Free Microsoft Word - The_Howling_Heart_AB_forPDF by Princess

how it feels to lose a parent. I lost my father a couple weeks ago. He died from a heart
    attack." Although mentioning my father's death lowered my spirits, I found it comforting to
    know Riley and I had something in common. "That's why I'm in Black River. He left me the
    cabin in his will, so I came here to see if it needed any work. I want to keep it, but I'm having
    second thoughts."
    If Riley were a dog, his ears would've perked because he suddenly looked more alert.
    "Why are you having second thoughts?"
    "I think there's a wolf tracking me. It's not safe for me here so I have to go home."
    His head jerked as if taken back. "A wolf?"
    "Yes," I nodded. "It came into my cabin and it was here last night lying right where you are." Riley didn't react and I wondered if he sided with his family. "You believe me, don't you?"
    My voice sounded desperate. I needed someone on my side.
    "Yes, I believe you." I smiled in relief. "But you're in no condition to travel."
    "When you pulled me from the wreck, why didn't you take me to the hospital?"
    "Because I wanted you here ."
    I gaped at him. His answer shocked the hell out of me. "Why?"
    A strange intensity swirled in Riley’s eyes, and his gaze pierced through me as if he tried
    to speak without words. The moment was brief, and within seconds, his expression lightened.
    "Feeling peckish?" I wasn't expecting him to change the subject.
    Copyright © 2011 April Bostic

    T H E H O W L I N G H E A R T
    A p r i l B o s t i c P a g e | 47

    My faced scrunched in confusion. "What’s peckish ?" Immediately after my question, I
    heard my stomach growl.
    Riley chuckled and his lips twitched. "Are you hungry ?"
    "Yes, I’m starving."
    "Say no more." He got up off the floor and dashed out of the room.
    I heard noises coming from the kitchen like cabinet doors opening and closing, and
    dishes moving around. Moments later, he reappeared in the room with a bowl and a spoon or
    fork. With a wide grin, he handed me a bowl of cereal that looked like Fruit Loops. I thanked
    him and ate it graciously.
    He sat on the bed next to me. "So, I was wondering if you'd stay here with us." He
    watched me intently, waiting for me to respond.
    I decided to take a page from his book when I changed the subject. "Is this your room?"
    "Yeah, Quinn and I share it."
    I looked around the room again and then back at the man taking care of me. He had a
    hopeful look on his face, but I noticed he fidgeted his hands anxiously.
    "Where are you sleeping?"
    "On the sofa."
    "So Quinn will be sleeping in here with me?"
    This time he hesitated. "Um, no. See, she figured you'd want the room to yourself for
    privacy, so she's sleeping on the loveseat."
    I gave him a perplexed look. "But there's another bed in here. I wouldn't mind sleeping in
    the room with her." Riley just looked at me. "I don't want to put you guys out." I set the bowl on the nightstand. "That's why I should leave."
    The moment I tried to pull the blankets off, Riley's hand shot out to stop me. "No! Don't
    go!" My body froze and I stared at him. "You're not well. You need to rest," he said as he tucked the blankets around me.
    Because he was so close, I noticed for the first time he had a clean woodsy scent like the
    forest after a rainstorm. His hair was within close reach and my fingers itched with the desire to
    comb through it. I wondered if it felt as nice as it looked.
    "I don't care about sleeping on the sofa. Trust me, I've slept in worse places."
    Copyright © 2011 April Bostic

    T H E H O W L I N G H E A R T
    A p r i l B o s t i c P a g e | 48

    I frowned because I didn't like to hear that. We didn't speak while I ate the rest of my
    cereal. Riley sat on the floor again, his arm resting casually on the bed. I glanced at it and noticed the tattoo on his shoulder. I couldn't read the words when I saw it in Bobby's store, but now I
    could read it clearly: ' What goes around comes around '.
    "You believe in karma?"
    Riley looked at his tattoo. He grinned.