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Maya POV

Once out of the supermarket, I start running through the poorly lightened parking lot pushing a very dysfunctional cart. I get to my car, unlock it and start throwing my groceries on the backseats while getting drenched by the hard rain. The weather is supposed to get worst during the next few days. Thank god it's Friday and I'm free this weekend, I plan to spend it sleeping, eating and watching movies. That's why I bought everything I might need and more.

I start the car and turn the heater on, my feet are wet and cold, wearing converse on a rainy day is very stupid, should take it off? I debate about it but decide against it when I remember that I'll have to put it back again later. I start driving back to my place, I need to be extra careful in this weather, even if the streets are basically deserted right now, the pouring rain makes it very hard to see so I drive like a snail, I'm in no rush better safe than sorry.

A couple of blocks away from the supermarket I see the silhouette of a dog crossing the street, I slow down to give it enough time to cross safely but the dog stops in the middle of the street and start snarling when I get closer. I stop the car startled by his reaction, the truth is I don't get along with dogs in general and strays are the worst, they always snarl at me for no reason, someone told me once 'that they are challenging me'. but I'm not sure about that.

The dog gets closer and I can see clearly how big this dog is, I instinctively look at the dashboard to make sure that the car's lock is on 'As if the dog is going to open the door'. It gets closer and I freeze, it's not a dog, no it's a big gray wolf with glowing red eyes standing in front of the car. Why is there a wolf in here? The wolf advance slowly and dangerously then start sniffing the front of the car, I don't think It can see me with the brightness of the headlights but I'm sure It can hear my fast-beating heart.

One last sniff and then it throws it's head back and howls. To my utmost horror, two more wolves appear from both sides of my car, these two are smaller and have a lighter color to their matted fur. One of them stops by my window and stares straight into my eyes with a weird expression, I'm too shocked to look away, the wolf makes a weird sound before joining the first one. They stand next to each other staring at me and snarling showing me their pointy fangs but they don't make any other move. I don't know how much time passed with them standing there in the rain but eventually they walk away without looking back.

I don't waste any time and speed away despite my trembling hands. It's over, they are gone, they were just passing by, I keep repeating to my self, that's probably what just happened but deep down I know I'm fooling my self. I've been living in this town for seven months now and it's the first time I've seen a wolf around.

I don't know how I made it safely to my place but I was here parked in the side alley of the local coffee place. My place is a small two-bedroom apartment on the second floor of the building, I still remember how happy and lucky I was when I found it. The owner of the coffee place used to live there but with his family getting bigger he moved out, renting it to me.

I turn off the car and stare ahead. I'm still shaking and nothing makes sense. I start sneezing and that's my cue to step out of the car but instead of unloading my groceries I walk inside the coffee shop, I need some answers and some caffeine. The moment I step in, I'm welcomed with the warmth of the shop and the smell of roasted coffee beans. "The usual?", the teen barista asks with a shy smile, "Yes, please" I smile back and look around, the place is pretty crowded for a rainy day like this one, mostly young couples. "Guess not everyone is bothered by the rain" I say watching him prepare my Latte, "Well, I guess dates on rainy days are romantic," He hands me my mug with a light blush and I pay for my drink, "Thanks and good night", I take a couple of steps and then turn around, "Hey, I saw wolves on my way back from the supermarket, is it normal around here?", the surprise in his face is my answer, "Are you sure it wasn't just big dogs? It's hard to see in this rain", I pretend to hesitate for a moment, "I'm pretty sure, one of them stood by my window and it was not a dog", he stays silent for few second and I'm pretty sure he still thinks that it was a big dogs that I saw, "Well,I'll ask around if someone else saw it, but I'm pretty sure we don't have wolves around here", I thank him one more time and walk out. When I step out, I put the hood of my padded coat on my head and speed walk to the stares that I climb easily. I take a deep breath before I unlock the door and walk in, I put my coffee on the kitchen island and start taking off my drenched coat and shoes.

"Where are the groceries?", I lift my head and smile to the gorgeous blond girl standing in front of me in her ''angry birds' pajamas

"in the car" I answer and walk past her to the bathroom.

"And...." She asks following me,

"And I needed to pee very badly" I close the door and do my business but I can feel her still standing on the other side. I wash my hands and walk out.

"you needed to pee very badly but brought your coffee up with you" she says with an amused face while crossing her arms.

"Well I figured that I would need my coffee" I say playfully and walk into my bedroom opposite to the bathroom, she follows me

"Need it for what?"

"To give me energy of course!! energy in order to go back down and unload the groceries which will take at least three trips to get it all up here thanks to the long list you gave me" I put on a new pair of socks and reach for my snow boots, the one I should've worn instead of my converse.

"Stay, I'll do it, you should take a hot shower instead, you're hands are shaking" she turns to leave my room but I grab her hand harder than I intended

"No, you shouldn't go outside tonight" I smile softly at her frowning face than resume putting on my boots,I can feel her intense gaze on me but I chose to ignore it. I walk back to the entrance, take a sip of my coffee, put on a raincoat and walk out. As predicted It took me three trips to get everything up. Once I'm done I get back downstairs and move my car to the back alley, away from praying eyes, just in case. When I get back I lock the door and head for the so needed hot shower. One hour later I walk out of my room in my 'snoopy's pajamas, woolen socks and a towel on my head. I sit on the kitchen stool and take another sip of my coffee while busying my self on my phone.

"Did something happen while you were out?" she asks while serving dinner,

"Chicken soup and garlic bread!! It smells delicious, you're the best" I put down my phone and start eating the moment she sits down in the stool next to me.

"Maya please answer me, you're hiding something, tell me please I'm not a kid I can help"

"You're seventeen, you're a kid" I say teasing her

"I'm turning eighteen next month and you know I'm no kid" she frowns and give me an intense glare with her hazel eyes. I snort and resume eating, she doesn't argue back and I'm thankful. I need more time to think through things and I don't want to scare her, she is still a kid and she'll always be one to me, she will always be the frail little girl I met years ago on a fateful night that opened my eyes to a hidden world I've never suspected before, the girl I promised to take care of until she finds her safe haven.

After dinner, I move to the couch still busy with my phone and wait for her to finish cleaning up. When she's done she sits beside me and starts giving me a shoulder massage, her way of pleading without using words. I sight and rub my face.

"I think we need to leave this town sooner than anticipated" Her hands stop moving

"Why? I thought you said you liked it here?" I turn around to face her and take her hands in mine

"On my way back from the supermarket I crossed path with.... three wolves" She stops breathing for few second, her eyes wide with surprise and a hint of fear

"Wild wolves?" her voice was pleading for a yes

"We wouldn't be having this conversation if they were wild ones", I take a deep breath and urge her to do the same, "they looked like they were just passing by but I think they felt your presence somehow because they started sniffing the car, thankfully the rain made it hard for them to have anything concrete, they walked away after that, " I pause studying her now pale face "But we shouldn't stay around and wait for them to come back", another deep breath, "We will stay inside and start packing during the week-end then we leave Monday morning" Her cheeks are tear-stained now and all I can do is hug her tightly in a futile effort to make her feel safe.

"Shhh, I already have an idea where to go, I'm halfway through securing a place there, we have to get there safely, It's a long drive but we'll make it, like usual" I kiss her head and she calms down.

"Where to?" she says between her sobs

"...Northwood"

"What? No!!!" She stands up "That's part of the Northmoon pack territory, Do you know what they do to trespassers? They will kill me the moment I step in" she states in pure horror and I understand her concern.

"Eliane, that's the best option right now, pack territory means that no rogue can get in freely, besides it's a human town too and you have me as your guardian, as long as we stick together no one can harm you there, unless you have a better solution. Either way, we need to leave as soon as possible"

She stays silent for a couple of minutes trying to find an alternative way but comes with nothing. I pull her back in my arms and try to calm her down. I have my doubts too about this plan but as I said those wolves sensed her presence in this town, Whoever they are, they will come back for her. She doesn't say anything else,I know she has no special attachment for this town but moving around as frequently as we do it, can take a troll on anyone and with this new threat, I can only imagine how scared she is right now.

I slowly lulled her to sleep like I used to do when she was younger. We spent that night on the couch, her, steering and crying in her sleep,and me, lost in a million thoughts. This downpour was our temporary protection but we needed a long-lasting one and as crazy as it sounds, taking refuge in a pack land was the safest solution for a lone she-wolf and her human guardian.