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 In Doford Peaks, a small mountain town, 19-year-old Ethan lives with his
grandma. His life is quite normal, at least as normal as it can be for someone
with asthma. A winter morning walk turns dramatic when he and his grandma
discover an 18-year-old girl, Mia, who is unconscious and injured. As Mia
recovers, bits of her past emerge, attracting agents Gibson and Cooper of the
Bureau of Supernatural Investigation (BSI). A complex web of secrets
associated with the Defense Forces of Genesis (DFOG) intertwines their fates.
As the truth emerges, Ethan and Mia must face the horrifying reality of The
Wolf Experiment.

A whimper pulled me from my sleep, and my eyelids
fluttered open. Gracie’s snout was right in front of me, her light gray
fur softly brushing against my cheek. As her pale blue eyes looked into mine,
her tail began to wag. There was no way I was getting up, and I rolled over to
the other side of my bed, where Hank stood waiting. He fixed his golden eyes
on me, his pure white fur seeming darker in the dim light of my bedroom.
Sunlight filtered through the two large skylights above my bed, casting a warm
light over my room. The rays continued to spread across posters of my favorite
bands, my world map marked with where I wanted to visit, my only plant that I
hadn’t killed, and my high school guitar leaning against my bookcase. My
wolves whimpered again, signaling it was time to get up. Glancing at the clock
on my nightstand, it read 6:00 a.m.
I pulled the covers over my head and
tried to fall back asleep, but that didn’t work out well. My wolves
howled as they jumped onto my king-sized bed. Sitting up, I shook off the
sleepiness and raised my open palms toward Hank. “We’re bros,
Hank. Help me out here. It’s too early. Can’t you and Gracie give
me a little more time?”
Hank reacted by leaping off my bed,
sprinting into the hallway, and then vanishing. Gracie fixed her fierce gaze
on me, but I avoided her eyes. The sound of Hank’s paws tapping against
the floor broke the silence as he charged back into my room, his leash clamped
in his mouth.
I shook my head in frustration, tossed aside my covers, and
walked into the bathroom. They followed closely behind me. “At the very
least, let me take a quick shower before we go for a walk.”
I
didn’t let either of them protest with a bark, howl, or whine and
stepped into the shower. Turning on the hot water, my wolves settled onto the
cool porcelain tile of the bathroom, their eyes on me, waiting. My thoughts
drifted back to one year ago when I discovered the abandoned wolf puppies on
my way home from the local store. They huddled together on the roadside,
trembling and shaking, too young to be without their mother. Their bodies were
mere skin and bones, and they had that look in their eyes that they were ready
to give up. I tucked them into my jacket and rushed home, fully aware that my
grandma would not be pleased with my impulsive decision, but I had to save
them.
My grandma’s eyes widened in disbelief when she saw the
little bundles of fur sticking out from my jacket as I walked in the door.
“Ethan, did you bring wolves into my house?” She let out a deep
sigh and was definitely annoyed, but as she noticed their desperate state, her
disapproval began to fade. She quickly ushered me and the puppies into her
clinic and examined them thoroughly. “I’m a physician, not a
veterinarian,” she said, “but these puppies are severely
dehydrated and malnourished. I can give them fluids, and you need to buy puppy
milk replacement from the feed store. Let Walter know they are wolf pups and
about four weeks old. He will know what to give you.”
Gracie’s
and Hank’s urgent barks jolted me into the present and forced me to
quickly finish my shower. Staring at myself in the double mirrors over the
bathroom vanity, I saw bits of my grandma in me. We both had curly, caramel
brown hair, although hers had strands of gray. The left corner of our smiles
was slightly crooked, a trait that ran in the family. Our hazel eyes had more
green than brown, and while she stood at 5’6″ and weighed 125 pounds, I was
taller at 5’10” and weighed 165 pounds.
She was a tough, 66-year-old
woman with a strong personality who never remarried after my grandfather
passed away. I never knew him. He died before I was born. Grandma, being the
town’s physician and surgeon, was accustomed to interacting with people
and found comfort in those conversations. As for me—I was a loner and
found socializing to be a challenge. I preferred the company of animals over
people. Hank and Gracie were my best friends. All I truly needed was their
companionship, along with my grandma’s, of course.
When I was five,
my parents left me at my grandma’s house. That was fourteen years ago.
We lived in Doford Peaks, a small mountain town in the state of Oakridge, with
a population of around 1,200. With winter fully upon us, I dressed in utility
pants, a long-sleeved T-shirt, and my winter boots to prepare for the cold. I
also dressed Hank and Gracie in their waterproof winter coats and booties.
Along with my down jacket, I grabbed a beanie and gloves. I stuffed my cell
phone, inhaler, and compass into my pants pockets. With Gracie’s and
Hank’s leashes in hand, I left my bedroom and dropped my jacket, beanie,
and gloves on the entryway table.
Hank and Gracie followed me into our
rustic kitchen, with exposed wooden beams and oak cabinets. Grandma
particularly loved the large windows that allowed natural light to stream
across the stone-tiled floor and the breathtaking views of the surrounding
mountains. She was seated at the antique wooden table in the center of the
kitchen, sipping a cup of coffee. Grabbing a granola bar and a bottle of
water, I breathed in the rich aroma of French roast. “Morning, Grandma.
You’re up early.”
“Ethan, good morning. A slight
emergency brought me into the clinic.” She sipped her coffee and
continued, “LuAnn fell on the ice and sliced her hand open. She needed
several stitches.” Grinning, she said, “She asked about
you.”
“Please stop with the matchmaking.”
“She’s
intelligent and attractive, much like you.”
“That
doesn’t mean I have to date her.”
“It doesn’t
mean you have to date her. But what’s the harm in having a casual cup of
coffee?”
“Being single works for me. Plus, I wouldn’t
know how to talk to her, and I wouldn’t want to give her the wrong idea.
Can we change the subject?”
She placed her coffee mug on the
counter. “Fine. Are you going out for a walk with your wolf
pack?”
I scratched Gracie and Hank behind their ears. “As
much as I wanted to sleep in, they insisted I get up and take them for a
walk.”
Her gaze drifted to one of the large windows, where
snowflakes were gently falling outside. Turning her attention back to me, she
asked, “Do you have your inhaler?”
I patted my pocket.
“Yes, Grandma.”
“What about your cell phone?”
“I
have that too.”
“Since it’s snowing, you should
definitely take a jacket, and—”
My chin bobbed toward the
door as I interrupted her. “I have a jacket, a beanie, and
gloves.”
“Hmm. What about water or a snack?”
I
groaned and replied, “Grandma, I’m 19. I’m not a kid
anymore. I can take care of myself.”
A protective expression
crossed her face as she placed her hand on her hip. “Ethan, no matter
how old you get, in my eyes, you’ll always be my precious
grandson.”
A sigh escaped my lips, and I shrugged my shoulders.
“Do you want to just come with me?”
Her hazel eyes brightened
with a smile as she waved a finger at me. “That’s a great
idea,” she said. “I’ll get my coat.”
Grandma came
back wearing a down jacket. She was bundled up in winter clothing. A scarf was
wrapped around her neck, and gloves covered her hands while she tucked her
hair beneath the hood of her jacket. She grabbed a bottle of water from the
cupboard and tucked it into her jacket pocket. Then she reached for
Gracie’s leash. “Gracie can come with me.”
“Gracie
is definitely easier to control than Hank. He tends to pull a lot, especially
when he catches a scent.” I handed her Gracie’s leash.
“That’s
true!” she said with a smile. “I’m ready. It’s
beautiful right now. The sun is breaking through the clouds, the snow is
falling, and the air smells of pine cones. What more could we ask
for?”
“You sound like a greeting card, Grandma.”
A
chuckle escaped her lips. “I do, don’t I?” She opened the
solid wood door and replied, “After you.”
Wood siding wrapped
around my grandma’s single-story home. The deep green roof blended into
the surrounding trees, and the many windows let in tons of light, which my
grandma loved. I led Hank through the doorway and onto the wraparound deck. We
made our way down the stairs and onto the cement driveway. Continuing down the
sloped driveway, we passed Grandma’s clinic, a smaller replica of the
main house. Glen’s truck had cleared the road of snow. At 70, he was
still going strong as the owner of a snowplow truck company. His silver hair
was often dusted with snow, mirroring the bushy eyebrows that framed his kind,
gray-blue eyes. Every time I saw him, he was wearing a flannel shirt, a heavy
jacket, jeans, and boots. Maybe they were his favorites or maybe it was his
uniform, but at least he was consistent.
We walked along the towering
pine trees, now filled with snow, lining both sides of the road. The crisp,
cool air stung my cheeks, so I pulled my beanie down as far as possible and
still be able to see. Hank and Gracie strolled alongside us, their noses in
the air, sniffing at whatever scents they could find.
Grandma asked,
“Would you like to talk about the letter your parents sent?”
“I
don’t,” I abruptly replied.
“I think we ought to talk
about it,” she insisted.
I looked at her, hoping my expression
conveyed my hurt, frustration, and exhaustion. “Grandma, I love you. I
know my dad is your son, and I don’t mean any disrespect, but they
handed me off to you fourteen years ago. Mom and Dad haven’t visited me
for any occasion—birthdays, Thanksgiving, or Christmas. They ghosted me!
I couldn’t care less about their stupid letters.”
“I
understand where you’re coming from,” she sympathized.
“Although I don’t support the choice they made, I know it was very
tough for them to leave you in my care, and I can only imagine how confusing
this all is for you. I don’t know what your letter said, but in my
letter, they reiterated their continued search for a cure for asthma. Their
letter made it very clear that they’re doing everything possible to help
you live a healthier, happier life. I hope you know how much both your parents
love you.”
“Researching for fourteen years, Grandma?” I
exclaimed, my voice filled with exasperation. “I’m sure even you
don’t even believe that.”
“I know they love
you.”
“If they truly loved me, they would have been present
in my life instead of concentrating on scientific research. My parents
didn’t want a flawed son.”
Her hand touched mine as she
paused. “Ethan, you can’t possibly believe that.”
“Regardless
of what I believe, the fact remains that I have asthma, and I manage it. You
stood beside me, not my parents. They’ve been absent most of my life.
Even if they returned now, I probably wouldn’t want to see them.
I’m sorry, Grandma.” I softened my tone. “My anger is
directed at them, not you, and I’m just not ready to forgive
them.”
She hugged me tight and reassured me. “Ethan, I will
always be here for you.”
In her arms, emotions surged within me,
and tears threatened to fall. Hank and Gracie surrounded me, nuzzling their
furry heads against my body in an attempt to comfort me. As I pulled away, I
admitted, “Talking about them doesn’t help. It only makes matters
worse.”
“I understand how you feel. Everything is going to be
okay, I promise. Let’s continue our morning walk with Hank and Gracie
and enjoy the day together.”
Relieved, I nodded, and we continued
down the road. Hank and Gracie glanced back at me occasionally to ensure I was
okay. As we walked, the various smells around us began to capture their
attention more than my presence. They trotted happily alongside me, their
snouts pressed to the pavement, wagging their tails as they sniffed every
tree.
“It’s chilly today,” Grandma said and shivered
and then glanced at me. “How are you feeling? Any shortness of
breath?”
“So far, so good, but I agree it’s super cold.
Maybe we can cut our walk short.”
“Good idea, and I
agree.”
Hank suddenly stopped, raised his nose, and howled. A few
birds scattered from the branches above, startled by his abrupt call. Had he
sensed something: an approaching storm or another animal nearby?
Gracie’s ears perked up as she lifted her head and let out a softer but
equally determined howl. My wolves stood side by side, their eyes scanning the
horizon, alert to something I couldn’t see. Hank started tugging on his
leash, and I pulled backward. “What is it, Hank?”
“I
don’t see anything,” Grandma said, glancing around the area.
I
peered between the trees, searching and feeling compelled to understand what
Hank and Gracie were sensing. “They definitely smell something.
Let’s check.”
“I am not sure if it is safe,
Ethan.”
“Grandma, we need to investigate. If it’s an
injured animal or more abandoned pups, we can call Marsha and have her send
her wildlife team out here.”
“Fair enough.” Grandma
nodded.
I released the slack on Hank’s leash and commanded,
“Find it!
Hank and Gracie raced ahead, tugging Grandma and me
along. Our breaths rose into the air like swirls of smoke. Frost covered the
road, crunching beneath our boots as we followed my wolves. As we went down
the road, the trees got thicker and thicker, reaching up to the pale sky,
casting shadows, and blocking out the sun.
My wolves’ noses skimmed
along the damp earth, sniffing. Occasionally, they paused to circle a spot
several times before continuing on their determined path with their noses once
again on the ground. They sped up and tensed their bodies as they focused on
the trail that led us up the hill to a cliff that looked like the entrance to
a cave.
Despite the cold, beads of sweat formed on my forehead, and a
tightness spread across my chest. The familiar constriction gripped my lungs
the higher we climbed. I couldn’t wait any longer. I needed my medicine.
Fumbling in my pocket, I reached for my inhaler. I could feel Grandma’s
eyes fixed on me as I struggled to breathe.
Grandma’s voice was
tense as she ordered, “Stop and use your inhaler. You’re having
trouble breathing.”
“Hank is pulling me too hard. I can take
a puff while I’m moving.”
“Nonsense,” Grandma
said, taking Hank’s leash from me and bringing both Hank and Gracie to a
halt. The wolves howled in protest. “There, now they’ve stopped.
Please, Ethan, use your inhaler right now, and I mean it.”
I
didn’t argue and put my inhaler in my mouth, pressed the button,
releasing the medication, and breathed deeply. After a few seconds of inhaling
and exhaling, the pressure lessened, and I put my inhaler back in my pocket.
Gradually, the tightness in my chest vanished.
“Better?”
I
nodded.
“I can’t risk your health for Hank and Gracie to
chase down some scent. We need to turn back.”
“No, Grandma!
I’m fine. If there’s an animal in trouble, we need to save it.
I’ll never forgive myself if we don’t keep going.”
Her
lips formed a thin line, and her brow furrowed with disapproval. Grandma knew
that Hank and Gracie were not just my pets. They knew me better than any
human. They were part of our family. I felt a deep responsibility to protect
all animals, and my grandma knew that.
Again, I begged, “Please,
Grandma.”
After several minutes of hesitation, she finally
responded, “We’ll proceed, but if you have another episode,
we’re finished.” She handed Hank’s leash back to me.
I
let out a sigh of relief. “Thank you. I’ll be okay. I
promise.”
She huffed and waved me forward.
After hiking up the
hill, we arrived at the cave, its dark entrance framed by jagged rocks. A
thick fog floated within the darkness, reminding me of dry ice. I had my
doubts about going inside. The cave floor could be unstable or wild animals
could be hiding inside. And what if the air was thin and stale and triggered
my asthma? But Hank and Gracie were insistent, pulling on their leashes to get
closer.
Peering into the cave, Grandma asked, “Did you bring a
flashlight?”
“No, I didn’t,” I replied, my eyes
widening as a thought struck me. “I can use the app on my
phone.”
When I pulled my phone out of my pocket, Hank leapt
forward, yanking his leash from my grip. Gracie followed suit, breaking free
from Grandma’s hand and racing after Hank. I switched on the flashlight
app, flooding the cave with light. The beam flickered across dirt and jagged
rocks. I pointed it upward, and Hank and Gracie running down a narrow
passageway fell into view. The musty stench and distant sounds of water
dripping grew stronger as we followed them.
“They must have found
the source,” Grandma said, matching my pace.
My heart raced as fear
tightened in my throat at the thought of something harming my wolves.
“I’m freaking out,” I blurted, trying to keep my phone
steady with trembling hands. I had no idea what this cave contained, whether
it was safe, or what Hank and Gracie had stumbled upon. They never disobeyed
me. Maybe Grandma was right about turning back.
“They’ll be
fine. They’re strong creatures. Just try not to worry.”
“I’m
trying not to.”
Hank barked sharply, his call signaling to me that
he needed me. I rushed blindly into the cave, adrenaline coursing through me.
The sound of Grandma’s boots brushing against the cave floor echoed
behind me as she ran.
The flashlight beam caught something ahead, but the darkness obscured my view.
Upon closer inspection, I saw Hank and Gracie circling something on the
ground. Slowing down, I hoped it wasn’t an injured animal. As Grandma
reached the spot ahead of me, she gasped. I stood still, unable to take
another step. “Grandma, what’s going on? What is it?”
As
her gaze turned toward me, she said, “Not a what, but a who. It’s
a young woman, maybe 18 or 19 years old.”
“What?” I
rushed forward, closing the distance to the scene. I halted just behind
Grandma, who was kneeling beside an unconscious girl, curled up in a fetal
position, wearing a hospital gown. Hank and Gracie stood close by. Her long
strawberry blonde hair was a matted, tangled mess hanging over her face. Her
pale skin stood out in contrast to the bruises and deep red cuts all over her
arms, legs, and especially her bare feet. Pus oozed out of them.
Grandma
was in full-on doctor mode, checking the girl’s pulse, listening to her
breathing, and examining her numerous wounds. As she assessed the girl’s
condition, her eyes narrowed in concentration.
“Jesus,” I whispered. “Is she alive?”
“Her
pulse is weak, and her breathing is shallow, but she’s alive,”
Grandma confirmed, her focus on the girl. “Her body temperature is low.
It could be hypothermia. She’s wearing a wristband, but it’s not
from the hospital in town.” She turned to me. “Give me your
jacket. She needs to warm up.”
I removed my jacket and handed it to
Grandma, who carefully wrapped it around the girl.
“We need to get
her out of here and to my clinic immediately,” Grandma urged. “We
can’t carry her, and I need my medical van. You’ll need to keep a
close watch on her while I go get the van. Be prepared that you may have to
perform CPR if her heart stops.”
My jaw dropped slowly as the
weight of responsibility washed over me, sending a wave of anxiety coursing
through my body. The thought of performing lifesaving measures on someone was
terrifying. What if I screwed up? “I’m your bookkeeper. This is
beyond my capabilities,” I said, gesturing toward the girl. “I
can’t help her.”
“You can handle this. Besides,
we’ve trained many times on all emergency procedures.”
The
cave felt as if it were closing in around me. Memories of Grandma’s
first aid lessons flooded my mind, each one a jumbled mess of instructions and
distant recollections. I shook my head firmly. “No, I can’t do it.
What if she wakes up and sees some guy standing over her? You know I’m
not comfortable with people. She’ll probably freak out. Just let me go
get the van, and you stay here.”
Grandma looked at me, as if
weighing my suggestion, but her expression remained firm. “I understand
your hesitation, but she needs medical treatment immediately. You’ll
have to run to the house, Ethan. I can’t risk you having an asthma
attack. It’s better if I go.”
The thought of being alone with
an unconscious stranger filled me with anxiety. What if I made a mistake and
ended up making things worse instead of better? What if her injuries worsened,
and I wasn’t able to save her? Every rational part of me screamed at me
to let Grandma handle it. I had to be the one to get the van.
“I’ve hiked trails many times—maybe not up a mountain, but
I’ve covered long distances without an episode. Plus, I have my inhaler.
Please let me get the van, Grandma.”
She studied me for several
minutes, probably envisioning various scenarios and their likely outcomes.
After sighing, she relented. “All right. The keys to my van are in my
office in the top drawer on the right side of my desk at the clinic, not my
home office.”
I nodded and turned to leave but quickly faced
Grandma again. My gaze shifted to Hank and Gracie. Instead of coming with me,
they remained by the girl’s side. My brows furrowed in confusion. Why
had they tracked her in the first place, and why were they so protective of
her? Was it her injuries? The blood? The situation? It didn’t make
sense.
“Ethan, what’s wrong?” Grandma asked,
interrupting my thoughts.
I glanced at her before shifting my focus back
to my wolves. “Hank and Gracie,” I said. “It’s odd how
they’re behaving. They don’t even know this girl that
they’re trying so hard to protect.”
“We can figure that
out later. Right now, we need to get this girl to my clinic.” She waved
me away. “Go now and hurry back. Stay safe.”
“I
will.” I cast one final glance at Hank and Gracie before hurrying out of
the cave.

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