Page 17 of Wolf It Down, Knot Me Up

I stand there for all of three stubborn seconds before following him. “So what’s the real story, then?”

He slips his hands into his pockets, sight fixed on the trail ahead. “The one where you hear someone following you through the woods…” His voice is calm, almost conversational. “But you don’t run home.”

I frown.

“You catch a glimpse of him between the trees. A stranger big enough to make your heart trip over itself.”

“I don’t scare that easily,” I blurt out.

“I noticed.” His gaze remains on the path ahead. “So instead of turning around and walking away,” he continues, “you stop.”

“I might.”

“You wait for him to catch up.”

I glance sideways at him.

“You ask him what he wants,” he continues.

“I do.”

“You argue.”

A reluctant smile tugs at my lips. “I definitely do.”

“And before long…” His voice drops another notch. “You’re strolling beside him, deciding whether he’s a villain or simply misunderstood.”

I huff a quiet laugh. “So far, your story’s pretty accurate.”

“It isn’t finished.”

Something in the way he says it steals the smile from my face. He pauses and turns to glance my way. “The whole time you’re trying to decide whether the stranger is dangerous…” His eyes finally find mine. “You never once think to look behind you.”

I blink. “What?”

“Because while you’re busy watching him…” He nods toward himself. “Someone else is watching you.”

The forest suddenly feels a little quieter, and I can’t help but glance over my shoulder, not seeing anyone. Is he trying to scare me?

“You assume the man in front of you is the predator.” His gaze lingers for a long pause. “You never consider that he might be the reason nothing else has reached you yet.”

Silence settles between us, the forest closing in.

I stare past him, into the trees stretching away into the fading light, unsure if we’re still talking about the campfire story or if he’s warning me about something.

“So tell me, Lucy…” he says quietly. “Would you rather fear the man you can see…” He lets the question hang. “Or the one you never knew was there?”

“Seriously?” I let out a nervous laugh, glancing around once more. “Are you trying to tell me there’s someone stalking me right now?”

He doesn’t answer.

“Wolf.”

His eyes drift past me for the briefest moment before returning, and I finally see it for what it is. He’s winding me up.

I shake my head, unable to stop a laugh. “You really enjoy getting inside people’s heads, don’t you?”

One corner of his mouth lifts. “Only the interesting ones.”