Jennifer Heard the Growling Again, Steady and Moving Nearer.

"Lee?" He started walking, pulling her close to his side and keeping his normal pace.

"Don't pay any attention to it."

Jennifer nodded. She forced herself to remain calm, listening to the sounds behind her. Her legs wanted to run, and her lungs were taking in the air necessary to run. But she fought the urge.

Behind them on the blacktop she heard the clicking of an animal's claws.

And suddenly she admitted what she had known all along--it wasn't a dog after all.

It was one of them, in its wolf form. And it was stalking them . . .