Hunting a Monster

Cursing and growling drifted up to Lucas' sensitive lycan ears even with his music playing. He turned down the volume, tilting his head to get a better listen. Was he imagining it? He padded out onto the deck in his bare feet.

Zoe was back to sitting in her chair staring out into the cross section of woods that was visible this high. Her vision had always been very good, and right now she was watching one solitary golden leaf rocking with the breeze, clinging on to its tree in a futile refusal to submit to the season.

It would fall, just like all of the rest of them. Why wouldn't it just let go?

She became aware of Lucas' presence after he stood frozen by the railing, focusing on something below. It was the tension in his body that drew her attention.

"Is something down there?"

"Fuck," he cursed to himself. "It's Andreas."

He heard the girl's breath hitch and become shallow as she drew her legs up into herself—making herself smaller.