BY THE TIME I was ready to leave Ruthie was beyond rattled by Knox's barking. As she started her car, she wailed, "He hates me!" over the sounds of an alternative band singing about a ghost. The haunting notes fit my mood with eerie accuracy.Although Dad had asked me to stay home and look after Knox, it had sounded more like a request than a command, so I didn't feel too bad for leaving. Besides, Dad's friends lived in Salinas, and whenever he visited them, he was gone all day. I'd probably get home before him. Going to see Dr. Frankler was important."You need to get ahold of yourself," I told Ruthie with a frown. "Because I have a lot of crap to tell you and it's not for the faint of heart." Ruthie made a pouty face by sticking out her bottom lip. "By the way," she said. "You've been holding out on me!" She drew something out of her side door panel. I recognized the letters that I'd tucked under my pillow. "What are these?" she said, one eyebrow raised.I grabbed them from her

RUTHIE AND I SAT like conjoined twins, connected at the hip. I looked around the room. For some reason its well-kept state surprised me. Late afternoon sunlight shone through the windows and reflected off the white walls, brightening the room. More light filtered through the sun lights in the vaulted ceiling, casting a warm glow wherever it landed. The decor was rustic and worn with a mix of furniture styles with accents of denim blue and deep red. A black pot-bellied stove sat in the corner near a large fireplace. The home was cleaner than I'd imagined. The phrase "a den of wolves" had conjured up rough furniture and sloppiness. Usemi, I corrected myself. I absently rubbed a hand along the couch, its fabric worn down like my favorite jeans. In the corners, bright red pillows popped with color, as did the matching valances that trimmed the large windows overlooking the forest valley. From the driveway, I hadn't noticed that the landscape dropped off behind the house, so the beautiful

CAROLINE'S WORDS TRIGGERED A shift in me. I felt something changing and I feared it was me, or at least my life, as I knew it.Everyone moved in slow motion. Iosefa pulled away like I was burning him and Isaac moved toward me. I started falling ever so slowly toward a spinning void of darkness, like the space of time between wakefulness and sleep. And then with a sudden swoosh I plummeted like Alice down the rabbit hole, spinning and weightless, my chest seizing up with fear. **But after the longest time, my downward descent slowed. I opened my eyes to reassess my situation and gasped with astonishment. Different scenes floated around me, a different home with Caroline and another man, the Euro-looking man from one of my visions, happy, both of them holding blond-haired babies, teasing them while another baby crawled around on the floor. Swoosh. I accelerated downward again before slowing once more. Another scene displayed before me. Three small children, two girls and a boy pla

CAROLINE GASPED WITH HORROR, "No!""Dante may have kidnapped me, but I escaped. I'm not completely helpless," I quickly added, before realizing I was making it worse for her.Her face began to ripple as if the wolf wanted free. Sharp points pressed into my hands and I looked down to see that her fingers had become claws."Ow!" I jerked against her with renewed effort, afraid she would transform into the creature that killed my mother.Just as swiftly, her skin shifted back to her human self and she jumped up, moving away from me. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry." She said quickly and then took a deep breath before letting it out. "Strong emotion makes me lose control." Her eyes drooped in regret. Note to self: Don't poke the wolf. I thought she could use a dose of "the fixer" herself. I stood, moving forward to lay my hand on her arm. "Could I heal you?""No!" She pulled away, speaking so harshly, it startled me. Then she drooped, sinking down into the nearest chair. "I'm sorry again. I d

THE WOODEN STAIRCASE ABOVE us creaked as someone came down the deck. A moment later Isaac's dad walked toward us along the path. "We have company," he said in a deep voice that made him seem even larger than he already was.Caroline bristled with concern. "Who?""One of Ira's guys."My ears perked up. "Uncle Ira?" I asked.They ignored me. "What does he want?" asked Caroline."He wants to know if Tru is safe. He wants to see for himself."Caroline sighed and tucked away the letters. She ushered me into the house with a quick comment about continuing our talk later.When we passed through the kitchen, I was shocked to see Maverick standing by the front door talking to Ruthie. He looked relieved to see me and stepped my way. Isaac and Iosefa blocked his approach."Get out of my way," I said, pushing Isaac to the side."Tru, are you all right?" asked Maverick. He searched my face with concern. I knew I looked like hell warmed over, but it didn't have anything to do with the Efo