Noemi had just found a quiet spot on the beach where she could settle down and enjoy the sound of the waves when something near the water caught her attention. At first, she barely gave it a second glance. It looked like a wandering husky, perhaps a stray from one of the nearby cottages. But as it emerged from the surf, she began to notice something strange.
The animal shook seawater from its thick coat before lifting its head to look directly at her. Noemi glanced toward the dunes, half expecting someone to call it back. Nobody appeared. She watched it carefully, noticing its unusually broad shoulders and long legs. Something about the way it stood, perfectly still and seemingly unbothered by her presence, made her uneasy.
She squinted, trying to make out its features in the fading light. Perhaps it was simply a large dog, she told herself. But then it started walking toward her, and she noticed its narrow snout, the dark fur along its back, and the unmistakable shape of its exposed teeth. When it turned its head, a pair of molten-yellow eyes fixed on hers.