to let her stay with her again. She should probably start with an apology for leaving. She gently knocked on the door.
543Please respect copyright.PENANAs8FQSFRuQ8
"Get lost wolf!" Gran shouted from the other side of the door.
543Please respect copyright.PENANAFeiPa1w5WE
She rolled her eyes "It's me, Rosalind."
543Please respect copyright.PENANASG6qtspOnu
"You can't fool me, dumb mutt!"
543Please respect copyright.PENANAuPUqVaQIcj
"Come on, Gran, let me in."
543Please respect copyright.PENANAKm5N5tUSOz
The old woman opened the door just a crack and peered through the opening.
543Please respect copyright.PENANAp31O6a7awg
She put on the friendliest smile she could muster. "See it's just me. No wolves here."
543Please respect copyright.PENANA5kerNVj15u
Gran hesitated for a few moments then slowly opened the door. Gran began repeatedly tapping her on the head with a wooden spoon. "So you think you can just show up on my doorstep after leaving me all alone for six months and magically make everything better? Well, you're wrong!" She slammed the door in her face.
543Please respect copyright.PENANAZdtE3FgZie
She had thought this might happen, Luckily she had a secret weapon. "I brought you donuts."
543Please respect copyright.PENANAIhCiIHqRE1
Gran opened the door once again. "Come in."
543Please respect copyright.PENANAkvKFsu2Qxz
The inside of the cabin smelled like it always did the scent of fresh herbs and spices along with something else she couldn't quite place drifted through the air. The small kitchen had always been cluttered, but it appeared to have gotten worse since Rosalind left.
543Please respect copyright.PENANAu3L8oOTitn
Rosalind pulled the box of donuts out of her backpack.
543Please respect copyright.PENANAVHGslfdPJG
Gran pressed her nose up to the box, taking a deep whiff of the sweet aroma. "So, how's your mom?"
543Please respect copyright.PENANAjzGwiY8fgK
"You were right, she hasn't changed a bit."
543Please respect copyright.PENANA5l8IE6ajel
"That's what I was afraid of," She said with her mouth full of donuts. Gran was a petite woman who stood at only 4'10, but for what she lacked in height she made up for in ferocity.
543Please respect copyright.PENANAxJla4iqdsw
"Listen, I'm really sorry I left you. Let me know if there's anything I can do to help make up for it."
543Please respect copyright.PENANAJ0okepZS5c
"You can start by delivering this to the neighbors," Gran grabbed a bottle full of a ruby-colored liquid off of the table. "They'll know what it is."
543Please respect copyright.PENANAVb1XaladTj
Rosalind accepted the bottle.
543Please respect copyright.PENANABTvpgGVp2V
She nearly pushed Rosalind out the door. "What are you waiting for? Go! I need to start making supper." Gran was very adamant about having space while she was working.
543Please respect copyright.PENANAOWBinhaf47
"Alright, I'm going!" Rosalind chuckled as Gran pushed her out the door.
543Please respect copyright.PENANAuyVODeZQP0
The leaves had turned to vibrant shades of orange and auburn. Rosewood in the autumn was truly a sight to behold. A small stone path winded through the forest. At the end of the path stood a secluded house, almost completely hidden from the rest of the world. The owner of the house stood on his porch wearing a camouflage jacket. He glared at a deer passing through the woods as he took a gulp of his drink.
543Please respect copyright.PENANAvudVkcPfcd
She waved at him. "Hi, Mr. Fowler."
543Please respect copyright.PENANAhb8QfJablH
He smiled. "Hey, Rosalind, long time no see. Your grandmother called and told me you'd be stopping by."
543Please respect copyright.PENANA1KcD8Ki8gT
She was about to hand him the bottle when she was distracted by a new bow and a quiver filled arrows resting on the picnic table in front of them.
543Please respect copyright.PENANAgjunIzwZ3O
He gave her an approving nod. "I bet you haven't shot one of those in a while."
543Please respect copyright.PENANA7hyZeBL7KK
She nodded. Mr. Fowler had been teaching her archery since she was eight. Gran wouldn't let her fire a hunting rifle, so this was a fair compromise. She had gotten pretty good at it over the years.
543Please respect copyright.PENANAxRwtbcOpsH
He glanced at the door. "I have plans tonight, but if you want to stop by tomorrow, I'll let you try it out."
543Please respect copyright.PENANAPSIbpaF7eJ
She beamed. "Thank you. I've gotten rusty and need the practice."
543Please respect copyright.PENANADiRyyveXS0
There was a rustling sound coming from the forest behind them. She nearly jumped out of her skin. Could it be the wolf? She spun around to face the sound. Two squirrels scurried out from behind a tree. She let out a deep sigh of relief.
543Please respect copyright.PENANAEQOijA2X2a
"Hey, Rosalind, are you alright? You look pretty spooked."
543Please respect copyright.PENANA9X5wgBk3lw
"Did you here about the giant wolf?"
543Please respect copyright.PENANArHrGWqiwle
He frowned. "Come inside."
543Please respect copyright.PENANAJBxmIDYg2a
The walls were fully adorned with the stuffed heads of the animals he's hunted over the years including deer, moose, coyotes, a bobcat, and even a black bear, but not a single wolf.
543Please respect copyright.PENANA8aNHsZPDwe
He showed off out several strings of barbed wire covered in fur and blood. " It looks like our little friend got caught in one of my traps last night, but somehow it got through."
543Please respect copyright.PENANAbOJKY9eL4G
The sight of the bloody wires and the thoughts of a man-eating wolf made her stomach churn.
543Please respect copyright.PENANAU3duypul5S
"You don't have anything to worry about, " Mr. Fowler sensed her discomfort and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "I'll kill that beast soon enough."
543Please respect copyright.PENANAYOemqlKgOP
"Don't let him scare you, there are no wolves in Rosewood, especially not gigantic man-eating ones." said a stranger sitting at the dining room table almost completely hidden behind several stacks of books. "Wolves aren't native to this part of the country, they travel in groups and most importantly they don't eat humans. It's probably just some rabid dog."
543Please respect copyright.PENANA2MMnzPu1ek
"It isn't a dog! Someone got a picture of it this time, It's definitely a wolf!" Mr. Fowler argued.
543Please respect copyright.PENANAwOfP3ajCM5
The stranger stood up and sighed. He was a boy about her age. He had neatly combed, platinum blonde hair and wore a slim fitting navy blue jacket. The most notable thing about him were his pale blue eyes something about them was strange yet lovely at the same time."That doesn't prove anything! The photograph could have easily been photoshopped. I think they're just trying to scare us."
543Please respect copyright.PENANAD2eVElXdUz
Mr. Fowler rolled his eyes. "Rosalind, this is my stepson."
543Please respect copyright.PENANAemdiYGttnI
"Theo Lovell," he introduced himself. "Believe me you don't have to be afraid of any wolf."
543Please respect copyright.PENANAvttqpqBMfu
People kept telling her not to be afraid, but their reassurance didn't calm her nerves.
543Please respect copyright.PENANAyhJ0byukdl
A blonde woman in a jade cocktail dress strutted across the floor. She linked arms with Mr. Fowler and batted her eyelashes. "Are you ready for dinner? If we don't leave soon we'll miss our reservation."
543Please respect copyright.PENANANg0xhKEx6g
He wrapped an arm around her. "Yeah I'm ready."
543Please respect copyright.PENANAVA2z1Vti0l
Theo eyed his cargo pants and camouflage hoodie. "You're not even going to try to make yourself look nice?"
543Please respect copyright.PENANA5Fj21VwEu6
The woman glared at Theo then tugged on the strings of her husband's sweatshirt. "I think he looks handsome."
543Please respect copyright.PENANAjJQnOOlyUh
Mr. Fowler cleared his throat. "I'd like you to meet my wife, Charlotte."
543Please respect copyright.PENANAyHIm4HGnOm
"Since when are you married?" Rosalind asked?
543Please respect copyright.PENANAoTkDYiaCQ0
He stared passionately at the woman wrapped in his arms. "We met not long after you left. It was love at first sight."
543Please respect copyright.PENANAcsxM59JWW5
Theo didn't even try to hide his disdain for the couple.
543Please respect copyright.PENANAQHnwMayB54
Charlotte aggressively snatched the bottle of liquid from Rosalind's hands. She had almost completely forgotten why she had come here in the first place. Charlotte placed the bottle in a cabinet filled top to bottom with bottles of different sizes and filled with brightly colored liquids then handed Rosalind a check. "Please say tell your grandmother I said thank you ."
543Please respect copyright.PENANAoyFKTUAZke
Rosalind returned to Gran's cabin. Nothing particularly interesting happened for the rest of the evening. She ate her dinner, unpacked her things then went to bed. Surprisingly her room was exactly the way she left it, she would have expected Gran to turn it into a gym or something. It's like Gran somehow knew she'd come back. She rolled over to the other side of the bed. She didn't want to think about her mother right now. She wanted to go to sleep.
543Please respect copyright.PENANAkffVhZDp0b
A few minutes after midnight, she was started by a loud crash coming from the kitchen. She tiptoed out of bed and down the small hallway. As she inched towards the kitchen chills crawled up her spine. "Hey Gran, are you alright?" She called out.
543Please respect copyright.PENANAbLfhsIeciY
No response.
543Please respect copyright.PENANAJkgZp3M00H
She took a deep breath trying to calm herself. Gran was probably sleep walking again, or maybe a
raccoon got in the house. She crept into the kitchen.
543Please respect copyright.PENANAaWpxkVKtud
That was definitely not a raccoon. Standing on top of the table surrounded by shattered bottles was a man-sized wolf, and it was staring right at her.
ns216.73.216.199da2