Howl of the Wolf Read Online Free PDF

wildflowers that edged the path.
    Why was it taking so long to reach her grandmother’s?
    Frowning, she stopped and turned in a complete circle to get her bearings. There was no doubt she was on the right track, but she didn’t seem to be getting any closer to her destination.
    The frogs and insects suddenly went quiet and the night seemed to hold its breath in anticipation. The animals that populated the swamp went silent, neither moving nor vocalizing. Something had disturbed them. Was it a cougar? They were rare in this area, but they did make their presence known from time to time.
    The air in front of her seemed to coalesce and she could make out a shape in the near distance. She increased her grip on the stick, ready for anything. It wasn’t an alligator as it was too high off the ground.
    A low growl made the short hairs on her arms and the back of her neck stand on end. Whatever it was, it was big. She took a small step back but paused when the growling got louder and closer. She couldn’t run. To an animal, anything running was prey to be hunted. All she could do was stand her ground, pray and wait for her opportunity to escape.
    The necklace warmed against her skin and the tattoo on her back began to itch. It felt as though it was trying to shift position on her skin, which was impossible. She’d experienced the sensation several times before in her life, always at times when she was either in great danger or a life-changing event was about to occur. Either way, it left her even more unsettled.
    A bead of sweat trickled down her back and, in spite of the moist heat making her clothing stick to her skin, chill bumps covered her arms. Two eyes glowed in the thickening darkness, the overhead canopy of dense branches and vines making it harder for the dying rays of the sun to peek through. She swallowed past the lump of fear in her throat. “Who’s there?” Not that she expected an animal to answer her, but hearing her own voice gave her courage.
    She held the stick out in front of her, pointing one end toward the animal. “Go on now. I don’t want any trouble.”
    The low growl was more menacing than anything she’d ever heard, and she had to force herself not to turn tail and run. Whatever it was, she couldn’t outrun it. The house wasn’t close enough for her to reach before whatever was out there would be on her.
    It moved and caused the dry grass to crackle beneath its feet. The heavy panting got louder. It was coming toward her. The shadows shifted like a curtain opening to reveal the creature. Oh, it was magnificent and terrifying all at once. It was the largest wolf she’d ever seen, too large to be real.
    Loup Garou . The words drifted through her brain, chilling her to her very core. Was it a werewolf, a man in the guise of a wolf? She’d grown up on such tales and half-believed them. She’d lived in the bayou too long not to believe. There were things that happened here that defied rational thought and explanation.
    “I’ll leave. I didn’t mean to disturb you.” She took one step back but stopped when the beast threw back his head and howled, exposing razor-sharp teeth. The mournful sound pierced her heart and brought tears to her eyes. The beast sounded lonely.
    Great. Now she was losing her ever-loving mind, thinking she could understand a wolf by the way it howled. The creature lowered its head and sniffed the air, prowling ever closer. Her skin prickled and every instinct she possessed was screaming at her to run even though she knew that would be a fatal mistake. She held her ground and tightened her grip on her makeshift weapon.
    The enormous creature stopped three feet in front of her and she could make out the animal’s markings and coloring. The wolf’s thick coat was a mixture of gray and black, making it blend easily with the environment. Eyes dark as midnight stared back at her. The beast was thick through the shoulders with long, sturdy legs and massive paws. She’d never