as such, much more shielded than some of the other buildings.
As we’d planned, I stood outside, keeping watch, while Alex made his way up the four back steps that led to the rear door. I found it interesting that he didn’t actually have to break in because Achak had left the back door unlocked. I figured it made sense, though—if you turned into a werewolf, what did you really have to fear from intruders? Probably not much.
So I found myself standing maybe twelve to fifteen feet from the back of Achak’s house. It occurred to me that no one was keeping watch in the front of his house… When I’d asked Alex about it, though, he didn’t seem to be concerned. Not wanting to prolong the conversation and run the risk of someone overhearing us, I didn’t ask any other questions. I figured if Alex wasn’t concerned, then I shouldn’t be either.
It wasn’t long before the frigid climate began to get to me. I hadn’t even been out here for two minutes and I was already freezing. Luckily, the pine trees overhead did a good job of keeping the snow off me, but that was about it. In order to warm myself up, I began to jog in place.
As it was my job to keep watch on the surrounding area, I scanned the perimeter of the trees from right to left and then back again. I held the gun Alex had given me in low ready, so I could point it at whoever or whatever I needed to within seconds. The air was so cold that I had to keep running in place to keep my heart rate up. It didn’t matter that I was wearing four layers and a huge down jacket.
I glanced down at my watch and noticed with chagrin that only two minutes had passed since Alex had strolled through the rear door into Achak’s house. He’d said he wouldn’t be long—ten minutes at the very most, but with the way time was creeping by, ten minutes was going to feel like two hours.
At the sound of shuffling in the bushes to the right of me, I immediately spun around and brought the gun up so it was in front of my face. I aimed in the direction the sound was coming from and then waited for the sound to either repeat itself or for something to emerge from the undergrowth. Nothing. I waited more. Still nothing. After another second or so, I dropped the gun back into low ready, convinced I’d merely heard some woodland creature shuffling through the foliage.
A wolf wouldn’t sound like that, Elodie, I reminded myself as I fought to slow my heart rate. A wolf or a human would sound larger and heavier. That was more like a squirrel scuffling through the bushes. Besides, the chances of you coming across a werewolf tonight are slim. Alex said most elk and deer hunts last until the dawn, remember?
Hey, sometimes even the chief of police has to talk herself down. Especially when dealing with werewolves, which was definitely a first for me. Thinking of werewolves and wanting to get the eff out of Dodge, I glanced down at my watch again and noticed three minutes had now gone by in total.
My fingers began to lock around the gun so I had to free one hand then the other, stretching my fingers out as I ran in place until my blood began to pump through me again. I wasn’t sure how much more I could take out here. Hopefully, Alex wouldn’t be much longer.
When I heard what sounded like heavy footsteps crunching through the snow on the opposite side of the house, I froze as I waited to hear the steps again. From what I could tell, it seemed as if they were coming from the other side of the wall farthest from me.
I listened as hard as I could, trying to hear over the sound of my thudding heart. But there was nothing. Holding the gun up to my face, I tiptoed toward the wall closest to me. Then I turned around so my back was up against it, which meant I’d be protected from behind. I inched down the line of the wall, with my shoulders still pressed up against the rough exterior.
I heard the sound of crunching snow again—I could have sworn it was coming from my right, just beyond the corner where both walls met. I glanced up at the house,