3

For the next week and a half, I stayed at home, Ryan coming home with the school work I had missed. I hated that I was missing the beginning of a new term, but what could I do? I was weak, recovering, and had an angry red scar plastered on my forehead.

"Do you need anything, Dawn?" Dad asked as he checked up on me for the tenth time that day. I was going back to school tomorrow, and I wasn't exactly ready for it. I was sure everyone would comment on the scar, and I would feel totally out of place. After all, I had completed my schoolwork, but I had nevertheless missed the lessons.

And I still hadn't told anyone about the wolf.

Every time I thought about it, the memory erased itself a tiny bit more. It felt like a dream now, like an imaginary scene that played out in my mind; it couldn't have been a wolf, I was over exaggerating. It was probably just a husky— one with jet black fur. That's not so unusual, is it?

"No thanks, Dad, I'm fine."

"Okay, well I'm off to bed. Goodnight sweetheart."

"Goodnight, Dad."

The light in the hallway flicked off, and I heard my parents' door shut. Mum had gone to bed ages ago; Sid was asleep long before Mum was, and Ryan was in his room. There was no way he was asleep, but he would be soon enough. That just left me.

I knew I had to get some rest, especially with me returning to school again. I just couldn't shake the thought that I wasn't prepared. That it...That it wasn't for me anymore. I couldn't explain it— it was as though I knew there was something more important than focussing on school again, than just leaping back into the ridiculous routine of ordinary life.

The eery glow of my bedside lamp was only serving to annoy me, so I hit the switch and watched the lightbulb darken and become a grey, empty shell.

From my place on the bed, the window across the room was directly facing the empty street. The lane was about a mile and a half long and housed only my house and the mysterious, supposedly empty property. But how could it be empty with dogs running around in the trees? How could we have not noticed any signs of inhabitance before?

My window was open and letting cool air creep into the room, drawing goosebumps to my skin. I eased out of my bed, careful of my hip and my calves. In the accident, my face had been scratched and swollen, but that had healed quickly. Now all I was waiting for was the huge, black and yellow bruise on my right hip— from where the car had hit me —and the weakness in my calves, to recede.

Slowly, I tiptoed over to my window, where I pushed my hand into the frigid air, grasped the handle, and slammed the window shut. I usually hated the darkness, but tonight I welcomed it. As my eyes adjusted, I could see everything in a whole new light. The sky was black, but somehow it was light. It lit up the Earth. And that was cool.

My eyes drifted back to the trees bristling across the street. It was quite a distance from my driveway, but I could see the entrance sign and fence posts as clear as day.

And then I saw something.

Flashes— like blocks filling in the gaps between the shadows and the trees, before disappearing in the blink of an eye. Brown, white...black.

Not again!

Finally, to finish it off, to end the display, a paw stepped out of the darkness. And the body of a wolf followed. Huge, black, daunting. It's bright white eyes glowed in the darkness, and although they weren't hazel like I had first seen them, I knew it was the same animal. The same...wolf.

"Fuck!" I cursed under my breath. I so wanted to believe that it was my imagination, my overactive mind building up an image that was originally just an ordinary dog. But this was not a dog. No doubt, this was a wolf.

I was scared.

How could they be living so close? They must be huge... I'd never seen anything like it. Can they grow that big?

Once again, the wolf's eyes connected with mine, it's nostrils flaring, it's leg muscles jumping. It was like I was back in the road, staring at it. I could almost hear it breathing, hear the rustling in the trees behind it.

No, I could hear it.

I was in the road! How...how could I be there? How was it possible? How did I get here?

But I knew. I had drifted down to that wolf, like I wanted to be there with it.

What the hell is wrong with me? It's going to rip me apart!

A soft growl echoed through the night, chilling my bones to a colder point than the winter air.

I can't believe it. I'm going to die because I thought I was invincible. I'm a fucking idiot. Who leaves their house to meet a fucking wolf, thinking they won't be killed? Well, it's my fault. I'm going to die and it's all because of me.

Suddenly a loud horn sent me jumping out of my skin, as I span around to see headlights racing straight towards me.

"Shit! Do you have some kind of death wish?!" I heard. Somebody was holding me, pulling me off the road as the car sped away. I hoped it was my dad. My eyes were wide with fright, but unseeing. I couldn't understand— everything was muddled. Was I dead? Had I been run over again?

I heard a loud cracking noise beside me, then rustling. "Shut up, Michael! Give her to me." I was passed over to someone else, and with seconds I was hoisted up, lying in someone's arms. I was immediately surrounded by warmth, fighting off my goosebumps.

"...huh?" I mumbled. My eyes were flicking around frantically but still, I couldn't get my vision to work. What was happening?

"She's still recovering, Hayden. She's going into shock— and she's freezing."

Wait... Do I know them? I know that voice! Don't I? Is it Mum?

A hand was pressed to my forehead and ran through my hair. It was unfamiliar, but calming.

"Shh... It's okay, go to sleep. Everything's okay."

>>

My eyes opened to the feeling of comfort. Warmth was seeping through my body, providing me with a calm happiness. I sat up, pushing an unfamiliar blanket off of me. Despite no longer having the blanket, the room I was in hugged me with heat. Looking around, I saw that I was lying on a small bed, in a room decorated with homey wooden furniture. I looked behind me to see a window but it was pitch black outside. I didn't know how long I had been asleep, or where I was, and that frightened me. I got off of the bed, heading towards a white door on the other end of the room. But as I reached for he handle to open the door, somebody else beat me to it.

Immediately cautious, I scurried backwards, pressing my lower back against the bed. A woman stepped into the room, holding towels and clothes, and smiled at me. My eyebrows furrowed at her welcoming expression; her face was slightly wrinkled in places, and undoubtedly friendly.

"Hi there sweetheart, how are you feeling?"

"I-I'm okay, I guess. Um, where am I? And who are you?"

"Why don't you sit down, poppet. You're still a bit weak."

She was right, so I slumped onto the bed, in the far corner. I wasn't comfortable in a room I didn't know, with a stranger— no matter how friendly she looked.

"My son and his friends found you in your pyjamas a few hours ago, in the road— you were almost hit by a car! And it looks like you're only just out of an accident, poor thing," she said, gesturing to the stitched up gash on my forehead. I was supposed to have the stitches taken out tomorrow, after school. "You were freezing and going into shock. We have a doctor— a family friend —on his way now. You must be so scared, sweetie. Don't worry, we'll take care of you."

I didn't say anything, just watched the woman with wary eyes. I had softened a bit towards her, but I felt vulnerable in a house I didn't know.

"Oh... Um... What's your name?" I asked meekly.

She looked shocked, "Oh, I can't believe I forgot to tell you my name! I'm Jackie Hunter, sweetie— please call me Jackie. And you are the famous Dawn." I opened my mouth to speak, surprised and confused at how she knew my name, but she cut me off. "One of my son's friends goes to school with you," she explained.

"Who—" I was cut off by the door opening and two men entering. One of them was familiar, and I realised with a jolt that it was the doctor who had treated me for my car accident.

"Dr. Carmon?" flew out of my mouth.

"Ah, Dawn. I'd say that I'm happy to see you, but considering the circumstances, I'll just say hi," he winked at me. I was so confused. Who were these people?

He walked over to me with a small torch, a blood pressure pump and a stethoscope. First he attached the pump to my arm and I watched as it started to tighten, before turning my attention back to the unfamiliar man standing beside Jackie.

Jackie placed the bundle of clothes and towels on an oak chest of drawers and wrapped an arm around the man's waist. "This is my husband, Harvey," she smiled. Her eyes creased and I watched as Harvey smiled down at his wife, love dancing in his eyes.

"Uh, nice to meet you," I said, still a little confused.

"Very nice to meet you too, Dawn."

Dr. Carmon moved to my chest with his stethoscope, and I watched his movements as he listened for a moment, then switched the device for the small torch.

"Look straight at me, please," he instructed, and I did as he said, trying to to wince as the bright light invaded my eyes.

"Now look over here," he said, holding his index finger out to his left.

"Here." His finger moved to his right.

"Now straight into the light."

I followed his instructions and sighed in relief when he put down the torch.

"Okay, Dawn, it looks like the shock has passed and you're right as rain. Your heart rate is at a normal pace and your blood pressure is good. Your eye reflexes are also as they should be, so there is no cause for alarm," Dr. Carmon told me. I nodded, pleased that there was nothing wrong.

Harvey left the room with Dr. Carmon and I heard them talking as the retreated down the corridor.

"I thought you might like to shower and change. My son was, um, a bit muddy when he brought you here," Jackie smiled warmly.

I looked down at my pyjamas to see dirt and traces of leaves smattered on them, as well as some on my skin. "Oh... yes, thank you. That would be nice."

Jackie grinned, "No problem, poppet. I would bring you some girl's clothes but, as you can see, I'm no young girl, and anything of mine I put you in would swamp you." She chuckled. "So I brought you some of my son's clothes. Just a pair of jogging bottoms and a hoodie," she said, holding up the clothes she brought.

My lips formed a small smile, "Thank you."

She gathered up the clothes and towels from the dresser, "Right, I'll show you to the bathroom." I followed her gingerly out of the room and into a long hallway decorated modernly but with a homely finish. The bathroom she led me to was huge and beautiful, making me gasp.

"Are you rich or something?" burst from my mouth. Instantly my hand flew to my lips and I turned to Jackie with wide eyes, apologising silently.

Laughing hysterically at my expression, Jackie brushed off my comment with a wave of her hand. "Well, you could say that," she winked. I fell into silence as she prepared the shower for me and told me I could use whatever products I liked— she assured me that "it's the guest bathroom," when I tried to protest. The shower products all looked expensive.

As Jackie shuffled out of the room after showing me how to lock the door, I called a heartfelt "thank you!" and she grinned back at me happily. I quickly showered and changed, relishing the steamy heat of the bathroom. Jackie's son's clothes were big, but I tied the drawstring of the bottoms tightly and I loved the warm bagginess of the hoodie.

Staring at myself in the mirror, I ran my hands through my hair and tried to make myself look a little presentable. I looked stressed.

After that, I slipped out of the bathroom and, not knowing where to go, I decided to head back to the room I'd woken up in. When I pushed open the door, my eyes immediately found Jackie sitting patiently in an armchair, her nose buried in a book.

"I'm done," I said nervously, grabbing Jackie's attention. She put the book down and stood up, smiling.

"You look much better now— your cheeks are so rosy!" she grinned, squeezing my cheek. I laughed.

"Come on, Mum, don't do that," a deep, amused voice called from behind me. I whirled around to see a teenage boy standing in the doorway. My 'rosy cheeks' quickly bloomed a rosier colour when I looked at his face. Large, greenish-brown eyes met mine as I studied his sharp cheekbones, chiseled nose, soft lips and brown, tousled hair.

I inhaled a short, sharp breath when I noticed his biceps and the muscles on show from under his white t-shirt. My eyes stayed glued to him as his chest expanded, his pupils dilated and his eyelids closed for a moment too long for him to have blinked.

"Dawn, this is my son, Hayden. He found you," Jackie chirped from beside me. Tearing my eyes from his body I fought back my blush and crossed my arms over my chest.

"Um...hi. Thanks for saving me," I murmured, nervous.

He grinned, showing off his perfect mouth, "No problem. I'm glad you're okay."

I smiled slightly and turned to Jackie, begging for an escape from the situation. I wasn't great around boys.

She looked ecstatic as he glanced between Hayden and I, before my eyes bore into her enough for her to catch my drift. "Oh! Uh, Hayden, could you just keep Dawn company for a minute? Great, thanks," Jackie chimed as she took my pyjamas from my hands and left the room with them.

Face-palm.

I internally groaned— Jackie had not only gotten the wrong end of the stick, but she had left me with no escape.

"You look nervous," Hayden smirked as he lay back onto the bed and folded his arms behind his head, watching me carefully.

"I-I'm not," I defended, making him raise an eyebrow. To prove my point, I sat down in the armchair and leaned back, staring at my lap in silence as Hayden's eyes followed my every movement.

"How old are you?" he spoke up.

"Sixteen," I responded. "You?"

"Seventeen."

I nodded. "How come I've never seen you at school?"

He shrugged, "I don't go to your school."

"Then where do you go?" The only secondary school around for miles and miles was my school, Sandringham House Academy.

He paused before replying, "I'm home-schooled."

"...Oh." I didn't really know what to say. Our village was tiny, so every kid around went to one of the two schools available, Sandringham House Primary or Sandringham House Academy. I'd never met anyone home-schooled before.

"Yup." An awkward silence followed, until I heard creaking bedsprings and my eyes snapped to Hayden, who had rolled over onto his stomach and was laying his head on his hands, facing me.

"Any siblings?"

I was taken aback by the random question, but answered anyway, "A fifteen year old brother and and a nine year old sister."

"I have a ten year old brother. He's sleeping right now." I smiled— little kids were so cute.

"So... what were you doing in the middle of the road at eleven PM?" he asked with a knowing smiled and raised eyebrows.

I frowned at the sudden turn in the conversation. "I...don't know."

He looked amused, "You don't know?"

"I don't know," I reaffirmed, shaking my head.

"Hm," he said, smirking, "what a mystery."

"Yeah..." I said, averting my eyes. "A mystery." What could I tell him, that I'd seen a wolf in the road and decided to go and have a chat?

Thankfully, Jackie chose that moment to bustle into the room. "Your pyjamas are here, Dawn, washed and dried," she beamed.

I stood up, surprised, "Wow, that was quick! Thank you."

She laughed. "I have a knack for these things."

Hayden jumped up and wrapped an arm around his mother's shoulders. He was considerably taller than her. "Yep. She's a true housewife— great for cooking and cleaning."

Jackie gasped, but slapped an evil smile on her face, faced me, and pretended that she was not elbowing her son in his side— quite aggressively, may I add.

I laughed loudly, watching Hayden suddenly straighten up and watch me with a strange light in his eyes. "Oh, um, Jackie? What time is it?" I asked, worried about her answer.

She glanced at her watch, "Half past twelve."

I breathed a sigh of relief. I hadn't been out for long and I could get back home and safely in my bedroom without anybody noticing I was missing in the first place. "I think I should get going now, thank you for everything."

Jackie and Hayden led me trough their maze of a house to the front door downstairs. Opening the door, Jackie turned to me and pulled me into a hug, squeezing me tightly in her motherly warmth. "Hope to see you again soon, sweetie."

I smiled and nodded, looking at Harvey who had just joined us.

"Thank you so much," I offered, shaking his hand. His face creased as he beamed and I grinned at the family's friendliness.

"Hayden will walk you back home," Jackie chirped. I cleared my throat, surprised, but left the house with Hayden and we started down a dark path after waving goodbye.

"It's just down here," Hayden told me, and I followed him in a comfortable silence. The path was surrounded by trees and insects purred in the bushes. Finally, it opened up into a road.

Shivers ran down my spine as my mouth fell open; beside me was a small brown sign, and I recognised the low fence hugging the tree line.

I span to my guide, shocked. "You live here?"

"Yep."

I bit my lip, my eyebrows high. "Do you... Do you have any dogs?"

He raised an eyebrow and his eyes flickered, searching mine. "No."

"Oh..." I didn't know how to reply. "Well, I live just there," I pointed to my driveway.

He looked amused as he smirked, "I know." I blushed. My thoughts were swirling in my mind about what had happened earlier when I yawned loudly, earning a soft chuckle from Hayden.

My cheeks heated up as my gaze landed on him, unsure what to say. "Well, thank you for helping me. And thanks for the clothes. I'll return them, don't worry."

Hayden smirked, but instead of replying cooly, he wrapped me up in a hug. I jumped as my body was shocked by his touch, electricity fizzling in my blood. My body became stiff and I hugged him back awkwardly.

His breath fell on my cheek as he leaned into my ear. "Keep the clothes. I like you in them. And keep safe," he whispered. My eyes widened but I nodded quickly and scrambled away from his touch, embarrassed.

"Bye," I mumbled.

"Bye," he smirked.

I felt his eyes on my the entire time I scurried up my driveway, quietly snuck into my home with the spare key, and entered my bedroom. From my window, I watched as his eyes, lingering on my window, close momentarily and he sighed, before turning and walking back up to his house.

I then lay in my bed, enjoying the comforting feel and scent of his clothes.

My thoughts drifted back to the wolf I'd seen. Was it going to be like this every day? Fearing the presence of a certain wolf who liked to appear when I was watching?

I hoped with all my heart that it wouldn't.