Whisper Of The Wolf - Sample Chapter

Laughter.

Ducking below the window, I tried to keep myself hidden from the people inside the ballroom. With my back pressed against the side of the mansion, I froze, ears open, trying to catch the sound of footsteps. 

More laughter.

Pausing, I listened again, ears straining, trying to decipher between noises. 

After staying still for a couple of minutes, I decided that no one was outside, and I raised my head again to peer at the people through the window. 

From this vantage point crouched down low under the window, I saw that the huge ballroom beyond the glass had been decorated beautifully. Blue balloons hung from the ceiling, while large blue and white flower arrangements adorned each table. Twinkling fairy lights sparkled as they wrapped around each pillar and, with the main lights dimmed, they cast a soft glow across the room, adding a romantic feel to the atmosphere.

All the people in the room were dressed immaculately. It was a sea of ball gowns and dinner jackets. Bowties and clicking heels. Beautiful women and handsome men. 

Laughter and upbeat music filled the air. Even though the windows separating the main room and the outside were closed, I could still sense the excitement and enthusiasm in the chatter. The atmosphere was buzzing with anticipation. 

A shiver ran along my spine as the wind blew past, bringing a chill with it, forcing me to huddle further into my coat. The autumn air had a bite to it tonight, chasing away the last of the summer, and the clouds were clearing in the night sky to reveal the full moon, bright in the sky. 

Shoving my hands deeper into my pockets, I groaned when I couldn't find my gloves in there. Now I had no way of stopping the cold night air nipping at my fingers. My breath came out in foggy plumes as I opened my mouth to blow warm air against the window in front of me that had become fogged up. My teeth chattered as I rubbed a cold hand across the glass of the window so that I could see better. 

Excited giggles. Chatter. Music.

Scrunching up my nose, I heaved a sigh. It seemed that everyone from the town had been invited to this party. Through the crowds of people inside, I saw many familiar faces. The neighbours who waved to me whenever I walked past their house. The older man who owned the main store where me and my aunt bought our groceries. The kind lady who ran the coffee shop that I quite often went to for lunch. 

They were all here, looking elegant in their evening wear and smiles on their faces. 

And here I was, standing outside in the chilly autumn night, once again left out in the cold. The fact that me and Claudia were deliberately not invited to whatever party this was sent another chill down my spine, my insides turning colder. 

No one really included me in anything. They were always nice to me. But they didn’t want to include me, be seen with me, so I really didn't know why I was surprised to find another celebration going on without me. It happened all the time. So why did this one hurt more than the others before it?

Sighing again, I slid down to my knees, then turned around so that my back was pressed against the cold hard brick of the mansion. I let myself slide down further so that I was sitting on my butt, and then brought my knees up to my chest, laying my chin on them and tucking my hands into my lap, trying to keep them warm. 

I knew Claudia would be angry if she found out I was here, watching these people, getting upset. 

Again. 

Heaving a sigh in despair, I let my eyes sweep over the wet grass in front of me, the soft lights of the ballroom spilling out of the windows to catch the dew on the lawn, making the drops glisten against the inky colour of the night sky. 

I couldn't see my house from here. Or from anywhere near here. Living right at the edge of the town, my house was almost completely surrounded by the woods. It had taken me a while to walk here and I was painfully aware of the fact it would take me the same amount of time to get back. And I would have to walk again.

Alone. 

In the dark.

With the woods pressing in against the paths. 

A shiver ran through my body. And it didn’t have anything to do with the cold weather. 

Laughter and chatter floated through the window above me and into the night, reminding me that they were all in there and I was out here. And I was just going to have to make my way home because no one was going to invite me inside. No one even knew I was here anyway. 

It was better that way. That no one could see me. They would only tell me to go away. They always did. 

Shaking my head, I slowly got to my feet, keeping an eye on the window to make sure no one saw me. 

Of course, they didn’t. 

Keeping close to the house, I crept along the side of the mansion, around the corner and along the next wall, ducking under windows as I went. Running my fingertips along the icy and rough brick of the mansion, I tiptoed along, following the edge of the house until I came to what I knew was the back of the mansion. The noise of the ballroom was fainter here, so I breathed a sigh of relief, safe in the knowledge that everyone would be at the front of the building. 

With one last look around, I darted across the wet lawn towards the stoned walkway that would take me straight home. My heavy boots made sloshing noises as I ran, splashing water up my jeans, wetting my legs. 

Just as I reached the stones, a door banged open behind me and I quickly ducked behind the nearest tree, grateful that it was a strong wide oak. 

Hearing a booming voice, I peered around the side of the tree and saw the imposing figure of Conri Wolsey, head held high, chest puffed out, walking with deliberate long strides across the lawn, just feet away from where I had been standing a few seconds ago.

He was the mayor of the town, or something like that. Everyone seemed to do as he asked. Everyone appeared to know who he was and they didn't question him. Even Claudia told me to respect him. 

All I knew was that Conri could be a bit of an ass. Sometimes he would speak to me, other times he didn't. But he always looked at me like he was studying me or trying to work me out and it made me nervous, goosebumps rushing across my skin now at the memory of his eyes boring into mine.

Looking at him now with his dark hair styled flawlessly and his large frame tucked perfectly into his black tuxedo, I shrunk back further against the tree. Conri seemed to give off an air of arrogance, one that I could pick up even from this distance. 

Conri wasn’t alone. Everyone else had filed out of the ballroom behind him and onto the grass at the back of the mansion, dressed in their elegant clothes, all of them chattering excitedly. There was no way I would be able to sneak away now. Everyone would see me for sure.  

Sighing, I ducked behind the tree as I heard the loud chatter of the whole town while they were gathered on the lawn not far from where I was hiding. I could just stay where I was till everyone had gone. It couldn't be long now, surely. Weren't they all going home now? Wasn't that why everyone was outside anyway? 

Someone cleared their throat loudly, so I peered back around the tree again, only to see Conri standing off the side, raising his hands as he waited for everyone to quieten down and face him. I rolled my eyes at everyone meekly following the orders of the arrogant man. Why did they always do what he told them to do? 

“I just wanted to thank everyone for coming tonight to celebrate Alaric’s coming of age!” Conri boomed. 

Everyone clapped and cheered, while my eyes were fixed on Conri’s son, Alaric, standing next to his father, smiling softly at the crowd. 

My breath caught in my throat at the sight of him. 

Dressed in a similar suit to Conri, Alaric was just as tall as his father and equally as muscular, but with light blonde hair that my fingers itched to run through and deep blue eyes that I wanted to get lost in.

Looking around the crowd that was gathered in front of Conri, I could see a few girls fluttering their eyelashes at Alaric and I shook my head. Clearly, I wasn't the only one with a crush on the mayor's son. 

Conri waved his arms to calm everyone down. And they did. Of course they did. I was pretty sure that if there was a strip of hot coals Conri wanted everyone to walk on, they’d do it without questioning him. I rolled my eyes again. 

“Although Alaric hasn’t met his mate tonight, I’m sure it won’t be long before he does.” Conri slapped his son on the back while the two of them smiled at each other.

Mate? As in … friend? That didn’t make any sense. Alaric hadn’t met his friend? Alaric had lots of friends. In fact, I could see Alaric's best friend, Enzo, standing in the crowd right there. What was Conri talking about?

“Even in the absence of his mate, I’m sure you’ll all join me in celebrating his first shift!” Conri’s voice boomed out and everyone exploded into another clapping and cheering frenzy. 

I frowned at Conri’s words. The older man wasn't making much sense tonight. Maybe he'd had a bit too much wine

I fidgeted behind the tree again, pressing my back against the bark. Whatever they were clapping and cheering about, I hoped it would be over soon. I wanted to go home. And I was sure Claudia would be wondering where I was. I may be nearly nineteen, but that didn't mean I wouldn't be in trouble with her. 

Sighing, I ran a hand through my thick hair. Painfully aware of how cold my hands were, I raised them to my mouth and blew warm air onto them. A loud cheer, louder than before, came from behind me and I couldn’t stop yet another eye roll. How much longer were they going to be?

“Come on, son,” I heard Conri say, followed by a few wolf whistles and giggles, and another cheer. 

Curious, I spun around so that my cold hands were resting on the icy bark of the oak tree to peer around the thick trunk … and my heart crashed against my ribs.

In front of me, right there, Alaric stood on the grass with his back to me, facing the crowd, in all his naked glory. 

Oh my god. 

I couldn’t help my eyes from travelling from Alaric’s light coloured hair, to his strong back, along his muscular arms hanging by his sides, to his perfectly rounded ass, and down his powerful legs. The low light emphasised the dips and ridges of his body, the shadows moving across his back as he shifted his weight.

I gulped. And again. 

Wow.

Just … wow.

The giggles and sniggers had died down, but my racing heart hadn’t. What was going on? Not that I was complaining about the sight, but nothing seemed to explain why Alaric was naked outside during a cold autumn night in front of everyone in the town. I blinked a couple of times and noticed that everyone was watching Alaric, almost as if they were expecting something to happen.

In a flash, Alaric bent over, his hands clutching his stomach, face twisted in my direction, his eyes scrunched up like he was in pain. He let out a groan. 

“That’s it, son,” Conri uttered in encouragement, standing close to Alaric so he could pat his shoulder. “Don’t fight it. Let it in. Let your beast take over.”

Frowning in confusion at Conri’s words, I watched as Alaric fell onto his back, clutching his stomach tighter, his knees drawn up to his chest as he rolled onto his side, his face contorted in agony. A growl escaped his lips, followed by what sounded like a howl. 

Something was wrong. 

He was hurting.

And no one was helping him.

They were all just standing around, watching him, their stances relaxed, curiosity in their eyes. Why wasn’t anyone helping him?

I watched as Alaric’s mother, Blevine, knelt beside him in her sparkling blue ball gown, uttering words that I was too far away to hear. My heart began to race and eyes widened as I watched Alaric roll around on the lawn, clearly distressed and in agony. 

Why was no one helping him?

Conri knelt on the other side of his son, blocking my view of Alaric. I craned my neck as much as I dared, but all I could see was Alaric’s legs as they thrashed against the grass, kicking and stretching. 

A gut-wrenching crack. 

A loud howl.

My heart stopped at the sounds coming from Alaric. A bead of sweat trickled down my back, despite the chilly air. I watched in horror as one of Alaric’s legs twisted, snapped and contorted, his leg bending and cracking the bone. His leg was snapped in different directions. His screams turned into howls. Deafening growls filled the air. His hand reached upwards, snapped the other way, while his nails grew longer … and longer … 

I was rooted to the spot as a cold chill ran through my body, freezing my limbs in place.

This couldn’t be happening. 

This wasn’t real.

An icy breeze blew past me, ruffling the fallen leaves as it passed.

Alaric reached out his hand, grabbed his father and pulled him forward. Conri fell on top of his son with a grunt. Alaric stopped moving. Took a deep breath, let out a whimper, then snapped his head to the side. 

His eyes met mine. 

His silver eyes. 

Another chill ran through me.

His eyes weren’t supposed to be that colour. 

He growled and began struggling with his father, keeping eye contact with me. Conri struggled to his knees and gripped his son’s shoulders as Alaric tried to stand. 

“Alaric! Calm down!” Conri ordered his son, but he wasn’t listening. He kept struggling with his father, his body still contorting out of shape. “Alaric!” Conri then turned his head to the crowd. “Someone! Help me calm him down!” 

The crowd erupted into movement, all rushing towards Conri and his son. 

Alaric’s silver eyes bore into mine, the stare so intense it hurt. 

No.

Don’t.

He snarled. “Mine.” 

He bared his teeth at me.

His elongated teeth. 

His fangs. 

No.

NO.

I blinked. Took a step back. 

He tried to lurch forward. “Mine!” he roared. 

And that deafening sound was enough to propel me into action. 

I spun on my heel and ran.