“It's okay,” Luna whispered.
“No, it's not!” I pointed an accusing finger at Cole. “Your parents took off during the rebel attack. They were so scared for their safety that they left you. Does that make you a coward like them?”
“You little bitch.” Cole swung his fist.
I blocked his jab. My temper flared and I kneed him in the groin. “I know, right?”
He hunkered over, grasping his precious jewels. “Fuck, Aylin. That. Wasn't. Fair.”
I straightened my jacket and admired my manicured nails. “No one ever said I fight fair.”
My voice was much stronger than I felt. Condescending men irritated the hell out of me, and it took every bit of training I had not to use my powers to really make him feel my wrath.
Mack helped Cole to his feet and laughed. “Connor has a live one on his hands. I'm a little scared for him.”
I smiled at the compliment. “Thanks.”
Mack grinned. Cole frowned.
Luna laughed. The sound sliced through the tension like a hot knife through butter. “I think I'm going to like you.”
“I can't believe we have another imprint in the pack and now this.” Cole pointed to Luna, shaking his head.
I took a step forward, but Luna stopped me with a hand to my shoulder. “It's okay, I'm used to it.”
“Take her straight to Liam. I'll check in with him in fifteen minutes. If you aren't there, I will find you,” Mack said.
“Understood, and thanks.”
Mack and Cole shifted and raced off to patrol the perimeter. Wolves ran the border on shifts throughout the day and night. Most of the time, it was to let their wolves run free, but recently it had become more important to pay attention to intruders like Luna.
Lucky for us, I was out running and heard her yaps of distress.
“Well—” I ran a hand through my hair “—that was interesting.”
“Indeed.” Luna's mystical voice echoed through the clearing.
I waited a few minutes to verify we were alone. “What do you think about a quick run before we go to Liam and Bryn's?”
“But Mack said we—”
“I don't care what Mack said.” My wolf pranced, excited at the thought of another run. “I need to run.”
“Liam and Bryn—”
“Will be there when we arrive. I promise it will be okay.” I shifted into my wolf and waited for Luna to follow suit.
Once she shifted, the small silver wolf took timid steps, fear prominent in her gaze.
I howled and raced off. The wind whipped through my fur. The mountain air flowed into my lungs.
Ah, this is what I needed.
Luna chased after me, each step more confident than the last. Her wolf's nervous nature told me she wasn't one with her wolf. Had she never experienced what it was like to be one with her wolf? I would have to delve into that…later.
For now, we ran.
Chapter Nine
Connor
“Son of a bitch!” The curse escaped my lips as I stepped around Aylin's kicked-in door. The floor creaked beneath my heavy boots. The light layer of frost cracked with each step.
The distinct smell of sulfur and rotten eggs floated in the air. My nose twitched and my stomach churned. I kicked aside a couch cushion and waded through the disarray.
The cabin's furniture lay demolished and tossed. Window glass crunched under my boots. The kitchen air reeked of the smell. I pulled my shirt up over my nose and tried to breathe through my mouth.
The gas burners were turned on high, but the pilot lights were all blown out. I flipped each knob to turn it off. The click of the burners made the hair on the back of my neck stand straight up. Someone meant to do damage with this vandalism. It was meant to either send a warning or cause harm, but I'd be damned sure to find out which one.
My need to ensure the place was empty drove me down the hall. My brain told me Aylin wasn't home. She was running. My heart said, 'Make sure.'
I looked through every room. Each one made my stomach sink further.
Nothing had been left intact. Luna and Mitch had taken advantage of Aylin's hospitality.
I hurried back down the hall where the shattering of windows drowned out the beating of my heart. Someone was helping the vapors escape, but the smell was still overpowering in the tiny space.
“Run!” A man tugged on my arm, jerking me forward. “C'mon. It's about to blow!”
What in the—? My mind took a split second to comprehend what he was saying. Blow? As in boom?
“Shit!” I raced for the door.
The man's steps pounded ahead of me. As I leapt through the opening, a loud bang resonated. I became airborne. Heat scorched my clothes and singed my skin.
I hit the ground like a Prius ramming a Mack truck. Unfortunately, I wasn't the Mack truck.
“You okay, bro?” The man's voice sounded distant, as if he spoke through a pool of water.
I pushed myself into a sitting position. Bright orange flames engulfed the house. Black smoke barreled into the air.
“Fuck!” I turned to the man who had saved me. I recognized the beach blond hair through the dusting of ash. His golden-brown eyes appeared to glow against the blackened residue. “Mike,” I shouted, my ears ringing from the explosion.
“Mitch,” he corrected.
“What the fuck you doing here?” My voice strained against the forced effort to speak.
“I came to check on Luna. Bomb, BOOM.” Mitch made hand signals like I couldn't make out his words. I could, but why was he whispering?
I wobbled forward. Vertigo made my first few steps difficult, but then I righted myself. I clenched my fists. “You did this?”
“No!”
“Then who?”
Mitch raised his hands in peace. “I don't know, man. You were already here when I arrived.”
“You aren't supposed to be on pack property.” He just saved my life, but he had almost killed Aylin months ago and would never receive any respect from me.
“Well geesh, I just saved
