The smell of pine and something else something wild was carried by the wind as it howled through the trees. As her car roared down the twisty, narrow road, Elena Carter gripped the steering wheel harder. Blackwood Falls was just as charming, peaceful, and mysterious as she had imagined.
Frowning at the lack of signal, she took a quick look at her phone's map. "Excellent," she whispered. "I have no GPS, no service, and no idea where I'm headed. Excellent beginning.
A dilapidated sign that said, "Welcome to Blackwood Falls," was illuminated by her car's headlights. 1,203 people live there. "Beware the Wolves" had been spray-painted underneath it.
Elena grinned. "Enchanting."
She was struck by how strangely silent the town was as she drove in. A flickering streetlamp outside a diner was the only source of light in the deserted streets. She stretched her tense limbs as she got out of her car after parking. The moon was low in the sky, giving everything a spooky shine, and the air was clear.
She pushed the door open as the diner's bell jangled. Some of the customers looked up from their food, narrowing their eyes as they absorbed her. Ignoring their looks, Elena slipped into a window-facing booth.
A waitress came up, her eyes barely bright with a smile. "Hon, what can I get you?"
"Please, coffee. Black. Elena opened her notebook and took it out. "And perhaps some details. "The waitress's eyebrow went up. "Data?" Indeed. I work as a journalist. Writing about the town is why I'm here. In particular, the... atypical events.
The waitress paused her smile. With a clatter, she put down the coffee. "You're referring to the wolves."
Elena bent over. "So, is that accurate? Have there been any sightings?
The waitress looked anxiously about. "Look, some things are better left alone. I'm not sure what you've heard. The Blackwood family in particular.
"The family of Blackwood?"
The diner door crashed open before the waitress could react. A tall, broad-shouldered man entered, drawing attention to himself right away. His piercing blue eyes swept the room before settling on Elena, and his dark hair was disheveled. The waitress went pale. Before running out, she muttered, "Talk of the devil."
Elena thought the man was Kieran Blackwood, and he strode to her table. He was considerably more menacing up close. His voice was gravelly and low, and his jaw was clinched. "You're not from this area. "Elena refused to back down and looked him in the eye. "No, I'm not. And you are?
An somebody who is warning you. Go now. She arched an eyebrow. "Or what?" Kieran's face was inches from hers when he bent down. "Or you'll regret it.
Tension crackled in the air between them. Despite her racing heart, Elena refused to back down. "I'm not easily frightened."
He let out a deep growl, and his eyes briefly appeared to light up. Then he stood up straight, pivoted on his heel, and left the diner.
Elena exhaled shakily. What had just happened? She glanced out the window, watching as Kieran disappeared into the shadows. One thing was certain: Blackwood Falls was hiding something, and she was determined to find out what.