Derek chuckled and went into the kitchen. I heard the kettle start to boil and the clink of wineglasses.I stretched out on the couch and kicked off my shoes, like I always did when visiting Derek's cramped apartment. Living with three other guys, no one would ever notice the smell of my thick wool socks.“I was just wondering if you could help me with some research."Absolutely," Derek replied. "Is it about the cave paintings?" - How do you know that?“They're all over the news. It's quite an exciting discovery. I bet Ruth must be thrilled.“Ruth?“You know, being the first person to discover the paintings. Derek cleared a space on the table and set down a steaming cup of tea and a brimming glass of wine. “I bet she gets her name in all kinds of archeology textbooks now."I'm the one who found them!" I yelled, banging my head on Derek's couch in frustration. Derek chuckled and pushed his wine glass towards me."I can see you need this more than you need the tea." Not that you're bitt
Article by Misty SharpePietra Sinclair, 22, the girlfriend of climber Ben Brownstone, who died horribly when he fell off a cliff in Crookshollow Forest five months ago, wasted no time in getting back into the carefree lifestyle. We interview Sinclair at a remote site in the same forest, where she is working with a crew on a dangerous cave treasure hunting expedition. When asked if the caves were dangerous, Sinclair exclaimed excitedly that there were slipping and falling hazards and lamented that a local park ranger was making them follow safety guidelines.Adrenaline junkie Sinclair took us to see the newly discovered cave paintings, despite neither this reporter nor her photographer wearing proper shoes. She dismissed our concerns about the safety of the caves, saying she wouldn't let something like her boyfriend's death stop her from living her life. She then asked us not to print that specific statement…No. My throat closed up. This can not be happening.I scanned the rest of th
“I mean the real thing. Derek gave me an intense look. "Take me to see the paintings."I stopped.— Oh. I don't know…"What is it, Pietra?" What harm can it do? I've visited you in places before. I will not fall into a pit of scorpions.Was it a good idea, with all the craziness around right now? Josh's face flashed through my mind. He had said something today about another wolf, a wolf he had killed. I knew Josh would be upset if I took Derek to the farm, knowing the black wolf was watching us. But Derek knew a lot more about this sort of thing than I did, and he could point out a few more features of the paintings that we hadn't noticed.It definitely wouldn't hurt to try.Josh will have to accept. He's not driving this. I am.I opened my phone and checked the schedules of the various news outlets that Frances had given me."Why don't you go tomorrow, around nine in the morning?" We have a film crew arriving around ten, so you'll have plenty of time to look at the paintings before t
Well, maybe life was too short for me to give up on Josh. I was lucky to love Ben, but he's gone now. And Josh… he's definitely not gone. He made my body feel like no one else did, and he made me want to be daring and excited and adventurous. I haven't felt like this in a long time.All of this was so complicated. I wish someone could tell me what to do . But that was the old Pietra talking, the one who accommodated everyone else's needs at the expense of herself. The one who didn't go to Cambridge and leave her country school in a Sicilian village for the wet and miserable forest of Crookshollow. I wasn't sure it was that girl anymore.I got out of the shower, wrapped myself in a towel, and walked down the hall to my room to find clean clothes. I was digging through my underwear drawer when I felt a strong finger slide down the side of my neck.“I love a girl who's wet for me,” a husky voice whispered in my ear.I leapt a mile into the air, my heart pounding against my chest. My towe
Also, my skin burned from his touch. I didn't want him to stop. In truth no.- I understood. Josh gripped my shoulder, his face suddenly serious. “I didn't mean to flirt. It's hard to resist when you're naked, wet and beautiful. I really came over to talk and make sure you were okay. I was worried about you. I didn't like the way we left things, especially when there are at least two dangerous wolves out there."So you thought about breaking into my house and scaring me?" How did you get in anyway?“You left the front door unlocked. I needed to check that you were safe."I'm fine Josh. Just a little irritated. I don't like being talked about as if I were some kind of commodity to be traded.“I understand, and I'm sorry. It's the wolf in me. He comes to the surface sometimes, especially right after a full moon. All that adrenaline and instinct still hasn't left my veins. We are very possessive, especially about our mates. It might seem a little primal if you're not used to it, but no o
A few minutes later, we found ourselves outside Astarte . I couldn't believe I was back in this store for the second time in a week. The skeptical scientist in me silently rebelled against the crystals and dreamcatchers hanging in the window, though I had to smile at the sign by the door that read, “Tried Yoga Once, Thought It Was A Little Overdone.”I remembered Clara's unique sense of humor and brightened. She was certainly amazing. Also, where was the skeptical scientist when you were having wild sex with a werewolf against your shower wall? My cheeks burned at the memory. I hoped Clara wouldn't be able to read that thought in my letters.Josh smiled when he saw me hesitating.— Do you come to this store often?I shook my head, then pointed to the Porções Encantadas bakery across the street.“That place is much more my style. There were a lot of hipsters and hippies in my early years of taking archeology classes, writing essays postulating the location of Atlantis and having lectur
I pushed open the store door. It must have been a poor day for the crystals and the Crookshollow ghost tour brochures, because the shop was completely deserted. From somewhere behind, a small bell rang. The place looked exactly as I remembered it—small tables and dark mahogany bookshelves lined the dimly lit space, filled with candles, crystal, and odd books. I coughed as a wave of sweet-smelling incense hit my nostrils.Clara slipped in from the back of the shop, carrying a stack of books that was almost as tall as she was. Her kind face broke into a smile when she saw us.- May I help? she asked, cocking her head to the side. Josh hurried over and helped her place the books on a small round table under the window.“Hello,” I said, suddenly feeling a little silly. "I don't know if you remember me...- Clear. Clara smiled, showing a row of crooked teeth. She dropped her books on the counter and hurried over to us. She took my hand and rubbed it in hers, her wrinkled fingers cool to th
"Is someone trying to poison me?" I sighed.“Unlikely. This is part of a love spell. It was designed to "poison" you against the ones you love.I looked at Josh. His face glowed red with anger."So what do we do?" Josh demanded.Clara slammed the book down.- Anything. At the time.“Well, you've been a great help. Josh picked up the book from the table.“Josh. “I pulled on your shoulder. "What about Caleb?""Of course," Josh growled. “That scheming bastard. It must be him. He hid his true scent from me. He convinced me that he was my cousin, that we were family. And all this time he's been here to wreck everything and get you for his own.- No! "I grabbed his arm. - That was not what I meant. I don't think Caleb is this big bad wolf. My point is, he's alone in the caves and he has no idea how powerful this other wolf is.Josh's face darkened.“Anyway, we need to get back to the caves.We hurried out of the store without saying goodbye to Clara. Josh tossed the book into the backseat o