Im' not alone.

Something in the darkness made the hairs on my neck stand on end. A lump of terror clogged my throat as my eyes shifted to the door, specifically the brass knob. Three long strides, and I'd pry the door open and escape the dark confined room. Yet, the longer I stared at the knob, the further away it drifted.

"No." My raspy voice echoed around me, bouncing off the thick walls like a rubber ball. Regret pricked at me as I clamped a hand over my mouth. Foolish! Now, whatever was lurking in the room knew exactly where I was.

Panic shot through me, and my hands rattled like a tambourine against my thighs. Closing my eyes, I tried to get my frantic heartbeat under control.

The snapping of teeth next to my ear made my blood run cold. Hot air caressed the back of my neck in short quick puffs. Any doubts I had about being alone vanished.

Slowly twisting my head, I dared to steal a peek. One glimpse was all I needed to sate my curiosity. Two beady yellow eyes met my gaze. The eyes burned like lanterns in the dead of night, and the stench of wet dog filled my nostrils, making my nose twitch as the wolf's lips curled to bare its teeth. A low, threatening growl rumbled from its chest.

I should have run. I should have put as much space between me and the wolf as possible, but I couldnt. There was nowhere for me to run where it couldn't go--no place to hide where it wouldn't sniff me out.

Terror ripped through me as the beast lunged with its claws out and teeth bare, eager to bite.

I fell back, landing hard on my ass, but I scrambled to get clear of its huge paws before its nails cut into my leg.

"Not today," I screamed, scrambling further back, kicking the wolf with the heel of my shoe. The midnight black wolf landed in front of me, and I spied the metal shackles around its neck and paws. The wolf turned its mighty head, and I saw the large, fully alert icy blue eye. Recognition rattled me to my very core and I trembled with fright. This was no ordinary wolf, but my wolf, the one I'd shackled and buried in the darkest recesses of my mind. A low moan vibrated through me as the wolf raged against its restraints. It was only a matter of time before the chains snapped.

The sound triggered my fight-or-flight response, and I jumped to my feet, turned, and ran, desperate to get as far from the beast as possible.

There is no escaping what you are, a nagging, grating voice whispered in my head, spreading doubt through me.

The crack of metal straining under immense pressure echoed around me, and the jarring, unexpected sound caused the last drop of warmth to drain from me.

Was that a gunshot?

No. Not a gunshot, something far worse. Swallowing hard, I scanned the darkness around me. The piercing howl ripped through me, echoing in my bones.

It has escaped.

Instinctively, I threw my hands to my ears to block the sound of snapping metal. The patter of feet falling on the ground behind me felt like tremors under my feet. With my heart racing and blood pumping like battery acid through my veins, I ran.

The wolf overtook me in mere seconds. An ear-piercing scream unclogged my throat as the wolf's claws dug into my shoulders. I dropped like a rock, crashing to the ground. The snapping of cartilage in my nose was the least of my concerns.

I sprang to my feet and gazed around the dimly lit room gulping down as much air as possible as I hunted for the threat. All I saw were the mangled sheets of the bed, twisted unnaturally as my mind wrapped around reality like a blanket.

My eyes watered from the pain as I glanced in the mirror above the dresser. The girl staring back at me looked fearful and panicked. Her steely blue eyes are wide with fright, and her hair was tangled and knotted around her face from the sweat. Small drops of blood trickled down her nose.

The blood smeared across her upper lip as I raked the back of my hand across mine. Delicately, I pressed my fingertips to my nose and winced. The fall from the bed to the hard wooden floor twisted my nose unnaturally.

Slowly, I pulled in a long deep breath and steady my hands. With a flick of my wrists, I pushed the damaged cartilage back in place. A part of me wanted to cry out from the pain, but I refrained as I used the bed to hoist myself up and moved to the dresser. I leaned against it, studying the reflection in the mirror. The bruising around my nose and eyes faded in seconds as everything shifted back into place and healed.

I exhaled, trying to focus on slowing my frantically beating heart. Dread nagged at me from the in the pit of my stomach, making it nearly impossible to relax. The hairs on the back of my arms rose as my ears perked.

I tilted my head toward the door, straining to listen for anything other than the pounding of my heartbeat that drummed in my ears. I held my breath and waited in the darkness of my room, analyzing the rustling. Of course, I could be overreacting due to the dream that lingered in the back of my mind. But the crackling of the seal from the refrigerator opening shocked me. My lips flattened into a tight line as I scanned the room.

I need a weapon.

Oh, how I wish the pills were out of my system. I'd rip whichever intruder was in my home into pieces.

My gaze fell on the side table, where an orange pill bottle stood like a beacon. With my heart quickening, I counted on my fingers how long it's been since the last one. Anger welled within me. Just staring at the bottle pissed me off. I'd be risking my life if I didn't take them. But at the same time, if I did take them, I'd be in this exact situation--at the whims of the intruder.

This is my home. And whoever you are, you've picked the wrong house to steal from.

Every nerve in my body twitched, eager to fight. I rolled my head and straightened my shoulders as I popped each knuckle deliberately to loosen the joints before moving to the door. Without a sound, I slipped into the hallway.

The pounding of my heart in my ears made it difficult to hear anything else. Each step fell quietly as I scoured the living room. Glass rattled on the granite countertop, drawing my attention to the kitchen. Swallowing hard, I ducked into the shadows and peered around the wall.

Youre so dead.

My lips twitched as I sized up the intruder. The figure was small, only inches shorter than I was, which gave me the confidence I needed to take them out. Without warning, I rushed into the kitchen and curled my arms around the intruder, tackling them to the ground. They grunted as the air left their lungs. Before I could flip the intruder around, pain ricocheted through me. Flashes of blues and reds filled my eyes as a throbbing pain resonated from the base of my skull.

Any average human would have been knocked out. Lucky for me, I'm not human. At least, not fully human. The pain is a minor annoyance.

"What do you think you're doing?" I demanded as my nails raked across flesh. The girl mumbled incoherently as she scrambled to get out from under me. With a mighty shove, she threw me to the side, thrusting me into the cabinets.

I shook my head to clear away the dizziness. Instantly, knuckles crashed into my nose. The crunch that reverberated through my skull indicated my nose is shattered again. Warm liquid tinged with salt and rust spilled over my lips.

She went for another blow, this time I was ready and caught her fist. Rising to my feet, I held her steady, refusing to release her. The white of her teeth reminded me of the wolf in my dream and was a stark reminder not all threats are human.

Deep within me, I felt the clawing and scratching of my wolf itching to be released.

"What are you doing here?" I demanded as I dragged the intruder behind me, forcing her into the living room. Throwing her on the couch, I moved to the lamp and flicked it on. My heart dropped to my stomach as guilt and recognition crushed me. "Ella? What the hell? I could've killed you."

"Uh-uh," she mumbled as she shook her head. "You only think you could. However, Kenna, you did a fine job of attacking my sandwich. If you wanted a bite, you could have asked."

Ella pushed her dreadlocks to the side and stared at the remnants of her sandwich. Her mahogany skin contrasted sharply against the cream-colored couch she nestled into. The brilliant smile she flashed me left me stunned.

"Getting a bit slow," she cackled.

"I was going easy on you," I answered as I crossed my arms over my chest and glared at her. It wasn't like I was going to tell her the pills I took were still lingering in my system. But by the suspicious look on her face, I didn't need to. She knew.