Page 42 of The Secret Mate Society

“I… I’m scared,” I said, glancing up at my window.“There’s…” I paused, having just enough sense not to say the word monster and sound insane.“Someoneoutside my apartment.They’re watching me.”

“Lock your doors and windows.I’ll be there in five minutes.”

Then the line went dead.

Five minutes?My apartment was at least a fifteen-minute drive from downtown, even without traffic.How could he possibly?—

Another scraping sound, louder this time, drew my attention back to the window.I crawled forward on my hands and knees, staying below the sill.When I dared to peek over the edge, my blood turned to ice.

The creature was gone.

I scanned the parking lot frantically, searching the shadows between cars, the edges of the dumpster enclosure, and the small patch of trees that bordered the complex.Nothing.It had vanished as completely as it had fourteen years ago, leaving me questioning my own sanity.My gaze fell on something lying in the center of the pool of lamplight.A small, dark object that hadn't been there before.I squinted, trying to make out what it was, but the distance was too great.The only thing I could tell was that it looked…wet.

My breathing came in short, panicked gasps as I backed away from the window.The scattered contents of my secret box caught my eye.There was years of research, evidence, and obsession spread across my bedroom floor.Among them was the book I'd checked out from the library just before leaving New York, the one I'd never returned.

The History of Werewolves by E.R.Cunningham.

I'd dismissed it initially as pseudoscientific garbage, but now, with my heart hammering against my ribs and the image of that creature fresh in my mind, I found myself reaching for it with trembling fingers.I needed something to distract myself even if it was a bad choice of reading material.

The book fell open to a page I'd marked with the checkout card almost a year ago but never really read.The illustration that stared back at me made my breath catch, a detailed drawing of a bipedal wolf-like creature, eerily similar to what I'd just seen in the parking lot.My eyes darted to the text beneath.

"The werewolf, unlike its purely fictional counterparts, does not transform solely under the full moon.Many documented cases suggest that these creatures can shift at will, maintaining human intelligence while in wolf form.Most dangerous is their ability to recognize and remember human faces, tracking specific targets across great distances and over many years..."

A sudden pounding at my door made me jump, a strangled cry escaping my throat.The book tumbled from my hands.

"Ethan!"Calder's voice, urgent and commanding."It's me.Open up!"

How had he gotten here so quickly?I scrambled to my feet, suddenly aware I was wearing nothing but boxers and a thin t-shirt.I grabbed my discarded jeans from the floor, yanking them on as I moved toward the door.

"Coming!"I called, my voice cracking.I fumbled with the chain and deadbolt, then pulled the door open.Calder stood in the hallway, his chest heaving as if he'd run the entire way.His hair was wind-tousled, his eyes wild with something that looked like fear.

"Are you hurt?"he demanded, pushing past me into the apartment, his gaze sweeping the room for threats.

"No, I...I'm fine," I managed, closing the door behind him and engaging all three locks."How did you get here so fast?"

Calder paused in his inspection of my living room, those light brown eyes meeting mine.For a split second, I could have sworn they flashed gold in the dim light from the hallway."I was already in the area," he said, his voice rough."Couldn't sleep."

The explanation felt thin, but I was too shaken to question it.Having him here, solid and real and protective, made some of the terror recede from my chest."What did you see exactly?"he asked, moving to the window.His movements were fluid, predatory almost, as he peered through the curtains.

I wrapped my arms around myself, suddenly cold."It was...God, you're going to think I'm crazy."

"Try me."His voice was gentle now, coaxing.

"It looked like a…monster.But huge, standing on two legs.It was watching my window, and when it saw me looking, it..."I swallowed hard."It made a throat-cutting gesture."

Calder went very still, his hand frozen on the curtain."Did you get a good look at its face?"

"Not really."I shuddered."But it’s eyes...They were intelligent.Like it knew me."

When Calder turned from the window, his expression was grim.His gaze fell on the scattered contents of my box, taking in the newspaper clippings, police reports, and the open book.I saw him read the title, saw something flicker across his features.

"Ethan," he said carefully, "I’m going to go outside and make sure whatever it was is gone.”He came over, placing both of his hands on my biceps.“It was probably just some creep.This… isn’t exactly a good neighborhood.”

I looked deep into those brown eyes of his, seeing something flicker there that I couldn’t quite place.“Don’t go out there,” I replied.“Whatever it was, I don’t want you getting hurt.”

He smiled this time, touched by my concern.“I’ll be alright.I work out.”

"I'm not worried about your ability," I said, though the warmth of his hands on my arms was steadying.“That thing wasn't human, Calder."