was black as a thundercloud. Stefanie breathed in deep, but even then, his scent was faint. It wasn’t natural. Every animal had a distinctive odor.
Still moving, he looked over his shoulder and didn’t stop to wait for her. There was intelligence in his eyes. And a hint of fear.
Stefanie hurried after him. Maybe he knew a way out she didn’t. Better this one strange wolf than Wyatt and the pack.
Two wolves jumped through the trees and tumbled down the slick slope. Stefanie and her guide picked up their pace, but she glanced back in time to see Colin fall into the river. It was like a badly drawn cartoon. Lots of yelps and flailing legs.
Scott kept himself from going into the water, but he hesitated with indecision. He barked at the others.
A bend took them out of sight. Stefanie drew closer to the other wolf. Even with her nose a foot from his haunches, his scent was remarkably muted. The only things she could tell were that he was a male and not an Alpha. She huffed at the lack of information. Her nose usually told her great stories.
His dark fur hid him well in the night. Yet even with that camouflage, she should’ve known he was there. His steps were sure. He knew this territory and he was without a pack. Unless they were better at hiding themselves than he was.
Ahead, the river narrowed. The glint of metal drew her eyes. A big storm drain on the opposite shore.
The wolf stopped and gestured with a twist of his head. He backed up as far as he could go without slipping and then took a running leap. Clearing the water and landing on the drain with a click of his claws, he hopped to higher ground and turned to wait for her.
Stefanie backed up as he had. It was a big jump, but she could do it. Her body tensed, ready to spring, when she smelled Scott’s foul scent. She swung to the right and met him head on.
Scott pounced and she caught him by the neck, slamming him into the muddy shore. She held him, growling, pushing him closer to the water. His struggles were useless and both knew it. She didn’t doubt he was told to slow her down. The howls from the woods confirmed her suspicions.
She wasn’t going to play their game. Tossing him into the river, she readied herself again and jumped. She slipped on the drain, banging her chin and letting everyone know exactly where she was. Snarling at herself, Stefanie shook her head and climbed away from the water. From the opposite shore, the pack hollered in snarls and yaps.
Not waiting to see if they followed, she ran to the line of trees where the other wolf stood. There was a clear path to the city now, but he led her to the edge of the woods. He stayed in the shadows, making no move toward Carmine or to her. Stefanie barked at him and trotted a few steps in the direction of the city. He didn’t follow.
Growling, Stefanie walked another dozen steps and looked back, pausing for him. When he remained in the same spot, she debated for a second whether or not to go back and drag him with her. He’d helped her. She wasn’t going to leave him to get caught by her pack.
No, he wasn’t stupid. If he stayed, he knew the risks, and she couldn’t stick around any longer. Repeating that to herself, Stefanie dashed off to Carmine.
CHAPTER 2
Sleep didn’t come easy, even knowing she was safe in her apartment. The pack would never find her here, but there was still those nagging what ifs. What if they found her well-hidden trail and tracked her to the building? What if Wyatt tore the city down looking for her? Ending up in his hands again was not an option. She’d rather die than let that happen.
Morning came too soon and not quick enough. Stefanie dragged herself into the shower after a few hours of rest. She scrubbed off the scent of the woods and replaced it with her fruity body wash. Her stomach rumbled. Shifting always made her hungry. Especially after a hunt, or rather a chase like last night’s.
Who was the lone werewolf? And why did he help her? Not that
Still moving, he looked over his shoulder and didn’t stop to wait for her. There was intelligence in his eyes. And a hint of fear.
Stefanie hurried after him. Maybe he knew a way out she didn’t. Better this one strange wolf than Wyatt and the pack.
Two wolves jumped through the trees and tumbled down the slick slope. Stefanie and her guide picked up their pace, but she glanced back in time to see Colin fall into the river. It was like a badly drawn cartoon. Lots of yelps and flailing legs.
Scott kept himself from going into the water, but he hesitated with indecision. He barked at the others.
A bend took them out of sight. Stefanie drew closer to the other wolf. Even with her nose a foot from his haunches, his scent was remarkably muted. The only things she could tell were that he was a male and not an Alpha. She huffed at the lack of information. Her nose usually told her great stories.
His dark fur hid him well in the night. Yet even with that camouflage, she should’ve known he was there. His steps were sure. He knew this territory and he was without a pack. Unless they were better at hiding themselves than he was.
Ahead, the river narrowed. The glint of metal drew her eyes. A big storm drain on the opposite shore.
The wolf stopped and gestured with a twist of his head. He backed up as far as he could go without slipping and then took a running leap. Clearing the water and landing on the drain with a click of his claws, he hopped to higher ground and turned to wait for her.
Stefanie backed up as he had. It was a big jump, but she could do it. Her body tensed, ready to spring, when she smelled Scott’s foul scent. She swung to the right and met him head on.
Scott pounced and she caught him by the neck, slamming him into the muddy shore. She held him, growling, pushing him closer to the water. His struggles were useless and both knew it. She didn’t doubt he was told to slow her down. The howls from the woods confirmed her suspicions.
She wasn’t going to play their game. Tossing him into the river, she readied herself again and jumped. She slipped on the drain, banging her chin and letting everyone know exactly where she was. Snarling at herself, Stefanie shook her head and climbed away from the water. From the opposite shore, the pack hollered in snarls and yaps.
Not waiting to see if they followed, she ran to the line of trees where the other wolf stood. There was a clear path to the city now, but he led her to the edge of the woods. He stayed in the shadows, making no move toward Carmine or to her. Stefanie barked at him and trotted a few steps in the direction of the city. He didn’t follow.
Growling, Stefanie walked another dozen steps and looked back, pausing for him. When he remained in the same spot, she debated for a second whether or not to go back and drag him with her. He’d helped her. She wasn’t going to leave him to get caught by her pack.
No, he wasn’t stupid. If he stayed, he knew the risks, and she couldn’t stick around any longer. Repeating that to herself, Stefanie dashed off to Carmine.
CHAPTER 2
Sleep didn’t come easy, even knowing she was safe in her apartment. The pack would never find her here, but there was still those nagging what ifs. What if they found her well-hidden trail and tracked her to the building? What if Wyatt tore the city down looking for her? Ending up in his hands again was not an option. She’d rather die than let that happen.
Morning came too soon and not quick enough. Stefanie dragged herself into the shower after a few hours of rest. She scrubbed off the scent of the woods and replaced it with her fruity body wash. Her stomach rumbled. Shifting always made her hungry. Especially after a hunt, or rather a chase like last night’s.
Who was the lone werewolf? And why did he help her? Not that
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