The Wolf's Daughter (The Tala Chronicles 1) Read Free

blanket.” He reached behind the
seat and pulled out the Mexican blanket he’d bought on their senior class trip
to Cancun. Matt deposited it on her lap and leered at her with up-and-down
eyebrows.
    He parked at the
north end of the cemetery, where her parents wouldn’t be able to see the pickup.
He grabbed the red, white, and green blanket, and they crept inside.
    Tala hugged
herself. “It must be ten degrees colder in here.”
    Matt wrapped the
blanket around her. “Yeah, isn’t it great?” He put his arm across her
shoulders.
    The silence of
the graveyard amplified their steps. A rotting smell filled the dark air,
invading her body and her mind. She relaxed a little when she spotted their
favorite tombstones, which were side by side. Matt’s had “Farewell until we
meet again” inscribed under a swan statue. Tala’s, also under a statue of a
swan, proclaimed: “We meet again.”
    Matt spread the
blanket out, and they sat against the monuments. The air seemed warmer. An owl
hooted, and another one answered.
    Matt reached for
Tala’s hand and squeezed it. “So soft... And the stars are shining just for you
tonight.” He turned her face toward him. “I think they’re jealous of your eyes.”
    She pulled her
lips to one side. “Matt, that’s so corny…but kind of sweet, too.” Tala scanned in
the direction of her house, which a thick curtain of trees hid. But bats, not
butterflies flew around in her stomach. “I think we should leave.”
    He sighed. “You
worry too much.” Matt moved closer. “Your face is beautiful with the full moon
shining on it, but what’s with your eyes now? I’ve never seen them like this
before.”
    “What are you
talking about? Is something wrong with them?”
    “No, they’re just
different. But even more beautiful,” he added quickly.
    Tala tilted her
head. “Different in what way?”
    Matt shrugged. “I
don’t know. Maybe a lighter color.”
    “Let’s go, Matt.
I have a bad feeling about this.”
    “I don’t want to
go.” His voice sounded different, raspy.
    Tala got up, but
he pulled her down. Matt twisted her hair around his hand and kissed her hard
on the lips. The bourbon smell turned her stomach.
    “Stop! You’re
hurting me.”
    He pulled her
head back with her hair, and kissed her again.
    Tala struggled
and escaped. She went running down the path lined on both sides with statues of
angels and saints, the graves silent witnesses to her distress. Matt’s footsteps
pounded on the ground. How could he move that fast?
    Matt jumped out
from behind a mausoleum. “Why are you running away from me?” He grabbed her
again, this time holding her upper arms tightly enough to make her cry out.
Evil filled his face, his mouth contorting into a sneer, his eyes burning into
hers. “See what you do to me, Tala?”
    She kicked him
as hard as she could.
    He gave her a
look of disbelief. And then the evil cast returned to his face.
    She backed up
and then turned and took off again.
    He almost caught
up to her when two German shepherds attacked him.  He screamed. “They’re going
to kill me!”
    The dogs growled
and barked.
    She looked back.
One took a chunk out of his leg. Her heart was torn apart, but she was so
terrified of Matt and the dogs she kept running, out of the graveyard and up to
her house. She banged on the door. “Help!”
    Her father
opened the door, his eyes wild with alarm. “What’s the matter? Are you hurt?”
    Where was her
mother? She must have gone to sleep already. “No. Please, you have to help
Matt. He’s in the graveyard, and some dogs are attacking him,” she said between
deep breaths.
    Her father dialed
911. “Matt Griffin’s being attacked by German shepherds in the cemetery.” He
turned to her. “Where?”
    “I-I... N-near
the entrance, I think.”
    He repeated what
she said. “Okay, thanks.” He hung up and hugged Tala, who was crying softly.
    “Oh, Dad. It was
terrible.” She sniffled.
    He gave her his
handkerchief and