Free Realm of the Wolf Book I: Wolf Dance by Lorraine Kennedy

to scare the
    flies away. Laura felt herself retch at the sight of the
    mutilated cow. Its stomach had been torn to shreds and most
    of its innards were gone.
    Had scavengers done this?
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    Realm of the Wolf Book I: Wolf Dance
    by Lorraine Kennedy
    Taking a closer look at the area surrounding the building,
    she saw that there were more bodies, all in similar condition.
    She had not noticed them before because they were situated
    in a thick grove of trees some distance from the fort.
    Laura walked near enough to get a closer look and was
    sickened when she saw that several of them had been
    dismembered.
    "What could have done something like this?" she asked
    aloud, hoping the sound of her own voice would help her to
    feel a little less frightened.
    Jessup's warning jumped to the front of her thoughts. The
    men had reported seeing things in the woods. Wildlife
    Management said there might be a bear on the prowl.
    A bear ... Laura thought it was plausible that a bear could
    have done this, and not all that long ago either. A feeling of
    uneasiness pounced and she decided it was time to leave. The
    thought of a bear nearby impelled her into action. Laura
    retraced her steps until she was in sight of the car.
    Laura threw the metal box onto the passenger seat and
    got in. Once again the starter whined, but the engine wouldn't
    turn over. She tried again and again, only to get the same
    result.
    "Oh God! Now what?" she moaned.
    Laura tried several more times until she had finally drained
    the battery. Defeated, she sat back and closed her eyes. It
    was taking all her effort to remain calm.
    Now what was she going to do?
    She was some distance from anyplace where help might be
    found. The closest place she knew of was the logging camp,
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    Realm of the Wolf Book I: Wolf Dance
    by Lorraine Kennedy
    which was about two miles back in the direction she had
    come.
    "Well Laura, you've really gotten yourself into a mess this
    time." Her voice was bitter and full of self-loathing.
    The clearing was deep in gloom now. Darkness was closing
    in fast. She really had no choice but to walk back to the
    logging camp. The knowledge that most of the walk would be
    in darkness chilled her to the bone, but she reminded herself
    that Wyoming wasn't really all that different from New
    Mexico, and she'd often gone walking in the dark.
    Maybe she should just stay in the truck until morning, and
    then make an attempt to walk to the camp? Laura quickly
    pushed that thought aside. Here was where the bear had
    killed the cattle, and so it was reasonable to assume that she
    wouldn't be any safer if she waited. If the bear was large
    enough, and being in grizzly country, there was every chance
    that the bear was big—it could break through the glass of her
    vehicle.
    Laura draped her purse over her shoulder and started to
    get out of the car, but stopped when her eyes rested on the
    metal box. A bizarre sensation came over her that she should
    probably hide the box.
    Feeling slightly irrational, Laura hid the box beneath the
    driver's seat before locking the Bronco. Night was gaining on
    her fast and she had only gone about half of a mile before it
    was completely dark. There was only the moon to light her
    path, but it would be full soon, so it provided sufficient light
    to see the road. But ... the rest of her surroundings were
    shrouded by the night.
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    Realm of the Wolf Book I: Wolf Dance
    by Lorraine Kennedy
    Stopping abruptly, Laura held her breath as she listened.
    There it was again—a rustling in the trees. The night was
    completely still, except for that sound.
    She stood utterly motionless ... waiting, but now there was
    only silence. Laura assured herself that it had probably been
    some harmless animal ... maybe a raccoon.
    She started walking again, but had only taken a few steps
    when she heard it again—this time much closer. Stopping,
    she peered in the direction from which the sound was coming.
    Gasping, Laura took several steps