Stable, Claw MansionWoodward County, OklahomaHe said he loved me. He said we’d always be together; that he’d build me a swing under a big weeping willow and we’d sit there every night. That we’d watch the sunset.Why the hell did I believe him?I gritted my teeth, jaw aching. Tipping my head to one side, I spit some of the blood still slowly pooling in my mouth. None of my teeth felt loose as I prodded my mouth with my tongue, but I wouldn’t be confident in my assessment until I could look in a mirror — or at least touch my mouth. Instead, I was forced to watch as my saliva slipped through the golden strands of hay at my feet, disappearing onto the wooden stable floor.I shifted again, rattling the chains that bound me to one of the large beams holding up the barn. I stared at the beam directly across from me, looking for anything that might be of some use…but it was just a plain, ordinary beam. I could practically imagine it still being a tree, it was so large and tall. It was even

Several Miles from the Claw MansionWoodward County, OklahomaHey, Kitten,See you at the usual spot.Friday.Same time.I eyed the yellow note before tucking the crumpled piece of paper back into my pocket, glancing around. There was no sign of anyone but me in the area — even when I lifted my chin, sniffing at the wind, I detected no one. My wolf rolled her ears back and my shoulders slumped. From my other pocket, I checked my phone again. No messages. Dave was now two hours late, which was unlike him. He wasn’t the most punctual of people in general, but when he said we’d meet, we met.I couldn’t even think of enough instances he was really that late to count on one hand. And he’d texted or called each one of those times. My wolf whined softly, concern radiating off of her. She wanted to get up and pace, scent the bushes for any hint of the man we were waiting for.Shoving my phone into the back pocket of my jeans, I resumed my pacing, trying to determine if I’d interpreted the mes