Amber Kallyn [Kallyn - Red’s Wolf Volumes 1-5

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B right, bold blue colored the sky, an endless expanse broken only by rare, puffy clouds. Afternoon sunlight warmed the late autumn day. A fragrant snap of pine, and the softer bloom of wildflowers, scented the air.

Yet, even with such beauty all around her, Samantha Grant found herself stuck somewhere between an itching nervousness, and the absolute certainty that shed come to the correct decision.

Was it not the only decision she could possibly make?

Sami strode faster along the wide dirt lane leading away from her cottage, a bit distant from the nearby village. She carefully avoided uneven ruts, cut deep from recent rains and one of the sporadic caravans of traders.

If the buzzing along her nerves wasn't enough, another distraction demanded her attention. Because this roadthe only one leading to her destinationskirted far too close to the edges of the Dark Forest.

Her grip on the handle of her woven picnic basket tightened.

Thickly overgrown trees, drenched by heavy shadows, irresistibly drew Sami's apprehensive gaze again and again.

All her life, she'd heard the warnings from the villagers.

To never stray near this horrid place. Strange beasts supposedly roamed inside. Terrifying creatures who would creep out in the dark of night. Steal away naughty children. Or, tear an unwary adult to pieces.

Just like the nearby killings this past spring and summer.

However, Sami reminded herself, there was nothing to fear.

Not really.

Monsters didn't actually exist.

Disregarding logic, her free hand rose to rest on the small dagger at her belt. Her face warming at such silliness, Sami forced a light laugh. She released the dagger, then tugged absently at a lock of auburn hair, come loose from the braid hanging down her back.

Stories of the Dark Forest were merely that.

Pure nonsensical tales.

When it came down to it, not even the locals truly believed in beasts hiding nearby, or sneaking near the village to eat people.

As for the dead these past few seasons, well, everyone seemed certain it must have been the work of normal wild animals. And the villagers mostly agreed that, surely, such animals were gone by now. After all, people continued to assure one another, nearly a month had passed since the last gruesome killing.

Sami never bothered to point out the weeks of quiet between the previous deaths. Her place here was... unusual. The locals really only accepted her because of Gran, she knew.

Healer and wise woman, story teller and bard, Gran had demanded nothing less than respect from others.

Familiar pangs of sad fondness rippled through Sami's heart at thoughts of the woman who'd raised her, after her parents' deaths.

Gran had been gone over a year now.

People said the pain would fade with time. That the feelings of loss would ease. She'd yet to find any truth in such words.

But the villagers remained friendly enough, even if they believed Sami quite odd. Just as Gran had been.

So when they shared gossip about the brutal killings, she just nodded, giving none of her own private thoughts.

A slight breeze scurried along the edges of the forest, pulling her attention back to the shadowed trees. Sami found herself once more reaching for the hilt of her small dagger.

Blowing out a deep breath, she reminded herself, yet again and with some annoyance, there was nothing to fear from old tales. Nothing to fear from the forest.

Besides, today wasn't a day for grim thoughts.

And her destination wasn't far now.

Butterflies rose in her stomach, her nerves hummed louder, as she turned her mind to more pleasant thoughts. Of the daydreams she'd had for months.

A sizzle of determination raced through her. She clutched the picnic basket tighter.

She'd made her decision.

Today was the day. Sami would make her recent dreams come true, now that her love had recently returned from his long travels.

The main road forked. A smaller path branched away.

She followed the narrow offshoot, even if, in certain places, it curved far too close to the dark, gnarled trees. She ignored the hints of fear prickling the hairs on the back of her neck.

Though she did pick up her pace and hurry on.

The destination would be well worth the trip. Hadn't she been eagerly looking forward to this day?

A picnic lunch with her love.

Jonah expected the usual, food and conversation. Sami planned to make today different from all the others they'd shared. Because she was done waiting.

She'd made her decision, after all.

Today, she and Jonah would consummate their love.

She wasn't sure why the idea stirred an almost girlish giddiness within her. At nineteen, she'd passed the usual marrying age a few years ago. Finding a man who was worth losing her security, the sanctity of her privacy, her very autonomy for, wasn't easy.

Most men's boorish attitudes left much to be desired. Over the years, some of those overbearing ruffians had come to the village, hoping to convince local young women to accept their proposals.

None interested Sami.

Luckilyor not, dependingalongside Gran's love of wild stories, the old woman had also been somewhat of a black sheep. She'd raised Sami to think for herself. To make her own decisions, rather than obeying the whims of anyone else.

So while, one by one, Sami's few childhood friends had marriedsome already had babies of their own nowno one had captured her attention.

Until Jonah.

The narrow dirt path took a sharp turn. A short distance ahead, a line of wide, towering boulders jutted stately from the earth.

She was nearly there. Sami walked faster.