“Darling, I’ve been looking forward to some adventure all week.”
Once outside, Gerri’s bag proved surprisingly heavy as they loaded it into Electra’s sedan. When Electra peeked inside, she found an arsenal of snacks, bottled water, and what looked like homemade cookies wrapped in tissue paper.
“You came prepared.” Electra raised an eyebrow.
“I believe in being ready for anything.” Gerri settled into the passenger seat with the satisfaction of someone whose plans were falling perfectly into place.
Too perfectly.
But Electra pushed the thought aside as she started the engine and headed north. Hartford’s familiar skyline disappeared in her rearview mirror, replaced by rolling hills that gradually transformed into dense forest.
Gerri remained silent and observant for the first hour, her presence both comforting and unnerving. Electra felt like she was being evaluated against some invisible standard. She turned up the radio, letting pop music fill the uncomfortable quiet. But as they climbed higher into the mountains, the signal began to fracture. Static replaced melody, then faded entirely. Her phone showed one bar, then none.
“Welcome to the wilderness,” Gerri said, reaching over to turn off the radio. “Where connection means something different.”
The forest pressed closer to the road now, towering pines that blocked most of the late afternoon sun. Electra couldn’t remember the last time she’d seen so much green, so much untouched nature.
“So tell me about your love life.” Gerri’s question came out of nowhere, delivered with the same casual tone she might use to comment on the weather.
Electra nearly swerved. “Excuse me?”
“Your romance novels are absolutely divine. All that passion, and those alpha heroes who’d move mountains for their women. Surely your own love life must be equally inspiring.”
A laugh escaped before Electra could stop it, bitter and sharp. “God, no. My love life is a graveyard of men who were either terrified of commitment or so committed they wanted to plan our wedding on the second date. None of them ever gave me that spark I write about.”
“Ah, interesting.” Gerri nodded as if this confirmed something. “You haven’t found your soulmate yet.”
“Soulmates don’t exist outside of fiction,” Electra replied quickly. “Those fated mate bonds I write about? Pure fantasy. Real life is messier and a lot more disappointing.”
“You would be surprised.” Gerri’s smile held secrets. “The universe has a sense of humor about these things.”
“The universe can keep its sense of humor. I’m fine being alone.” The words came automatically, the same defense she’d used for years. “Ever since my parents died when I was twelve and my aunt raised me, I learned to handle things myself. Self-sufficiency is underrated.”
“I admire that kind of resilience.” Gerri’s voice softened. “That inner strength will prove useful here.”
Electra glanced at the sign they were approaching: Blackpine - 30 miles. Her pulse quickened without reason.
“The wildlife here is remarkable,” Gerri continued, her gaze fixed on the darkening forest. “Wolves, mostly. Beautiful creatures. Intelligent. Loyal. They mate for life, you know.”
Something in her tone made Electra’s skin prickle. “Are they dangerous?”
“Only if you threaten what they protect.” Gerri’s eyes glinted gold.
The comment echoed in Electra’s mind as she pressed harder on the accelerator without realizing it. The speedometer creptpast the limit as anticipation coiled in her chest, electric and unfamiliar.
The sun hung low behind the mountains now, painting the sky in shades of amber and rose. Mist began to curl between the trees, and somewhere in the distance, a sound echoed through the forest.
A howl.
Another answered from the opposite direction, then another, until the mountains rang with wild music.
Electra’s hands tightened on the steering wheel as they rounded a sharp bend. The cabin was still miles ahead, but something had changed in the air. Something that made her heart race and her skin flush with heat she couldn’t explain.
Adventure and danger.
The words whispered through her mind as the mist thickened and the howls grew closer.
TWO
