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out his hand. "I'm sure it was just a stray dog. Maybe it was looking for food."

He didn’t ease my panic one bit. I shook my head. "Don't give me that! Why would a

stray dog climb on my bed? It went from the window
directly
to my bed! You said it yourself!

That's not the behavior of a dog looking for food! And there's no explanation of
how
it got in!" I was on-edge now because I didn't understand why the sheriff wouldn't consider the possibility a

wolf entered my home. "I'm alone in this cabin. Do you understand that? I don't feel safe."

"If I was you, I would keep all my windows closed at night."

He
wasn't
me. I felt helpless and scared a wolf had invaded my home while I slept

unaware. I'd had enough, so I turned around and headed down the stairs. I heard the sheriff call

my name, but I had already made my decision. My purse was sitting on the front seat of the Jeep,

and it contained everything I needed to get back to New York. I didn’t care about my suitcase or

anything else in the cabin. I just wanted to leave Black River.

I was halfway down the mountain when a huge deer emerged from the forest and sprinted

across the road in front of me. It seemed to be running for its life as if something was chasing it.

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I slammed on the brakes and swerved to avoid hitting it. A shrill scream escaped my throat when

the Jeep went off-road and headed straight toward an enormous Evergreen. I yanked the wheel in

the opposite direction to get back onto the road, but did it too sharply. Before I could blink...the

Jeep flipped over and I saw upside-down trees getting closer as I slid across the ground. I'm sure

I crashed into one because my world suddenly went black.

* * * * *

I felt hot and sweaty all over and couldn't move. I tried to open my eyes but something

heavy weighed on my eyelids.

Although I couldn't see or move, I heard voices around me. The first one was female and

she had an English accent like Sheriff Gray. "
She's still got a fever
."

Then I heard a male voice. "
What if she doesn't wake up
?" He had the same accent but he wasn’t the sheriff.

At that moment, I realized they were talking about me. "
Don't worry...she will
."

"
It's all my fault. Dad’s going to bloody kill me
."

"
It's OT your fault. Stop saying that. Paige will
be okay and Dad will understand
."

"
I shouldn't have brought her here.
"

"
You did the right thing by bringing her here. I can take care of her.
"

There was a momentary pause. "
What if she finds out
?"

"
That's for Dad to decide
."

The voices faded in and out. Sleep bore down on me, but the last words I heard from the

man stuck in my head. "
I'll watch over her
."

A severely dry mouth and splitting headache interrupted my peaceful sleep. I couldn’t

hear the two voices, but heard breathing in my left ear like someone was sleeping next to me. I

tried to open my eyes so I could ask them for water and medicine for my headache. The weight

on my eyes was gone so I tried to open them, but this time they felt sticky. I struggled to peel

them open, blinking rapidly to loosen my eyelashes.

When I finally opened my eyes, they felt swollen. The pain in my head spread throughout

my entire body. Dim light surrounded me in this strange room. I lied on a bed and looked up at

the ceiling. I tried to speak but my throat was dry, only a quiet wheeze escaped. A low groan

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followed as my headache pounded against my temples. I still felt hot and sweaty. Layers of

blankets covered me and I wanted to yank them off. When I touched my abdomen, I wore

nothing but my bra and panties.

My eyes darted around the unfamiliar room. On the wall, I noticed a shadow of

something next to me.
What the hell was that
? I turned my head and saw a candle in the window, but what cast the shadow scared me to death. A large white wolf lay on the floor beside me.

There was no mistaking it for a dog. The bed was low to the floor, so its head was close to mine.

I opened my mouth wide, prepared to scream, but wheezes and weak gasps escaped instead. I

thrashed my head against the pillow as if the motions would turn up the volume in my voice.

Finally, a shriek pushed through my sandpaper throat. It was a high-pitched squeal at first, but

then burst forth and filled the room.

"AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!" I sat up quickly, and aching pain tore through my body

and I heard my bones crack.

The wolf awoke with a start. It jerked its head up and glowing yellow eyes blinked until

they settled on me. I shrank away from it, nearly falling off the bed, screaming until I went

hoarse and gasped for breath. The wolf stood on all fours; its size definitely that of a Great Dane.

Its gaze locked on me for a brief moment before it ran out of the room. I sat against the

headboard, clutching the blankets against my chest. I was alone and terrified...and I started to cry.

Seconds later, a slender young woman ran into the room wearing a gold dressing robe.

She was tying the belt around her waist as she approached me. Her blonde hair fell in waves that

curled on the ends and spilled over her shoulders. She stood next to my bed and hovered over me.

"Are you all right? What happened?"

Tears streamed down my face. I gasped for breath, and hiccups prevented me from

speaking clearly. "W-wo-wolf." I pointed to the spot where it laid. "R-ri-right th-there."

She looked at the spot and then back at me. Her eyebrows knit in confusion. "There was a

wolf there?"

I nodded. Then I took a deep breath to contain my fear. "It was lying next to me on the

floor. I screamed and it ran out." I pointed at the opened door. "It still might be in the house. You
have
to call the sheriff."

The woman sat on the bed next to my legs and kept her voice low. "It's okay, Paige.

There's no wolf."

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I nodded with strong conviction in my voice. "Yes there was. It was right
here
." I pointed again at the spot on the floor next to me.

She leaned toward me and put her hand on my forehead. "You still have a fever."

Did she think I was delusional
? "Look, I know what I saw. I'm not crazy!"

She got off the bed and switched on the ceiling light. The room was illuminated and I saw

her features more clearly. She was probably around my age with a pretty face and long eyelashes

framing bright blue eyes.

"Are you having pain?"

"Yes," I said meekly. "My head hurts and..." I groaned. "I hurt
everywhere
." Tears filled my eyes again as I stared into hers with a pleading look. I wished for her to end my suffering

with meds. "What's your name?"

"My name is Quinn and I'm Sheriff Gray's daughter. I'll bring you some medicine for the

pain." She stood, but I reached out and grabbed her robe.

I held the silky fabric tightly in my fist. "The wolf may be out there! You have to tell

your father!"

Quinn gave me a blank look. I released her clothing and pulled the blankets up to my

neck.
I wasn't crazy, damn it
. She turned to walk out of the room and I looked at the spot where I knew a wolf had slept. This time I noticed small white hairs on the carpet.

"Quinn! Wait, come back!" She dashed back into the room and I pointed to the evidence.

"Look over here! There are white hairs on the carpet. The wolf I saw was white. It's proof I'm

telling the truth."

She walked slowly toward the other side of my bed. Then she bent down and brushed her

hand over the carpet.

At that moment, Sheriff Gray walked into the room shirtless with a pair of navy pajama

bottoms. Dark blond hairs dusted his broad muscular chest. He stood in the doorframe and

rubbed his eyes.

"What's all the screaming and yelling about?"

To my surprise, Quinn said, "Paige was having a nightmare, Dad. I think it's the fever."

I gaped at both of them. "What? I know what I saw!"

The sheriff walked in the room and peered at me curiously. "What did you see?"

Quinn answered for me again. "She said she saw a
white
wolf."

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Why did she emphasize the word 'white'
?

They looked at each other, but my gaze rested solely on the sheriff. I silently dared him to

dismiss my claim after what he saw in my cabin.

I decided to show him the evidence too. "There are white hairs on your carpet, sheriff." I

pointed to the spot once more. "Right here. See for yourself."

"I'm going to get your medicine now," Quinn announced as she walked out of the room.

The sheriff walked to the other side of my bed and inspected the carpet.

"You see them, don't you?"

"Yes, I see them," he admitted slowly.

I sighed in relief. "Well? Are you going to investigate? The wolf could be the same one

that came into my bedroom. What if it’s following me?" I clutched the blankets again, my eyes

wide.

"No, I'm not going to investigate."

I sputtered, "W-wh-what d-do you mean you're not going to investigate? There's a wild

animal coming into people's houses. What if---"

"Paige." His voice was hard and his tone silenced me immediately. It reminded me of my

mother's. "Has this animal attacked you?"

I didn't think my eyes could get any bigger, but they managed to. I didn't understand why

he couldn't see the urgency of the situation. Once again, I felt alone and helpless. No one

believed me, and no one seemed to care.

Defeated, I cast my gaze down at the bed. "No," I admitted quietly.

"Then I don't think there's cause to worry right now."

"I have to get out of here," I muttered.

"You're in no condition to go
anywhere
." I looked up to see him towering over me, his face serious.

Quinn reappeared in the room with a ceramic mug in her hand. It took a moment for me

to peel my eyes away from the intimidating sheriff. She sat next to me on the bed and handed me

the mug.

"Here's your medicine," she said with a small grin, her eyes friendly.

I took it from her in thanks and looked inside the mug. Wispy steam came off the dark

liquid.

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"What is this?" I sniffed it and almost gagged.

She chuckled quietly. "I know it smells awful, but it's herbal. Don't worry, it's safe. It'll

take the pain away, but it'll make you drowsy." She gave me an encouraging nod.

I put the mug to my lips reluctantly and held my breath every time I sipped the medicine.

The sheriff headed toward the door, but turned to me before he left. "Goodnight Paige.

Sleep well." Then he disappeared into another room.

Quinn watched me drink my medicine to the bottom of the mug, and then took it from me

once I finished. Within minutes, my eyelids felt heavy. I scooted under the blankets and she

surprised me by tucking me in. Her long hair fell into my face but she was oblivious.

"I checked you earlier and you don't have any broken bones or internal bleeding."

I wondered if she was a nurse. As she casually strolled toward the light switch, an

unanswered question blurted from my mouth. "Who rescued me?"

She turned to look at me. "My twin brother Riley pulled you from the wreck."

"And he brought me
here
?" I couldn't keep my eyes open. "Why didn't...he bring...me to...the hospital?" Now I was slurring my words.

Quinn stood silently, just watching me. Her expression looked like she was trying to

choose her next words. "Why don't you ask him?" She said softly. She took a few steps toward the doorway and called Riley’s name.

I forced my eyes to stay open because I wanted to see Riley. Quinn didn't turn off the

light, and after a few seconds, I saw the handsome blond guy from Bobby's store come into the

room. He was shirtless and wore black boxers that showed off his sexy V-line. Unfortunately, I

couldn't admire the rest of his Adonis form because the medicine won the battle. I closed my

eyes in defeat, too tired to thank the mysterious stranger who was my hero.

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I dreaded waking up again. I was scared to death the wolf would return...but this time