Trembling, she forced her eyelids open to see the animal as it blocked her way to death. Bigger than any wolf she’d ever seen in pictures, its fur stood up on its back.
The air hazed. She shook her head. “I’m hallucinating.” Maybe she was already dead. Was it possible? Had she walked into the lake and then just blacked out? Shouldn’t she remember struggling for air?
Water rippled toward her as the wolf kicked out one paw.
Cold. Really cold water. Dread slid down her throat, even as she removed herself from all feeling. Shouldn’t she be running? Yes. She should be running. But the beast was between her and the deeper water. The blessed quiet of the water. “Get out of my way.”
The beast snarled louder, blade-sharp canines flashing. Covered in golden-brown fur with eyes bluer than the water, the wolf had streaks of white extending from its muzzle on either side. The air vibrated around it as if tension came from the animal to assault the oxygen.
Gena tilted her head to the side. “Are you some spirit guide?” Yep. She was dead. As spirit guides went, hers was a little mean with sharp teeth.
The wolf huffed, shaking its head.
Ah. Well, apparently, she had killed herself…there’d be no heaven for her. The church teachings she’d learned young did have meaning. “Hmm. We going to hell?” Something in her should care about that, shouldn’t it? At the very least, she should feel sorry that her sister, an ex-nun, wouldn’t ever see her again and would probably know why. That was sad.
The wolf huffed again, somehow looking put out. A paw bigger than a man’s hand splashed the water, sending small ripples toward her.
She couldn’t help the smile. Sure, she’d been skirting the edges of insanity for years, but now it had finally arrived, and it didn’t seem so bad. She’d probably need to be crazy to spend time in hell, and it’d be nice to have a pet there. Or perhaps the animal was just her guide to get there, and she was supposed to start following it.
It stared at her.
She stared back. “Well, if we’re going somewhere, maybe you should lead the way.” Hopefully, it was around the lake and not right through, considering she was absolutely freezing at this point. She’d figured she wouldn’t feel anything, but it seemed she’d been wrong. “Come on. Let’s get going.”
The wolf took a step toward her, his snout sniffing the air.
She took a step back. Apparently, instinct still ruled. Then the breeze whipped into action, slapping her in the face. Realization had her stumbling back.
Oh, God. The wolf was real.
Slowly, the animal stalked her, taking a step forward and waiting until she stepped back before taking another one. The sand squished between her toes. She shivered, her eyes wide and focused on the animal. Why wasn’t it attacking?
Minutes passed as they continued their odd dance. One step back. A matching step. Then another. Its eyes remained steadfastly on hers, and she had the oddest sensation it was being patient with her. Orhe. Yeah. She figured the wolf was a he, and she didn’t want to think of him as anitany longer. “You’re a he,” she whispered.
He nodded slightly.
She giggled. Was she actually having a conversation with her wolf spirit guide? Or just a plain old wolf in the woods? Didn’t they eat people?
The edge of the stairs finally smacked against her ankles. She sank to the third one, and the worn wood chilled her butt. If the animal was going to rip out her throat, why herd her back to the house? Any rational explanation for that was out of her reach.
What in the world?Her mind fuzzing, her skin chilling, she held out a trembling hand to the beast. It was as if he’d saved her. The least she could do was thank him.
The animal edged toward her and lowered his powerful head under her palm in a moment of absolute trust.
Her heart swelled.
Letting loose a small laugh, she ran her hand through the thick pelt between his ears. His fur was softer than she would’ve imagined, even with the droplets of water clinging to it. “I don’t understand what’s going on.” She should be scared to death. In fact, she should be dead—either in the lake or by his huge canines. “Why did you save me?”
With a snuffle, the wolf huffed and lay down, stretched out on the coarse sand.
She slid down to the bottom step so she could continue petting him without having to lean over so far. The last thing she wanted was to lose her balance and land on the wild beast. He probably wouldn’t take too kindly to such a surprise.
Those wild blue eyes closed, and he gave a contented snort as she continued stroking him. His butt shimmied a little, and he stretched his hind legs out as if in perfect contentment.
Gena shook her head. How long had it been since she’d had a friend? If this was crazy, she never wanted to be sane again.
Chapter9
Mia shoved the empty pizza carton to the far side of the conference table. The chairs were plush leather, the walls brick, and the table oak. Comfortable and oddly luxurious for the only combination conference/interrogation room in the sheriff’s office. “You can’t be serious.”
