All Chapters of TO LOVE A WOLF: Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

The most difficult week was the first one.Clara hardly got out of the cabin. Hunger gnawed at her chest—a persistent, twisting pain. At every sound, her muscles tensed. Every smell stoked her urge to hunt, sharpening her senses until she thought she might shatter.Ash brought her food. Raw meat at first, thinking that was what she needed. But Clara forced herself to cook it. To eat it with utensils. To maintain some semblance of humanity.It helped—if only a little. But the hunger was still there, just quieter—a beast caged, not slain. Sometimes she wondered if control meant anything or if she was simply fooling herself, delaying the inevitable slide.Marcus trained her every day. He demonstrated exercises and guided her, teaching Clara how to sense the power in her own body that might unintentionally break a bone. He showed her how even a simple movement could become dangerous if she wasn't watchful.On the fifth day, he said, "You are thinking too much," as he watched her try to fi

Clara moved first.She closed in instantly, fist slamming into Kain's chest, but he was ready. His iron grip caught her wrist mid-strike."Predictable," he remarked.Then he threw her.Clara shot backward, smashing through the field's perimeter fence. Around her, wood splintered. Clara dodged left. Kain's fist hit the ground where she had been standing, cratering the earth.She countered with a strike to his ribs. Connected. Felt a bone crack. She fell hard to the ground, tumoring twice before she managed to recover herself.Pain flared in her shoulder, but faded quickly. Her new body healed fast.Breathing hard, she forced herself up. Kain was already charging, impossibly fast for his size.Clara dodged left. Kain's fist hit the ground where she had been standing, cratering the earth.She countered with a strike to his ribs. Connected. Felt a bone crack.Kain hardly winced.He hoisted her off the ground by grabbing her by the throat. Her breath was choked off by the crush of his fing

The week passed in uneasy tension.Clara spent her days training with Marcus, learning to control the power that still surged unpredictably through her veins. Her nights were spent at the edge of the Hollow, watching the tree line for threats that never came.Kain had not returned. But his absence felt more like a promise than peace.The town meeting was scheduled for Saturday evening. Clara tried not to think about it. Tried to focus on the present moment instead of imagining all the ways it could go wrong.But her mind would not cooperate.On Thursday morning, Mara came to visit. She brought coffee and pastries from the diner, settling onto the porch of Clara's cabin like old times."You look terrible," Mara said without preamble."Thanks. You always know what to say.""I mean it. When was the last time you slept?"Clara shrugged. "Sleep is overrated.""Sleep is necessary." Mara pushed a coffee toward her. "Drink. And tell me what is really going on."Clara took the coffee, wrapping

The church was packed again.Clara stood outside the building, looking at the crowd gathered on the steps, spilling into the street. There were more people than last time—twice as many, maybe three times.She noticed, too, that not all of them looked friendly. Some faces were tense."Still want to do this?" Ronan asked beside her.Clara took a breath. "Yes.""Then stay close.And don't let them agitate you in any way."With a shared glance, they started up the stairs. The gathering dispersed as they approached, some individuals swiftly retreating while others remained where they were, staring with open animosity.Clara kept her gaze forward and focused on maintaining a steady breathing pattern. She managed to stay in control because of the warm pulsation of the necklace at her throat.There was just standing room inside the church. Every pew was packed.The walls were lined with people, and even more crowded near the doors, emphasizing the size of the gathering.Sheriff Briggs was wor

Clara stood in the doorway, letting every eye in the church settle on her.She looked terrible, and she knew it. Exhausted. Disheveled. The kind of wound that came from being held captive.Good. It would make the story more believable."I was taken," Clara said. Her voice was raw. Perfect. "After the school. The creatures took me."The church erupted in noise. Questions shouted over each other. Briggs raised his hands for silence."Everyone calm down," he barked. "Let her speak."Clara walked slowly down the aisle. She could see Ash standing near the front, his face a mixture of relief and fury. Ronan beside him, expression carefully neutral.And Susan, watching with cold suspicion.Clara reached the front and turned to face the crowd. "They wanted me to deliver a message.""What message?" Mayor Hendricks asked.Clara swallowed, forcing herself to look frightened. It was not hard. "They want to negotiate. The creatures. They want peace."Silence fell.Then Susan laughed. Sharp and bit