Chapter 7

It turns out that what they said was true.

He had a good heart, at least in appearance.

I had spent most of the night with Jake. Once I lowered my guard and let it in, it was as if I could no longer detach myself from him. It was so easy to talk to him, but it didn't help that I was attracted to him. Like a moth towards a flame, as they say.

It was still strange for me. I had never felt so close to a person I didn't know. It was as if I had known him for years. I always thought my new friends were hiding something, but I had decided to give up. If they had to tell me, let them do it.

It was just over 6 o'clock in the morning and I intended to go running for the first time since I arrived. I wasn't a sportswoman, I didn't exercise much, but I liked to run in the morning. I didn't have a beach, but I had an open forest at my door.

I hung my iPod on my arm and put the empty cup in the sink. My grandmother was still in bed,the many early mornings starting to take their toll. I pressed on the play button, and I went through the back door.

I had given up.

I was officially lost and I had no idea of my whereabouts.The fact that I don't know the region and that there are so many roads to take didn't help. I thought it would be a big circle, an easy path to follow, but no, I was lost.

"Why do I always put myself in these situations?"I moan while rubbing the sweat from my forehead. All I wanted was to go running and clear my head. With my back leaning against a tree, I slipped my knees against my chest.

Maybe I should choose a path and hope for the best? It was still early, so I had a lot of light left. Too busy with my thoughts, I didn't hear them approaching.

 "Maddy?"

Feeling my body relaxed, I got up Lifted.

"You have no idea how happy I am to see you!"Damon was standing in front of me with two of his friends.

"Are you lost?"He smiles with satisfaction.

"Who would have thought these woods were so confusing.Can you help me?"I asked.

"Of course, we were on the way back anyway. Maddy, here is Tim and Eric, you will see them around school when you start." I waved at them and started following them.

"What are you doing here, by the way?"

I smiled while showing my running outfit.

" I like running, usually on the beach, but since I don't know where it is, I opted for the forest."

"You shouldn't come here alone, it's not safe." My stomach turned when the words came out of his mouth." What do you mean, I'm not sure?"

"Apparently wolves have been seen in these woods, and I'm not talking about little wolves, but about wild animals." I couldn't help laughing.

 "Wolves? Really?" Was he trying to scare me?

It didn't amuse him.

"I'm serious. Tim was in the area a few weeks ago and saw four of them, but he couldn't get close enough to have proof. From what I have heard, there is a herd."

Was he listening to himself? He looked like a madman.

" A pack of wild wolves?" I asked.

"Don't say I didn't warn you." As we walked in a comfortable silence, I began to think about what he said. I would have sworn I heard a wolf scream the other night. But I'm sure it wasn't real. I mean, are there wolves here in Texas?

Before I realized it, we were in front of my back door

"Thank you for helping me. I would probably have been stuck outside for hours if you hadn't been around."

"When you want Maddy, but don't go back there alone. I wouldn't like to see a pretty girl devoured." He winks at me and a wave of his hand before running away to join his friends.

I smelled the smell of freshly brewed coffee before entering. When I opened the back door, I noticed that my grandmother was not alone.

Jake, his father and some of his friends were sitting in my kitchen having their breakfast. It was a surprise.

My grandmother asked me if I had run well, passing me a cup of coffee. I was happy to see that she had received my word. My grandmother cared a lot about me.

"I got lost." I smiled as I crossed Jake's eyes

"Maddy, you have to be careful. There can be anything hidden in the woods.Promise me that the next time you go for a run, you will take someone with you." Seeing the concerns.

While sipping my coffee, I knew he was already harassing me. I had noticed that he liked to observe.

"You should listen to your grandmother. Jake's father said, leaving his coffee: "Anything could have happened there".

"I met Damon and he brought me back. It's not a big deal". I shrugged my shoulders.

"Damon?"Whistles Jake, the white joints by dint of squeezing the cup. "Fuck Damon". With his teeth apart, he got up and dropped the chair to the floor. I wasn't going to lie, it scared me. His reaction, his position. He looked ready to kill.

"Jake" , warns his father in a low tone, but who has a kind of power of authority over him.

Then he began to tremble.

"Maddy, darling, can you do me a favor, can you run to get Alanna?" Jake's father asked, but I couldn't move. It was as if I was in a trance. I couldn't look away. He took me by the shoulders and shook me gently. "Go get Alanna."

So I ran to his house.

When I walked through the front door, my cheeks blushed instantly. Alanna was too distracted by Damon for me to disturb her. Turning my back, I bit my lip:

" I'm sorry, but you have to come with me now. Your father…"

That's when I heard them again.