Unfortunately for him, she’d be taking a piece of his soul with her.
Chapter 15
Sophie
Was everything that Damon said to her this week a lie?
Sophie stormed back into the guest room of his house to pack all her belongings, hell-bent on leaving all the madness on this mountain.
A small voice tugged at her. What if his theory about soulmates was true?
It didn’t matter. He hadn’t trusted her. A relationship had to be built on trust.
After he’d encouraged her to move up here, she’d started to consider it. She’d even begun to think about the practicalities of starting over as a freelance designer, both seeking clients online or bringing her portfolio to businesses here in the village.
What a fool she’d been.
While she stuffed all the clothing into one of her bags, she replayed all that had happened. She still couldn’t believe what she had seen. It was impossible.
Yet, she had witnessed Damon transform from a man to a massive wolf. She was sure she wasn’t drugged or hallucinating. And she didn’t feel like she was losing her mind.
And then he’d told her that crazy story about being a wolf shifter. A legend! A fantasy. It couldn’t be real.
But weren’t some legends based on fact? If what she had seen was any indication of reality, then it would prove to be true.
He mentioned the wolf packs that lived in this range. She pictured the footprint she had seen that night she got lost, both human sized boots and wolf paws. Was it possible that one had shifted into the other?
That was indeed what she’d seen Damon do, right? He said he was tracking her. Insane!
He’d said it was to ensure she was safe. When she’d seen the wolves fighting—much larger than any wolves she’d ever known existed—she never would have expected they had a human side.
He’d crossed into the other pack’s territory to find her. Did that mean he’d risked himself for her?
Her questions didn’t matter. He was just another example of her poor choices in men. Eventually, they all betrayed her. His might not have been with infidelity, and yet it hurt more than any of the others. Why?
Because she’d developed feelings for him. They were so powerful that this inevitable end led to more anguish.
Sophie had to get off this mountain and return home. She couldn’t see Damon again. She couldn’t look into his eyes and remember what he’d kept from her.
Even if he had said that she was the only one for him. Even if the vulnerability in his amber eyes tugged still tugged at her.
She had to protect herself, especially her heart.
Sophie took one last glance at the guest room where she’d stayed, starting with that night he’d found her and cared for her. Last night, they’d slept in his bed, and it had been magical…
She groaned. Yes, she had to get away as soon as possible. Nothing remained for her in this cabin but reminders of Damon.
Sophie called for a cab to take her down to the bus station. She grabbed her bags and brought them outside the cabin. Then she hauled her skis and poles from the mud room, put her ski jacket on, and stepped back outside to wait.
Her heartbeat quickened as she scanned the woods ahead where she’d witnessed Damon change. She took a handful of steps forward to peek in and see if he was still visible in between the pine trees and their dense coverage. He was gone.
Had she even spared a minute to think about the situation from his perspective? No, she’d just focused on herself and her pain. What he said did make sense, somewhat, if she could find any sense amid the insanity.
“Where are you going, little Red?”
The man’s voice wasn’t familiar. The underlying danger in his tone crept under her skin.
She stopped and peered over her shoulder in what seemed like slow motion. A man with shaggy brown hair sneered at her. Barrel-chested and with his upper body bare, he stood in a parade stance in low-slung sweatpants and boots.
“Who are you?” she demanded.
“Just one of the big bad wolves.” He arched his brows and sniffed at her. “And you smell good enough to eat.”
Shit. Sophie dropped her bags and turned to run back toward the safety of Damon’s cabin. Before she’d gone three steps, the strange man lunged at her and knocked her face first into the snow.
While she gasped for breath, he picked her up and threw her over his shoulder as if she’d weighed no more than a snowball.
She beat her fists on his back, screaming, “Let go of me!”
He laughed and didn’t even flinch. He walked her away from Damon’s cabin.
“Damon! Damon. Help!”
The man laughed. “That’s right, little Red. Call him. That’s exactly what I want you to do.”
Her gut hollowed. Maybe she had more to fear than just her fate. This stranger wanted to get to Damon.
Was she just the bait?
Chapter 16
Damon
As Damon patrolled along the borderline between packs, he dreaded returning to his cabin later. Sophie would be gone.
It would be cold and empty without her there, cooler than the mountain air that ruffled his fur.
A scent stopped him. He sniffed at it and growled.
It was the Sacco wolf, Alex, that he’d engaged with. His muscles coiled and all his fur stood on edge.
Another scent—one that would soothe him at any other time—stirred more unease.
Sophie was with the Sacco wolf.
We have to find her, his wolf demanded.
I know. For once, they had the same agenda.
Damon sniffed at the scents, tracking them through the snow. It was fainter back toward his cabin. The Sacco wolf must have come to get Sophie. No way she would have gone with him, not willingly, especially after being so scared about what she’d discovered about wolf shifters tonight.
But she wouldn’t have known if he was in human form.
Why did the Sacco wolf take her? Why?
Through all the chaos in his mind, one answer was the most
