Chapter 19

Amerie felt like she was on cloud nine. The day with Everett had been so effortless. They walked along the park path hand in hand, laughing and joking as if they’d known each other for years. The sun had gone down two hours ago but Amerie was in no rush. She savored this moment of normalcy. Her heart fluttered each time she met Everett’s gaze in the warm glow of the street lamps lining the path. They sat down on a park bench facing a pond near the middle of the park. The iron arms on the bench had small designs of wolves in them. Amerie traced her finger along them.

“This town loves their wolf stories,” Everett mused.

Amerie let out a soft chuckle and turned to find him watching her. “You said that your mom was attacked by a wolf when she was younger,” Amerie prodded.

Everett nodded. “Yeah, when she was fifteen. She said it was a black wolf that looked and smelled diseased. She still gets uneasy when she smells rotten meat or old garbage that’s been in the sun too long.”

“The wolf