“I’m coming with you.” Kale’s tone left no room for argument.
I nodded but said nothing. Instead I called Jez. “Do me a favor Jezzy? Call Lena and make small talk. Just make sure she answers and she’s safe. Don’t let on that you’re checking up on her. I’ll call you back in a bit and fill you in.”
After hanging up, I let my gaze travel over the guys. I found it easiest to make eye contact with Shaz. “Alright. Monday at midnight we meet them.”
“What about Lena?” Shaz asked with a growing fire burning in his jade eyes. “Someone should stake out her place.”
“They’ll have someone watching her, to make sure you show.” Arys was looking particularly smug. I shook my head so that my hair fell over the bite on my neck.
I felt the weight of Kale’s gaze upon me. His expression revealed nothing when he said, “I’ll go to Lena’s.”
That thought didn’t sit well with me. I cut the conversation short. “We’ll talk about it later. I have to call Jez back, and if I don’t go for a run soon, I’m going to lose my mind.”
With a curt nod, Kale handed me the photo and retreated to his room. I knew he had someone waiting for him in there, and I wanted to vacate the hall right away. The smirk pasted on Arys’ face didn’t fade as he and Shaz followed me back into the club.
Shaz headed back to the lobby, calling back to me, “Be careful. I’ll see you at home soon. Or Kylarai’s. Let me know where you’ll be.”
I blew him a kiss and turned to Arys with a sigh. “I need to go home. I assume you have other things in mind.”
“Go run; I feel your wolf pacing inside me.” With a gentle touch, he caressed the side of my face. “I’ll stick around for a bit after you leave. I can’t take much more of this place. It’s painful. So many lovely treats that are to be tasted but never truly feasted upon. It’s a tease is what it is.”
“Yeah, yeah. Willing victims are such a pain in the ass, huh?” I rolled my eyes and gave him a playful shove.
“Willing victim … that’s beyond ridiculous. Takes all the fun out of it. I thrive on the struggle.” He chuckled, and I felt his smooth laughter like the stroke of a finger down my spine. Taking my hand, Arys placed a kiss in the center of my palm. “Come on. I’ll walk you out to your car.”
* * * *
The breeze was cool against my face as I ran through the forest, dodging stray limbs and jumping fallen trees. As a wolf I was able to maneuver through the thick trees and brush with ease. My body moved with a natural flow, instinct guiding my feet with every step. Lupine muscles and senses enabled me to be one with my environment. I savored every moment of such true freedom.
The sky was clear, the perfect backdrop for the curtain of stars overhead. Unlike the city just miles away, the forest was quiet and peaceful. The scent of rich earth and fresh growth tantalized me. The transition of spring to full-blown summer was full of splendor. Everything was new again, thriving in the circle of life. It was earthly and natural, something the rest of my life was not.
These precious moments as wolf reassured me. No matter how deadly my other side was, as long as I had my wolf to ground me, the darkness wouldn’t swallow me whole. As hard as the first few years were after Raoul had attacked me, I couldn’t regret becoming a werewolf. The wolf connected me to life in the same way Arys linked me to death. The wolf kept me sane and alive; I believed it with every part of me.
I raced through the forest, ducking a low hanging branch before it could slap me in the face. My ears twitched constantly, ahead then back, listening as Shaz gained on me from behind. I was hoping to reach the clearing ahead before he leaped on me. Once he got me in his sights, he would roll me.
The sound of his pursuit grew quiet, and I wondered what he was up to. I had a feeling he was going to try to head me off before I reached the clearing. Shaz made one hell of a fine wolf. He was stealthy and intelligent. Though I wanted him to have opportunities to make use of those fine qualities, I hated that it put him in danger.
Hoping to throw him off, I veered off my straight path and zigzagged through the trees. I broke through the trees into the clearing and gave a surprised yelp when Shaz leaped out in front of me. He crashed into me hard enough to knock me off my feet. We tumbled and rolled with limbs flailing.
I was quickly on my feet, circling away from Shaz. He sat back on his haunches with his tongue lolling out. I didn’t give him much time to enjoy his small victory before I jumped on him, biting at his ears. He whined and tried to pull away.