Page 41 of Tempting Fate

I head off to bed when they both do, though I don’t change or get ready to sleep. I check my bag instead and wait until about one in the morning, until I’m sure they’re truly asleep.

Then I grab my bag and sneak out into the night.

I’m not overly worried if they find out I’ve been going out, of course. A night-time walk isn’t such an unusual thing, and they were right about this area—it’s very safe. Just better to avoid flagging up any weirdness where possible. I pull a small camera out of my bag and clip it to the front of my jacket.

The park is as silent as it has been every night I’ve visited. Whoever the man in the video is, he hasn’t been back; at least not since I arrived in London. I wander the area for an hour or so, then find, to my surprise, that my feet are leading me to the place where Patch and I parted on Monday night.

Patch. I will tell him what happened between me and Jamie and make it clear that Jamie isn’t at fault. Make it clear I kissed him back, too. Nerves flutter in my stomach. I don’t know how he’ll take it. We’re not anything serious, not after one date where we didn’t even kiss, but if he thinks I’ve crossed a line…

He’s not wrong. Maybe. Part of me wonders if he’ll be mad at all. I think he wants Jamie just as much as Jamie clearly wants him, and I can’t quite work out why the two of them aren’t together, considering they met long before I arrived.

And how long will I be here? A year, tops. If I can’t find the werewolf at that point, I think I’ll go home, fifty grand or not. It’s not like that kind of money is nothing, but I don’t belong here. Do I?

I pause on the corner where Patch walked away. I wouldn’t be able to find him even if I did go looking. I don’t know where he lives. How would I explain my sudden appearance if I did? Two in the morning is not the time to talk about things like this.

No major life decisions after ten at night.

I chuckle and turn on my heel. Cate’s right. I’ll have a clearer head in the morning, and that’s when I’ll decide whether to meet up with Patch early and let the cat out of the bag or wait until Monday and deal with it then.

Only as I walk away, I feel the prickle of eyes on my back. I don’t freeze, but I do slow my steps, glancing left to right, trying to see if anyone is hiding in the shadows.

Wouldn’t be the first time I’ve had to run away, though usually just from over-curious farm animals.

I see no one, though, so I stop and chance a look back and—

Freeze.

At first, I can’t believe my eyes. No dog is that big. Foxes certainly aren’t. And the animal, the wolf, is standing there, staring at me like it expects something…

A choked sound escapes my throat. My heart thuds against my ribs. The wolf whines and steps closer, and for a second, I’d swear I’ve seen it before, even as I’m certain it’s not the one from the video, like it’s an animal I’ve met—

The second passes. I let out a terrified squeak, one I’ll certainly be embarrassed about later, and though I know better, I run.

I only stop once I’m back at our front door. My breaths saw in and out of my throat, and sweat is dripping from my hairline, down my back. The wolf hasn’t followed me. I don’t know why. Perhaps I didn’t see it at all.

My hands are shaking too badly to check the footage once I’m safely in my room. I climb into bed, close my eyes, and wait for daylight to come.