Chapter 26: Chapter 26: Ghosts and Ghouls

Jake's POV

Jake was very nearly frozen in place. The benefit of his wolf form was how unnoticed it went when it came to other beasts and inhuman forms.

The creature was massive, larger than his pickup. It lurched awkwardly on all fours, spindly legs piercing the ground and leaving tiny little cloven hoof prints in its wake.

Jake supposed the skin stretched across the creature had once been a deer. Or several deer, to cover the sheer size of the thing.

Jake turned to watch as Ripley attempted to scramble down the ladder to the forest floor. Jake had wanted to strangle the man she was with earlier at the restaurant, but he swore he was an angel now as he grabbed Ripley by the waist and hauled her back into the stand.

"It's not real, it's not real," the man assured her, smoothing a hand over her blonde hair. Blake, she had called him.

Ripley turned to his chest and buried her head there. "I know," she said between sobs. "It just feels like if I get down there, I can save her."