The figure I noticed didn’t move at first, instead stood at the same spot. It just stood there in the courtyard, like a statue stirring at spot, head tilted the way animals do when they’re listening to every move. Moonlight washed over the hood pulled low over its face, but even from here, I could feel the person's intense gaze pressing against mine, which was so scary.

My wolf side pressed forward inside me, my ears pricked and growl low, standing still like someone ready to leap through ...