CHAPTER 1

The night wind howled low over Bear Mountain. A thin fog shrouded the tree line as Adeline Parker stalked through the tall grass leading to the thickets of trees that began the slope. The moon was full and high in the sky, thin wisps of clouds curling in front of its round, silver form.  Stepping slowly on the grass, she walked with careful paws towards the trees.

Her body was strange to her; she hadn't yet grown accustomed to the low, small shape of her fox form, nor the way it felt for the wind to blow softly through her fur. Her senses were strange, too - some, like her vision, were less useful than they were when she was in her human form. Others, like her sense of smell, and an occasional, animal awareness of lurking danger, were keen. Lifting her head into the still air, she sniffed with her small wet nose, hoping for the scent.

There was nothing in the air other than the fresh, wet smell of a recent forest rain. The air was clean, with faint, gamey scents of prey animals detectable. She considered abandoning her quest for a moment, perhaps to find a bush full of ripe, delicious berries, or to sniff around until she came across a particularly tasty-looking rabbit in its warren - a sleeping, easy conquest.

A trace of the scent she sought, however, brought her mind back into sharp focus. She lifted her nose into the air once to confirm the presence of the smell. Sure enough, it was there- that rich, earthy musk that had called her from Philadelphia to Bear Mountain. The scent wasn't simply pleasant on the nose. No, it was more than that. It was a scent that beckoned her. That seemed to call to mind a man's voice as she smelled it and it was only in this form, this strange, fox shape, that she could track it down.

She couldn't say for certain what the scent was.  As strange as it sounded, it was almost like the familiar scent of a lover, though she knew that was impossible. There was no one who she knew in this part of the country. Here, she was as alone as she'd ever been.

Aiming her nose towards the scent on the air, she took off with light, silent steps, her black paws deft upon the grass. Soon, she was over the clearing and among the trees, the moonlight dappling upon the ground through the canopy of branches above.

The forest was still, silent.

Her nose in the air once more, the scent detected yet again, she took off at full speed, darting her body around the thick tree trunks.  The scent picked up ever so slightly with each passing second. The air had a slight chill to it as she ran, but her thick, full coat of sable hair braced her against it. She noted that it was unseasonably cool, the winter creeping into what should've been the last reaches of fall.

As the scent grew stronger, it broke her thoughts away from those of the weather and focused her on the hunt. It grew richer by the moment, and the closer she drew, the more she could identify it as the intoxicating scent of a man, the smell of a lover whose body was sheened and slick with post-coital sweat. But that wasn't all.  There was something more to it, something more feral.

She had to know. She had to learn the source of the scent. She had to learn the secret of this fox form that she could now, for the first time in her twenty-two years, adapt at will, the sleek body feeling as familiar as one she'd grown up in.

Adeline ran, faster and faster, knowing the direction she needed to travel but not knowing how she knew. Though her focus was on the scent that grew stronger and stronger by the moment, she couldn't help but notice the absence of other animals around her. Not a beast was among the grass, not a bird was in the trees. She was alone. Somehow, here in the woods, she was alone.

And though the scent grew and grew, the feral part of her mind slowly taking hold more and more as she drew nearer, another feeling began to creep into her thoughts...  It was one of fearful dread. It was as though the closer she came to the source of the scent, the closer she came to a source of danger that the instinctual, animal part of her implored her to avoid.

Turn back, it seemed to say. Turn back before it's too late.

Adeline knew that turning back wasn't an option. Putting the nagging, insistent voice out of her mind as best she could, she went on, running faster and faster, the trim muscles of her thin legs straining, carrying her light body as quickly as they were able. After a time, she could spot another clearing up ahead. She knew that was her destination.

Though the clearing was empty of trees, it wasn't completely void. Standing like a silent monument was a massive compound, the property ringed by a tall, black fence. Adeline looked up at the complex, the building bigger than the largest mansion she'd ever seen. There were no signs of life here. However, the windows were dark; the air was silent, and the grass of the property was overgrown.

She crept closer, approaching the black fence and sneaking through a small hole near the bottom. Soon, she was on the property, the scent stronger in her nose than it had ever been. Darting her gaze here and there, she looked around for any sign of life - anyone, human or animal. None was to be found. She made her way to the left of the building, the compounding looming to her right. To her left was a collection of small cabins, maybe over a dozen, all abandoned.

Then, as she stalked through the ruins of this strange place in the middle of the woods, the sense of dread that she'd been ignoring returned. This time, however, it wasn't simply a gentle nagging that she could ignore. This time, it was a screaming, desperate voice inside of her, one that demanded she leave, that she turn and run as far away from this place as possible. It overwhelmed the scent that she had followed, it overwhelmed every human thought she had. Adrenaline began to rush through her body, giving her exhausted, weary legs a burst of energy to flee the danger that her instincts were certain was near.

A low growl sounded behind her. Turning, she saw, with horror, the reason for her fear.

Among the overgrown grass of the property was a pack of wolves, all growling, teeth bared, eyes glowing red in the dark, stepping towards her with stalking steps, their bodies preparing to pounce. One emerged from the pack, a wolf with black fur, a curved scar running from his eye to his jaw. He sized Adeline up with hungry eyes as he approached.

She didn't have even a moment to react as he pounced.

CHAPTER 2

Adeline Parker awoke in a cold sweat. Looking down at her body with frantic glances, she saw that she was human once again. She lifted her hands in front of her, confirming that they weren't paws. The realization gave her a deep sense of relief. Pulling off her bed sheets, she braced against the cool air of her bedroom as it rushed to cover her sweat-sheened body. She shivered against the cold, grabbing her robe from the nearby chair where it lay draped and wrapping it around her slim body.

Why, oh why, did I move here again? she wondered as she placed her bare feet on the cool wood floor of her rented cabin, walking with hurried steps towards the pair of cream-white slippers that lay crossed over one another on the floor near the foot of her bed.

As soon as she was warm again, however, the memory of the dream came rushing back. It wasn't new to her, not entirely. The dream of her in the form of a fox, running through the woods on a moonlit night, not an animal or human to be found. The sense of dread, the scent, the strange clearing of abandoned buildings, these were all familiar details.

The details were all much clearer than they'd ever been.  The scent was stronger, the buildings were more detailed, and the sense of dread, which had been previously nothing more than a feeling and a brief glimpse of stalking forms in the woods just out of the corner of her eye, had now revealed itself in the form of a pack of fearsome wolves.

Nothing about the dream made sense. Why was she in the form of a fox? Why did she feel the need to find this abandoned place in the woods?

Despite the bizarre nature of the dreams, she hadn't been able to fight the urge to investigate them. Leaving her apartment, her job, and the wreck of her last relationship behind her in Philadelphia, Adeline had moved a month ago to this small cabin in the wilderness near Bear Mountain. She was determined to get to the bottom of this strange compulsion, these strange dreams.

The scent, too, was something she couldn't get out of her mind.

She stretched her willowy body, letting the morning sun streaming in through the cabin's bedroom window warm her. Taking a shower, she planned the day ahead, the image of the buildings in the clearing fresh in her mind.

Someone in town must know about them, she thought, referring to Branlen, the small, picturesque town at the base of the mountain.

Since arriving, Adeline had mostly kept to herself, only venturing into town when she needed to buy groceries or other supplies. She chose this cabin over a house closer to town for a reason... She hoped the solitude of the woods would free her from distractions and allow her to focus on getting to the bottom of these strange dreams and compulsions.

Stepping out of the shower and drying off, she wiped the fog off the bathroom mirror, before taking a long look at her reflection. Her almond-shaped green eyes, usually lively and bright, seemed tired. Her slim, thin nose was over full, Cupid's-Bow red lips. Her comely features were set upon a heart-shaped face and under a long nest of thick hair the color of rich leather. She cast a glance down at her body, noting that, while she'd always been slim and lithe, the stress of the last month had taken a toll, making her shape now even more slender than it had ever been.

I gotta figure this out, she thought, drying herself off and slipping into her underwear and bra, followed by a pair of dark blue jeans, and a tight-fitting dark blue t-shirt. This stress is gonna make me waste away to nothing if I don't.

She made herself a quick breakfast of cereal.  Looking around the small, cozy interior of the cabin while she ate, she remembered the conversation she had with the property agent the day she rented it.

"Some couple lived here," said the property agent, a short, stout woman in ill-fitting professional clothes and faded blonde hair tied above her in a loose bun. "Artists, I think. I guess they thought the quiet would help their art. Who knows. Then, one day, the woman –no man with her, I remember- stopped by the office, paid up the rest of the lease, and moved out. No idea where she is now."

This struck Adeline as odd, but not noteworthy, at the time. After all, artists weren't known for their predictable, logical behavior. But now, considering the intensity of her dreams and the insistence of the urge to travel into the woods, she couldn't help but wonder if there was something more to the story that the agent told her.

One way to find out, she thought, pouring a pot of coffee into a thermos and snatching her keys off the small table by the door.

She stepped out into the fresh, late fall air, buttoning her gray pea coat against the wind that galloped down from the mountain above. Casting a glance around the thick trees that surrounded her property, she wondered, as she'd done every morning when she stepped outside for the first time, just what the hell she was doing her. Adeline then climbed into her early-decade white Honda Civic and began the twenty-minute drive down to town, determined to get some answers.

Reaching the town center of Branlen, which was a smattering of municipal buildings and a few small shopping areas, she noticed a small building she'd never noticed before. It was an older-looking building, with a strange, place-out-of-time look to it, like it had just fallen into the city from the colonial period. Slowing down her car as she passed it, she read the hand-painted sign out front, which read "Jenny's Coffee and Tea." Though the coffee in her thermos had been barely touched, she felt strangely compelled to go into this odd little store.

Inside, Adeline noticed the strange interior of low lights, beaded curtains, exotic, Middle-Eastern-sounding music. The floors were covered in deep red tapestries, the walls in odd paintings of surreal scenes of animals and nature, and a few round tables of dark oak were placed here and there. The aesthetic of the place struck Adeline as a strange combination of Romanian Gypsy and San Francisco hippie. The clientele, the two that there were, consisted of a scraggly old man with long, silver hair and a young girl no older than six who sat with him. They looked up at her with faraway expressions that melted immediately into broad smiles, the expressions of those who had just seen a long-forgotten friend that they just happened to bump into.

Adeline walked further into the shop, a feeling of unease coming over her.

Then, as if appearing from the air itself, a thin, wizened-faced woman with short, dyed-black hair, a robe of red cloth with blue trim, and a wide-eyed expression on her face, stepped out in front of Adeline. The woman looked her over as if inspecting merchandise. Once she finished her scan of Adeline, she lifted her eyes to hers, staring deep into her eyes with two small orbs of cloudy white and startlingly bright blue.

"Welcome!" she said, her voice a low creak. "Welcome, my little fox!"

CHAPTER 3

"What did you call me?" asked Adeline, her eyes wide as she stepped backward from the woman.

"Little fox," the woman said, a flash of annoyed confusion crossing her wrinkled face. "You got bad ears or something?"

Adeline shot a glance at the man and girl that sat nearby. They both looked up at her with expectant expressions, sitting in silence.

"But, but, why would you call me that?" Adeline asked.

"Because you're a fox! Why else?" the woman said, as though it were the most natural declaration in the world.

"How did you…" said Adeline, attempting to get answers but too shocked to speak clearly.

"So, what'll you have?" asked the woman, waving her hand dismissively at Adeline's query as she stepped back behind the low, oak counter, the colorful glass containers of various sorts of teas behind her.

"Huh?" asked Adeline, still shocked.

"What'll you have, my little fox? Tea? Coffee? One of my famous Danishes?"

The woman gestured to a small stack of Danishes set under a glass bell jar, the pastries a creamy beige color with a dab of blood-red cherry filling in the middle.

"Good Danishes," said the man, finally speaking. "Very good."

"Um, small coffee, I guess," said Adeline, her eyes still darting around to the strange décor of the place.

"One coffee!" said the woman, turning around and setting to work.

Seconds later, she turned back around, a gray mug placed in front of her on the counter, the dark coffee within steaming and black.

"Th…thanks," said Adeline.

"First one's free!" said the woman.

"First one's free!" said the man, raising his mug, as if in victory.

Adeline shook her head, ridding herself of the strange feeling that had overcome her since the moment she walked in, only to grow more intense as when the woman referred to her as a "fox."

How the hell could she know that? thought Adeline. This has to be a trick.

"You're a cold reader or something, right?" asked Adeline, searching her brain for some explanation.

"A cold what?" asked the woman. "No, I'm Jenny, just like the sign says."

"Why did you call me a fox?"

"No reason," said Jenny, busying herself with cleaning the counter, despite it not seeming dirty in the slightest. "Just an impression from some people, that's all."

"An ‘impression'?" asked Adeline, incredulously.

"Yeah, some people just seem like certain animals to me. Abraham there's a lion, Eunice is a cat. Just how I see them."

"And…I'm a fox?" asked Adeline.

"I'm as sure you're a fox as I'm sure that my name's Jenny and that this is my shop. Which is to say, as sure as it gets."

A moment passed.

"And I'm gonna guess something else, too," said Jenny. "You're here looking for something. But you're not sure what."

"OK, tell me what you know about me," said Adeline, fear creeping into her gut.

"You just carry yourself like someone who's lost," said Jenny. "And you sure as hell ain't from around here."

"Ain't seen her before in my life," seconded Abraham, Eunice next to him still staring at Adeline with that same, glassy-eyed expression. 

"Tell me, young lady," said Jenny, looking Adeline over with a skeptical eye, "why you'd come here? Why'd you come to this little town in the shadow of that ol' mountain?"

"I…just felt a calling, like I was meant to be here."

Jenny nodded, as if her suspicions had been confirmed.

"Left your old life behind, huh? Bet you had a nice little apartment in some city, job with a fancy white collar. Just dropped it like it was nothing, huh?"

How the hell does she know all of this? thought Adeline It was right, all of it.

"And now you're here," said Jenny.

"And now you're here," seconded Abraham.

Adeline was torn. Part of her felt that she could run, get out of that place as fast as possible, right then and there, abandoned the cabin, go back to Philly and see what of her old life she could salvage. But part of her, the more insistent part, wanted this strange woman to stop with the cryptic sayings and simply tell her what she needed to do.

"But enough of my rambling," said Jenny. "I think I know what's brought you to this far away little town."

"Oh?" asked Adeline.

"Yes…visions of a forest…a clearing…an abandoned building…these all sound familiar to your ears, yes?"

"How…. How do you know all of this?" asked Adeline, her eyes widening as she looked at Jenny with a perplexed expression.

"Because that's the way of our kind."

"Our…what?"

Jenny flashed a small, knowing smile of tiny, white teeth before pulling out a piece of notebook paper from behind her counter and scribbling something down on it with a nub of a pencil.

"Here," she said, handing the paper over to Adeline. "This should get you where you need to go. Though be warned, once you arrive there, things might never quite be the same for you."

"Never quite the same," said Abraham.

"But something tells me that no warning would ever talk you out of what you have in mind," said Jenny, placing the pencil nub back down on the counter.

Adeline looked at the piece of paper with eager eyes. It was a simple map written in sloppy pencil writing, indicating a drive up one of the roads from town, leading far into the mountains. She folded the paper in half and slipped it into her back pocket.

"What will I find up there?" Adeline asked.

"Answers, then more questions," said Jenny.

Adeline was eager to leave the coffee shop, both to be on her way and to get away from these strange people.

"Thanks for the coffee," she said, turning starting for the door, her body coiled tight like a spring, as if danger were just a hair's breadth away.

"Of course. Of course," said Jenny, sidling back behind the counter. "Good luck on your little quest for answers. And just remember, if you need anything else, ol' Jenny's here for you."

"Um, thanks," said Adeline, inching closer and closer to the door.

As she approached, Adeline felt compelled to take one last look at the strange shop. ’She scanned the décor, her eyes fell onto Eunice, the silent little girl. As the two made eye contact, the odd smile that the girl had on her face changed, twisted into something more knowing, more sinister.

Adeline's blood ran cold as the girl stared at her with the sort of scanning, skeptical expression that seemed out of place on a child's face. But what was more startling was what happened next. The girl's strikingly blue eyes narrowed, the blacks forming into slim slivers amidst brilliant, marbled blue. Her mouth then opened slightly, revealing to Adeline's shock and horror, a row of razor-sharp teeth.

They were not the teeth of a human, Adeline understood immediately, but those of an animal.

CHAPTER 4

Adeline's car trundled the uneven path that led up Bear Mountain. The road was unpaved and rough, the engine and tires of her economy car struggling to bring the car along the steep upward incline.

I need a goddamn truck for this, thought Adeline, her eyes on the road ahead, the midday sun streaming through the leaves above and streaking the cleared earth of the road with golden rakes of light.

Her mind was on the strange events at the coffee shop, the strange woman who ran the place and the way she seemed to know why Adeline was here, the talk of "animals," and the row of cat-like teeth that the little girl flashed her as she left.

There's no way, Adeline thought, her body bouncing along as the road grew rougher. I had to have been seeing things.

Try as she might've to convince herself that what she saw as simply a trick of her mind, Adeline couldn't shake the image of the little girl with the pointed teeth and the slivered eyes.

Or maybe it was just the way she was born, Adeline's internal monologue continued, I mean, strange eyes and sharp teeth aren't exactly proof of something…supernatural.

It wasn't enough. she couldn't talk herself out of what she'd seen.

Her mind drifted back to her life in Philadelphia, working as an executive assistant.  It was a job that meant nothing to her, and seemingly even less to those who wrote her paycheck. From college on, she'd always imagined that she was meant for something beyond the life of a nine-to-five, Netflix and takeout afterward. She tried and tried to make herself fit in.

She dated here and there, but no man, despite their high-powered jobs and bevy of flashy possessions, seemed to entice her. None seemed to instill in her that feeling of love and surrender that she'd always thought.

Adeline wanted more. She wanted love.  She wanted an escape from the ordinary. Above all, she wanted some place where she felt like she belonged.

Just when these needs began to reach a boiling point within her, that's when the urge to come to this strange, small town began. That's when the dreams began to invade her restless nights. That's when she knew that there had to be some reason why she felt her life as it wasn't the one she was meant to live.

So, for better or worse, she was here, in upstate New York, driving up a winding, forgotten road, her tires kicking up dust, the only clue as to where she was going a map given by a strange, old woman who had called her a "fox."

Why did she call me that? Adeline wondered. I'm a fox in my dreams…but there's no way that she could know that.

Her skepticism of her current circumstances was only matched by her desire to get to the bottom of the compulsion that brought her here. Despite nearly every part of her conscious mind screaming at her to turn back, she knew that she'd only be satisfied when she saw this through.

After a time, the incline of the mountain flattened out and the drive became easier. She glanced once more at the hand-drawn map, seeing that it indicated nothing but to keep driving. Looking ahead, she saw that the road changed slightly- it was smoother, more even. The tires of the car quieted as she drove this new section of the road, and she proceeded forward with much less trouble.

This part of the road seems like it's been kept-up, she thought. But by who?

As she continued, Adeline could see something through the forest. She couldn't tell, but it appeared to be a clearing of some sort, with a black crisscross cutting in front of it. She drove, her heart racing as she began to feel that her destination was finally within sight.

Drawing closer, she could soon make out that the black crisscross was a tall, fence topped with mean-looking coils of barbed wire.

Beyond the fence, she could make out the vague outline of a massive building. It was a building that struck her as immediately familiar. The closer she came, the more certain that this feeling wasn't a mere coincidence.

This was the building from her dreams.

A chill ran through her body as she drove closer to the building. It was the forest compound from her dreams, of this she had no doubt. It was a massive building that stretched across the clearing, the façade a beige-cream color, tall windows on both sides of a set of tall, imposing steel doors that gave the building the look of a modern mansion combined with a military fortress.

Driving up to the gate of the compound, she killed the engine and stepped out, looking over the place with wide eyes and a mouth slacked open slightly. This was it. This was the place that she wasn't even sure existed.

She swept the property with a quick glance, looking for signs of life. No one could be found. The place seemed abandoned. The grass grew high and wild on the grounds, and the air was still and calm. It seemed to Adeline that this place had been abandoned within the last few months.

Her eyes settled on a small section of the fence that appeared to have been cut through, the snips along the iron clean and neat. It appeared to Adeline to be just the right size to climb through. She approached it, and dipping her body low, she slipped through the hole and onto the property itself.

No harm; no foul, she thought. Doesn't look like there's anyone here to mind if I take a little peek around.

A sense of familiarity overcame her as she took her first steps onto the compound grounds. It felt to her like coming back to a childhood home that she hadn't been to for years. Looking down the clearing of the grounds, she spotted a handful of small cabins that seemed to be just as abandoned as the rest of the place.

Who the hell lived here? she thought. Looks like a cult or something.

Adeline approached the front doors of the compound, the steel of the entrance smooth and striking among the greens and browns of the nature that surrounded her. She placed her hand on the cool surface, and found to her shock that the door opened. Stepping into the building, she noticed the modern décor of the place, the back windows of the living room looking out into the woods beyond. The air was still and musty, the air conditioning having not been used for a time, evidently.

But the place was a mess. It looked to Adeline like it’d been abandoned and then ransacked.

She walked further into the house, heading down the long hallways, peering into the many bedrooms and offices. It struck Adeline as a place intended for a large family It was simply too big for a few people.

Nice place, she thought, noting the tasteful appointments of the rooms, the fashionable art choices on the walls, and the sleek, modern look of the kitchen.

A bang rang out, a deep thud that cut through the still air of the home. Adeline's heart raced and her skin went cold at the idea of not being alone in this house. She stood stone-still in place in the bedroom where she was, listening for another sound.

Then she heard it. It wasn't a bang this time. It was heavy footfalls in the hallway outside, the heavy thudding steps of boots. They were growing closer and closer. Adeline's back was to the door, and she was almost too scared to turn around.

She wasn't alone. There was no denying it.

Then, the steps reached the threshold of the door, and Adeline could sense the unmistakable presence of another person. She closed her eyes, as though she could simply pretend whoever was there didn't exist.

"Who the hell are you?" the voice called out, a deep, man's voice that resonated through the bedroom.

Adeline took a breath and turned around. It was a man, alright- a tall, handsome man.

"I’m Adeline," she said, not sure how to answer the question any other way. "Who are you?"

"This is my home," the man said, gesturing to the space around him. "And you'd better have a damn good explanation for why you're trespassing. Now."

CHAPTER 5

Adeline stood frozen under the harsh glare of the man, her limbs stiff, her eyes wide.

"I'll say again, this is my home, and you'd better have a damn good reason for being here."

Adeline's frantic mind struggled to come up with some reason, any reason for why she had broken into this strange house. She knew she could tell the truth, but an explanation that crazy would likely get her into even further hot water. It was one thing to be breaking and entering; it was a whole other thing to be an insane person breaking and entering.

"I…um…I got lost in the woods," said Adeline, internally wincing at her explanation.

"You stay put right there," said the man.

Adeline had no trouble obeying that command. She wasn't sure she could've moved even if she wanted to.  As she stood there, her eyes on the man looming in the doorway, she couldn’t help but notice how strikingly handsome he was. 

The man was tall. His large, muscular frame was like a solid wall blocking her escape. His hair was a sandy, dirty blonde, and close-cropped. His jaw was strong and wide, sitting below a face of a scruffy beard, a wide mouth of full lips pressed into a hard line, a strong, straight nose, and eyes as green as the leaves of the trees beyond the bedroom window. He was dressed in a flannel that clung tightly to his broad shoulders and defined pecs, and a pair of jeans that were snug in all the right places. A pair of black, sturdy boots completed the look. He struck Adeline as the manly, rugged type that the hipster men in Philly often sought to imitate. But this man was no faker.  He was the real deal.

Adeline swallowed hard, both from the stress of being caught in the act and from the attraction she was feeling for this man standing before her.

Finally, she summoned the nerve to speak. "No! Please don't call the police!"

"I'm not gonna call the damn police," said the man. "Why would I? So, I can wait an hour for them to send a patrol car up here for one little woman?"

"Then what are you going to do?" asked Adeline.

"I'm gonna get to the bottom of why some girl would wander into my home," he said.

Adeline shot a glance around the place, noting that it didn't exactly look like a place that had been comfortably lived in. It didn't even appear that the electricity was on.

"Are you…. Are you sure you live here?" asked Adeline. "This place looks like it's been forgotten about."

The man glowered at Adeline for a moment.

"I live here as of a couple of days ago. This…is my family's home. But they're gone."

"Gone?"

"Yeah," the man said. "Just up and-"

He stopped himself, realizing that he was giving away too much information to a stranger.

"Actually, it's none of your damn business why I'm here. This is my family's home, meaning I've got a right to it. You, on the other hand, are a damn trespasser."

Adeline pressed on with the little bit of information that she had.

"If they're gone, how did you know to come here?"

The man's eyes narrowed.

"I…" he said, looking for the right words. "That's not important."

"Did you…just have a sense that you were supposed to be here?"

The man said nothing for a long moment.

"Just who are you?" he said, finally speaking.

"I think…I think that I'm someone who's here for the same reason that you are."

"What?" he said, his stiff, defensive posture loosening, Adeline's questions catching him off-guard.

"Did you have a dream about this place?"

Once more, the man said nothing. Adeline could see his jaw work under his cheeks.

"Come with me. Now," he said, turning his back to Adeline and walking down the hallway.

Not knowing what else to do, Adeline followed the man. Soon, they arrived in the kitchen, which Adeline realized, now that she had a chance to look it over, was one of the cleaner rooms in the place. The kitchen was modern and spacious, like the rest of the house. The appliances were stainless-steel and the countertops were a stylish, gray granite. Copper pots hung from the walls, and a large island was in the middle of the room. Floor-to-ceiling windows allowed for the same scenic view of the woods as the rest of the house.

This is a pretty nice place, when you look past how it looks like squatters live here, she thought as the man took a seat at a small table by one of the windows.

"Sit," said the man, his voice commanding.

Adeline slid into the seat across from the man, her eyes locked onto his almost startlingly handsome features.

"You're the one who broke into my house, so you're going to be the first to say the truth about why you're here."

He's got me there, thought Adeline. 

Realizing she had no other recourse, she explained everything to the man. The dreams, the call to this strange area, leaving her life behind, the cabin where she was staying, the strange encounter at the coffee shop- everything.

"A fox," the man said, looking away as he considered the word. "Dreams of a fox, running from wolves…."

"OK, now it's your turn," said Adeline.

"Tell me your name first," said the man.

"Um, Adeline. Adeline Parker."

"Adeline Parker," he repeated, as If trying the words on for size.

He cleared his throat, and began.

"Dreams, like you. I lived out west, in California. I'm an investor, believe it or not."

"Really?" asked Adeline, this new piece of information incongruent with the man's look and dress.

"Really. My name's Aaron Swift. And this is my family's place; that's true. Cousins, to be specific. But we never kept in touch; I knew they all lived here in the woods in some big compound, and I felt like whatever they were getting up to, I didn't need to know about it. But a few months ago, I started having dreams, like the ones you described. Dreams of running through the woods, this place here, and the pack of wolves. They got more and more intense as the days went on. And like you, I couldn't do anything else but come here and see for myself what was pulling me towards this part of the country. I knew that I wouldn't be able to rest until I figured out the secret to this place.

"But when I showed up just a few days ago, there wasn't a damn soul to be found. It looked like the entire compound was abandoned in a hurry. Last I heard from my cousins, they were all getting hitched; I expected family and a brood of kids. Instead, I found this."

He gestured to the abandoned house around him.

"Not a note, nothing. I asked around town, and out of the few people who even knew about this compound, none had any idea. One of my cousins, Atticus, was an electrician in the area, but he kept his personal details pretty close as far as anyone else in the town was concerned."

"So, you just left your old life behind, like me?"

"Yeah, more or less. I had some…events come up, and I-"

But before he could finish, more steps sounded through the house. Unlike Aaron's, these were softer, quieter, lighter. Adeline could hear them approach the kitchen, and when they came to a stop, she spun around in her chair.

There was a small girl, no older than ten, now standing in the entry to the kitchen.

"Daddy," the girl asked, her eyes wide with fear. "Who's this lady?"

CHAPTER 6

"Who is she, Dad?" the girl asked again.

"Now Bethany, what're you doing? Walking in here when you hear me talking to someone is the exact kind of unsafe business I warned you about."

"Sorry, Dad," said the girl, now standing straight and still.

"It's OK, B," said the man, getting up from his chair, scooping the girl off her feet and walking with her back to his seat.

There's a kid here? thought Adeline. Who is this guy?

The expression on Aaron's face seemed to indicate that he wasn't sure if introducing this girl, which Adeline assumed to be his daughter, to her was a good idea. But Adeline could see that he realized that unless he wanted to throw Adeline out, he wasn't going to have any other choice.

"B, this is, ah, Ms. Parker," said Aaron.

"Um, hi," said Adeline, awkwardly sticking her hand out towards the girl, who simply looked towards it with a blank expression.

"She's ten," said Aaron. "Not so big on handshakes."

"Oh," said Adeline placing her hand back on her lap and covering it with the other.

"You can say ‘hi', at least," said Aaron.

"Hi," said Bethany before tucking her face back into her Dad's chest.

The girl was clearly Aaron's daughter. She had the same sandy-blonde hair, the same striking green eyes, and the sort of face and features that indicated already at such an early age that she would grow up to be a stunningly beautiful woman. Her little arms were wrapped around Aaron's shoulders, and she looked back at Bethany with wide, skeptical eyes.

Something else struck Adeline.  There seemed to be something in those wide green eyes of Bethany's- something like an intelligence that one wouldn't normally find in a girl her age.

"You're here with your daughter?" asked Adeline, looking around at the run-down house.

"Well, we didn't think the place was gonna look like this when we showed up. We expected a family here. Instead, we got…"

"Everyone's gone," said Bethany.

"Yeah," agreed Aaron. "Everyone's gone. Damnedest thing."

"Then…what's your plan?" asked Adeline.

"Stay here, see if I can get this place up and running again, and find out anything I can about where my family went off to. Not to mention, get to the bottom of whatever it is that was compelling me to come here. I just…I just know that I won't be able to leave until I get it sorted out."

"I feel the same way," said Adeline. "There's something that brought me here. Something about those dreams."

Aaron gave Adeline another look over. She could tell that he wasn't sure what, exactly, to make of her. And she found her eyes fastening on to various parts of his body. His strong arms, his gorgeous green eyes, his big, rough hands She had to snap herself out of her staring.

"Well, we still haven't addressed the whole issue of you breaking and entering," said Aaron.

"Still want to call the cops?" asked Adeline, still not sure what to make of this strange father and daughter.

"No," he said. "I think I can trust you for now. How about you stick around the house, help me get this place tidied up, and maybe I'll look past your…let's call it, ‘fast and loose attitude with property law'."

"Deal," said Adeline, pleased that she could both avoid trouble and to stay around the place.

Now that she was here, she didn't want to leave. She knew more than ever that her destiny was tied to this strange home in the middle of the woods.

"No electricity?" asked Adeline.

"Nope," said Aaron. "Something's wrong with the generator. I did a little house construction back in college, and it looks like it's just a matter of a missing part. Had it ordered in at the general store, but it won't get in until tomorrow."

"No electrician in town?" asked Adeline.

"Well, there was," said Aaron, his mouth turning upwards into a wry smirk. "But it was one of my cousins."

Adeline shook her head. "Some luck."

"No kidding," said Aaron.

"Dad, is Ms. Parker going to stay with us?" asked Bethany.

"She's going to help us out around here," Aaron said. "Help us get this place looking nice."

Bethany said nothing, instead still staring at Adeline with those brilliant, green eyes.

"Well, then," said Aaron. "We were just clearing out the bedrooms if you want to help with that. If you can take that over, I can get back to work on the portable generator I found in the garage. It's not much power, but it should give us some light and let us get our electronics charged until I can get things back up and running tomorrow."

"Sounds good to me," said Adeline.

"What do you say to supervising?" asked Aaron to Bethany, mussing her sandy-blonde hair.

"OK!" said Bethany, seemingly happy both for the attention and to be alone once again with her Dad.

Adeline watched the two leave out the front door and down to the basement, their voice muffled through the floor. Looking into the woods through the tall kitchen windows, Adeline observed the sun streaming through the lolling branches of the thick-trunked trees, a thin fog swirling over the grass and dirt.

Seems like a decent guy, thought Adeline. Strange kid, though.

Adeline rose and walked through the living room, noting that the electronics and décor were, while dusty and grimy, were still intact, seemingly unmoved.

Who would leave this stuff here? she thought.

She made her way to the nearest bedroom, a small, cozy space with a four-post bed, birch furniture, and the same level of neglect as the rest of the house. Her eyes fell upon a crib in the corner of the room.

Kids, she thought. They must've had kids with them when they up and left.

The house was beginning to instill in Adeline a sense of unease.

I don't know how long I'd be able to stay here if Aaron wasn't around, she thought. Place gives me the willies.

As she straightened up the room, putting away clothes that lay here and there, preparing the space for a thorough vacuuming once the power was out, a sense of creeping dread overcame her.  It felt as though she were being watched. Adeline walked to the window and looked out once again, her eyes on the woods.  There was nothing but the wind in the trees.

She returned to her cleaning, but the sense of dread returned, now stronger, more insistent. Adeline felt her body tense, as if preparing her for a fight. She looked out the window again but saw nothing. Turning her eyes back to the room, she realized that there was no way that she could stay on task feeling this way. She knew that she needed to go outside and confirm up close what, if anything, was out there. Tossing the clothes in her hand onto the bed, she marched out of the house and out through the front door, making her way to the back of the compound, the area that she could see from the kitchen.

There was nothing, even as Adeline grew closer. As she walked towards the black, crisscrossed steel of the fence, she saw something, gray indentations cutting into the black. She approached the fence and looked at it close.

It looked like bite marks.

Adeline's eyes widened as she looked at the small chews in the fence. She stepped closer, placing her fingertips on the fence, the thick iron rough and bitten.

What kind of animal could make bites like this? thought Adeline. They're almost through the steel.

Then, her gaze moved past the fence, onto the grass just on the other side. In the soft earth were the indentations of dozens of tracks, paws, bigger than any animal that she could think of.

To her horror, Adeline realized that she was right. There was something or some-things stalking this place. But as her eyes snapped onto the woodlands beyond, there was nothing but the soft hush of the forest wind in the leaves.

CHAPTER 7

Aaron looked at the bite marks with narrow eyes, as if the sight of the indentations were confirming some sort of fear.

"Don't tell Bethany about this," he said as he stood near Adeline, leaning forward and placing his fingers on the fence. "She's shaken up enough as it is."

"Something was trying to get it," said Adeline. "Look at those tracks."

She pointed to the clustering of imprints on the rough ground on the other side of the fence. They looked to Adeline to be from dogs, but they were bigger than any dogs she'd ever seen.

"I had a friend who had a Great Dane," said Adeline. "And that dog's paw prints were maybe half the size of those."

Aaron turned towards Adeline, his grass-green eyes on hers, the sleeves of his flannel rolled up and cuffed around the thick, ropy muscles of his forearms.

He said nothing, his handsome face tightened in thought.

Does he know what's going on here? thought Adeline. It doesn't seem like he's too surprised.

"We need to get that generator up and running," he said, turning back towards the compound. "We're gonna need light for tonight."

"Wait, what?" asked Adeline. "'We're gonna need light for tonight'? Why? What's going on? What're these tracks?"

"Just…" said Aaron, his steps long and quick, Adeline struggling to keep up. "Just trust me. We'd be fine one night in the dark, but we're in the middle of the goddamn woods. We're gonna need some light."

"And those bite marks?"

"Some critter. But we don't need them getting past the fence."

"What about the hole I crawled through?"

"I'll get it taken care of. Just stay in the house; I'm gonna send Bethany in there. Keep an eye on her if you don't mind."

With that, he ducked into the garage, leaving Adeline alone.

There's something going on here, she thought. He knows more than he's letting on. Those weren't just bite marks from some "critter;" those were from a huge animal. More than one, most likely.

Adeline wanted to confront Aaron and demand that he tell her what he knew, but she decided to let him get back to his work, but he seemed to feel that getting that generator back up and running was extremely important.

When she reentered the house, she saw that Bethany was sitting on one of the couches in the living room, her eyes on the woods outside of the window.

"Um, what's up, B?" asked Adeline, her awkward way with children stumbling forward.

"My name's Bethany," was the response, the girl's eyes still on the woods.

"Oh, sure- Bethany," said Adeline. "Do you want to help me clean up?"

"Not really," said Bethany.

"And why not?"

"Because. The things in the woods are watching us. If they decided to come here to the home, it won't matter how clean the place is."

What?!

"What ‘things'?" asked Bethany. "What are you talking about?"

"The men in the woods. The ones who want this place for their own."

Adeline bolted over to Bethany, taking the girl by the shoulders.

"What are you talking about? What men in the woods?"

Bethany turned her placid eyes to Adeline, her expression calm and still.

"There's a lot of them. And they're strong. And they can change."

Her eyes then turned to Adeline's hands.

"Take your hands off me, please," she said, her voice reverting to a childish whine. "You're hurting me!"

Adeline's hands snapped back to her sides as she continued to stare at the strange girl, who had now turned her gaze back to the woods. She wanted more answers but knew that this child had likely said all she was going to say on the subject.

It's not too late to leave, she thought. I can get back to the cabin and get the hell away from these people.

But this solution didn't satisfy her. She knew that as soon as she put the car back on the highway leading back to Philadelphia, the urge to return to this place would come rushing back. She'd fought the urge to come here for a long time. She knew just how insistent it could be. 

She knew that she was here to the bitter end, whatever that might be.

Before she could ponder the subject in too much depth, the lights in the living room flicked on, filling the room with a dim glow as every light source illuminated at once. Through the floor, she could hear a low rumbling. The appliances in the kitchen beeped, and various electronics whirred and illuminated.

He got it, thought Adeline, a smile appearing on her face.

A series of thuds cut through the den, and within moments, Aaron appeared in the threshold of the house. He looked around, nodding as he realized the generator was doing its work.

"Good," he said. "We can run this for a while and store up some juice, but I'm gonna need to go into town tonight and get some parts if I'm gonna get this on permanently."

Bethany ran up to Aaron, wrapping her arms around his waist.

"Why do you have to go?" she said, her voice worried. "Stay here."

"Sorry, kid," he said, patting her on the back of the head. "You're coming with. Get your shoes on, and we'll get going."

He turned to Adeline, who was watching the scene.

"I'll bring some food back from town. We'll be able to get some better food now that the fridge is up and running. Say, why don't you work on getting the kitchen cleaned up? No sense in having a dirty kitchen if we're gonna be making food in there now."

"Sure," said Adeline, a little pleased to have some alone time.

"Then it's settled."

"I want hamburgers!" said Bethany, stomping her little foot.

Aaron looked at her with a skeptical eye. "You act like a little brat like that, and you're gonna get nothing but rice cakes and water."

"Fine," said Bethany.

"We'll be back in a bit," said Aaron. "Take a sweep of the house before you start on the kitchen. Turn off anything that's unnecessary. We'll be back in a back." 

"Drive safely," said Adeline.

Moments later, they were gone, and the house was empty. Adeline was a little surprised that Aaron was fine leaving her here alone, but after she took her trip through the house to turn off lights, she found that there wasn't much to steal, even if she were the type to do something like that.

Standing at the threshold of the kitchen, Adeline looked over the space.

Nice set-up, she thought, noting the spaciousness, the modern styling, and the same great view of the woods as the rest of the house. The question of just what happened here to cause the original occupants, Aaron's family, to leave so suddenly appeared in her mind once again. Now that she was alone, a creeping sense of danger tingled at the base of her neck.

Putting all of this out of her mind, she removed the cleaning supplies she'd need from below the sink, slipped on a pair of rubber gloves, and went to work. Hours passed as she scrubbed and swept, and as the sun sank down below the tree line outside, the air alight with a wild, orange color, the place started to look like a kitchen that she wouldn’t mind making a meal in.

Finishing up with the fridge –which had seen far, far better days- Adeline stepped back and admired her handiwork. The granite counters gleamed under the light, the double sinks were spotless and clean, and a fresh handful of wildflowers that she found growing outside were placed into a small, purple vase, their soft scent drifting through the air. With a smile and a nod, Adeline declared the job finished and set off to take a long, relaxing shower, hoping to wash off both the grime from her cleaning and the stress of the day.

Once done, she toweled off and got dressed. As she slipped into her shoes, a strange clatter sounded through the house. It was an odd sound, like a scuffle then a crash. The hairs on the back of Adeline's neck stood up, and at that moment, she felt that something was wrong.

Get a grip. It’s gotta be Aaron and Bethany back.

This answer didn't calm her down. Putting her hair back into a loose ponytail, she left her room, walking down the hallway with careful steps, her eyes narrow. Nothing seemed out of place in the living room below, or in any of the bedrooms.

Once she reached the kitchen, the source of the noise was revealed... The small vase that she'd filled with wildflowers had fallen, the white and purple shards scattered on the floor in a pool of water, the flowers strewn here and there.

Adeline sighed as she bent over to pick up the pieces. But as she did, she noticed that one of the windows near the breakfast nook was open, allowing a low, cool wind to blow through the kitchen.

Did I seriously leave that open? she thought. God, I'm such a space cadet sometimes.

After carefully picking up the mess, she walked over to the window to shut it. But as soon as she closed the window, she spotted something in the dark of the woods. Not just something- but pairs of somethings.

Red things.

Adeline felt her blood run quick and cold as she looked out at the pairs of red eyes, eyes that seemed to glow, eyes that seemed to float in the black of the woods, eyes that seemed to be watching her.

CHAPTER 8

Before she could react to the sight, the garage door opened, the rumbling sounding through the house. Right at that moment, the eyes disappeared, as though they were lights that all burned out at the same time.

Aaron's back; thank God, she thought, her heart pumping from the shock of what she'd just seen.

She pulled down the blinds, covering the windows completely. Moments later, Aaron and Bethany arrived in from the garage below, bags of groceries in their hands. Stepping into the kitchen and setting the bags down on the island in the middle, Aaron looked over the cleaned space with an expression of pleased approval.

"Wow," said Bethany, looking around. "It's so clean in here."

"Yeah," said Aaron. "Looks great."

Adeline didn't respond. She was still shocked by what she'd seen. Her mind simply couldn't form the words.

"You OK?" asked Aaron, noticing Adeline's strange behavior. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

Red broke out across Adeline's face. She didn't know what she'd seen.

"I…" she began, but before she spoke, her eyes fell on Bethany, who was already putting groceries away.

"Hey, kiddo," said Aaron, knowing now that something was wrong. "Why don't you give the adults a minute to talk? Eat your burger in the other room."

"But the other room is gross," said Bethany. "I want to eat in here where it's clean."

"Just do what I say, or no dessert."

"Fine," said Bethany, scrunching her face and grabbing her crinkly brown bag and soda before leaving.

"You look like you're pretty shook up," said Aaron. "You want to talk about it?"

Bethany took a long, slow breath, trying to formulate the words. After she'd composed herself, she told Aaron about the broken vase, the open window, and the eyes outside in the woods. Once she'd finished, she watched as Aaron's body tensed up, his arms crossing over his burly chest.

A moment passed, the strong angles of his jaw clenching as he considered what Adeline had just told him.

"We need to get the property lights on," he said, finally. "This place is out in the woods; who knows what's lurking out there."

Adeline was surprised by this answer. His reaction seemed to indicate that he knew what she was talking about, that she was telling him about a happening that he was expecting, but hoping wouldn't occur. But now, he was simply chalking it up to woodland creatures.

Adeline knew, just knew, however, that it was something more than that.

It had to be the wolves from her visions.

"What about…wolves," offered Adeline.

Aaron's jaw clenched again. "Maybe; like I said, who knows what's out there."

Without a doubt, she realized, there was something that Aaron wasn't telling her.

"Tomorrow, if you're going to stay here, we'll need to get the rest of the electricity fixed. For now, don't worry about what's out there. Get something to eat, and try to relax. I even got a couple bottles of wine and some beer. I think you and I could both use it."

A small smile crossed Adeline's lips. Wine did sound nice.

"And I don't know how you feel about junk food, but I got you a burger and some fries. Bethany's got them in the other room."

"Listen," said Adeline, "I just wanted to thank you. For letting me stay here, for trusting me, for everything. I know it's weird to have someone like me show up, telling you what I told you, but…thanks for being understanding."

"Well," said Aaron, leaning back on the kitchen island and fishing a beer out of one of the brown paper bags, "you seem like the alright sort. And if you don't give me a reason to be suspicious, I think I can extend a little trust."

"Just…thanks," she said, her eyes moving over to Aaron's hand, now holding a bottle of beer.

Her voice trailing off, she watched as he pulled up his shirt, wrapping the fabric around the top of the bottle. A hint of taut, toned abs was exposed, and Adeline couldn't help but look. The muscles of his forearms tensing, he twisted the cap off, a slight grunt sounding. Then, he took a long, slow swig of his beer, his Adam's Apple bobbing as he drank,

Goddamn, he's sexy, thought Adeline.

Before the thought could continue, the loud blaring of a children's TV program filled the kitchen, coming from the living room. Adeline and Aaron's attention snapped in the direction of the sound.

"Dad!" shouted Bethany. "Netflix works!"

Aaron shook his head as they walked, arriving in the room to see Bethany happily munching on her burger, a program that Adeline didn't recognize playing on the TV.

"Kiddo, don't use up all the juice like that," said Aaron.

"Come moon," said Bethany, turning around to speak, her mouth full of food. "There's nothing else to do here."

"Did you not see the dozens of bookshelves packed full of books?"

"Yeah, but who wants to read?" asked Bethany turning her attention back to the TV.

"Oh," said Bethany, holding up one of the fast food bags. "Here's your stuff. I only ate a few of your fries, and it was on accident."

Adeline mouthed thanks again to Aaron before sitting down and taking the food.

A few moments ago, she was too scared to even think about eating. Now that Aaron and Bethany were back she felt much better. Following along the program she'd never seen before, Adeline ate her food. Within an hour, Bethany was asleep, her body slumped backward against the couch between Aaron and Adeline.

"Be right back," said Aaron, his voice low and quiet as he scooped up Bethany.

Adeline watched as he carried his daughter up the stairs and to her room, her eyes lingering on the warm, careful expression on Aaron's face, noting the careful, measured manner he walked, the sight of a father and his daughter filling her with a warmth which she couldn't remember the last time she'd experienced.

Aaron returned a little later, picking up his beer from the table next to the couch and taking another long sip.

"I could go for some fresh air. I don't know about you," he said.

"That sounds great," said Adeline.

"Head outside. I'll pour us a couple glasses of wine."

Adeline smiled before heading out onto the back deck. Though she still felt some residual fear from what she'd seen earlier, knowing Aaron would soon be at her side put her at ease. The evening air was still and mild, no sounds but the chirping of crickets and the occasional soft breath of wind that rustled the trees for a moment. She considered once again how, despite the isolation, this was a lovely home.

Aaron stepped out onto the deck a moment later, two glasses of red wine in his hands. He handed one to Adeline, and they tinked the rims of their glasses together.

"To electricity," said Aaron.

"I'll second that," said Adeline.

"This is really a nice place," said Adeline, looking around the property.

"I'd hope you'd say so," said Aaron. "Be a damn shame if you got summoned out into the woods only to find a dump."

Adeline smiled. "I…I'm sorry, again, for putting you out."

"Don't worry about it," said Aaron. "I'm here for the same goddamn strange reason that you are."

"But you're related to…the people that own this place," she said. "I'm just some weird girl who quit her good job and wandered off into the woods."

Aaron considered this as he took a sip of his wine.

"There's gotta be some reason why you're here; why we're here,” he said. “At the very least, I need to figure out where the hell my family got off to."

"What if they came back?" asked Adeline. "Wouldn't they be weirded out that I was here?"

"Nah," said Aaron. "My cousins, well, they've got a little bit of a habit of taking in strays. It's complicated. Living up here, they stick together. It's been a while since I've seen them in person, but last I heard they had something like a little community in these woods."

"Like, a hippie commune or something?"

Aaron let out a quick bark of a laugh. "Not quite so extreme. My cousins Ian and Roland wouldn't really go in for that kind of thing; they're the ‘creature comfort' type. More like a place for people who don't really fit in anywhere else."

Adeline sensed that there was something Aaron wasn't telling her, like there was some key detail that he was omitting. But she let it go, not wanting to pry.

"People like me?" she asked instead.

"Yeah, people exactly…like you."

Looking over, Adeline saw that Aaron's eyes were lingering on her. She couldn't tell if his gaze was soft because of the wine, or if there was something else going on. Turning her attention back to the woods, she sipped her wine, taking pleasure in the feeling of Aaron's eyes on her. She'd just met the man, but she'd be lying if she were to say she wasn't extremely attracted to him. And as the wine worked its way through her body, she felt herself drift slightly closer to where he stood.

"It's getting a little chilly out here," she said, leaning forward against the wooden railing of the deck.

"It is," said Aaron, leaning forward, his body only inches from Adeline's.

She didn't know what had come over her, but at that moment, all Adeline wanted was for Aaron, this man whom she'd just met, to slip his thick, muscular arm around her shoulders, pull her close, and kiss her hard and deep. Turning her head, she looked into his eyes, grass-green and piercing. His gaze turned hard and sensual as his body responded to her. Adeline felt her lips part, her tongue running slowly over them, as though preparing her for what she wanted.

But as soon as she felt Aaron start to move close, to enter that intimate space that only a lover would invade, he pulled back abruptly, snatching his wine from the deck railing and draining the glass with a full sip.

"I should get to bed," he said. "Busy day tomorrow if I want to get those lights on. Good night."

With that, he headed back inside.

"Good ni-" said Adeline, watching him leave, her eyes wide as he entered the house.

Moments ago, she was ready to give herself to him. Now, she was alone, the chilly breeze her only companion.

CHAPTER 9

The first half of the next day came and went, Adeline, Aaron, and Bethany spending the hours cleaning and cleaning, the house slowly getting back to a more livable state. Adeline tidied up the living room, Aaron worked on the outside, and Bethany helped however she could, assisting here and there. By the time mid-afternoon arrived and the trio decided to take a long break with some sandwiches and soda, the house was just a little homier.

An easy rapport was beginning to develop between them. Bethany slowly began to warm up to Adeline as soon as Adeline was willing to provide an audience to Bethany's recaps of the TV shows she liked to watch. Aaron was pleased to this occur. After all, he figured, if this woman was going to be staying with them in, she'd need to get along with his daughter.

Adeline smiled as she picked a potato chip off her plate, her eyes on Aaron and Bethany as the two of them laughed and played while they ate their turkey sandwiches. Adeline had never imagined herself as the type to enjoy kids, but spending time with Bethany was beginning to shift her opinion on this matter.

I've spent the four years since college thinking about nothing but my career, she found herself thinking as her eyes drifted out to the waving branches outside. Barely any dating, certainly no family. What if I've been wasting my time?

She took a bite of her sandwich, letting the thought stew in her mind.

Maybe these dreams, this pulling, isn't anything supernatural, but my mind telling me to get my life on track, to spend time figuring out what I really need to be turning my attention to?

Chewing her food slowly, a smile crossing her lips as Aaron teased Bethany about one thing or another, she continued to think about the subject.

After all, it's silly to thing that there's anything …supernatural happening here. It's just my overactive imagination.

But this last thought didn't settle in her mind as easily as the rest. She couldn't shake the strangeness of everything that had been happening to her, from the dreams to the strange people at the coffee shop on her first day, to the horrible, red eyes that stared at her from the black of the nighttime woods.

Before she could consider this further, however, Aaron's cell phone rang from where it sat on the countertop.

"Nice, reception seems to have gotten better now that we've got Wi-Fi going again," he said, giving Bethany one last playful poke to the sides before getting up and answering.

Bethany turned a playfully scheming eye to Adeline as Aaron answered the phone. Adeline returned the look, whipping a potato chip at the girl, the food swatted out of the air by Bethany. Bethany let out a squealing laugh, ready to launch her own attack. But before she could, Aaron held up a chiding finger as he listened to whoever was on the other end of the phone.

"Uh huh," he said. "OK, great. I'll be down in a little bit to pick them up. Thanks again."

With that, he hung up, a pleased smile on his face.

"What's up?" asked Adeline.

"Just got a call from the hardware store in town," he said, setting his phone on the counter and leaning back. "They got the parts in for the power supply here a little early. Guy at the store says that he'd even be willing to help me get them installed."

"Does this mean we don't have to turn off the lights all the time?" asked Bethany.

"Well, we'll still have to watch our power usage, but once the storage units and the solar panels are back up, we'll have things more or less back to normal. Not to mention, have the perimeter lights back up and running."

The last sentence put Adeline's mind at ease. As much as she was warming to her time spent here in the woods, she knew she'd feel a lot safer with a strong barrier of civilization between the property and whatever was in the woods beyond.

"Bee, you want to come with me to town?"

Bethany's face crinkled in a look of disgust. "No way. I don't want to go to some stupid hardware store. I hate those places."

"Okay," said Aaron. "Opinion heard loud and clear."

"I don't mind hanging out here with Bethany if you just want to head into town by yourself."

"Yeah!" said Bethany. "We'll just be watching TV anyway. Come ooon."

Adeline watched as Aaron did some quick thinking, clearly wondering if leaving his daughter here with a woman he still didn't know very well was a good idea, but he seemed to come down on the side of trusting her.

"OK," he said, his voice wary. "But no leaving the property. Just stay inside unless you have to go out."

"Fine," said Bethany, as Adeline gave Aaron a warm look at said without words that she knew what he was doing, and that she'd be up to the responsibility.

"Be back in a few" said Aaron, taking one last bite of his sandwich before scooping up his keys and heading out the door.

The girls finished their lunches and cleaned up, Bethany helping Adeline with the dishes that had been piling up. All the while, Bethany talked and talked about her old life in California- the friends she had, the boys she had been annoyed by, and what her hometown was like. Adeline listened as the girl spoke, enjoying the opportunity to get to know Bethany better. After the dishes were done, the two girls turned on the TV and put on some teen comedy movie that Bethany had wanted to watch.

The movie went on, and the sun began to slowly set below the tree line, the sky darkening. As enjoyable of a time as she was having with Bethany, Adeline found herself wishing Aaron would be back soon.  It just didn't feel safe here without a man.

Then, the low grinding sound of tires against gravel could be heard. Adeline's heart leaped, thankful that Aaron was back. But instead of the rumbling of the garage door, a low chime sounded through the house.

"What's that?" asked Bethany, her eyes still on the TV.

"I don't know; sounds like a door bell or something," said Adeline, getting up.

The chime sounded again, and Adeline made her way to the front door. Stepping up to the window next to the front door, Adeline gasped as she saw what was beyond the front gate.

There were men, four of them, all dressed in slim-fitting black suits. They stood in a row, their hands clasped behind their backs, the sky a brilliant swirl of orange and red from the setting sun.

Adeline jumped away from the window, fearful of what these strange men being able to see her. Peeing back to the gate, she could see the eyes of one of the men, eyes that were scheming, dark slits, fall onto her. Then, his mouth crinkled into a twisted, scheming smile.

Adeline gasped, hiding behind the door, her eyes wide in fear.

"What is it?" asked Bethany.

"Um, nothing," said Adeline.

Taking a long, slow breath, Adeline moved from behind the door, taking one last glance at the men standing behind the gate.

But they were gone.

Adeline scanned where the men stood, searching for any sign that they had even been there, but she could find nothing.

Am I going completely crazy? she asked herself, wondering if she had, in fact, seen what she thought she'd seen.

She wanted to ignore what she'd seen –or thought she'd seen- and go back into the living room with Bethany. But she couldn't shake the image of the men, the four suited men standing and staring. Ignoring Aaron's request that they not go outside unless necessary, Adeline unlocked the front door and walked onto the property, a chill rising up her spine as she approached where the men had stood.

The air was cool, and the night was drawing closer by the moment. Her eyes on the woods beyond the fence, Adeline saw nothing, no sign that the men, had they even existed, were anywhere near. Walking with slow, careful steps to the gate, she looked down into the dirt next to the road where the men had stood in their strange, uniform line.

What was there, in the dry earth, were the imprints of four sets of animal paws.

CHAPTER 10

"I don't know about you, but I could go for some adult time," said Aaron, pouring himself a cup of coffee.

"'Adult time'?" asked Adeline, taking a sip from her mug.

"Yeah. Go out into town, or what little of it there is, grab a bite, be around people."

"That actually sounds pretty nice."

It was the next day, and the house was now in a state that couldn't so closely be defined as "dilapidated." Aaron returned soon after the incident with the suited men, and with the help of one of the men from the hardware store, could get the power supply repaired and as good as new. Aaron was curious as to why Adeline was so keen on getting the perimeter lights up again as soon as possible, but didn't ask her why. Once the lights were on and the property was aglow with bright light that allowed them to see with perfect clarity every inch of the grounds, Adeline felt a rush of relief wash over her.

She didn't tell Aaron what she'd seen. She just wasn't sure enough that she had seen the men. After the visions and the dreams, she just didn't feel confident enough in her senses. Telling Aaron only to have him dismiss her as he'd done with the previous set of paw prints might, as far as she could tell, accomplish nothing other than make him think she was crazy. Considering she could tell that he was still not quite to the point where he could place his full trust in her, having her think this was the last thing she wanted.

Getting away from all of this, even for an evening, sounded perfect to Adeline.

"Yeah, sounds good to me, too," said Aaron, taking another sip of his coffee. "I'm thinking we can spend the afternoon finishing up the cleaning, then head into town. Adults only."

He mussed Bethany's hair and flashed a warm smile.

"Does that mean I can stay here by myself?" asked Bethany, her eyes lighting up with glee at the idea of having the house to herself for the evening.

"No way," said Aaron. "I hired a babysitter from town. She'll be here around six."

"Aw, man," said Bethany, her shoulders slumping as she picked half-heartedly into her breakfast.

"So, what'd you have in mind?" asked Adeline.

"Well," said Aaron. "This isn't exactly a metropolis, but I found a restaurant in town that looked pretty promising. I'm thinking we can grab a bite to eat, maybe some drinks after."

"That sounds amazing," said Adeline, not needing to hear any more details; she couldn't remember the last time she'd had a night out like that.

"Perfect," said Aaron. "Then let's knock the rest of the cleaning out and relax."

With that, the three finished their breakfasts and went to work. As she tidied up the last bedroom, Adeline thought about Aaron and their date. There was something about him, she thought, beyond his painfully apparent good looks. He was calm, confident, and had a way with his daughter that always seemed to send the underlying message that whatever he did, he did for her. What's more, he seemed to exude a certain strength that put her at ease whenever he was around.

Adeline couldn't help but wonder, however, what the next few weeks would hold. She'd been drawn to this place for reasons she didn't understand and was no closer to learning why, exactly, she was here than she was when she'd first arrived. For now, however, things were good.

At six o'clock, the babysitter, a fresh-faced blonde who looked to be barely out of high school arrived. Adeline could tell that she was a little hesitant to take babysitting gig at a house that clearly had a mysterious reputation, but once she saw that everything was on the level, she settled in with Bethany, the two of them getting along like fast friends.

Aaron stepped out from his room, and Adeline took in a slight gasp. He looked gorgeous. Dressed in a well-fitted white button-up with a slim gray tie, a pair of coal-black slacks, and finished off with a sporty pair of dress shoes, he looked the picture of effortless sophistication.

"Shall we?" he asked.

Out of the corner of her eye, Adeline could see that the teenage babysitter was having quite a hard time keeping her eyes off Aaron. Adeline smiled, but knew that the feeling was mutual.

"Let's do it," said Adeline.

The two went into the garage and got into Aaron's car, which was a sporty, silver sedan.

"You look great," said Aaron, pulling the car out and onto the main road leading off the property.

"Thanks," said Adeline, blushing.

She cast a glance down at her simple outfit of nice-is dark, blue jeans and light blue top.

They drove into town, Adeline's eyes on the woods as they made their way down the winding road. Soon, the smattering of buildings on a gridded road pattern that was Branle’s downtown came into view, and minutes later, they were walking into a quaint, charming Italian restaurant. The place was packed full of people, which surprised Adeline.

"Believe it or not," said Aaron as the hostess led the two to their seats, "this is a Michelin Star restaurant."

"Really?" asked Adeline, sliding into her seat.

"Really. This town seems to be equal parts small-town types and rich people from the city looking for a quieter place to live, so I suppose it makes sense that some New York talent wound up here."

This surprised Adeline. "That's crazy- I kind of assumed that this was some off-the-map place."

"These woods are full of giant compounds like my family's; lot of wealth up in this part of the state."

"I guess first impressions can be deceiving."

Aaron flashed a knowing smirk. The waiter arrived and Aaron ordered a bottle of red wine. Scanning the menu for the bottle, her eyes went wide when she saw the price.

How much money does this guy have? she thought.

"That’s a little pricey for a bottle of wine," said Adeline, becoming self-conscious.

"Don't worry about it," said Aaron. "I've got more money than I know what to do with. Especially now that the house is sold."

"So, you just picked up and left home like I did? How's Bethany handling that?"

"Well, it's not permanent. We...had a rough couple of years, and needed to start fresh. I told her we'd come to stay with family for a month or so before putting down some more permanent roots. We didn't expect that we'd walk right into the mystery of the disappearing family."

The wine was brought, the waiter silently pouring them both a glass. Adeline took a sip; it was rich, tart, and delicious.

"And, I had the same weird call to come here that you seemed to have."

Adeline took another sip. "I…just want to say ‘thanks' again. I know this is all so weird, but you and Bethany have been so accommodating."

"Think nothing of it. Like I said, there's something about the Swift Compound that attracts people; you're not the first to feel the call."

Adeline perked up at this. "What do you mean by that, exactly?"

Aaron's eyes widened, as though he realized that he'd said too much.

"Ah, well, I think that that's…something you'll find out about on your own."

Before Adeline could ask further, the waiter came by to take their orders. Aaron placed two orders for the chef's special, and by the time he left, the previous thread of conversation seemed too far behind to Adeline for her to feel comfortable picking it up.

"So…no Mrs. Swift?" asked Adeline.

"There was; she passed a couple of years ago."

"I'm sorry," said Adeline, feeling as though she were intruding on topics that were too personal to discuss.

"Thank you. It was part of the reason why I felt that Bethany and I should get out of California; neither of us could stay there without being reminded of her. My job is mostly investments that don't need me to be there, so a change seemed like a good idea."

Adeline enjoyed listening to Aaron talk. Though she still couldn't shake the sense that there was something major that Aaron wasn't mentioning. She realized, however, that she, too, was guilty of this. She still hadn't mentioned the strange men in suits the previous night.

Their meals soon arrived, and Adeline and Aaron happily dug in, chatting more as they ate. And as they talked, Adeline couldn't help but notice the ease with which she was able to speak with Aaron. She'd always considered herself something of an introvert, but conversation with him was light and fun.

Desert of tiramisu followed, and the two dove into the delicious dessert, the meal finished with a pair of espressos. Aaron, of course, snatched the bill before Adeline could even glance at it.

"This was really nice," said Adeline as the two walked to their car.

"Well, the evening doesn't have to end," said Aaron. "The babysitter's there for the evening."

"Oh?"

Aaron flashed another smile that made Adeline want to swoon right then and there.

"I've got an idea," he said, ducking into the car. 

Adeline followed him in, and soon they were off. Aaron drove down a winding road away from the city center, taking them up into the hills, Bear Mountain looming in the near distance. Soon, the night sky was above them as they drove, Adeline looking up through the open window at the glittering tapestry above, the cool evening wind rushing through her hair.

After a time, they made another turn. Aaron parked the car and got out.

"Come on," he said, beckoning Adeline to follow him.

She did, and the two made their way down a narrow path that led further up. Soon, they reached a clearing that ended at the end of a sharp, steep incline.

The view before them took Adeline's breath away. The trees of the valley stretched on and on, the leaves a deep purple frosted with light from the moon above, the gentle curves of the landscape drifting on for miles. The sky above stretched like infinity, each square inch packed with shimmering stars, the moon bright and full. It was a perfect view for a perfect evening.

"This is incredible," said Adeline, looking out over the vista in awe.

Aaron smiled a half-smile. "When I was a kid visiting my family out here, this is where I'd go to get all of my thinking done. Hell of a view, huh?"

"Beautiful," said Adeline.

As she looked out over the rolling, tree-filled hills, Adeline could feel Aaron looking at her with a side-eyed glance. Glancing down, she could see that Aaron's hand was only a few inches from hers; a feeling like electricity seemed to jump from his flesh to hers. Turning her head, she found herself looking deep into Aaron's eyes of deep green, his sandy-blond hair framing his gorgeous features. Adeline seemed to feel a loss of control over her body, as though had been frozen, turned to stone beneath his stare.

So, there wasn't a thing she could do when he leaned close and kissed her.

The feeling of his lips upon hers was a shock, at first. Her hands shot up, palms out, as though she had been caught doing something that she shouldn't. But Aaron was quick to take charge, wrapping his thick, strong arms around her and bringing her close. Adeline took in a quick draw of breath as Aaron brought her near, pulling her tight against his body.

Adeline didn't know what to do. Her rational mind quickly realized that this might very well be an awful, terrible idea. But her body, her body wanted nothing more than for Aaron to keep going, to continue kissing her, to continue holding her close, pressing her against his solid form, hard and muscular through the light fabric of his shirt.

She let herself fall into his kiss, her eyes pressed shut, the smell of fresh evening air mixing into a heavenly blend with Aaron's rich musk. He smelled to her like nature itself, a strong, heady scent that belied his California roots. As he kissed her, she wanted nothing more than his touch, nothing more than the feeling of his hands on her body, his lips against hers.

Adeline's wish was soon granted. She felt Aaron's hands move to the front of her body, undoing the buttons of her blouse, the cool night air brisk on her newly exposed skin. Then, once all the buttons were undone, he pulled the shirt off over her shoulders. Taking his lips away, he looked upon Adeline's now-exposed breasts, heavy and ample in her lacy, red bra. A sly smile crossed Aaron's lips, and Adeline took sweet pleasure in being looked at in such a way.

Then, they were right back to it. They kissed ferociously, passionately, like heedless animals.  Adeline went to work on Aaron's shirt, her slim fingers fumbling with the buttons, undoing them on by one. When they were finally undone, she pulled the shirt back with the same swiftness that he had shown with hers. She continued to kiss him as she looked down at his perfect, sculpted body, his torso cut and lean, his muscles tight and taut. He was beefy, but too huge; just the right amount of ripped.

The rest of their clothing was soon off, leaving Aaron in nothing but a skin-tight pair of gray boxer briefs, his long, thick cock seeming on the verge of breaking through the fabric. Adeline was in her red bra and skimpy, thong panties; she was thanking herself for happening to have chosen such a sexy pair of underwear.

But she wasn't in them for long. Placing his hands on her slim, bare shoulders, Aaron pushed Adeline back gently, laying her on her back. Then, with a quick pull, he stripped her panties off, his eyes locking onto her now-exposed sex, a hungry glint in his eyes.

"Goddamn, you're sexy," he said, his voice a low purr.

A small smile crept across Adeline's lips.

"Yeah? And what do you want to do with me?"

"I think you know," he said, getting on all fours and crawling over top of her.

"Say it."

"I want to fuck you," said Aaron.

"How do you want to fuck me?" said Adeline, a hot tension building down in her sex, an arousal that was about to reach a boiling point.

"Hard," he said, his voice stern. "So fucking hard."

And that was exactly what Adeline wanted to hear. Slipping her thumbs under the waistband of Aaron's underwear, she pulled them down, his long, thick cock springing out. Her eyes widened as she looked upon it; it was huge, to say the least. And right as she wondered if she was even going to be able to fit the entire thing inside of her, Aaron took his cock by the base and slid it into her, her pussy wet, slick, and accommodating.

Adeline took in a sharp gasp as Aaron entered her, feeling every millimeter of his rock-hard cock as it slid into her completely. Adeline dug her fingertips into Aaron's back, her eyes winced shut as she adjusted the incredible feeling of his cock buried deep inside of her. Adeline arched her back, reaching behind her and undoing the clasp of her bra, pulling it over her shoulders and tossing it to the side along with the rest of their clothing. Aaron's eyes narrowed as he looked upon her full, round breasts, grabbing a handful and licking her nipples as he fucked her, the twin feelings of his tongue on her nipples and his cock moving in and out already driving Adeline to the brink.

Orgasm was typically a long, involved process for her, but for some reason, with Aaron, it was already tantalizingly within reach. She relaxed her body, wrapping her legs around Aaron, pulling his hips close and tight against hers as he bucked into her body, sheathing himself deeply and fully.

Moans slipped past Adeline's lips as Aaron fucked her, the waves of pleasure radiating from down below making her lose more and more control by the second. Her toes curled, her heart pounded, and her thoughts melted into a blur; she wanted to thrash and kick, the pleasure was so intense. She stole glances at Aaron's body, watching the toned muscles of his torso flex and tense as he pounded her. Adeline's hands slid down his sweat-slicked back, coming to a rest on his firm, round ass. Then, just as Adeline was close, so close to cumming, Aaron, his cock still and deep inside of her, sat up, grabbing Adeline by the hips and recommencing his onslaught, pounding her hard from a sitting-up position, her body sprawled out before him. 

Aaron pounded her hard like this, spreading her legs apart, his hands on her ankles. More moans slipped from Adeline's mouth, and she could feel her orgasm on the brink.

"Don't stop; don't stop," she said, the feeling of Aaron's cock in her almost too much to bear.

Then, her orgasm broke loose, rushing through her body. It was as though a great void of pleasure opened beneath her and she was cast down into it. Warmth and pleasure rushed through her body as Aaron bucked against her. A heavy grunt from Aaron signaled to her that he was cumming, too. Adeline's lips pressed shut; she savored the feeling that was coursing through her body.

Soon after, Aaron's thrusts slowed, and he withdrew from Adeline. Aaron collapsed at Adeline's side, his chest rising and falling, his hand on Adeline's smooth stomach, which was now slick with. The two of them lay like this for a time, listening in silence to the sound of the wind in the valley below.

CHAPTER 11

"How many girls have you done that with here?" Adeline asked with a smile, breaking the silence.

"It's…been a while," said Aaron, a handsome, boyish smirk on his face.

Against her better wishes, a surge of jealousy ran through Adeline She waved it away, realizing how silly it was to feel this way about a man that she wasn't even dating. Rolling onto her side, she took in another long look at the valley.

"Beautiful," she said.

"It really is," said Aaron. "Don't get this kind of view in Philly, I bet."

Adeline laughed. "The view from my apartment was the building right next to it."

Aaron let out a light chuckle. "Well, we should probably get back. The babysitter's staying over, but I don't want to keep her up too late."

"It's…been a great night," said Adeline, sitting up.

"Yeah, it has," said Aaron.

They looked at one another for a long moment, a slight blush forming on Adeline's cheeks. Aaron leaned in, kissing her long and deep one last time before getting up and fetching their clothes. Moments later, they were dressed and back in the car.

Arriving at the house, they found Bethany sitting on the couch, still up and watching TV as the babysitter slept sitting up, light snores sounding from her mouth.

"You're back," said Bethany. "Finally. How was your date?"

"Don't you worry about that, little lady," said Aaron.

He then turned to Adeline. "You mind getting Bee off to bed? I'm going to take sleeping beauty here to one of the guest rooms."

"Sure," said Adeline.

"But I'm not tired!" protested Bethany.

"B, it's almost midnight; I know you're tired," said Aaron. "Come on, off to bed."

"Fine," said Bethany.

"Let's go, Bee," said Adeline, leading the girl out of the room.

As they left, Adeline watched as Aaron carefully picked up the babysitter, lifting her off the couch with ease.

"Can you read me some of my book before we go to sleep?" asked Bethany. "I'm really not tired at all, I swear."

"You sure about that?" asked Adeline, noting the sleepy look in the girl's eyes.

"Positive," she said.

"Well, if you insist."

Adeline led the girl to her bedroom, tucked her in, and opened the book sitting by the bed, which was a collection of stories about various monsters. Sitting down next to Adeline, she began reading, starting with a story about a man who could turn into any animal he wanted.

"That's a weird story," said Bethany, interrupting. "No one can do that."

"I don't know," said Adeline, "this sounds pretty convincing to me."

Bethany made a silly face at Adeline before resting her head on her shoulder and continuing to read. Getting to the end of the story, she looked over to see that Bethany was fast asleep, her head now nuzzled into Adeline's chest. She slipped a bookmark between the pages and shut the book, setting it on the nightstand. Looking up, she saw that Aaron was standing in the doorframe, a warm smile on his face.

"So much for not being tired," he said, looking at Bethany as she slept.

"No kidding," said Adeline. "She was out before I even finished the first page."

"She talks big, but she's not the party animal she makes herself out to be."

"I can see that."

Aaron walked over the bed, slipped off Bethany's shoes and began the process of getting her into her sleeping clothes.

"Care for a nightcap?" he asked.

"That sounds great."

"Awesome. Go pour us a couple of glasses of wine while I get this one into bed."

"Sure," said Adeline.

She left the room, casting one last glance back at Aaron, watching the loving, delicate way that he put Bethany into bed. Walking to the kitchen and opening a bottle of red wine, she thought about how unique Aaron was; he was sweet and loving with Bethany, but Adeline could tell that there was also a strength to him, an inner toughness that she knew he'd be able to call to the forefront if necessary to protect the ones he loves.

Then, for reasons she couldn't understand, the coffee shop that she went to her first day in town flashed into her mind. She recalled with perfect clarity the faces of the strange woman who ran the place and the even odder clientele.

"You OK?" asked Aaron as he walked into the room.

"Yeah," she said. "I just got lost in a daze."

Aaron took the bottle of wine from Adeline's hand and poured two glasses of crimson wine.

"Thinking about anything in particular?"

"Just…this weird coffee shop in town that I went to when I first got here," she said as Aaron led them out onto the deck. "It was run by this weird lady who said that I was a fox."

"A…fox," said Aaron, not asking, but saying. "That's…odd."

"Yeah, and she said that she and the people there were animals, too. It was so weird."

"That's strange," said Aaron, looking off into the words, his tone striking Adeline as oddly flat.

A moment of silence passed as the two sipped their wine.

"Listen," said Aaron. "I just wanted to say that I'm glad you're here. I know this is an unorthodox arrangement, but I think that you've proven yourself trustworthy. You can stay here as long as you'd like while you get everything sorted out."

"Thanks," said Adeline. "I'm glad that you feel that way. But what if your cousins come back?"

"That's a bridge I'd love to cross," said Aaron. "No sign of them…just the strangest thing."

"Any way we could look for them?"

"We could, but I wouldn't know where to begin."

"Hmm," said Adeline, her eyes scanning the now well-lit perimeter of the property. "I'm sure we can figure something out."

Before she could say another word, Aaron slipped his arm around Adeline's shoulders, bringing her tight and close to his body. She looked up into his green eyes for a long moment, parting her lips slightly. Aaron then leaned in and pressed his lips against hers. They kissed long and slowly for a time, drawing on each other's warmth against the bracing chill of the evening.

"Round two?" he asked, a sly grin on his face.

"You're on," said Adeline.

With that, they were back in the house, running off to the bedroom like excited teenagers, eager to spend the evening in one another's embrace.

CHAPTER 12

Adeline awoke in the night to a loud clatter. Her eyes flicked open and her body shot up spear-straight. Aaron lay to her left, his eyes opening slowly, roused by the same noise.

"What was that?" asked Adeline, running her hands up her forearms, as if making sure that this wasn't a dream.

Before Aaron could answer, another noise sounded, a loud bang that jolted Adeline where she sat. The noise was followed by a strange skittering, like claws on a wood floor. Adeline's pulse quickened, as she sat listening, the bed frosted silver by the moon, which hung round and silver in the evening sky through the bedroom window, wisps of thin, curled clouds passing before it.

"There's someone here," said Aaron, jumping out of bed and snatching his pajama bottoms and shirt from the floor and quickly stepping into them.

"W-what?" asked Adeline, her voice panicked.

"Just do what I say," said Aaron, reaching under the bed and withdrawing an aluminum baseball bat.

Before either of them could act further, the electricity to the house cut out abruptly, the house filled instantly with a dark black, the floodlights outside cutting out, the moon the only source of light.

Then there was a scream.

"Bethany!" shouted Aaron, dashing out of the room and down the hall.

Adeline stayed in bed for a moment, too panicked to move. But once the blood began rushing through her, she managed to jump out of bed, slip into some clothes, and run down the long hallway towards the end of the house where Bethany's bedroom was.

Another crash sounded, followed by another scream, the scream this time diminishing in volume, as though Bethany were being moved. As she ran down the hallway, Adeline saw that several of the floor-to-ceiling windows in the house were shattered, broken though, muddy animal prints tracking in through the house.

They were being invaded.

Adeline found Aaron at the threshold of Bethany's room, a look of shock on his face. Rushing to his side, she saw that the room was a wreck, the bed pulled away from the wall, the sheets strewn here and there, the same muddy paw prints as outside on the carpet.

"Daddy!" Bethany yelled again, her voice coming from outside of the house.

Aaron ran out through the front door, kicking it open and stepping outside. Again, Adeline followed him, staying close behind. She saw that Aaron was standing frozen still just outside of the front door, his eyes fixed on something, or someone, in front of him. And as soon as Adeline reached Aaron's side, she gasped at what she saw.

It was the same four men, all clad in suits, standing in a row, just where they'd been before. They looked at Adeline and Aaron with the same shark-smile, Bethany held in the clutches of the man on the far right one arm holding her squirming body still, the hand of the other covering her mouth.

"Who the fuck are you?" demanded Aaron, brandishing his baseball bat.

But the men were silent.

"I said, who are you?" shouted Aaron once more.

"Aaron Swift," said one of the men in the middle, his voice a sinister tone. "I think you know who we are."

"I don't know, and I don't care. But if you don't let me daughter go right the goddamn second, I'll kill every one of you."

Adeline's mouth was open, her eyes wide, her body near Aaron's. She'd never seen him this angry before, but something about the rage emanating from him made her feel safe. But she was terrified for Bethany's safety, Adeline's eyes on the girl as she desperately tried to break free from the man's grasp.

"Who's the girl?" asked the same man, pointing a long, thin finger at Adeline. "Someone who doesn't understand what she's gotten herself into, I suppose. But she'll learn; they always do."

"What's he talking about?" asked Adeline. "Aaron, who are these men?"

But Aaron said nothing, his attention fully on the men.

"None of that matters, however. We've got the girl, and that's that."

The man stepped forward, one hand slipped into his pants pocket, the other in front of him, gesturing with sweeping, slow motions as he spoke.

"Interesting choice with the bat," the man said. "Really concerned with keeping the façade up for the young lady, I see."

What is he talking about? Adeline thought.

She'd been suspecting that Aaron was hiding something about himself from her, but right now, at this moment, she was sure of it.

"Normally, I'd kill you and the girl, but I'm in a…generous sort of mood. So, here's what I'll propose. Come with us, and I'll make sure you and your daughter are safe. Your little friend has seen too much, so she's forfeit, I'm afraid. But you'll, at least, be certain that your daughter is in good hands."

Kill…me? thought Adeline.

"This is your last warning," said Aaron, tossing the bat aside, the thing hitting the front porch with a thin, metal clang. "Let her go, or I kill every goddamn one of you."

"I wished it wouldn't have had to come to this," said the man, shaking his head and standing aside. "But I should've known you Swifts were all the same."

With that, he snapped his fingers, the man on the far left stepping out of the row. He was a lanky, slim-faced man with long dark hair that draped over his shoulders. A wicked smile on his face, he slipped out of his suit jacket, then his shoes, then the rest of his clothes until he was standing nude, his ropy body glowing with moonlight.

Then, to Adeline's shock and horror, the man turned his head up, looked at the moon, and let out a long, low howl.

It was the howl of a wolf.

When the mournful howl finished sounding, the man stepped forward. Adeline, now braced with fear, looked over at Aaron. To her surprise, he didn't seem to have been shaken by the animal sound that came from the man's mouth. Instead, his eyes narrowed, as if it were something he'd been expecting.

Her gaze whipped back to the howling, nude man. Now she saw a darkness covering his body. At first, it appeared to Adeline to be a shadow covering him, but as she looked more closely, she could see what it really was, fur.

The man was transforming. His skin covered completely in fur, his limbs thinned and lengthened, and his body changed shape. Moments later, he was in the form of a fearsome, growling wolf.

Adeline wanted to turn to Aaron, to demand that he tell her what's going on. But she was too gripped by fear. The wolf drew closer to the pair, its lips pulled back in a horrible sneer, a low growl sounding from its throat.

"Stay back," said Aaron, stepping forward.

"What?" asked Adeline, shocked. "That…thing will kill you."

"Just stay back."

Aaron approached the wolf, standing with his back straight, his shoulders stretched out. Then a similar process began. His body began to change shape; thick, black fur grew from his skin, his limbs thickened and increased in size, his torso began to take on a bulky, stocky shape. And he grew, growing bigger than a man, his clothes tearing to shreds as his body grew.

When he was done, standing before Adeline wasn't Aaron as a man, but Aaron as a massive, growing bear.

"That's the spirit," said the suited man. "I was worried you'd go down without a fight. But I should've known you Swifts are always ready to protect those you love."

Then he stepped back from the two animals as they faced off.

"I'll leave you two to it, then," said the man. "We'll keep your daughter safe, don't you worry."

The three remaining men then disappeared into the woods behind them, seeming to melt into the shadows. Seeing this, Aaron let out a loud, booming roar that shook the branches of the nearby trees. He moved forward, his paws stomping on the ground before him. But the wolf positioned himself in front of Aaron, blocking his path.

Adeline realized in horror that the two beasts were squaring up for a fight.

The wolf made the first move, leaping through the air at a blinding speed and swiping at Aaron. But Aaron, despite his bulky bear form, was too quick for him. He moved to the side, the wolf flying past him and landing onto the ground, a cloud of dirt kicking up and into the air. But the wolf's landing was awkward, and he struggled to right himself and face Aaron.

Aaron then closed the distance between him and the fox, swiping his paw through the air, the sound a low woosh. The wolf pivoted to the side, moving away from the paw and chomping the air, hoping to sink its teeth into Aaron's massive arm.

Adeline was more fearful than she'd ever been in her life. She had some distance from the fight but knew that all it would take was a single misplaced swipe or lunge for her to be grievously harmed. Her eyes darted here and there, looking for a place to hide from the battle. Finally, as the wolf and bear fought, she spotted a cluster of trees where she could take shelter.

But as he moved away, the wolf's eyes, those horrible red eyes that she recognized, fell upon her. Breaking away from Aaron, the beast began to make a run for her. Adeline watched in horror as the creature closed the distance between her and it, leaping into the air, its razor-sharp claws glinting with moonlight. Adeline covered her face, preparing for the impact of the animal, but before it could set upon her, Aaron swiped his paw through the air, connecting with the wolf. The impact knocked the wolf to the side in mid-air, the side of its body now facing Adeline.

But it was still coming towards her. She closed her eyes shut, a rocking thud hitting her body the last thing she remembered before everything went black.

CHAPTER 13

The bedroom where Adeline awoke was bright and sunny. Her eyes opening, she scanned the room frantically as she sat up, not recognizing it. But soon she realized that it was simply one of the bedrooms in the house that she hadn't used before. Resting back against the headboard, a low, aching pain began to throb through the right side of her torso. Pushing the covers away and lifting her shirt, she saw a large purple and yellow splotch on her side- a massive, deep bruise.

On the night stand next to her was a glass of water and a small pair of pills, which appeared to be aspirin. Her head now aching too, she downed the pills and the water, the liquid cool and delicious on her dry mouth.

"Good, you're up," said Aaron, standing at the bedroom threshold.

Adeline's eyes went wide at the sight of Aaron. She curled up into a small ball, fear gripping her as she remembered the horrible scene that had happened just before she'd been knocked out.

"What..." she said, stammering, "…what the hell are you?"

"I'm a shifter," he said, as though it were the most normal thing in the world.

"A what?"

"I have the power to take on the form of an animal," he said, his arms crossed over his chest. "The ability to become a bear at will."

The words sounded strange to Adeline, as though she were hearing them from underwater.

"How? How is that possible?"

"That's…hard to say. To be honest, I don't know; it's just how things have always been in my family. We've had this gift, but can't explain why."

Aaron's calm tone put Adeline somewhat at ease, but she still didn't know if she could feel safe around him.

"And you can control it completely?" she asked.

Aaron nodded. "Total control. If I get angry, like I did...just a little while ago," he said, his jaw clenching as he thought about Bethany and the wolves, "it can come out a little quicker than it otherwise might. But other than that, it's only when I want."

Adeline thought about Bethany, her heart aching as she remembered that the girl had been taken.

"Who were those men, those…wolves? Why did they take Bethany?"

Aaron looked away for a moment, Adeline realizing that he was composing himself before speaking on the subject.

"They're another shifter group. There's many of our kind, from bears to wolves, to tigers; thousands of us, just in this country. Those were wolves…a breed known for their cunning. They've wanted my daughter for years."

"Why?" asked Adeline.

"They think she's something special," he said, shaking his head. "Anyway, we don't need to get into that. I just need to get her back as soon as goddamn possible. I won't let those fuckers have her."

He took in a long, slow breath.

"You in pain?" he asked.

"A little," said Adeline. "My side…"

Aaron nodded. "That wolf winged you pretty good; you're lucky nothing's broken."

"What happened to the wolf?"

"You don't have to worry about him," said Aaron, his tone grim.

So, he's a killer, thought Adeline. But it was to get his daughter back; I can't really blame him for that.

"Can you stand?" asked Aaron.

Adeline put her feet on the ground and got out of bed. Her side throbbed a bit, but it was tolerable.

"Good," said Aaron, "because it's not safe for you here anymore. You're going to need to get your things and get back to Philadelphia before those wolves come back."

"No way," said Adeline, her voice stern.

"What?" asked Aaron, surprised.

"I'm not going to leave you to get Bethany on your own. I don't know how I can help, but I'm going with you to get her back. So, unless you want to lock me in this room, I'm coming with you."

Aaron was silent for a long moment before speaking.

"You don't know what you're getting into. This world of mine is dangerous. Why do you think I lived so far away from my family? I wanted to keep my daughter safe."

"I don't care," said Bethany. "I was called out here for a reason, and this just might be it. I'm not going to turn tail and run when it looks like things might get rough."

Aaron took in a slow draw of breath, thinking over what Adeline had said.

"So, you learn about a world that, until a few hours ago, you didn't even know existed, and now you want to throw yourself into it headlong?"

"The visions I've been having, the dreams –everything- have been leading me to this…world. When I saw you change it was terrifying, but it…almost made sense, as strange as that sounds. The dreams I've been having aren't just hallucinations; they're someone…or something's way of letting me know about…all this."

"You've been having dreams," said Aaron, leaning against the door frame and crossing his arms over his chest. "And you're just a human in them?"

"No," said Adeline. "I'm not just a human; I'm something like a fox."

"A fox?" said Aaron, more than a little surprised. "And you're sure you've had no knowledge of the shifters until you saw me and that wolf change?"

"Nothing but my dreams."

Adeline was a little curious as to why, exactly, Aaron was so curious. Did these visions mean something other than that Adeline was meant to come here? She hoped Aaron would be able to let her know.

‘Well, who's to say what that means; when I turned eighteen I vowed to get as far away from this world as I could, to live a normal life. I thought I'd done it, but…"

"…your past has a way of pulling you back," finished Adeline.

"That's right. But enough talk, my goddamn daughter's been kidnapped by those wolves. I can't even think straight."

"Well, what can we do? How can I help?"

Aaron thought it over for a moment.

"We have to find my cousins. The reason this place is empty has to do with the wolves; there's no other reason why they'd leave so abruptly."

"But you have no idea where they might've gone?"

Aaron shook his head. "No clue. This land has been in my family for over a century; it'd take quite a thing for them to just abandon it."

"Maybe we could ask around town?" asked Adeline.

"Ask who? As far as I know, my family's the only group of shifters around these parts. The only shifter groups I even know about in the state are in New York, and I doubt the city shifters are too concerned with what goes on upstate.

Adeline thought about the coffee shop and the odd woman who owned it.

"There's a place in town, a coffee shop. The woman there seemed to know about shifters…she even said something to me about being a fox."

Aaron's green eyes widened. "Wait, here in town?"

"Yeah, this little place somewhere down the road; I stopped there my first day in town, right before I came here."

"I had no idea there were other shifters here. But it's not too crazy to think about; we seem to have a way of finding each other."

"Then maybe they can lead us to your family?"

Aaron uncrossed his arms, standing straight and ready.

"Then let’s not waste another second."

CHAPTER 14

"This it?" asked Aaron, pulling the car up to the quaint coffee shop that Adeline had stopped in that first night in town. "'Jenny's Coffee and Tea'."

"Yeah, this is the place," said Adeline, looking over the strange, squat building that seemed to have come from another place and time.

Aaron pulled his car into one of the many open spots and the two got out, both walking up to the place with hesitant steps. Opening the door, a bell chimed as they stepped inside. Looking around, they saw that not a soul was there.

"Oh, hello?" called out a voice that Adeline recognized as Jenny.

"Welcome! Wel-"!

The woman emerged from behind the counter, ready to greet the pair, but as soon as she laid eyes upon Aaron, her speech stopped mid-word.

"My, my," she said, a knowing smile forming on her face. "A bear. I thought all of your kind had left this place by now."

Aaron's eyes went wide.

"How do you know what I am?" he demanded.

Jenny simply raised her hand. "Sit, sit," she said, gesturing to a small table nearby. "Have a seat; I've been waiting for one of your kind to arrive."

Adeline looked at Aaron with an expression that seemed to say, "see?" Not knowing what else to do, they two took a seat at the table.

"Get comfortable; I just made a fresh pot of coffee," said Jenny, disappearing behind the counter.

Moments later she returned holding three mugs, all different sizes and colors. Placing the three cups on the small, wooden table, she took a seat.

"Bear and fox, fox and bear," she said, her watery eyes flicking back and forth between the two. "Quite an odd combination, if you ask me."

"Tell me how you know all of this," said Aaron, in no mood to waste time.

"How do you think? I'm one of you," said Jenny.

"A shifter?" asked Adeline.

"What else would I mean?"

But before either of them could respond, Jenny held up her right arm. Within seconds, orange and black fur sprouted from her skin, her hand forming into a large claw- a tiger's claw. Adeline almost jumped out of her seat at the sight.

"See? One of you. Though you're lucky; not too many of my kind in this part of the country; even this part of the world."

"And you can just spot shifters?" asked Aaron. "I've been one my whole life and I can't even do that."

"I've been around for years and years," said Jenny. "Longer than you'd think. Just new to these parts, is all."

"And why are you here?" asked Aaron, his voice growing more insistent now that he knew this woman was the real deal.

"Just drawn to the area, I suppose. Lots of power in the shadow of Bear Mountain. But you two know that already, I'm sure."

"Then you know my family?"

"Ah, you're a Swift!" said Jenny, lifting her mug and giving the curling steam a gentle blow. "I was wondering when you all were going to come back to this little town. Shame to let that nice place up in the woods fall to rot."

"No. I mean, yes," said Aaron. "I mean, I'm a Swift, but not one of them."

"Extended family, then?" Jenny said, taking a sip of her coffee.

"Exactly."

"And you must've run into those wolves that've been running around the area."

"You know about the wolves?" asked Aaron, surprised once more.

"I do; I do. Moved into the area a while back. Though maybe ‘invaded' is a better word."

"Tell me everything you know about them," said Aaron. "They have my daughter."

"That so?" asked Jenny, more curious than concerned. "What would wolves want with a little bear girl, I wonder?"

"She's…not a bear," said Aaron.

"What?" asked Adeline. "She's not like you?"

Aaron tensed up, shifting in his seat. "She's…something else; I don't know what. Her mother was a panther."

Jenny's eyes lit up. "Then that would explain it."

"Explain what?" asked Adeline.

"Hybrid shifters are very rare," said Aaron. "Extremely rare."

"And extremely powerful," added Jenny.

"So, that's why the wolves want her?" asked Adeline.

"Yes," said Aaron. "Her mother was never supposed to have a child, as much as we wanted one. But one day, she was pregnant, against all odds."

"A little miracle," said Jenny.

"And now those wolves have her," he said.

Then, he turned his attention to Jenny, forcing the topic back on his terms.

"My family- where did they go? You have to know something."

Jenny thought for a moment, her wizened hands wrapped around her mug. "Have a sip of your coffee while I think; it's good and fresh. Go on."

Adeline and Aaron shared a glance before lifting their mugs and sipping. Adeline was surprised; the coffee was wonderful- hot and refreshing.

"Ah, I remember something. There was one of those Swift boys, the long-haired one; the brooding boy."

"Ian," said Aaron.

"That's his name. Well, they had a little incident with a pregnant woman a while back, ended up going north to Vermont, hiding out in some property there. Can't remember the name of the place, exactly. All happened a little before the wolves started lurking about."

Aaron's eyes widened in realization. "That's right; the family has that place up in New England; I'd forgotten all about it."

"And the wolves," said Adeline, finally managing to speak up. "Why are they here? Why did they take Bethany?"

Jenny took another slow sip of her drink. "There's something special about Bear Mountain," she said. "It's drawn shifters for centuries. Or so I hear. Wolves are always scheming, always up to something. I wouldn't be surprised if this is all some plot to take control of the mountain- and God knows what else."

"And if Bethany's really a hybrid shifter, they could use her for this," said Aaron.

"'If'?" asked Adeline. "You mean, you don't know for sure?"

"It's…hard to say. The mating of two shifters has been known to produce powerful combinations, but it can also result in a non-shifter."

"Or a shifter with the power of only one of the parents," added Jenny.

"Right," said Aaron. "I just assumed that Bethany was without powers since she'd yet to show any."

"But the wolves seem to think differently," said Jenny.

Aaron's jaw clenched again. "We need to go to Vermont. That could be where the rest of my family is; we have to find out."

"Then you'd best get on with it," said Jenny, draining the last of her coffee.

Adeline and Aaron finished their drinks and got up, ready to leave.

"Coffee's on the house," said Jenny. "I hope you find what you're looking for."

"Thank you," said Aaron.

"And that goes for you too, my little fox," said Jenny, a twinkle in her eye.

But before Adeline could ask her to explain, Aaron led Adeline out to the car. Soon, they were back on the road, the mission clear before them. 

CHAPTER 15

The pair made a quick stop to the house to grab a few belongings, and soon after they were back on the road. Aaron drove steady and fast, the car rushing down the highway at well over the speed limit.

"You think your family's there?" asked Adeline, her eyes on Bear Mountain behind her as it descended past the horizon.

"I can't think of where else they'd be. We Swifts are a practical sort, not the kind to just run away without a plan."

"And what do we do when we get there?"

"We tell them what we know, and get my goddamn daughter back," he said, his eyes narrowed on the road ahead.

They drove for hours, finally reaching a small town near Green Mountain National Park. Stopping into town to ask directions, they were eventually pointed into the right direction by the bartender at one of the local watering holes, who told them that there'd been some big group of people who moved into one of the larger vacation properties on the outskirts of town. He seemed a little confused by the group, wondering why they all lived together in the way they did.

"Seems like a cult or something to me," said the bartender.

"That's got to be them," said Aaron as they walked back to the car.

Looking around the town as they drove through it, Adeline noted that it was a little nicer than Branlen; it seemed a little more like an exclusive vacation community than the sleepy hamlet that Branlen was.

Night descended as they made their way to the location of the house. The sun began to dip behind the horizon, a brilliant sunset of orange, blue, and white filling the sky above. Trees seemed to stretch forever around them, though there was nothing like Bear Mountain looming over everything the way there was at the other home.

Soon, they arrived at the home, a massive, wood cabin-style place that rivaled the compound in size.

"Well, there're definitely people there," said Aaron, noting the several cars parked out front and the orange illumination of lights in many of the windows.

"Are we just going to walk in?" asked Adeline as Aaron pulled into an open area in the yard near where the rest of the cars were parked.

Aaron said nothing, his eyes on the large set of double doors that were now opening, black figures stepping out to see who had just arrived.

"Looks like we're not going to have to worry about that," said Aaron.

"I hope this is your family," said Adeline, "and not people with guns who're feeling protective of their property.

"One way to find out," said Aaron.

They stepped out of the car, a tight feeling of tension forming in Adeline's stomach. There we now four pairs of silhouetted figures in front of the house, their faces shrouded in darkness.

"Who is that there?" called out one of the men in a brisk voice that sounded almost southern to Adeline's ears.

"This the Swift's?" called back Aaron.

"Again, I say, ‘who's out there'?"

The eight figures stood close to one another, and Adeline could now tell that it was four women and four men. And as she looked closer, she could see that the women were all holding children.

"I'm Aaron Swift," said Aaron, his palms raised before him.

A moment of silence passed.

"Aaron Swift, huh?" said the man. "Got any proof of that?"

Aaron looked back at Adeline as he tried to determine a way to prove his identity. Finally, he raised a hand while closing his eyes, the arm shifting into that of a bear.

"As far as I can tell, being able to do this is pretty unique to the Swifts."

The group of men and women seemed to talk among themselves for a moment. Finally, one of the women ducked into the house and flicked on the property lights, the long span of the front yard now illuminated under a clear light. From where she stood, Adeline could now make out the features of the men and women. The men all had the same handsome features as Aaron, their bodies strong and strapping, their heads topped with sandy-blond hair in different styles.

Aaron shifted his arm back to human form as the men stepped closer. As they drew nearer, Adeline could see the expressions of the men soften as they looked upon Aaron. She scanned the men, seeing that one was taller and beefier than the rest, his hair a simple, short style. Another, a man with longer hair down to his shoulders, was lean and reedy, though still in very good shape. The third was strapping and well-dressed in a professional outfit of a button-up shirt and slacks, his hair in a slicked-back, business style. The fourth man, the man who seemed to be doing all the talking, who was walking just a few feet before the other men, was tan and handsome, his sandy-blond hair shaggy around his face, his outfit a casual look of loose-fitting jeans, brown worker boots, and a plaid shirt unbuttoned down to just below his chest.

"Well, I'll be goddamned," said the man ahead of the rest, "if it isn't my little cousin Aaron."

The man approached Aaron, throwing his arms around him, the two men embracing.

"Good to see you, Atticus," said Aaron, patting his cousin on the back.

"It's been years," said the man in a nice professional voice, giving Aaron a more business-like greeting of a handshake and a quick pat on the back.

"So good to see you," said the tall, burly man, wrapping his arms around Aaron.

"Though I must wonder what's bringing you here," said the slim man with long hair, giving Aaron a quick hug.

"I could ask you all the same thing," said Aaron, looking his cousin over.

"Well, I'm sure we all have plenty of questions for one another," said Atticus, his eyes flicking over the Adeline, who suddenly felt very out of place. "Why don't we just head inside for now; I don't know where you all came from, but I'm willing to bet it was a hell of a drive."

Atticus clapped his hand on Aaron's back as they walked towards the house, Adeline following just behind him. The rest of the Swift men went back to their wives, who were looking over the pair with skepticism. Soon, Atticus led them through the front doors, Adeline still apprehensive about what was to happen next.

CHAPTER 16

The group was gathered in the spacious, well-lit living room, the space adorned with cozy, rustic furniture, tall shelves packed with books, and a fire crackling in the large, gray stone fireplace. Adeline was settled into one of the many chairs in the room, Aaron at her side, the men all next to their wives. Olivia, the wife of Ian, the longer-haired brother, served wine. Settling into her seat, a glass of wine in her hand, Adeline felt a little more at ease than she did a moment ago. The women returned their children to their rooms, and the adults were alone to discuss the matters at hand.

After making introductions, Atticus explained to Adeline just what was going on at their home.

"It's a place for people like us, shifters, to have a refuge away from the world."

"So, you're all shifters?"

"Not all of us," said Tessa, Atticus's wife, a woman of red hair and striking features.  "The women aren't."

"But our children will be," said Winnie, the wife of Clyde, the brawnier of Aaron's cousins.

"Lot of people in one home," said Aaron.

"We make it work," said Roland, his arms crossed over his chest, a glass of red wine on the coffee table in front of him. "We have plenty of space, though not as much as we did at the compound."

"Well, now's as good a time to ask as any," said Aaron, sitting back in his seat. "Why'd you all abandon the compound?"

The group grew grim, the gazes of the men and women shifting.

"When Bethany and I showed up, it looked like the place had been ransacked," said Aaron.

"The wolves," said Ian.

"The same ones that took your daughter," said Atticus.

"What's with them?" asked Adeline. "Didn't you all live near Bear Mountain for years?"

"We did," said Atticus. "Pretty peacefully, actually. Until the wolves arrived."

Adeline watched as Aaron's jaw clenched at the thought of the men who stole Bethany from him. She could sense that despite the cool façade he was putting forward, it was taking every bit of control he had to not peel away in his car in a mad frenzy to find the wolves, even if it meant returning to the compound and goading them into a fight that he couldn't win. It was only the possibility of gaining the help of his family that kept him calm and in his seat.

"Murderous assholes," said Ian, Olivia rubbing his leg with her hand to calm him down.

"Tell me what happened," said Aaron. "Tell me anything that could help me find my daughter."

Atticus took a long sip of wine and leaned forward. Silence hung in the air, disturbed only by the crackling of the fireplace, as the family thought back on the memories that mention of the wolves called forth.

"There were more of us," said Atticus. "Those cabins, the ones on the compound grounds, more of our kind lived there. Dozens of men and women. Then one night, without warning, the wolves came."

"We'd heard there'd been packs of wolves in other parts of the country, roving groups of shifters taking territory that had long been held by other species. But we assumed that these rumors, like any rumor you'd hear, were overblown. But one night, one horrible night, we found out that the rumors were all too true."

Atticus's expression, which had up to this point been cheerful and warm, grew grim.

"They snuck in during the night, getting past our perimeter by cutting through the fence. Once in, they began killing. A handful of our kind was lost before we even knew what was going on. But once we realized that we were under attack and could fight off the pack, it was too late- the damage had been done."

"We buried those who'd been lost, and the bear families that remained, well, they weren't so confident about my ability to lead them as they once were, to say the least. They went their own ways, some deciding to return to the cities, some seeking out other packs in other parts of the country, others disappearing without a trace. I'd done so much to keep our kind together, knowing we'd be strong that way, but all it took was one night for that all to come undone."

"And on top of everything, the compound was no longer safe. The place where our family had lived for years had now been proven to be open to attack by the wolves. We just couldn't stay there another day and risk coming back. So, once our dead were buried, we gathered what we could and came up to Vermont."

"This place had been just as bad as the compound is now," said Ian, "but Olivia and I had been living here for a few months at the time, so we had the place looking at least somewhat habitable."

"So, we all piled into this old vacation home and have been living here ever since."

"And what about the wolves?" asked Aaron.

"Well, so far they've left us alone. But it's only a matter of time before they find us."

"And then what?"

"Then…we hope for the best."

"That doesn't seem like much of a plan to me," said Aaron. "And it's one that I can't follow; I don't even want to waste another day."

Atticus nodded. "They've got your little girl; I don't blame you for wanting to get a move on. I can't imagine what I'd do if they had any of my kids."

Atticus looked away for a moment, his expression tightened in thought. "But…why did they take your girl? They didn't seem like much of the prisoner-taking type when we encountered them."

"We don't know for sure," said Adeline, feeling the need to speak rather than sit in silence, "but it might have something to do with her being a hybrid shifter. Maybe."

Her eyes shot quickly to Aaron, realizing that she may have spoken out of turn. But he simply nodded, confirming the information.

The group's eyes seemed to all go wide at the same, precise moment.

"You said a hybrid?" asked Roland, leaning forward.

"Maybe," said Aaron. "Her mother was a shifter, but we'd thought that she was just not going to be one of us. However, in the last year or so, she's been showing signs that she's ready to begin the change."

"The change?" asked Adeline.

"The process of a shifter's powers finally developing. In most of our kind, we come right out of the womb ready to change. But for others, the process can take longer, something about the genes lying dormant, I gather."

Clyde then spoke in his deep, genial voice. "I've heard some shifters not developing their abilities until middle-age. Imagine, being married with kids and finding out that you're a shifter."

He shook his head in disbelief.

This information hit Adeline like a bullet. She began to think of her dreams, her visions, what Jenny had said to her in the coffee shop. Was it possible that she was a shifter?

"But if your daughter's a hybrid…" said Atticus.

"Why would they want a hybrid so badly?" asked Adeline.

"Hybrids are extremely powerful," said Ian. "While they only can shift into one form, that form is stronger than any average shifter."

"And," said Tessa, "there've been stories of attempts to mate hybrids with hybrids, though no-one knows what the result of that might be."

"They want my daughter to make her own of their own," said Aaron. "Then use her power to get even stronger."

"These wolves seem to have designs on the entire state," said Atticus.

He then sat back, his face orange in the glow of the fire.

"And it might be too late to stop them."

CHAPTER 17

"You two get settled in," said Atticus. "We've got plenty of space here, and I'm sure you've both had a long day."

"I can't just stay here," said Aaron. "I need to get back to Bear Mountain, and I need you all to help me."

"Whoa, whoa," said Atticus, raising his hand, "I know you're eager to get back at these assholes, but we can't just go rushing into the fire without a plan. That's an easy way to get yourself killed."

Aaron took a long, slow breath. He knew that Atticus was right, but Adeline could tell that every bit of him was screaming to find his daughter, to get her back, even if it meant risking certain death.

"We've been hiding out here in the woods for long enough; you both showing up here was just the thing we needed to remind us that we can't run from this situation forever. We'll help you, of course, but we need a plan, and you two need some rest."

Aaron was tense; he looked to Adeline to be in emotional agony. But she could see that he understood the wisdom of Atticus's words. After all, he had to know that turning back around, driving to the compound and goading the wolves into a fight wouldn't have any result other than his own death.

"Fine," said Aaron. "But tomorrow. I won't wait another day."

"You have my word," said Atticus.

"Same here," said Ian. "Those assholes have gotten away with too much."

"Those members of our clan…they were like family to us," said Winnie, Clyde’s wife. "They were family. And there's been no justice for them."

"Not until now," said Atticus.

He stood up.

"Let me show you both your…room? Rooms?"

His rugged, handsome face went a shade red.

"Are you two…?"

"Something like that," said Aaron, placing his hand on Adeline's leg.

She could only smile as he did.

"Well, we're nothing but couples here, so you're in good company. Come on this way."

Atticus led them down one of the long hallways of the house. Looking around, Adeline noticed that it was just as spacious as the compound, with plenty of room for a group this size. Passing one open door, Adeline looked in and saw a room painted in soft blues and pinks, several babies and toddlers inside, all cooing, playing, and sleeping.

"Quite a little set-up you've got here," said Adeline, her eyes on the children.

"Pretty full house, I know," said Atticus. "It works for now, but we're gonna need something different before too long; can't very well stuff a couple dozen people into the same house."

Moments later, they arrived at a small, cozy bedroom, the evening light streaming in, the windows looking out onto the vast green span of the property behind the house.

"It's a little small, I know, but we're pressed for space," said Atticus.

"It'll be fine," said Aaron, looking around. "Just need a place for the night."

"Tomorrow, then," said Atticus.

Aaron turned to his cousin, his gaze steely. "I don't know what those assholes have planned for my daughter, but I won't let it go on another day."

"I'm right there with you," said Atticus. "Go on and get settled; come meet us out in the living room when you're ready."

With that, Atticus left, shutting the door behind him.

Aaron walked towards the window, clasping his hands behind his back as he looked out over the sweeping vista beyond the backyard. Adeline watched him, wondering what, exactly, was going through his mind.

After a time, he turned and spoke.

"Listen, I know this is all insane- more than you were expecting when you showed up. But I just want to thank you for sticking with me. It's good to be back with my family, but you know Bethany; you know what's at stake. And it means a lot to me that you're here to help however you can."

Adeline approached Aaron, placing her hand on his shoulder.

"I don't know how I can help, exactly, but whatever I can do, just let me know. I can't imagine what it's like to have a child taken from me; it must be torture."

"It's…awful. It's like an alarm is going off in my mind; all I can think about is getting her back. And when I think about how they want to keep her to use her for some…breeding program or God-knows-what, I feel more anger than I ever have before in my life."

"I'm…sorry."

Aaron shook his head. "I just need to get her back. Maybe with my family on my side we stand a chance. Only one way to find out, though."

Adeline looked deep into Aaron's eyes, sensing his pain, his hurt, his longing. But there was more than just pain; there was determination, there was purpose, and there was anger. Seeing him standing there stoically, eager to do that which needed to be done made her feel protected and safe. At that moment, standing at his side, she knew that whatever the days ahead held, they could face them together.

Aaron turned, his gaze on Adeline. Placing his hands on her hips, he brought her close, leaning down and kissing her slowly, tenderly on the lips. She returned the kiss, falling into it, letting the feeling of passion run through her body.

But then, Aaron pulled away.

"It's strange," he said, a thin smile forming on his lips, "we've only known each other for a few days, but it feels like longer- much longer."

Adeline felt a warmth run through her body at these words, a smile crossing her lips.

"I feel the same way," she said. "I still don't know why I was drawn to this place, to you, but I know that I did the right thing in coming here. I feel like this is what I'm mean to do."

"I…need to tell you something," he said, looking away and taking a seat on the bed.

A quizzical expression formed on Adeline's face. "What is it?"

She sat down across from Aaron.

"It's about my wife; I wasn't completely honest with you when I told you how she passed."

"Oh?" said Adeline.

"It wasn't illness. It…was in California. As you know, she was a shifter, like me. She and I were married for years, thinking that our lives together would last forever. When Bethany was born, we felt like our lives were perfect. But one day that all came crashing down."

"Like here, there are shifter clans in California, other species- wolves. And just like here, the wolves are scheming, always on the lookout for how they can claim shifter territory, how they can increase their power. To what end, I can't say; sometimes I think that plotting and treachery are just part of who they wolves are. We heard rumors from some of the other shifters in the area that wolves had been attacking our kind, especially those like us that were more isolated."

"Caitlin, my wife, told me that we needed to leave, to stop living alone, just me, her, and Bethany, to move closer to family, or at least closer to the city. But I was stubborn and told her that we'd be safe, and that she was just worrying over nothing. But really, I thought that I was invincible, that I'd be able to fight off anyone, or anything, that threatened my family. I was young and stupid."

"Soon enough, the wolves came. I remember the day with perfect clarity. It was early spring, and uncommonly cool. I was wearing this gray, cable-knit sweater that Caitlin had bought me for Christmas one year; I remember laughing when she bought it, telling her that we lived in California so we didn’t have to wear clothes like this."

He looked away for a moment, as though overwhelmed by the memory.

"Well, that morning, a group of men arrived at the home. Men in suits like the ones we saw before. They told us in no small terms that they knew what we were, and that they were laying claim to our land; our only choice was whether we wanted to lose our lives in the process. Caitlin warned me to stand back, but I was young and full of pride. I told them to get the hell off my property, to leave and never come back. And that's when they all smiled –this horrible shark smile- and shifted."

"Everything that happened after that was a blur. They rushed in, knocking me to the ground before attacking Caitlin. Neither of us even had time to shift; the moved so fast. As soon as I could get a sense of what had happened, Caitlin was lying dead in my arms, Bethany watching it all from the window."

"As the life left my wife, the wolves told me that if we were still here when they returned, the rest of our lives would be forfeit. So, still in a daze from what had happened, I took Bethany and left. We moved to a few hours away, one where there were more people, where it'd be safer like Caitlin wanted. But it was too late for her."

"I wasn't able to protect the one I loved that day. And now, I've failed again."

Adeline, feeling overcome by the emotion of Aaron's story, put her hand on his shoulder.

"But Bethany's not gone," said Adeline. "We'll get her back."

Aaron nodded, his eyes steely and determined. "We will. But it's taking all the restraint I have not to get back in that car and track those fuckers down myself."

"Tomorrow," said Adeline, her voice trailing as she stood near Aaron, the two of them looking out onto the vista beyond, both tense and fearful of the day to come.

CHAPTER 18

The next morning, the group gathered supplies and prepared themselves for what lay ahead.

"Looks like this is a guy’s party," said Tessa, looking over the group of men as they readied themselves to leave.

"Someone's got to stay here with the kids," said Atticus, kneeling and looking over his twin babies with the affection eyes of a loving father.

"All guys except for me, that is," said Adeline.

Aaron approached Adeline and looked deep into her eyes.

"You sure you want to do this?" he asked. "Staying here with the kids is just as important; no shame in letting us do the dangerous work. We are shifters, after all- we're built for it."

Adeline shook her head. "No. This is what I'm supposed to be doing; I know this now. I just can't stand aside without helping you get your daughter back, not after everything you've done for me."

"I just…I hate that you're all leaving like this," said Winnie, the wife of Clyde. "What if the wolves come here?"

"They don't have any idea where we are," said Roland, his voice calm and low. "And now that they have the property, they've got what they want for now."

"Right," said Ian. "They'll come for us eventually, but for now, they're likely consolidating and planning their next step."

"And figuring out their plans with my daughter," said Aaron, his fists clenching at the thought.

"Then let's now waste another moment," said Atticus. "You all got any clue of where to for these wolves?"

"No," said Aaron. "They could've moved into the property, but otherwise no idea."

"Hmm," said Atticus. "Well, we can start there. They've got to have left some kind of clue behind as to where they're hiding out."

"We shouldn't waste another minute, then," said Clyde.

"I agree," said Atticus. "Let's head out."

The men said their goodbyes to their wives and children before heading out to the front yard, where a trio of cars was loaded up with supplies.

"Not sure how long we're gonna be down there for," said Atticus, "but it doesn't hurt to be ready."

"I agree," said Aaron. "Especially if we're going to be waiting at the compound."

"Alright," said Atticus. "Let's not waste another minute."

The men climbed into their cars. Aaron and Adeline shared one last look before getting into theirs. Within minutes, the small convoy was off, the wives watching the group from the porch.

Hours passed in silence, Aaron's eyes fixed on the road, Adeline's thoughts focused on all that she'd learned over the last few days and weeks. But though the idea of shifters and their strange world was settling in her mind with more ease, she still couldn't shake what she'd heard from Jenny, that strange woman at the coffee shop who seemed to know more about Adeline than she knew about herself.

Little fox, thought Adeline, Jenny's voice clear in her mind as she watched the landscape pass.

Does that mean I'm a fox? That I'm a shifter?

But it didn't seem to make sense; nothing in her life had indicated to her that she was in possession of strange powers that she had yet to find out about. She mulled the question over in her mind as the Aaron drove, the sun rising high into the clear, blue sky above. After a time, they passed a sign that informed them that Branlen was only a half-hour or so away. Adeline felt her body tense the further they drove, as though her body were keenly aware of the danger to come.

Soon, the sights of the city that Adeline recognized began to appear. The smattering of buildings on the grid of the downtown area, the grocery stores, and the local bars. Off in the distance, Adeline spotted the sign for Jenny's Coffee Shop, and as soon as her eyes fell upon it, she was overcome with an irresistible urge to stop.

"I have to go see Jenny again," said Adeline, her eyes fixed on the squat building.

"Wait, what?" asked Aaron. "Why?"

"I don't know; I mean, I do know- she knows something she's not telling me."

"OK, fine- we'll go there after we stop at the compound."

"No," said Adeline. "I have to go there now."

"Now? Why now?"

"I don't know; I just know that I have to. Please."

Adeline looked at Aaron with pleading eyes. His eyes fixed on the road, he considered the proposition.

"Fine," he said finally.

"Thank you," said Adeline.

Aaron called his cousins, letting them know that he'd be making a brief stop, and that he'd meet them at the compound. Soon after, he pulled into the coffee shop parking lot, put the car in park, and killed the engine. The two got out of the car and walked to the building with slow, deliberate steps.

He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could, the creaky voice of Jenny called out to them.

"She's back! I knew she'd be back!"

Adeline and Aaron shared a confused glance. Then, from behind the building, Jenny stepped out, a strange, beaming smile on her face.

"The man's with you?" she asked. "No, no- that won't do. Tell him to go with the rest of his kin."

"How does she…" said Aaron, his eyes fixed on Jenny, the green thickness of the woods behind her store a backdrop to her.

"I think…I know that I need to do this."

"Come on now!" shouted Jenny, a strange glee in her voice. "No time to waste!"

Adeline looked at Aaron, and she could see that he realized that there was nothing to be done other than to let her go with this strange woman.

"Please," he said, "be safe. I couldn't stand to lose you, too."

Adeline looked into Aaron's eyes, deep green in the high light of noon. He leaned in, pressing his lips against hers, kissing her for what may have been the last time.

"No time for that!" shouted Jenny. "Come on!"

Aaron stepped away from Adeline, his eyes on her as he got into his car. Seconds later, he gunned the engine and drove off, the car disappearing into town.

"Over here!" shouted Jenny.

Adeline made her way around the building, noting that the "closed" sign was dangling from the door. Soon after, she was at Jenny's side, the woman standing still and looking into the forest that stretched before them.

"Always you know to keep coming back," said Jenny, taking a sip from a cup of coffee that sat on a tree stump nearby.

"You know something," said Adeline. "You know about me, and what I am. I want answers."

"You'll get answers, my little fox. You'll get all the answers you need."

CHAPTER 19

"Start with that," said Adeline. "Tell me why you keep calling me a ‘fox.' Does that mean I'm a shifter?"

"Not quite," said Jenny. "But you have their blood in you."

"What do you mean?"

Jenny smiled and looked away, her mug off coffee in her hands.

"You're drawn to this place, to these people," said Jenny. "You know that world of humans isn't where you belong, but you know that the world of these strange beasts isn't either, yet, you feel drawn to both."

"Please," said Adeline. "Tell me what this all means. I have to know why I'm here, why I'm in the middle of all of this."

"And why you feel as though it's exactly where you need to be?"

Adeline opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. She knew that Jenny was right, that despite everything, despite the danger, despite the uncertainty, she hadn't once doubted that she'd made the right decision in leaving everything behind and coming to this small, sleepy town.

"Yes," said Adeline.

"Well," said Jenny, "it's because you have their blood in you."

"What?" asked Adeline, her eyes wide in shock.

"Somewhere, far back in your line, you have a shifter relative. Could be a grandparent, could be a great-great-great grandparent, could be some auntie you didn't even know you had. But you've got one in there, somewhere."

"Does that mean that I can shift?"

"Maybe, maybe not; you might find out you can someday, you might go to your grave still wondering. But what's for sure is that you're connected to these people. They're in your blood- literally."

"And how do you know all of this?"

Jenny formed a half-smile, the wrinkles on her face deepening.

"Because I have the same gift. If you want to call it that. It's why I'm here; this region is a hotbed for these shifter types."

Adeline was staggered by this information. "So, you found out that you had shifter blood, then just moved here and opened a coffee shop?"

"No, no," said Jenny, amused. "Much more to it than that. You're not the only one who's found a dashing shifter man to chase after, to watch over, to stand side-by-side with. I had a man like him once, long ago. But you don't need to know all of that, dear. Just understand that I know what you're going through, and you're doing the right thing so far."

"'The right thing'?" asked Adeline. "How can I even know what that is?"

"Sticking by this man, this bear shifter, helping him find his daughter…"

Her voice trailed as the word ‘daughter' passed her lips.

"That's…a special girl," said Jenny, turning her gaze back to the woods. "She's going to be a powerful shifter; if she isn't already. Those wolves are wise to see what she is."

"Bethany?" asked Adeline. "What are they going to do to her?"

Jenny shrugged. "Make her one of them, most likely. Use her powers to make this part of the country theirs. Then God-knows-what. They always have to fight against the wolves; that's the fate of the bears, and those who are part of their world."

"And here I am just talking while Bethany's in danger and the bears are going to fight."

"You think so little of yourself," said Jenny. "You've trusted your intuition so far- what does it tell you now?"

Adeline put aside the urge to press Jenny, to get her to explain everything to her in clear, unambiguous detail. She closed her eyes, letting the urge, strange compulsion within her guide her.

The forest, she thought.

"I have to go there," said Adeline, pointing to the thick trees ahead.

"And what do you see in there?" asked Jenny.

‘I…don't know. It's just like how it's always been- just a strange urge to go."

"Then that's what you have to do."

"But…aren't the wolves in there?"

"They could be. But if the wolves are there, then that little girl is too, isn't she?"

Adeline knew that she was right.

"You have to come with me," said Adeline, turning to Jenny and grabbing the thick, knitted shawl wrapped around her. "I don't know what to do, and you've been through all of this before."

"Me?" asked Jenny, placing her hand on her chest. "No, no. I'm an old woman. I may have shifter blood in my veins, but the battles I've fought are long over; I'd simply slow you down. No, my role is to do just what I'm doing now, to help steer in the right direction those who are confused as I once was, and as you are now. Maybe one day, should you see yourself through to the other side, you'll be standing where I am now, with some girl who's not too different than you once were, explaining to her just why you can't come with her."

"Then…all I can do is go into the woods."

Jenny nodded. "Go there," she said, pointing towards the woods. "Go there and don't stop until you've found what you're looking for. Trust me. It's the only way you'll find any peace."

Adeline turned her attention to the woods, looking deep into the thick density of the trees, the branches lolling gently in the soft mid-day wind. As they spoke, a thick blanket of clouds had formed overhead, the sky now slate gray, the sunlight thin and dim.

"You'd better get going," said Jenny, looking into the woods. "Looks like a storm's about to hit; you'll want to find what you're looking for before all of that."

Adeline turned back to Jenny. "Thank you," she said. "For everything."

Jenny's thin lips formed into a slight smile. "Thank me by getting that girl back."

Adeline nodded, turning back towards the woods. A low rumble of thunder sounded as she walked towards over the clearing behind the shop and towards the woods, her steps faster the more she walked. Determination grew within her as she approached the trees, and as she stood at the boundary between the town and forest that surrounded it, she took a slow, deep breath. Then she stepped forward.

CHAPTER 19

Another rumble of thunder sounded as Adeline stepped further into the woods. Slipping her phone out of her pocket, she saw that her reception was nil- it was just here out here. At first, she was fearful, the same hesitation and doubt that reared its head from time to time now making another appearance. Part of her wanted to turn back, to run back to civilization, to forget about all of this. She knew that she was on the verge of the point of no return, and if she could see the town behind her through the thick clusters of trees, she knew that she still had the option to change her mind.

But she didn't. She continued, and the further she walked, the more distance that she put between herself and the town, the more confident her steps became. At first, she walked through the woods carefully, wincing at each branch that snapped beneath her footfalls. But the more she walked the longer her strides grew, and the less fear that coursed through her body.

She couldn't explain it, but she began to feel as though the woods were where she belonged, as though, in a sense, she was home. Adeline thought back to her dream that brought her here, the dream that she'd had so many times before in which she traveled through the woods in the form of a fox, darting across the forest floor with light ease. She may not have been a fox now, but the pace at which she traveled was one of a human who knew this landscape intimately. Soon, she was moving at a brisk pace, stepping over branches, weaving through the trees, placing each step down with confidence, the urging within her pointing to forward.

And what's more, her steps seem to land silently, as though her feet were nothing more than the light pads of some kind of animal that had been adapted to the forest.

But as she traveled, she remembered the other part of the dream. The wolves that stalked her.

Wolves, she thought. They're in these woods somewhere.

Then, to her horror, she had another realization. the direction she was moving towards was the direction of the wolves. Adeline was looking for Bethany, but wherever the girl was, the wolves wouldn't be far away. Stopping and taking a deep breath, she continued, bracing herself against the fear that now ran up her spine.

Her eyes darted around as she moved, as though on the lookout for those pairs of red, glowing eyes that haunted her dreams. But she'd seen the real danger, and knew that it was far worse.

After a time, another peal of thunder cut across the sky, jolting Adeline out of her trance-like state. Pulling her phone out of her pocket once again, she saw that nearly an hour had passed since she entered the woods. But before she could consider this for too long, droplets of rain began to fall from the sky, pattering softly against the trees that towered over her.

As good as being in the woods feels, I'm not really in the mood to get stuck out here in the rain, she thought as she scanned the woods around her for shelter.

And as her eye line moved along the far horizon of the forest, they settled on something that she hadn't noticed before.

It was a building.

Adeline moved closer, her eyes fixed on the edifice that seemed to have grown out of the forest floor in the last few moments.

How did I miss that? she asked herself, wondering if she had fallen victim to some sort of forest mirage.

But as she drew closer, she could see that the building wasn't simply a figment of her imagination; it was truly there. Her heart began to race as she stepped closer. The building was a mean-looking thing- tall, with high, dark walls and square windows as black as ink. It was like some kind of nightmare medieval fort that had somehow found its way out of time and into the woods of upstate New York.

She approached the building with hesitant steps. Part of her was fearful, worried that she was trespassing in a place where she shouldn't be. But another part of her was sure that this is what she'd been searching for. Adeline approached the building, her eyes scanning the massive form of the place, looking out for any signs of life; she found none.

Approaching a small side door, she entered and found herself in a long, dark hallway decorated in a simple, minimalist style of black walls, black wood floors, and low light. It was the opposite of the cheery, homey feel of the Swift's compound.

Walking with slow steps, she froze in place upon hearing footsteps from down the hall. She ducked into the open door of a nearby supply room and listened carefully. After a moment, she could hear two distinct sets of footsteps, and soon the men that they belonged to appeared at the far end of the hall. Peeking out from the door frame, she saw that the men were both slim in figure and dressed in black suits.

She recognized them immediately as wolves.

"How long they been gone for?" asked the first man.

"Not sure; been an hour, maybe."

A moment passed.

"That's a long time just to secure the compound."

"Well, they need to make sure it's secure."

"Why, what're they worried about- traps?"

"I don't know; bears aren't usually the ‘traps' types."

"No kidding. I'll just be glad when the compound's ours."

"Yeah, then we can finally track down the rest of the bears and get rid of ‘em for good."

"Too much waiting around if you ask me."

"Just be patient; we've got the girl; that's step one. Killing the bears is step two."

"Then step three?"

"Taking over this town and killing any shifters that stand in our way."

Adeline's eyes went wide- she realized the wolves were indeed planning on taking over the area by force.

"Sounds good to me. Speaking of the kid, you check up on her?"

"Yeah, still in the bedroom. Weird kid."

"Of course, she's weird- she's the hybrid we've been looking for. Kid has no idea how much power she has. Boss seems to be convinced that she's one of the most powerful shifters he's ever seen."

"You saw what's she's capable of; we all did. Anyway, you want to check up on her?"

"Nah, kid creeps me out; you do it."

A moment passed.

"I'm sure she's fine."

With that, the two men split apart and went their separate ways.

She's here, thought Adeline, just in one of these bedrooms.

Once the men left the hallway, Adeline slinked along the wall, glancing in each room she passed for Bethany. Soon, upon peeking in through a small window that looked into one of the rooms, she spotted the girl in a small, bare room with nothing more inside it than a simple bed, a dresser, and a tiny television. Her heart leaped upon seeing the girl once again. Looking down the hallway once last time to confirm that the men weren't anywhere nearby, Adeline unlocked the deadbolt that kept the door locked from the outside and opened the door.

Bethany's face went from blank far away to bright and joyful upon seeing Adeline.

"Adeline! You're here!" said the Bethany, bounding off the bed and wrapping her arms around Adeline's waist.

"Thank God you're safe," said Adeline. "Are you OK?"

Adeline kneeled and looked the girl over; she seemed to be fine.

"Yeah," said Bethany, "they've just been keeping me locked up here; they said this is my new home."

"Well, it's not," said Adeline. "We've found your family and your father's looking for you; we're going to get you home safe."

"I knew you'd come for me; I knew it," said Bethany.

The girl looked away pensively for a moment.

"Since I've been here," she said, "I've been having…weird things happen."

"'Weird things'?" asked Adeline.

Oh no, she thought, she's starting to shift.

"Yeah, I can turn myself into an animal, just like my mom and dad can. But they said it's not like any animal they've ever seen."

Then a voice called from the hall.

"Hey, is that door open?" called out one of the men.

Shit, thought Adeline, how did I forget to shut that?

"Oh, don't worry about it," said Bethany. "I'll take care of them."

Bethany then rose from the bed and walked with calm, slow steps towards the door.

"She's loose!" said one of the wolves as Bethany stood in the door frame.

What happened next all seemed to be compressed into the span of only a few moments. Adeline saw the quick appearance of fur on Bethany's skin, followed by the flickering of a strange, animal glint in her eyes. A course growl sounded from her throat, and she leaped out of sight. Then, there was the sound of tearing clothing, followed by the screams of the two men. Then, moments later, silence.

Bethany soon appeared once again in the frame of the door, a calm expression on her face.

"Let's get out of here, please," she said.

Adeline was more than happy to do just that.

CHAPTER 21

"Come on!" shouted Bethany as the pair ran through the woods. "The wolves are on their way right now!"

Adeline could run faster than she ever had in her life, but she was struggling to keep up with the girl. Bethany ran at incredible speed, bounding over rocks and under branches, moving through the woods with ease, grace, and a hint of animal strength. As Adeline ran, she let the relief of having Bethany returned wash over her, but she knew that they wouldn't be safe until these wolves were forever driven from the woods.

Soon, they began to approach an area of the woods that looked more familiar to Adeline.

"Almost there!" shouted Bethany.

They ran and ran, and soon the outline of the compound began to grow over the horizon. But before relief could settle in. a deafening howl sounded out through the woods, followed by a fearsome roar.

"They're fighting!" shouted Bethany.

Adeline could now make out the figures of bears and wolves on the grounds of the compound, their forms clashing and colliding through the grid of the iron fence. As Adeline moved closer, she could make out the Swift men, all shifted into their powerful bear forms. Around them were the half dozen wolves of the Gray clan, their stalking shapes forming a tight circle around the bears.

Adeline ran to the fence and grabbed onto it. She realized that they'd arrived in the middle of a battle, and it looked as though the fight favored the wolves.

They're outnumbered, thought Adeline, watching the wolves circle around the bears.

But before she could worry for too long, Bethany ran to the gate.

"Dad!" she shouted, her hands on the fence.

One of the bears rose on his hind legs and turned towards Bethany, a booming roar sounding from his fearsome mouth as he did. The rest of the bears and wolves turned towards Bethany, the circle of wolves stopping in their tracks.

Then, Bethany scaled the fence at an incredible speed, her body shifting into what appeared to Adeline to be a small bear form, but moving with the agility and quickness of a wolf. She landed on the ground on the other side of the fence, facing down the wolves. The rest of the bears took advantage of this distraction and pounced on the wolves, attacking them with their razor-sharp claws. And as the melee began once again, Bethany joined the fray.

Adeline watched the battle with wide eyes, her hands gripping the fence. She wanted to do something, to help in some way, but she knew that a mere human couldn't hope to fight against those wolves, shifter blood in her veins or not.

The two sides clashed ferociously, wolf howls and bear roars filling the air. But the bears could turn the tide, and after the dust had settled, the bodies of the wolves lay in the dirt of the property grounds. Relief rushed through Adeline upon seeing that not a single bear was lost.

The men shifted back into their human forms, and so did Bethany moments later. Adeline ran to the gate and pushed it open, joining the Swift clan.

"Bethany, my baby girl!" said Aaron as he wrapped his arms around his daughter.

"Daddy!" shouted Bethany, hugging and holding her father tight.

"I'm so happy you're safe," he said, letting go.

"Yeah, Adeline got me out."

The rest of the clan greeting Bethany with joy and warmth as Aaron approached Adeline.

"I don't know what to say," he said, taking Adeline's hands into his. "I thought she might've been lost. I thought we all might've been lost."

"Well, you don't have to worry about that anymore," said Adeline.

"Daddy, I can turn into a bear!" said Bethany, a wide smile on her face.

"Looks like we've got a new member of the Swift clan," said Atticus, looking over the girl with a warm smile.

"I knew this day would come," said Aaron, "but at least she's got her family now; together, we can show her how to become one of us, how to use her powers to protect others."

"And we can start by reclaiming this forest for the Swifts," said Atticus, looking over the property grounds.

"Is there…room for someone like me in all of this?" asked Adeline.

Aaron squeezed her hands tight.

"I wouldn't have it any other way."

CHAPTER 22

Adeline sighed as Aaron kissed the soft, delicate skin of her neck. She closed her eyes, a wide smile on her face as he moved over her, the scent of his body wrapping around her. Letting her eyes open just a bit, she watched the way the winter sun streaming in through the bedroom window played on his body, the light cutting across the taut, strong shapes of his upper body. He continued to kiss her, his hand now on her inner thigh, the feeling of his palm on her skin so close to her sex sending waves of anticipation running through her body.

"I want you so badly," Adeline said, her voice breathy, the words barely formed through the pleasure.

Aaron didn't need to hear another word. He positioned himself above her, supporting his brawny, muscular form with his thick, ropey arms, the muscles flexing with his weight. Adeline couldn't wait to have him in her; their lovemaking had only grown more pleasurable since they'd begun to officially live together. She wrapped her fingers around the girth of his cock, taking in a sharp breath as she took sweet pleasure at the feeling of his member in her hand.

"Someone's eager," he said, his green eyes flashing a knowing glint.

"You know I'm no good at waiting," said Adeline, her mouth forming a sensual, playful smirk.

"That's right; you're a girl who goes for what she wants."

But before the conversation could continue further, Adeline placed the head of Aaron's cock on the entry of her sex, closing her eyes once again. She loved the anticipation of him right on the edge of her, knowing that just a few moments later she would be completely filled with his long, hard prick. Then, with a slow glide, she pulled him into her slowly, at a pace that allowed her to feel every inch of his thick cock fill her up.

"God, you feel so fucking good in me," Adeline said, taking a deep breath, the tight heat of pleasure already building in her pussy.

"The feeling is more than mutual," said Aaron, now sliding in and out of her slowly.

Adeline wrapped her legs around Aaron, bringing her hips closer to hers, imploring him with her body to drive himself deeper and faster into her. They'd made love enough times to where Aaron understood immediately what she wanted. He picked up the pace, rocking his hips into her, fucking her harder and fast. Moans began to slip out of Adeline's mouth as he pounded her harder and harder, filling her repeatedly with his perfect cock. She opened her eyes just enough to watch his body work, to watch the muscles of his sculpted form tense and flex as he plunged into her again and again, her full breasts shaking and quivering with each impact of his hips into hers.

Then, a sly grin crossed Adeline's mouth. Grabbing Aaron's hips, she guided him over to his side, rolling their bodies until she was on top of him, his cock buried in her all the while. Aaron crossed his hands behind his head, his biceps flexing as he did. Slowly at first, Adeline rode him, bucking her hips up and down, letting him move in and out of her, the pleasure almost too much to bear. Looking down at his sculpted pecs, his broad, strong shoulders, and his gorgeous face, she knew that her orgasm was not far at all.

Her pace quickened, the sound of flesh on flesh filling the air. Aaron moved his hands down to her hips, grabbing hold of her soft curves and lifting her up and down on his cock. Adeline leaned forward, placing her hands his rock-hard chest, bouncing herself up and down on top of him, the pleasure building and building by the second.

"Oh, cum in me," she said, her voice breathy and pregnant with passion.

Aaron grunted, his face tightening as he approached orgasm. And as he approached, so did Adeline. She felt herself being pushed to the brink of pleasure, ready to fall over the precipice and into pure ecstasy.

And moments later, it happened. Her orgasm exploded through her body, muffled shrieks slipping out of her mouth as she covered her lips with her hands. The orgasm rushed through her, the hot, pulsing pleasure rocking her body. Aaron came as she did, and the feeling of him erupting into her only increased the orgasmic joy that filled her body. She rocked her hips harder and harder, draining every drop out of her lover. Soon, her orgasm ebbed, and she collapsed in a heap on top of him.

They lay like this for a time, Adeline resting her head on his now-sweaty chest, listening to his heart beat a pace that slowed by the second, feeling the rise-and-fall of his breath.

"Have I told you how much I love it when you ride me?" he asked, breaking the silence.

"Why do you think I love to do it so much?" asked Adeline, tapping the end of his nose with her finger.

"Oh, don't act like you're not getting anything out of it, too," said Aaron, his tone playful.

"I can't argue with that," she said with a smirk.

A little more time passed, the two of them enjoying the afterglow of their lovemaking.

"Well, I think it's probably about time we get up," said Aaron. "The rest of them are probably wondering what we're doing in bed so late."

"Oh, I think they've probably got some ideas," said Adeline.

She rolled out of bed, Aaron giving her naked rear a playful slap as she did. Minutes later, they were dressed and up, ready to start their day. Through the bedroom door, they could hear the bustling of activity from the rest of the family. Stepping out into the hallway, the spotted the rest of the Swift clan children and all, gathered in the living room.

"There they are!" said Atticus, his twin boys on his lap. "We were wondering when the two of you were finally gonna roll out of bed."

"Nothing to get up in a hurry for," said Aaron. "We're finally done with all of the cleaning, after all."

Adeline looked around the inside of the home. Finally, after weeks of the combined effort of the family, the Swift compound was back up to its full glory. The place was clean, the shattered windows were repaired, and most importantly, the wolf menace that had plagued them was eliminated, possibly for good.

"Come down and grab some coffee," said Tessa, the rest of the wives sitting with their husbands.

"Yeah, Dad!" said Bethany, looking up from the infant cousins that she was playing with.

"Alright, alright," said Adeline as the two made their way down the stairs.

As Aaron poured her a cup of hot, steaming coffee, Adeline reflected on the events of the last few weeks. After the wolves were taken care of, the Swift family all returned to their rightful home at the compound. The place was brought back to working order, and the Swifts soon fell back into the routines that they'd been forced to abandon. But now, Aaron, Adeline, and Bethany were part of the clan. And they couldn't be happier about the arrangement.

Months passed this way, the Swift clan living in contentment and peace. After a time, Adeline had the inclination to go down to Jenny's shop to thank her for her guidance and help. But when she entered the store, she found not a soul within. The place seemed abandoned, no trace of anyone there but the scent of coffee lingering in the air. Looking around, Adeline found a note written on thick stock paper, the name "Adeline" written on it in ornate letters.

My little fox-

I hope that in the last few months you've found the peace you've been seeking. The time has come for me to move on, however. I'm sure you'll come to the shop eventually, and when you do and read this note, know that this place is now yours. Run this little store as you see fit, and provide guidance to lost souls like yourself along the way.

-       Jenny

Adeline set the note down, looking around the small space that now belonged to her. It was like the last piece of the puzzle fell into place. She now knew beyond a shadow of a doubt where she belonged.

Over time, the woods under the shadow of Bear Mountain became a haven for shifters once again. The bears that had spread over the country began to return, and the Swifts were always more than happy to help them get settled in their new home. Adeline's coffee shop became a favorite stop of shifters, along with the other, more human, citizens of the city. But only those truly in the know were aware of the story behind Adeline's little shop.

Adeline and Aaron were married. The ceremony was small, intimate affair, the woods of Bear Mountain the setting for their nuptials. Soon after, Adeline had one last flash of knowing, of intuition. She knew, she could sense, that she was pregnant. The news was celebrated among the family, and Aaron, Adeline, and Bethany were overjoyed at the news.

One day, as Adeline was working behind the counter at her shop, the place buzzing with shifters and humans alike, Bethany happily employed as her after-school helper, Aaron reading the paper at his sunny table near the window, a profound sense of peace overcame Adeline. It had been a long journey, but her long search was over at long last. She finally was where she belonged.