Chapter 34

The next morning when I woke, the sun was rising, painting the sky with streaks of pink and gold. Climbing from the bed, I padded my way to the bathroom. As I showered and dressed, the remnants of the dream faded. But, the memory of the dream Alex's fierce protection remained.

After leaving the apartment, I made my way to a nearby café to get coffee and a bagel before work, hoping the waking sound of the city would help clear my head. But every step I took only deepened my bad mood. The usual noise of the city felt strenuous, the laughter of tourists and the clanking of beads, irritating.

As I waited on my coffee and bagel, I couldn't help but overhear a couple at the next table discussing the recent string of unexplained disappearances and animal sightings. Their words sent a chill down my spine. I hadn't heard anything about any of it, and I found myself blurting, "Have you ever heard of Lycans?"

The woman looked at me with a mix of surprise and skepticism. "You mean like werewolve