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Long forgottenfeelings were starting to bubble up as the memories of our time together returned to me, and longing cinched tightly around my heart. It hurt. I remembered how close we used to be, how Arthur had been the first person in my life I’d felt truly understood me. No, theonlyperson. I’d never known you could feel such comfort to be around another person until I’d met him. Everything was coming back to me now as I rushed down thathallway.

Ipushedthrough the doors marked “Authorized Access Only” and emerged in the bike staging area. Crews worked on bikes, filling the air with the echoing sound of ratchet guns and tuning rods and the pungent smell of gasoline and hot rubber. I made my way down the rows of bikes and their crews, looking for that bike, the blue one, and the face of the wolf who was emerging from the depths of mymemories.

Irememberedwhen he’d confessed his feelings to me. It was a month before our graduation. A month before I was to leave for Elclaw. A month before I was going to be married. I remembered the confusion and anguish I’d felt—if only he’d told me sooner, if only we’d had more time together, if only my family had been in a better position, if only I didn't have to be married to a man I didn’t love. I’d fallen for my best friend. I loved Arthur. I’d pushed him so completely out of my memories because ofthisfeeling. This aching. It’d hurt too damn much leaving him. It’d been like a deep and agonizing wound, and the mind does what it can to prune away memories too painful to livewith.

Ifrozein my tracks when I saw the blue bike ahead. It’d just pulled into its space, shimmering waves of heat still rippling from its cobalt surface. Three pit crew members approached it, spraying it with water to cool its surface. There was a hiss as the compartment door latch released and pushed open, and the door swung around to the top of the bike, revealing the inner cockpit. Then I saw him. He stepped out, his black fur shimmering with droplets of water caught from the spray, and he shook them off before shifting back to human form. My heart caught in my throat as his fur pulled back to skin and his paws became hands and feet. His muzzle shrunk, and his wolf visage turned to the handsome features of the man from mymemories.

Hounds of Hell,he looked good. Time had brought ruggedness to his features, a hard maturity he didn’t havebefore.

My curiosity was confirmed,and I should’ve just nipped it in the bud right there. Going any further from here would be a mistake. Nothing good could come out of it. But controlling impulses was never a strength of mine. If it had been, Arthur and I never would’ve become lovers in the firstplace.

Two women approached him excitedly—apparently,I wasn’t the only one who knew how to access this place—and they talked to him with stars in their eyes. I picked up my courage and strode forward. The way he spoke to the women, I could see he was used to this kind of attention. That shouldn’t have been surprising given his status, his looks, and the fact that he had become a very skilled rider, but I remembered how shy he used to be when I knew him. Obviously, time had brought changes for the both ofus.

He caughtme approaching out of the corner of his eye and turned to greet me with a cordial smile on his face, like he was greeting another fan. I saw the flash of recognition in his eyes, and he took a step backwards like he’d been punched in the gut. The smile disappeared and was replaced by a look of shock. We stood, just staring at each other. The women continued to try and speak to him, but he wasn’t listening. They looked back and forth between us, and then left, lookingannoyed.

“Hi, Arthur,”I said. “Long time nosee.”

“Perry…?”

Despite all theaching memories that had resurfaced, I had to smile. I was happy to see him. Reallyhappy.

“Hounds of Hell.It’s really you,” he said. It sounded like he was talking to himself, like he was convincing himself that this was real. I understood. It didn’t feel real. Thirteen years, and I’d never thought I’d see him again. But here he was. Herewewere.

“It’s me,”I said, matter-of-factly. I realized I was trembling. He stared at me, and I thought I saw a flash of pain in hiseyes.

“What are you doing here?”he asked. “How’d you know I would behere?”

“Ijust cameto see the track. I didn’t know you’d be here. You raced well out there. You’ve improved a lot since I last sawyou.”

Finally,his expression softened. A slight smile crept across his lips. “I’ve had a long time topractice.”

“This is your bike?”I said, gesturing to it. “GX57 ‘Howl’. You always liked the aggressivestyles.”

Next to a man,a wolf-cycle stood almost head height, its body about as long as a mid-sized car. It had a stretched, jet-like cockpit window and a tapered end. Arthur’s bike was angular, with sharp edges for aerodynamics. Looking at it, it gave the impression of a wolf leaping at its prey. Arthur laid his hand against itsside.

“You still know your shit,”he said, looking impressed. “I’ve been driving this one for the past four years. Killer performance. Amazingresponsiveness.”

“Iheardthey really worked out the kinks in the 56 model,” I said. “What a delicious piece of machinery.” I went over to it and peered into the ventilation gap along the side that revealed a portion of the engine. Arthur leaned in too, his face close to mine. He pointed at the reflex valves running along the side of theengine.

“Damn right,they did. Increased shift synchronicity and a higher fuel flow-off. Three hundred fiftytimes.”

“Incredible.No wonder you were able to pull off such precise maneuvers. I knew it was you when I saw how you tackled The Forest. I recognized that driving rightaway.”

“Mm.”

We both seemedto become aware of our proximity to one another at that moment, and moved away. Silence passed between us again, broken only by the sounds of the garage. He eyed me, and I felt my heart flutter nervously. I knew what was on hismind.

“What areyou doing back here? In Wolfheart, I mean,” he asked quietly. “I never thought I’d see youagain.”

“It’s nota story to tell in a place like this,” I said. “It’scomplicated.”

“Well,perhaps we should go somewhere where you can tellme.”

Suddenly,I was hesitant. Coming here was probably a mistake. Seeing him was amistake.

“That might not bethe best idea,” Isaid.

“Why?Ah. Because your husband wouldn’t like it, right? Where is theguy?”