Epilogue

 

Brett had left Susan’s house in an abrupt, yet casual, manner, explaining his need to rise early on Christmas morning. He now returned to the same spot in the woods where he and Cory had arrived earlier, the scene of the beautiful winter splendor that he remembered. All through the night the building tension and raging emotions had surged within him, and now, as he returned to that same peaceful spot, it was not as himself.

The chaos that brewed inside of him had ultimately released itself, and this time, it avoided the shape of the great hawk. Before he’d ever reached the woods, he felt himself go down on all fours as the shift of the wolf took over. Suddenly, he’d been running faster and faster as the sounds of the night amplified to the highest definition in his pointed ears.

Now, he felt a great peace, an ultimate freedom that the shape of the wolf had provided. There were no thoughts of that night’s mayhem, no recollections of ghostly images to fill his mind, only the stillness of the woods and the night, and the snow that blanketed the towering trees with beauty.

On all fours, the wolf simply enjoyed the splendor, watching nature at its most picturesque. Serenity had eclipsed all chaos, leading to this peaceful, private joy. The moment belonged only to the wolf as it watched the snow come down faster, painting the landscape with its perfect touch.

Then, the wolf’s deep, deafening howl broke from the woods, piercing the otherwise silent night...