The centre of Silver Cross was as deserted and dusty as its outskirts. Faye stared through the window as Finn drove into an abandoned warehouse and killed the car’s engine. It was so hot that a shimmer hovered above the bone-dry earth.

 

‘Hey,’ Finn whispered to her, leaning over and touching her face gently. ‘Are you OK?’

 

Faye looked at him, noticing the concern in his dark eyes, which shone softly in the twilight. She wasn’t OK. She was very far from OK. One of the bikers was dead, and she was convinced that Lucas was here somewhere, in this horrible town. What had happened to him? If those creatures had got to him, then . . .

 

She turned away. ‘I’m OK. What do we do now?’

 

Finn shook his head. ‘I don’t like it, but we have to take a look around – on foot. The car will attract attention. You should find somewhere to hide. It’ll be safer. I’ll find you later.’

 

‘No,’ Faye said immediately. ‘I want to come with you.’

 

He smiled at her. ‘You’re a brave one, Faye McCarron.’

 

Faye shook her head dumbly. She didn’t feel brave. The thought of those . . . things . . . filled her with terror. But what else could they do?

 

The other bikers crowded round as they got out of the car. Faye could see the yellow light in their eyes, and realized that they were all on the cusp of changing completely.

 

‘It’s back,’ Cutter said to Finn. ‘The change is back, at last.’

 

Faye saw Finn frown. ‘Why now?’

 

The biker shrugged. ‘This is a silver town. Maybe it’s a self-defence thing. Maybe that’s what the wolf needed – something to spur on the transformation.’

 

Finn nodded. ‘I think you’re right.’

 

‘And those things were scared. Did you see that? They were scared.’ Cutter nodded at the rest of the men. ‘We think we should let them come. It’ll be easier to hide in this place as wolves than as men. We can move quickly and quietly. I want to find out where those creatures that attacked us are based. They must have a place – maybe out in the desert. If we can find it, maybe we can make sure they don’t bother us again.’

 

‘Good idea,’ Finn replied.

 

The biker nodded, and one by one he and the other men slipped away into the shadows. Their shapes in the darkness became fluid, animal. They disappeared into the night as wolves, not humans. Finn took Faye’s hand.

 

‘You’re not going to change?’ she asked.

 

He shook his head. ‘I’m staying here with you for as long as I can. Come on – let’s take a look around. Stay close to me.’

 

They moved out of the warehouse and into the narrow street outside, still holding hands. Faye looked up. Overhead, the moon had risen, surrounded by a field of stars. There were no lights in Silver Cross to disrupt the night sky. Finn’s hand in hers felt warm and alive. She felt a flush of gratitude that he’d stayed human, rather than changing into the wolf. It would have been safer for him to transform, easier for him to hide in the narrow, winding streets of Silver Cross, but instead he’d chosen to stay by her side. Somehow, she knew he always would. It was one of the reasons she loved him so much.

 

They had turned into the wider main street when she felt Finn tense beside her. He stopped dead, shoulders bunched, eyes staring straight ahead.

 

‘What is it?’ she whispered, searching the darkness ahead for any sign of what he’d heard.

 

‘Someone’s coming,’ he answered, his voice barely audible. He pushed her towards the wooden house behind them, shielding her with his body as he continued to stare up the street.

 

A moment later Faye heard it too – the sound of feet shuffling in their direction. Every few steps there was a pause, as if whoever it was was unsure of their footing. Then she heard mumbling, and a throaty cough, followed by more uneven shuffling.

 

Pressed against her, Faye could feel Finn wound tighter than a spring. His mouth was caught in a grimace. Her heart pounded hard in her chest as she tried to make out what was coming.

 

The moment seemed to stretch on for ever. Then someone tottered into the weak silver light cast by the moon. It was a man. At first Faye thought he was old, but then she realized he couldn’t be much older than her father. He must have been tall once, but now he was hunched over, his back bowed. His grey hair was long and lank, matched by a straggly beard that hid half his lined face. He was dressed in an old brown leather jacket that had clearly seen better days, and a pair of faded blue jeans – both covered with dust. He limped to a halt and stood, swaying slightly, as he squinted at them.

 

‘Hello?’ he mumbled, his words indistinct. ‘Someone . . . someone there? You should be at the mine, you know. You should all be at the mine . . .’ He dug a hand into his pocket, as if looking for something.

 

Faye felt Finn tense again, but squeezed his hand before stepping forward into the light. ‘Hello?’ she said. ‘Sir?’

 

The stranger’s head snapped up in surprise. His mouth wobbled open for a moment. Then he took a step towards Faye, looking her up and down.

 

‘Well,’ he said, as Faye felt Finn come and stand beside her. ‘What are you doing here? I suppose you must be something to do with Mr Koskay. Not that he told me, but then, I suppose that’s nothing new.’ He started hunting through his pockets again.

 

‘Uh, no . . .’ Faye said hesitantly. ‘We don’t know anyone called Mr Koskay . . .’

 

The man frowned and looked at her again, more sharply this time. ‘No one comes here unless they’re looking for Mr Koskay. Why would you be here otherwise? What is it that you want?’

 

‘Just some help, that’s all. I’m Faye,’ she told him. ‘Faye McCarron. What’s your name?’

 

‘I’m Jeff, young lady. Just old Jeff, that’s me,’ he said, his attention shifting again as he continued digging in his pocket. Something fell out – a crumpled piece of paper. Faye bent to pick it up, but Jeff went on, ‘I’m the foreman here. This is a mining town – a town for miners. There’s nothing here for young things like you.’ He stepped closer, squinting at her. His breath smelled of whisky. ‘You should go. Mr Koskay doesn’t like strangers.’

 

‘Oh, we already know that,’ Finn said, moving in front of him. ‘We just got hit by your welcome wagon out there. You know what I’m talking about? Your ugly security guards?’

 

Faye turned to Finn and pressed her hands against his chest, trying to get him to calm down.

 

Jeff’s eyes clouded over. ‘Welcome wagon?’ he asked. ‘Security guards? What are you talking about?’

 

Finn, still angry, was about to say something else, but Faye interrupted. ‘Never mind that,’ she said. ‘You were saying something about this Mr Koskay . . . ?’

 

‘Koskay?’ Jeff echoed. ‘He’s only interested in silver and the mine. Doesn’t really come out unless he wants to go down there, under the ground . . .’ He turned and pointed an unsteady hand at the mountain looming behind the town. ‘He owns this whole place, you know. This is his town. So, when I say you should move on . . . I’m only saying it for your own good. Why would you want to stay, anyway? There’s nothing here any more.’

 

‘Can we stay? Just for tonight?’ Faye asked before Finn could speak. ‘We won’t be any trouble, I promise. It’s late. Please?’

 

Jeff looked at her, scowling. Then he nodded. ‘I suppose so, if you must. There’s a shack you can stay in. Not much of a place, but it’s empty. You should move on tomorrow, though, Faye McCarron. There’s nothing much of anything here, you know . ..’

 

Jeff turned and shuffled slowly away. Faye looked at Finn, who shrugged. The old miner was the only lead they had. Together they followed him into the darkness.