CAROLINE POV

I opened my eyes and I realized that I wasn't exactly in my hotel room anymore. I was in the woods.
I slowly stood up and looked down at myself, still in my chiffon nightgown. I was in the middle of an opening of the woods. Like standing in the middle of a devil's crossroad, alone and in the dark. I looked up to the moon, the only source of my light here.

Hearing the snap of a twig, I turned my head to my right but it was complete darkness down the road. I heard it again and looked to my left. Same darkness. Complete and utter darkness. I closed my eyes to calm myself down and then I heard a soft purr. Like a purr of a cat. My eyes were still closed as I felt soft hands on my bare arms. Stroking my skin softly with their fingertips. I felt a kiss right behind my ear making me let out a soft gasp of satisfaction. I opened my eyes and turned around but no one was there.

I heard the purr again and I decided to follow the sound. I walked straight. Deeper in the woods and barefoot. Hearing the twigs snap below my feet but it didn't hurt at all. I was determined to find out that sound. Till I came to a thick wall made of leaves but there was an opening in the middle. Dark opening.
I heard the purr again and I knew the second that this is where it came from. I was afraid to go alone but I was also curious. So I asked, "Who's there?" I saw deep red eyes in the dark making me gasp. They slowly became bigger as in whatever it was, it was getting closer.

Slowly, I saw a wolf coming out. Standing tall in front of me.
He had black midnight fur, they looked soft and shiny. Canines as sharp as a blade and claws looked to be sharp as a razor. It was taller, taller than me. His eyes beaming red as it stood in front of me in all its glory and pride. I looked into its eyes and they looked down at me as they were trying to protect me.
protect me from this world, myself... and him.

I slowly lift my hands up and as I did, he slowly started sitting down, completely lying in front of me with his head bowed. I touched its snout and it purred with its eyes closed, wagging its tail left and right. I gasp as he opened his eyes back and I heard him whisper my name"Caroline." Sending shivers down my spine and goosebumps all over my bare arms.

My eyes pried open. I sat up gasping for air as if I stopped breathing for a minute. Looking at the time and it was only 5 in the morning.
I was sweaty and my sheets were wet with my sweat. I sighed and stood up, looking myself in the mirror and my nightgown was wet from my waist. I took it off and let it fell on the floor and went into the bathroom. Taking a cold shower to calm my burning body.
I got out with a towel wrapped around me as I looked down to another pair of pajamas on the bed. I thought for a minute that even if I went to bed, I wouldn't sleep no matter what. I had to be reasonable because I couldn't take sleeping pills twice.
I grabbed the pajamas and threw them in the open suitcase that was lying on floor and grabbed a pair of tights and a sleeveless t-shirt.

Maybe running will do right now.

I got out of my hotel room and saw the maid in the hallway. I smiled at her and said"I need bedsheet changing. Careful, I sweat a lot." And I passed her a fifty-dollar bill.

I made my way out and the weather was nice. A little on the windy side. It looked like it would rain but I couldn't care less.
As my hotel was facing the forest, I decided to jog on the edge of it with my headphones on. The streets were quiet and no one was around which gave me a lot to think until my phone started ringing. I picked up the phone and heard one loud Patty screaming in my ear"Heyyyyyyy!" I winced and said, "Hi, Patty." She chuckled"Why are you so early?" I replied"Wanted to go for a jog. You?"

"Meditation. It keeps my thoughts calm."

Does this girl need meditation? The girl who's too happy for her own good?

She again said"So? What if in an hour, I come to pick you up and then we go have breakfast in the same diner and then maybe some tour of the town, I'll take you to some awesome places for what the town is famous for and then a hospital tour? Huh!"

She had it all planned out.

Well, I didn't have anything good to do except to be in the hotel room all day, I said"Yeah, okay. I'll just go up and get changed."

"Okay. Don't forget your umbrella, Caroline. It's gonna rain today. For sure."

"Yes, Patty."

She hung up the phone and I hung my headphones around my neck. I stretched my neck, trying to take out the stiff knot, and then I heard something snap.
My head snapped at the forest and I froze for a second as I saw a wolf. It was black and it was bigger than the usual size. It had red eyes. I exhaled a breath I was holding in when I realized it looked like the same wolf in my dreams.
It purred and turned around, walking back in the forest that my gut was strongly advising me to follow and that's what I did. I followed.
I followed the wolf to an opening in the forest as it stood there. Same as my height. It looked down and I followed its gaze on the floor. There was a flower. A moonflower I think. I looked up as it looked back and then at the flower again like it wanted me to take it. It stepped back and I stepped forward as I bent down to pick up the flower and stepped back again.

Looking at me one last time, it turned around and left.

Did a wolf just give me a flower? Was I standing in front of the wolf with so much trust that came from nowhere? This town is making me go mental, isn't it?

I sighed and got out of the forest and went to the hotel, going up to my room.

I changed into a pair of black jeans and a purple knitted sweater. Patty messaged me that said that she was waiting for me outside.

I was about to leave when I again glanced at the flower. I rolled my eyes and took the mug on the table and filled it with water, keeping the flower in the mug and near the window.

What am I doing?

X

Patty stayed true to her word. She took me to places where they make maple syrups because this town was famous for it. And Patty looked interested in syrup too. Her favorite was cinnamon syrup. Which I had no idea that it was a thing.

We had breakfast and then she took me to the mall. We had lunch there and then she took me on more tours.

We were in the car, currently driving to the hospital where I will be having my interview tomorrow. I said"Patty, can I ask you something?" She smiled"You don't need to ask me if you can ask something to me." I smiled at her silly sentence and continued"Have you ever came across a wolf?" She looked at me"What are you talking about?" I shook my head"It's just that... I saw it on my run today. Deep in the forest and it felt weird honestly. To see an actual wolf for the first time. But what's weirder is that I have some patients that come from a background from here. They go back and they tell me in sessions that they've seen wolves in the forest while they hunt. But not normal wolves. Like wolves with glowing eyes or such." She awkwardly laughed"Caroline, you do know that these such people pay us to hear them talk. Some are imaginative as you know that. It's totally common. Maybe your patient is mixing the wolf he saw while hunting into an imaginary story about something. You know?" I nodded because she did have a point.

X

She gave me a tour of the hospital and she saved the psychologist department for last.

We walked in through and I saw about six people hanging out. Drinking coffee, eating, some were working on the computer making reports.

Patty squealed"Hi everybody! Meet Dr. Caroline Quinn! She will be working with us from now on." I corrected Patty"I haven't got the job yet." Patty put a hand on my shoulder and said"But you will. I know Dr. Ramos will love you." I smiled at her and saw everyone standing up to meet me.
One of them attracted me. He had dirty blonde hair and greens eyes. Tall. 6'2 or 3 maybe. Standing in front of me in a fitted blue suit. He led out his hand "Dr. Solano. Look forward to being working with you, Dr. Quinn."

He looked delicious, I must say.

I shook his hand"Please call me Caroline." He smiled"Call me Greg, Caroline." I pulled my hand back and looked back at Patty. She suggested, "How about we go for dinner right now?" Everyone looked at me and I shrugged"I could eat."

X

We went to a Chinese restaurant that I found they all usually go to. We took a big round booth. I sat in the middle. Patty sat at my right and Greg at my left.
Tiffany asked, "So, Caroline what did you do back in New York?" She was the typical blonde hair blue eyes type of kinda girl, like me.

"I was an at-home therapist"

Rebecca asked, "How many did you treat?"
She had gorgeous short black hair and green eyes.

"Along the numbers of fifty."

Jacob said"That's a lot of patients" He was a beautiful chocolate skin men. His black eyes shined.

"Yes, but I've known some of them for a long time"

Greg said"I'm sure some of them will miss you when you get the job here" he smirked at me and I smiled back.

I had a good time with him. Smiled a lot at his jokes and at the way he talked about himself and his likes. I like when people talk about themselves. There's the spark in their eyes when they do. And once they start about themselves, they don't ask you anything. Therefore, easier to hide.

X

Everyone paid for their food but Greg insisted on paying mine because I was new. Even though I still haven't got the job.

I was the last one to get out of the restaurant as we went to the parking lot together. Patty said"Caroline, we're all going for a drink. You coming?" I shook my head"No, I think I should call it a night. Got a big interview tomorrow." She sighed"Okay. Wish you were but Greg isn't going either. Will you be okay going with him?" I looked at Greg as he smiled"I can give you a ride. You're on the way to my house." I smiled back and said goodbye to everyone.

We sat in his Porsche and the ride to the hotel was in comfortable silence. I liked this. I liked him.

X

JAXON POV

We were in the forest, still waiting for her.

It was already midnight and she wasn't here. I had to hold back Tanner in the forest because he was determined to search for Caroline.

Tanner said, "I told you we should've gone after her." I reasoned"Tanner, she's human. Do you think she'd like a wolf following her after giving her a damn flower?" He sighed"I hate that you're not wrong."

We saw a silver Porsche approaching the hotel. I could smell that she was in the car but I could also smell something rotten. Tanner growled out loud"Rogue!" I saw a guy getting out of the car and Tanner was right. He smelled like a rogue but weirdly his scent wasn't strong enough to point out that he was a rogue but I knew deeply that he was.

CAROLINE POV

He insisted on dropping me in front of the door.

We stood there in the middle of the empty corridor. He smiled as he put his hands inside his pockets "How about we go for a celebration tomorrow? After you get the job?" I smiled"And what if I don't?" He shrugged"I know you'll be gone the day after. So let's make that into a farewell dinner. Just us." I smiled as I nodded"Okay. Yeah, I'd like that." He kissed my cheek"I'll see you tomorrow, Dr. Quinn." I smiled as he walked away.

I went into the room and I heard a sad howl instantly. A howl that made my heart drop to my stomach for some reason.

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