The day was cloudy and windy, I took a deep breath of the faint smell of leaves and looked to my side, Bryan was smiling as he watched the movement of the crowd. Unlike me, he loved crowds.
"Where are we going now?" I asked without taking my eyes off his face.
- I think we could go to the bookstore.
Bryan gave me a quick look and blushed, I was still staring at him, he was really gorgeous.
"An attempt to cheer me up?" he laughs.
"Kind of like this..." he smiled and then took my hand. - Or I may be trying to win you over.
I shook his hand a little and smiled as I looked ahead, we had just entered the city center and the bookstore was located right in the center. The whole way we held hands, his hand was warm and gave me security.
When we arrived in front of the bookstore, I noticed that the sign at the entrance was different, it had a more cheerful face and the name "Doris & Livros" was more colorful... Amazing how almost everything in this town is named after the owner of the store.
I walked in with Bryan behind me, I looked around looking for Amy, it was then that I remembered that today she only worked in the last period.
"Looking for Amy?" he walked past me and pulled me to the romantic-comedy book section.
"yes, but she doesn't work until later today." "I let him take me.I
looked at the shelves, I loved to see the book covers, I breathed in the dry smell of the leaves and smiled. I touched some of the books with my fingertips and only then did I realize that Bryan was watching me, I blushed.
"You really love this place, don't you?" he smiled. "Will I get an award for suggesting we come here?"
He approached me, standing right in front of me, gave me a kiss on the forehead, and then moved away to get a better look at me. I lifted my face and let a silly smile show.
"Did I tell you you're stupid?" I stuck out my tongue.
"I think so, but I don't care." He laughed and hugged me, sealing his lips to mine.
It was quick as a selfie, but it was enough to make my heart race. We were still hugging, his eyes were focused on mine, I felt my cheek heat up and I pulled away a little to breathe better.
He was smiling like the first time we kissed, a warm smile. I shook my head slightly to think more clearly, being too close to Bryan confused all my senses. I smiled slightly showing how embarrassed I was with the situation, he looked at me and let out a brief sigh, then turned around and apologized, very quietly. I
felt something strange, I couldn't even explain it... A sense of detachment.
"Are you going to buy something?" I asked, my voice a little low.
-No... What about you? He continued with his back to me.
- Also don't...
I reached out and touched his arm, strong and warm, I remember when I snuggled up in them. I
worked my way down with my fingertips until I reached her hand, I was about to hold her when Amy appeared, she was panting and her hair was a little messed up from the rush I suppose.
- I knew you'd be here! - she said and pulled me by the arm. - You need to see something!
Impossible. It was the only word I could think of at the time, but the newspaper report was pretty clear: a couple was dating in Trevarch during the night, and suddenly a wolf came up and killed the boy in front of the young woman, at least that's what the girl said.
We were still inside the bookstore, but now in the readers' corner. Amy couldn't sit still, she was standing and pacing around our table. Bryan, who had noticed something very strange in the story, looked at me cautiously and showed calmness, but the smell he gave off could be anything but tranquility.
-Look... I'm panicking! Amy stopped and rested both hands on the table.
- Calm down, nothing will happen to you... That couple was killed in a deserted place, you never stay in deserted places. -Commented.
- As if wolves chose their victims. She walked around the table again, only now she whispered to herself.
Bryan might not hear her, but I could, and something worried me about Amy's words: What are wolves afraid of? I'm going to have to start walking with something. A knife is a good one.
I felt a chill as I imagined Amy stabbing me.
"Do you really think it was a wolf?" Bryan asked and then cringed at the deadly look Amy gave him.
"And what else could have done that?" Amy snapped.
I didn't like the way she said "thing" to refer to a wolf, but I kept quiet.
"A serial-killer perhaps?" he ventured.
Amy snorted and turned, stepping out with strong steps. The two of us looked at each other and I gave her a sign that she needed time.
-So.. Don't you think it was a wolf? I asked, trying to disguise my interest in the answer.
-No... But it looks like you do.
"I think it was some mad murderer, and if it was a wolf, which is a wild animal, he wouldn't have spared the girl, right?"
Bryan opened his mouth, but soon closed it, my argument was very strong and hard to break.
"You're right," he said at last. It's just that we don't stay in deserted places, right?
"That's my advice and that of the police officers is not to walk alone. I shook hands, there was something very strange about this story and the only way to find out anything else would be to ask the girl.
- Kristine, it really can't be a wolf, they haven't been seen in this forest in years.
- See, one more point for the mad killer. I nodded and then stood up. - Well, we'd better go... I'm feeling like I need some fresh air.
As he stood up, I held on to the table so as not to lose my mind, this whole wolf thing made my other being move. I take a deep breath and as soon as I notice Bryan watching me, I fiddle with my hair to disguise the flushed cheeks, since I feel so hot, they must be very red.
"Are you okay?" he approached.
He lightly touches my arm and I feel an electric wave run through my entire body.
"I am, but could you get me some water?" I tried to give my best forced smile. "And wait for me outside?" - I give you my bag, I don't want to lose it.
"Okay," he let go of me. "I'll wait for you outside, then." Suspicious, he left.
When I couldn't hear him anymore, I summoned my last strength and ran to the back door, thankfully Amy had shown me this way out before. I
took a quick look around, no civilians, I think once in my life something was going right. I bit my lip controlling the inner will that was trying to possess me, I ran again, this time towards the forest, because it was my only salvation.
Before, if someone saw a wolf in the city, they would call the ranger and give them time to run away, but now, after this dead boy headline, I think the villagers themselves would kill me.
I kept running, with the images of Amy stabbing me and other people shooting at me, I shook my head and almost fell when I lost my balance, leaned against one of the walls and growled. I
looked ahead, there was only a little bit left, I couldn't give up now, I ran a little more through the alleys of the shops, lucky for me that they were interconnected, before reaching the forest, I took off my clothes in the last alley and transformed. It wasn't as painful as last time, but it was still bad, in less than ten seconds I was already a wild black wolf running free through the woods.