The rest of the day drags, and when the final bell rings, I race toward the front doors to head home. But Sam is standing at the entrance talking to a kid I haven't met. He spots me before I can turn away. Saying something to his companion, he and the boy clasp hands briefly before going their separate ways. The boy heads outside while Sam slips his hands into the pockets of his jacket and leans back against the wall near the doors.

I pass him on my way out and he falls into step beside me. Sam matches my pace and I hope he slips on an ice patch as we make our way down the steps toward the parking lot.

Sam walks over, brushing his hair out of his eyes. "That took some balls, standing up to Mr. Ortiz during class the way you did."

"Well, he's a teacher. He shouldn't be acting like that." I whip my head around, my hair flipping over my shoulder. "You know, the same way humans—people—shouldn't be slamming doors in others' faces."

Sam's face falls faster than a corpse with concrete boots. He tucked his chin tight to his chest and kicks a small rock on the concrete path. "I'm sorry about that."

Something about the easy camaraderie soothes my rough edges and against my better judgment, I smile. "Did you have fun skipping?"

He shrugs, his breath fogging the air as he exhales. "It's too cold and there's not much to do in town that I haven't done a million times before."

"So why bother skipping in the first place?"

"Didn't care to be surrounded by all the grieving. I've done enough of it."

His mom's funeral.

My bottom lip quivers and a river of sadness flows through me like a mountain stream, cold and unending. My heart is caught in the white water, struggling to keep from drowning. If only I could share with Sam my own loss, but I don't feel like I can. I'm sorry for Aimee's friends, but their loss makes me acutely aware I'm an outsider here. Everyone in the school, whether they liked her or not, shares a history I'm not part of.

Sam dips his chin before lightly bumping into me. "It would have been better with some company." He has kind of a cute smile from this angle.

I snort. "What about the guy in the hall? He's not a friend?"

He shakes his head. "Tim's an acquaintance. There's a difference. I'm not close with anyone at school these days. You should try flirting with him. You'll get a personalized tour of the school since he's the hall monitor in exchange for staring into those pretty brown eyes. Hell, knowing Tim, he may even carry your bag and do your homework."

It's impossible to ignore the sarcasm in Sam's voice and my teeth clamp together. After taking a moment to calm down, I turn to face him, my lips forcing a smile. No way am I showing him he got to me again. Having a door slammed in my face is one thing, but I can save face with a little teasing. "Sounds like a win-win."

"That's assuming Tim is into that sort of thing."

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

I grunt low in my throat and shove my hands under my arms. "What sort of thing would that be? A cute girl with a killer personality? He'd be crazy not to be."

He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath, holding it in, then looks up at the sky. "I must be crazy, then."

I suck my teeth at him, rolling my eyes. "That's not the first word that comes to mind, but sure. We'll go with that for now."

"Touché." His laugh is just as large as the rest of him. He gazes deeply into mine, his eyes full of an unexpected warmth.

I've won this battle, and Sam knows it, too. And that small fact has me smiling so hard the corners of my mouth almost reach my ears.

I return his earlier nudge with one of my own. "Maybe we could both stand to make new friends."

His gaze dances over me, a lovely scarlet flush coloring his complexion. "Maybe. I have a position open. You're welcome to fill it."

Sam moves away before I can speak, walking toward the parking lot.

I stop, blinking after him. "You have a car?"

I can't believe I just asked that. How stupid could I be? Of course he has a car. He's older than everyone in our grade and he makes a habit of skipping school. I doubt he's playing truant on foot. Especially in winter.

He turns around, walking backward, his grin lopsided like the two sides of his face can't agree on any one particular expression. "You want a ride?"

I tug at the bottom of my parka, biting my bottom lip to keep from smiling. My eyes fall to the floor and catch a glimpse of my shadow. Where a teen girl should have been outlined in silhouette, instead there's a nimble creature with a bushy tail.

Chikushō!

If only there was a way to disguise a shadow. The gods may have given kitsune gifts, but they also gave humans an advantage of discovering us by having our shadows show our true form.

I snap my head up to respond when my blood runs cold while the air around me sizzles. A low rumble—too low for the human ear to hear—causes every hair on my scalp to stand at attention, every skin cell to tingle, and every neuron to fire. Across the parking lot hidden in the shadow of the trees lining the property are the piercing sapphire eyes from my nightmares.

Raiju's upper lip curls back, exposing his large fangs. But when his nose twitches, his gaze jerks away from mine. His head dips, ears erect, body going completely still. I follow his line of site and my lungs seize when I spot who Raiju is focused on.

Bax.

"Do you want a ride?"

My entire body lurches at the sound of Sam's voice. My eyes dart from side to side as my brain fumbles to come up with a response. My mouth opens and closes, words too frightened to come out, so I look back toward the trees.

The wolf is gone.

Sam rests a hand on my shoulder. "Amaya, are you okay?"

I step backward, my hands gripping the strap of my bag. No way am I riding home with Sam. Raiju could be connected to the entire Warren family. I swallow and force back the lump in my throat. "I think I'll walk home."

I turn before he can respond, my boots crunch the snow as I scurry toward the road. Raiju is here. In Afton. But why is the demon wolf interested in Bax? There's no way a human from America could've angered the God of Thunder. There are no temples in Minnesota to destroy.

My head swivels in all directions most of the walk home, scanning the tree lines. I inhale more deeply, attempting to pick up scents not attributed to humans or domesticated dogs. My hands are uncovered, leaving more skin exposed so I can sense any change in the electricity in the air.

I blink away the tears forming in the corners of my eyes. My mouth dries, a lump settling in my throat. And just when I started to believe I could start my life over. Now my new family is in danger along with all the humans in Afton. Some already dead or injured.

Injured.

If Bax encountered Raiju, how'd he only walk away with a small bite? The wolf would've ripped his arm off; the bite power alone would've at least crushed every bone in his hand. He must've found a way to control the wolf.

I shake my head. No, a human can't control the demon beast. There's got to be another explanation. If I can find it, I can lead Raiju away and save the town, save my family. Maybe this is my chance at redemption.

But how are my classmates all connected? An icy chill creeps over my skin as one name numbs my brain. Oh gods.

Tori Milton.