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you?"

I put gentle hands on her upper arms, my voice low. "I said I'm fine, Mom."

She shook her head and sniffled. "I called the Black River Sheriff's Office looking for

you. A man named Dominic answered and said I should stay away from Black River. He said,

'Your daughter has made her choice.' Then he hung up. I flew to Denver as soon as I could and

called the police. I told them about your cabin on the mountain and Dominic’s warning. I was

worried about you because you hadn't called me again and never came back to New York. I went

with the police to get you, and when we entered the woods, some of the officers on foot were

attacked by large wolves."

I could feel my heart pounding. Dominic's vengeance had extended to my family too.

"That's because you're in their territory. You have to leave."

She gripped my arms. "Come home with me. You can't survive out here by yourself. It's

too dangerous."

My expression softened as I looked at my over-protective mother. "I'm not alone, Mom. I

found someone who loves me."

I averted my eyes and looked over her shoulder. In the distance, Riley stood as a wolf and

watched me silently.

My mother followed my gaze and gasped when she saw Riley. Then she whipped her

head toward me, her face filled with horror. "That wolf? You've fallen in love with a wolf?"

I gave her a sad smile. "Yes."

She tightened her grip and shook me. She shouted, "Have you lost your mind? Look

around you!"

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T H E H O W L I N G H E A R T

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My eyes darted around at the officers surrounding us. Some of them watched our

exchange, but others had guns pointed in different directions toward the forest.

The officer, who drove the vehicle my mother rode in, spoke to the dispatcher. "We need

forest rangers and Animal Control in the woods of Black River. We have a serious wild animal

situation here. We have officers down, so we need paramedics as soon as possible."

With forest rangers and Animal Control, I could only imagine what would happen. I

wondered how many wolves they had already shot. How many more would be shot before this

day was over?

I couldn’t believe all this chaos was because of me. Once again, I ruined more lives, and

it was more proof I didn't belong here. In my selfishness, I stayed because I wanted to be with

Riley. I never thought about how my decision would affect his town, and the people who lived

secretly before my arrival. No wonder
Varulv
lived in remote communities away from humans. It

was safer for everyone. Perhaps Aidan was right from the beginning when he told Xavier

humans didn't belong among their kind.

I looked back at Riley. His amber eyes remained fixed on me as he waited patiently for

his mate to return to his side.

At that moment, I remembered my pack oath. I couldn't risk the lives of the pack, and I

had to put their survival before my own. I had already risked Riley's life and he almost had to

spend the rest of his life as a wolf. I feared what else would happen to him if I stayed. He meant

the world to me and I wanted him to be safe. I brought nothing but trouble and heartache to

Black River, but knew how to make it right. I knew how I could protect the pack and their way

of life.

My lips trembled and tears blurred my vision as I stared at my husband. "I'm sorry, I have

to go. I told you I don't belong here." I know I said I wouldn't abandon my pack, but it was for

the best.

Riley flashed into his human form but only I saw him. He made his presence known to

everyone when he yelled my name. "Paige!"

An officer pointed a gun at him and I screamed, "DON'T SHOOT HIM!"

I saw anguish in Riley's face as he ran toward me. He didn't get very far because his

father emerged from the surrounding trees and grabbed him.

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My mother saw them and gasped in fright. Then she shoved me into the backseat of the

SUV, got in after me and slammed the door shut.

I looked out the window and saw Riley struggling against his father's strong hold, one of

his arms reaching out for me. He yelled my name at the top of his lungs, his voice cracking.

When I could no longer stand to watch him, I buried my face in my hands and cried.

I felt the SUV slowly move in reverse, and looked up to see other officers walking in the

opposite direction they had arrived. I got to my knees and peered out the back window. Riley and

his father were gone. I turned back around and sat quietly, staring at the headrest in front of me.

That's when I heard him again. I knew Riley's howl like I knew his laugh. My lips

quivered and tears trickled down my cheeks. Somewhere in the forest, he howled in misery, and

once again...I drove away.

My mother spoke with annoyance in her voice. "I can't believe there are naked men and

wolves in these woods. What kind of place is this? Thank God I'm getting you out of here." She

sucked her teeth. "Paige, you look like a wild woman." I felt her touch my hair. "This isn't you. I don't know what happened to you out here, but it can't be good."

I had nothing to say, so we sat in silence. Soon we were driving on pavement and had

arrived in Denver. My surroundings were a picturesque, mountain suburbia with humans riding

around in their shiny cars and bustling on the sidewalks. It was vastly different from Black River.

"It's okay," my mother said gently, patting my leg. "When you get back home, you'll

forget all about that place."

I didn't think I had the strength to speak, but I finally opened my mouth. "Remember

when you asked me what was so special about
that place
?" I turned my head slowly to look at her. My eyes ached from crying and they were probably bloodshot. "Riley...
he's
special." My voice broke at the end.

She gave me a confused look. "Who's Riley? The wolf?"

I nodded. "Yes."

Her eyes narrowed when her lips pursed. "I'm getting you a psychiatrist," her voice stern.

"Falling in love with a wild animal is not normal."

I turned my head away. "Yes it is."

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She scoffed. "Now I know you
really
need help. Just try to get your head together before

you return to work." Suddenly, her tone lightened. "I spoke to Nina and she wants you back. She hasn't given your job away, so that's good, right?"

I turned to look at her again and she was smiling. I just frowned and leaned over to look

out the window.

When I walked into the Denver Police Station, my hair was a mess and I was still

barefoot wearing my nightgown. People stared at me and probably thought I was a mental patient

or homeless woman, but I was too upset to care about my appearance or others' opinions.

I didn’t tell the police anything about the
Varulv
.

During our flight back to New York, we ascended over a forest. I looked down at the

treetops and wondered where Riley was. I hoped he and the pack were safe. I had no idea when I

would see him again. Immediately, I turned on the waterworks and didn't bother to wipe my tears

away.

Strangely, my thoughts turned to Dominic. I remembered what he told me about not

being free when you're part of a pack. Living in Black River among wolves, I learned freedom is

a matter of perspective. Dominic and I did have
one
thing in common: we both carried around

our fathers' deaths, but he wasn't free because he let his grief weigh him down until he became a

slave to revenge. All he wanted was to get back at everyone for his own disappointments.

During my time with Riley, I had never felt so free in my life. I could share my father’s

death with him because he understood my pain. He didn't care what I looked like or what clothes

I wore. Money, success, high fashion and designer labels meant nothing to him and I didn’t feel

the pressure to acquire those things. He loved me when I felt ugly and looked my worse. He

made me feel free since the first day I met him as a child. In those few hours in the woods, I had

escaped my mother's strict rule. I went off on my own and had my first taste of freedom...and

Riley was with me.

I took a moment to close my eyes and ask Máni for forgiveness.
Please don't judge me

too cruelly. I'm truly sorry
.

Copyright © 2011 April Bostic

T H E H O W L I N G H E A R T

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I couldn't stop thinking about Riley since we left the woods near my cabin. When I

stepped into my apartment, I wished he had walked through the door with me instead of my

mother. After we landed in New York City, she insisted on staying the night. She even made

dinner. I couldn't remember the last time she cooked in my kitchen. I think she stayed because

she wanted to make sure I went to work. She said starting my new job would help me forget

about Black River.

The truth was, I had returned to my old life and was alone...again. My mother probably

wished she could erase my memory and magically transform me back into the daughter she knew.

Whether she wanted to accept it or not, I had already changed. I know things I didn't know

before. I know how it feels to love someone with your heart and soul, and to have your feelings

reciprocated. I know Norse gods exist and there are people in the world who are really wolves

and live by their own rules.

The next morning, I didn't want to get up. My mother had woken earlier than I did and

practically dragged me out of bed. She saw me lying on my back awake, the beeping from my

alarm clock filling my semi-darkened room.

As I got ready for work, I stood in front of my closet and stared at my wardrobe. I was

back to wearing trendy clothes and dressing for success. I had to sit at my vanity and do my hair

and makeup again. The last time I wore makeup in Black River was when Riley took me to The

Den. The more time I spent with him, the less I cared about glamour. Living among wolves, the

constraints of contemporary beauty didn’t burden me.

Once my transformation from wild woman to career woman was complete, I stared at my

reflection in the full-length mirror.
ina Ricci
designed my outfit. My hair was tame and sleek, and my makeup perfected with
M.A.C
. I definitely looked the part of Creative Designer, but with my current state of emotions, I hoped I could play the role.

My curtain call had arrived when I stepped out of the elevator onto my floor at
Elle
. I

forced myself to do what my mother said and 'get my head together'. It felt surreal to see my

name on the glass door of my new office instead of an insignificant nameplate on a cubicle. My

office wasn't as big and extravagant as Nina’s was, but it had a spectacular view of Central Park.

Copyright © 2011 April Bostic

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By noon, my arms were full of portfolios and binders. I placed everything on my desk

and plopped tiredly into my chair. I was so busy attending meetings all morning, I didn't get a

chance to admire my new space and settle in. Nina had to get me up to speed on what I missed

during my bereavement leave.

That morning, as I sat in different offices and conference rooms, I felt disconnected from

everyone. I never realized how mediocre humans are until I witnessed the powers of
Varulv
and

Norse gods. I bet no one at
Elle
could turn into a wolf or manipulate the moon.

Sitting alone in my office, I finally had a moment to read email on my BlackBerry. I

hadn't checked my emails since the day of my promotion. The first message at the top of my

inbox was from Louis, my new real estate agent. He knew my father and I contacted him to help

me sell the cabin. After having a conversation with my mother last night---wait no, I listened to

her chastise me about traveling to Colorado in the first place---I finally agreed with her to sell it.

I had no intention of going back to my cabin and reliving the memories. There was too much

sadness in those woods.

Louis' email was a short follow-up that read:
Your asking price is a steal! I don't think

we'll have a problem selling your cabin. The Rocky Mountains are a great tourist location!

A knock on my office door pulled my attention away from emails. I looked up and saw a

messenger standing on the other side. I gestured for him to enter and he placed his delivery on

top of my mountain of work. After I signed for it, he walked out and left me alone with a

mysterious package covered in brown paper. I found it more peculiar because there was no return