Page 7

I’ve not really decided my role in the pack, something I’ve talked with Gail and now Nova about.

If you base it off my parents, I’m either supposed to be a healer or patrol.

While both appeal to my love of nature, I can’t really say that either holds more appeal than that.

Patrol is cool, if you like walking around the forest checking for enemies.

You know, the ones I said we don’t have?

Plus, I don’t have any interest in “fighting” which is what leads back to healer.

My mom swears I’m a natural healer, but I say she just hopes that I’m like her and that’s all that is.

I’m supposed to go each day to the training center to “test” out different roles until I find one that I like.

We are three weeks into this process and I’m no closer to that answer.

If I could just take the role of “pack photographer” that would be great.

I’ll take wedding photos if that means I don’t have to fight, make potions, work with numbers (eww), keep up with the pack history (boring), and Goddess forbid teach some bratty kids.

Like I said, the search isn’t going well.

It’s not that I’m incapable of doing any of the tasks, it’s more that I can’t imagine spending the rest of my life doing them.

Honestly, I feel trapped when I think about doing them the rest of my life.

Don’t get me wrong, I know they are important to the health and growth of the pack, but I can’t commit to them.

It’s almost dark when I finish yet another unsuccessful afternoon at the training center, but I realize I’ve got enough time to run the roll of film down to Lou.

I had a hard time focusing on the training when I couldn’t get a certain shadowed figure out of my mind.

I spent the entire time barely registering what the herbology teacher was saying to me when I felt eyes on me the entire time.

Everywhere I moved, the sensation followed me.

As if they never lost track of me, it moved through the training center with me.

But, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t figure out who it was.

Maybe talking with Lou will finally give me a break from the sensation and the thoughts plaguing me.

Lou is exactly where I thought she’d be. In her dark room with only the glowing red light beneath the door to indicate that she is here.

“Lourie!” The clang of metal against metal echoes from the room as she drops her film developing tools into the pan before she opens the door.

“Wildling! I was ‘oping you would come in! I ‘een a certain wolf is the centerpiece of ‘ur photos.” Her thick, ash-gray eyebrow raises in question.

I can feel my cheeks redden. My fingers twist around the long strands of my hair. I was hoping it would go unnoticed that Shadow was becoming the center of all my photos.

“Yeah, he’s been showing up every time I’m at the creek. He’s gorg isn’t he?”

Lou nods her head as she brings over my envelope of developed photos.

She flips open the flap as she fingers through the photos until she lands on the one she’s looking for.

I don’t even realize I’ve leaned over the counter to see what she’s doing until she flips the photo out as her eyes widen slightly with our nearness.

My throat clears as I lean back, straightening my shirt as if none of that happened.

The photo is of my Shadow perfectly posed as the wind blows his gray and white coat.

His eyes are closed as if he is peacefully sitting there.

Lou quirks her head looking between the photo and my face.

“Ain’t ever seen a wolf sit for a photo.

Especially close enough for a film camera. Do you know what wolf this is?”

My head shakes slowly as I flip through the rest of the photos.

I didn’t even notice it but my polaroid photo wasn’t wrong.

There’s a man standing in the woods in one of my photos.

Clear as day I can see the tip of his sleeve.

It’s not enough to figure out who it is, but at least I know I’m not crazy.

Before Lou can see it, I slip the photos back into the envelope and tuck it under my arm. She gives me a weird look before shrugging her shoulders.

“You got ‘ny more for me?”

I pull my over-shoulder bag onto the counter, ruffling through the contents until I find the three film rolls rolling around in the bottom.

Thank the Goddess for the tiny plastic containers for them, otherwise I would ruin more film than I develop.

I deposit the three rolls into her hand before pulling my bag off the counter.

“Oh, I meant to ask.” I pull my lip into my mouth, considering if I really want to do this. “Do you happen to do larger prints? Like the kind for walls?”

“I ain’t ‘ver done it. But for ‘ou I’m ‘illing to learn.”

“Thanks! That would be great. I’m sure you heard through the grapevine that Aspen wants me to put some of my photos in Find Me Between the Pages. Which is cool, but I’ve obviously never had photos printed.”

Lou lays her weathered hand, veins protruding from the top, and sun marks dotting her skin on top of mine, squeezing gently. “It’s a ‘ood thing.”

“I know. Thanks again Lou. I better head back before it gets too late. School and all that, ya know?”

The sidewalks are almost empty on the walk back with only a few people exiting stores along the way. Looks like Aspen is still working since Find Me Between the Pages is glowing, illuminating the sidewalk and part of the road.

I can feel him watching me. At least, I assume it’s the same person who I keep seeing in the shadows.

His gaze is caressing my skin causing bumps to pop as I feel his gaze move.

Shaking my head, I try to dislodge the thought.

I shouldn’t be thinking about him like a lover.

This guy is watching me, following me, and clearly doesn’t want me to know who he is.

“I know you’re watching me. The question is—why won’t you come closer?

” I whisper into the wind. My eyes scanning each side of the road, hoping he heard me.

I should be scared, should be worried that someone is watching me.

But, something about the person feels loving, as if there is no malicious intent behind them stalking me.

I’ve no reason to believe that other than a gut feeling.

Call it intuition, but I know he is here for good reasons.

Caelon

She’ll never figure it out.

With fifty-three wolves in our pack, there are fifty-two chances for her to guess it wrong.

And I’ve made sure there’s nothing leading back to me. She’s never seen me shift. Never seen my wolf at least in connection to me. And I’ve never been close enough for her to connect the scents to me.

I’ll let her wonder. Watch her as the weight of my gaze caresses her skin without her knowing where it’s coming from.

One day…one day soon she’ll know.

But it won’t be tonight.