Learning to Howl by Natalie Brunwick

Author:Natalie Brunwick [Brunwick, Natalie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Natalie Brunwick
Published: 2020-07-06T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

Returning to the cottage made the most logical sense, but even as I made my approach, my wolf urged me to move forward, to keep going, and to ignore the cabin completely. Usually, this would’ve concerned me as I rarely felt at odds with my wolf, but considering the fact she probably remembered more about Elly than I did, I took her constant nagging in stride.

If she wanted me to go east, then that was the direction we’d go. I could’ve stepped into my pelt to cover more ground, but without knowing where we’d end up and not having any clothing stashed away outside our territory, I thought better of it. This, of course, agitated my wolf because, in her eyes, two legs weren’t nearly as fast as four.

Still, by the time I crossed the border, she was as hesitant and hyperfocused as I was, the slight tingle of her presence touching the back of my mind.

Not that way, I imagined her saying when I turned down the right fork in a path. I paused, scented the air, then followed my instincts, listening to my surroundings almost as much as I listened to my wolf.

Testing my steps, I did my best to make as little sound as possible. Around me, trees clustered in large groups, their branches too close together for most light to break through.

Night would fall soon. Once it did, I’d have to stop my pursuit until the following day.

I didn’t like the sound of that. Neither did my wolf. But as much as I wanted to keep going, as much as I didn’t want to take the risk of being found, I also needed to rest, eat, and recharge before walking another twenty to thirty miles.

Hours had passed since I stepped out of our territory, and still, I hadn’t seen anyone else. If wolves traveled this way, they hadn’t done so in a while.

Which means they could show up at any moment. I swallowed back my fear, clenching my jaw as I waited for my momentary panic to pass.

Scenting someone else, anyone else, would’ve been far better than to not pick up a scent at all. There was no telling if this beaten path was well-traveled in recent years or not, but if I had to guess, someone had used it a week or two before.

The vegetation along the edges of the path was stripped away, some of the bushes pulled clean out of the ground. Whoever maintained the area had made sure to keep the path clear, even if it wasn’t used more than once a month.

Sensing I was on the right path, I pushed forward, this time with more urgency than before. If I found a camp and a bit of light, then I could rest for the night. Humans would never see me, and whatever wolves lived out here didn’t have a pack of their own, which meant they might even welcome me.

It could honestly go either way, but I wasn’t about to turn back now.

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