Lost Wolf (Curse of the Moon Book 1)

This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, businesses, events, or locales is purely coincidental or used fictitiously. The author has taken great liberties with locales including the creation of fictional towns.

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Chapter 1

Beads of sweat broke out along my hairline. I wiped them away, tightened my ponytail, and ran faster along the dirt trail, jumping over exposed roots and ducking under low-hanging branches. Pine trees, firs, and alders turned my path into more of an obstacle course than a trail.

A twig snapped behind me.

I glanced back, but didn't see anything. Probably just a raccoon.

My sneaker hit a root and my arms flew in front of me. I landed on my hands and knees, and slid down an incline. Rocks and branches dug into my skin until I crashed into a huckleberry bush.

I stood and dusted myself off. Blood dripped from my legs. I pulled twigs, dirt, and small rocks from the cuts.

"Nice work, Victoria," I muttered to myself.

Sasha had said I shouldn't have gone into the forest for my first jog. But having just moved to the beautiful Olympic Peninsula, I wasn't about to join a club when I had the great outdoors. Birds chirped all around and a stream bubbled nearby. It was like the woods were telling me I'd made the right choice.

Another snap.

"Who's there?" I sounded a lot braver than I felt. My heart thundered against my ribcage and I whipped my head around. My roommates had said the woods were safe, but I was also trusting people who had been strangers only a couple days earlier.

Why had I gone into the woods alone? Wasn't that how half of all horror movies started?

I thought of Sasha running on a treadmill, flirting with cute college guys. Maybe she was the smart one.

Footsteps.

"Hello?" I called.

Nothing. The birds had even stopped singing.

"Is anyone there?"

The footsteps came closer.

My pulse drummed in my ears. I fought to breathe normally.

A small gray and black wolf stepped out from behind the tree. He made eye contact with me.

I didn't move a muscle, holding its gaze.

Instead of feeling the need to run, its presence calmed me. My heart rate steadied, and I held myself back from rubbing its nuzzle.

"Are you lost, little guy?"

He stepped closer and sniffed the air.

I should've run, but was too intrigued. Would he check me out and then run off? I couldn't shake the feeling that he wanted me to pay him some attention. Or even to pet him. I wasn't sure why, but petting him felt right, natural even. How could that be? A wolf that wanted a rub down?

He took another step and then another, continuing to stare into my eyes.

Music sounded from my pocket as my phone rang. The animal skidded back and exposed his teeth.

I reached in and rejected the call.

The wolf glanced from side to side and crept closer to me. He was close enough that I
could
have reached out and rubbed the fur. I kept my hands near my pocket.

He nudged my leg with his wet nose and sat down.

"D-do you want me to pet you?"

His nose again grazed my leg.

I hesitated, but then reached between his ears and patted the fur, surprised at how soft it was. He rested his head against my leg. I continued petting.

My phone rang again.

He jumped up and ran away.

Disappointment washed through me. That had probably been a once in a lifetime experience.

I leaned back against the tree, hoping the creature would return.

After what felt like forever—but a quick glance at my phone told me was probably only ten minutes—I decided to head back home. If the time didn't convince me to leave, the grumbling in my stomach did. Lunchtime.

I headed back the same way I came, this time paying more attention to exposed roots. Finally, I broke free of the woods.

Was it my imagination, or could I smell lunch cooking? The house was a mile away. I shook my head.

The hunger was getting to me. My nerves were frayed.

I hurried down the concrete trail until the mansion came into view. The Waldensian stood out like a sore thumb as one of the largest homes on the edge of campus. With twenty-eight bedrooms, it housed over fifty students.

Smoke came from around back. I sniffed the air. Barbecue. My mouth watered.

"Victoria!" Sasha, ran over, carrying so many grocery bags they probably outweighed her.

I grabbed several. "What's going on?"

"Landon found some patties in the freezer and he's cooking those up. We decided to throw a party."

I grimaced. "How long have those been there?"

Sasha shrugged. "No idea. I got some veggie burgers and some chicken patties. There are bound to be a lot of hot, hungry guys."

"And tons of chips." I shook the bags I'd taken. They weighed next to nothing, though full.

"Yep." As we made our way inside, she told me about all the guys she'd seen between the Waldensian and the grocery store. She'd invited every last one of them. "Put the perishables away while I get the rest."

"Sure." I dug through the bags. She'd bought enough dips and appetizers to feed an army.

Sasha came in, carrying a case of drinks in each hand. She stuck them in the fridge and then pulled her braids back into a loose ponytail. "I can't believe how hot it is. I didn't think Washington got this warm. Doesn't it rain and snow all the time?"

"Doesn't look like it, and I'm glad. I love this weather."

"Me, too. I just didn't pack for it."

I put some sandwich toppings in the fridge. "You can borrow something of mine."

Her eyes lit up. "Thank you! That cute yellow sundress?"

"Go for it."

She gave me a quick hug. "You're the best roomie ever! Can you tell Landon the food's here?"

"Yeah."

"Thank you." She squealed and ran upstairs.

The old back door groaned in protest when I opened it to poke my head outside.

Landon stood behind a smoking grill. He wore an apron that read
Kiss the Cook
, and from my angle that appeared to be the
only
thing he wore, though I was sure he had to at least have on shorts. I hoped.

"Is Sasha back with the other patties?" He turned, and I could see his shorts—very short cutoffs.

"Yeah, I just unloaded everything. I didn't think short shorts were the style for guys."

Landon grinned proudly. "When you've got legs like mine, tiny cutoffs are always in fashion."

I laughed. "Do you need any help?"

"I'm fine, but it looks like you should take care of your knees." He glanced at my legs.

"Oh, I almost forgot. Well, give a shout if you do need help."

Austin, another of our housemates, came over and smiled at me. "You can help by introducing me to all your friends. If they're half as gorgeous as you, I need to meet them all."

Heat inflamed my cheeks. "I don't have any friends, remember? I just moved here."

"You're no fun. Go away," he teased and dug through a cooler, chuckling to himself.

I went up to my room, where Sasha sat at our shared vanity wearing my dress. She spun around. "How do I look?"

"Stunning." I closed the door and pulled off my shorts.

Sasha stared at my knees. "You'd better wash that dirt out before it gets infected."

I grimaced at the thought.

She held up a blush palette next to her face. "Which one should I wear? I was thinking this one,"—she pointed to a light one, about the color of the flowers on the dress—"but I'm not sure."

"It'll be perfect." I gave her a thumbs-up and then hurried into the bathroom to fix my wounds. I sat on the counter and scrubbed, trying to ignore the sting.

After I had bandaged myself up, I went into the bedroom.

Sasha was playing with her braids. "Up or down?" She pulled them back and then let go.

"Up." I turned to my closet to figure out what I would wear. Maybe some capris to cover my burning wounds.

"You're right," she agreed.

I found a cute tank top and got dressed. My stomach rumbled.

Sasha laughed. "You'd better eat."

"Tell me about it."

Her phone rang. She glanced at it and her shoulders slumped. "My mom." She groaned. "She won't leave me alone. I swear, she checks on me every hour. You'd think I'd gone to college on the other side of the world. Ugh."

"Can't you just ignore her?" I asked, nudging her away from the vanity so I could use it.

"Obviously, you've never met her." She sighed dramatically. "You're lucky. Your parents haven't called once, have they?"

I froze, staring at my reflection.

"What?" Sasha asked.

My voice caught.

"Victoria?"

I couldn't remember my parents—or anything before I'd arrived at the Waldensian mansion, ready to start college.

Chapter 2

"What?" Sasha asked. "What's wrong?"

Other than the fact that I had no memories before a couple days earlier? "Nothing. Sorry, I guess I'm just hungry."

"You look like you've seen a ghost."

I forced a smile, meeting her gaze through the mirror. "No ghosts. I just need some food." Conversation drifted up from downstairs. "As soon as I finish my makeup."

She tilted her head.

I grabbed a tube of eyeliner. "Meet you downstairs?"

"Sure you're okay?"

I leaned toward my reflection and applied the makeup along my eyelash line. "Couldn't be better. Save a hottie for me."

She giggled. "I'm sure there'll be plenty to go around."

"See you in a few." I moved to my other eyelid.

"Okay, but if that really tall baseball player comes, he's mine. What was his name?" She paused. "It doesn't matter. I claim him."