Excerpt: Wolf Eyes

It only took me about a minute to realize that I was being followed. And fast.

Whatever it was in the woods was running at top speed and close behind me. I could hear it's feet hitting the ground, as well as snarls and pants. It sounded like some kind of huge dog. Who had a big dog around here? I almost wanted to turn around and see, maybe I would recognize the dog, maybe it wasn't even vicious at all, and I was just being stupid. But then, I heard another snarl and decided it wasn't worth taking the chance.

All I could focus on was getting to the farmhouse. If I could just get close enough to the Yates' place, I could call for help, I'd be fine. I just had to keep running. I wasn't used to running so much, not to mention the fact that the ground was uneven and rocky, with woodchuck holes in random spots around the place. Once false move, one misstep, and I was dog chow. I had to watch my step, somehow, in the dark. Just keep enough distance between me and my wild pursuer and I would be fine, I'd get help. I just had to keep going.

But luck hadn't been on my side that day.

It hadn't been on my side in school, dealing with the social drama that I'd never asked to be part of.

It hadn't been on my side when Aunt Lindsey and Ms. Venerick made their evil plans to ruin the last bit of happiness I had in my life.

It hadn't been on my side ever since my Mom was taken away from me by somebody else's carelessness.

And that night, luck wasn't on my side once more.

Suddenly, something hit my back hard, knocking the wind out of me and sending me flying to the ground.

I felt something large, almost dinner plate-sized, pressing into my back. And what was atteched to them was heavy. Not to mention it had hot, bad-smelling dog breath. It was breathing right into my face.

Ok, I was sick of this. Like I hadn't had enough of a bad day already. No stupid dog, vicious or not, was going to make it worse. I put my hand flat against the ground and pushed up. I couldn't get the heavy dog off of me, but I let it know I wanted to move. It finally obliged, moving its paw off of my back. I flipped myself over and came face-to-face with my pursuer.

A long, dark gray muzzle with a jet black nose was stuck right in my face. I let my eyes travel up, taking in the dark, corse fur. My eyes took a moment to flick to its pearly white, snarling teeth before continuing their upward travel to its eyes.

Wolf eyes.

I was sitting face-to-face with a wolf. Not a dog, a wolf.