Noemi had spent the last half hour strolling along the curve of the bay, collecting smooth stones and letting the wind untangle the knots in her thoughts. The evening light shimmered across the water, and the steady rhythm of the waves made the noise of the city feel impossibly far away. For the first time in weeks, she felt as though she could finally breathe.
That’s when it happened. The wolf began moving steadily toward her, its wet fur clinging to its powerful frame. Its pale gold eyes never left her face. Noemi backed away until her calves struck a piece of wrecked wood, an old plank from a rotted boat that the tide had thrown ashore. Instinct shouted for a barrier.