Chapter One

Logan knew the woman would be killed if he didn’t interfere. Perched within the shadows of the late night he watched the hooded woman as she strode down the sidewalk. A flash of caramel caught his eyes as a ribbon of moonlight skipped across her face.

Should I follow her? His ears twitched and he listened to her soft footfall on the snow. Or leave her to her fate?

Normally he didn’t care about what humans did, but it was well past midnight. While “Old Wispy” wouldn’t have been called a dangerous city, the recent months had changed that. The harbor town was plagued with a serial killer that hunted for victims after dark. Maybe she thought herself safe since the only ones attacked, so far, were men.

Of course, that was just one of the monsters that lurked, and preyed on human blood. He couldn’t see the ones that were after her but their rancid odor stung his nostrils.

 Hidden in the darkness across from her, he closed his eyes to enjoy the strong breeze that engulfed the desolate street. The smell of strawberries tickled his nose and he peered back at her. The wind brushed her dark curls away from her face and he could make out what looked like fright creasing her brow. A plume of breath fanned out in front of her quivering lips.

She walked by him as he remained still until she paused and seemed to look directly at him. Completely cloaked by the night, Logan knew she couldn’t see him but he slowly lowered to the ground anyway. Stopped in the perfect place, the moon seemed to caress her soft features with a thin, pale glow that captivated his thoughts. His heart began pounding. Unable to find her eyes under her thick bangs, he risked a few inches closer. Crawling on his belly, he couldn’t stop, driven by a strong desire to be near her.

Tightly clenching the strap of a dulled, yellow messenger bag looped over her shoulder, she appeared to be searching the dark for something. After a few seconds, she looked away and continued walking, now with a hurried pace.

Just go back home, he urged, hoping that somehow she’d hear his thoughts. Not a minute ago he’d been keen to the idea of controlling her fate in a way, but now he wanted nothing more than to keep her safe. The want itself was overwhelming and while he didn’t understand it, he felt compelled to oblige. Maybe if he revealed himself, she would turn tail and run, frightened by a large, wild wolf and then… he shook his head, as if to banish the thought.

What’s wrong with me? He shut his eyes in a fruitless attempt to break the feeling of bewitchment hanging over him. He knew this sensation, but so soon? He hadn’t been adamantly looking for her, yet somehow here she was, long before he needed her.

Returning his gaze to the woman, he found he was alone. His heart skipped a beat and he lurched off the ground, kicking up a cloud of snow as he dashed to the other side of the street, desperate to lay eyes on her again. He peered around the corner and staying close to the wall, followed the scent of strawberries down the next street. To his chagrin, she was still nowhere in sight.

The fur on his back spiked a second later and his eyes narrowed as a deafening boom echoed from a nearby side road. He darted towards the space and surged forward when the bitter taste of gunpowder shrouded the air. He froze when he finally came upon her again in a small pocket of the alley.

There were two of the bastards, both pinning her against the back wall with their mouths pressed to the sides of her neck. Blood freely slid down her shoulders, staining her purple shirt with thin, scarlet rivers.

A low, pained grunt escaped her lips and Logan snapped out of his trance. He didn’t know when he moved but in a flash, he’d ripped one of the men from her and slammed him to the far wall. Crushing a severed arm in his jowls, Logan glared at the second man as he broke his grip on the woman and stepped away.

“You son of a-” the first one choked on his words when Logan lunged for him and sank his fangs into the man’s throat. Blood sprayed Logan’s face as he tore the flesh off. He glowered at the second man as the first collapsed in a pool of blood and dust. Baring his fangs, Logan jumped at him, narrowly missing as the man leaped mere inches higher. When Logan turned for another attack, he saw the remaining one had escaped back to the rooftops from whence he’d come. Silently cursing, he was about to follow, when he remembered why he was there in the first place.

Catching the sweet smell of strawberries again, he turned his attention to the woman. The scowl on his furred face softened as he focused on her. She’d sunk to the ground and her head hung low. The beating of her heart was faint but it was still there, much to his surprise and delight. He could still save her. He had to save her.

It’ll just be in vain…but I won’t leave her. I can’t leave her. He felt the pull again, that deep urge to protect her.

Forces she would never know about were at work and whether her death really was inevitable or not, he would keep her close for now.

Maneuvering her onto his back, Logan saw her bag in the corner and snagged it in his mouth. Fleeing the scene, he hoped she would survive the night.

How cruel the fates are, to dangle her in front of me.

Next Chapter: New Chapter