Noemi had chosen the isolated stretch of shoreline because she needed to get away from everything. The silence of the coast felt like the only place where she could finally breathe after weeks of heartbreak. Her relationship had fallen apart, and not long afterward she had been laid off from her job, leaving her overwhelmed and exhausted.
She settled into the sand and watched the endless rhythm of the waves, letting the salty breeze and the sound of the ocean quiet the storm in her mind. For the first time in days, she felt a hint of peace.
Then something moved near the water’s edge.
At first glance, she assumed it was a dog making its way out of the sea, its fur soaked and clinging to its body. She instinctively searched the beach, expecting to see an owner calling for it, but there was no one else in sight.
The animal slowly turned to face her.
As its piercing eyes met hers, Noemi’s heart skipped a beat. A cold shiver raced through her body when she realized her mistake. It wasn’t a dog at all.
It was a wolf.