Hunter's Fall by Shiloh Walker

hated—flooded Dominic’s mind. Slowly, he turned and gave the werewolf a look.
    “Ease up, Dominic.”
    It was a quiet order.
    Sliding his gaze past Toronto’s shoulder, he glanced at the Master. Rafe stood just a few feet away, his face dark, his mouth unsmiling. To a stranger, it might have looked as though the vampire was in a shitty mood.
    But Rafe looked the same on good days, which made it harder to tell when he was really pissed.
    He might not be really pissed now, but he was heading that way as he gave Toronto a dark look. “You’re playing chauffeur today—so be a good little chauffeur. As in get your ass in the driver’s seat and drive—leave Dom alone.”
    Toronto obviously wasn’t as skilled at gauging Rafe’s moods as the others were. “We touchy today?” He cocked a brow. “Gotta suck, losing your punching bag. Don’t worry. While Dom here is gone, I’ll let you pound on me in the gym. I might even let you win a time or two.”
    “Just shut the fuck up and get in the van,” Rafe snarled.
    That clued Toronto in and his brows drew together, something swirling in his eyes. Tension mounted in the air, heavy, thick, like a summer rainstorm about to open up over them.
    Toronto might be happy to play at serving a Master, but he was powerful enough to be a Master if he chose.
    Werewolves were notoriously hot-natured, too, and Rafe’s pissed off mood looked like it was now feeding into Toronto’s. A growl rumbled out of his chest.
    Rafe narrowed his eyes and said quietly, “You gave a vow when you settled here, Toronto.”
    “I’m aware of that.” Toronto’s eyes began to pinwheel, swirling with shades of gray, black and blue.
    “Then why don’t you—”
    “Rafe.” Dominic settled on the floor of the van and closed his eyes. “Just drop it, okay?”
    Rafe grunted under his breath and backed off. Toronto opened his mouth, but then he glanced at Dominic. The shadowed interior of the van didn’t do a damn thing to conceal him, and Dom didn’t need a mirror to know there were dark, ugly secrets written all over him. He knew it, and even though he blanked his expression, he didn’t do it quickly enough.
    The anger faded from Toronto’s face, quickly replaced by self-directed disgust. A red flush crept up his neck and he rubbed it. “Dom—”
    Without saying anything, Dominic slammed the door shut behind him.
    He wished he could have waited for full night. Then he could have just taken one of the bikes and driven himself to Excelsior. Would have taken two nights to make the trip, though, and that was the problem. Rafe wanted him there quicker than that, which meant flying.
    Outside, he heard Rafe snapping at Toronto. If he focused, he could have heard the words. But he didn’t want to. He didn’t want to think, didn’t want to remember.
     
     
    I T was just after midnight when they landed at the private airstrip a half hour from the school. The entire flight had passed in tense, uneasy silence. Toronto, sensing Dominic’s uneasiness, hadn’t attempted to break it, not even once—proving he actually did possess two brain cells in that pretty blond head of his.
    As the plane touched down, Dominic took a deep breath and braced himself.
    All the what-ifs in his mind were screaming. What if he was going crazy? What if there was something wrong with him? What if . . . what if . . . what if . . .
    Kelsey would be here waiting for him. No matter what Rafe said, Dominic had the worst feeling she was going to look at him and tell him he was going insane.
    As he climbed out of the little plane, he glanced around. It was still and quiet, the air cool and damp, smelling of spring flowers and grass. The air smelled different here. Different kinds of trees. Different people. He grabbed his duffle without waiting for Toronto. Up ahead, he could see Kelsey at the hangar.
    “Let’s get this shit over with,” he muttered. Behind him, he heard Toronto trotting to catch up.
    As the blond wolf fell in