my back to him. I listened as he undressed, the sound of his zipper seeming too loud for the quiet world we were standing in. A weird thing to notice, no doubt, but I couldn’t help it. I felt something hit the back of my legs and looked around to see it, catching a glimpse of bare legs as I stared at the pile of clothing. I picked them up, trying to fold them as I went so they would be easier to carry. I didn’t dare comment on the soft boxer briefs with…well, I figured they were dog bones. Were those supposed to be a joke?
I’m not sure what to even think about them. Are they a dick joke? Are they a werewolf joke? Did he buy them for himself, or were they a prank gift from someone? Who would buy this man patterned underwear?
Questions for another time. We had more pressing things to deal with, like getting out of the woods safely.
We have time. Keep calm, keep moving, and we’ll be out of here well before nightfall.
I listened to bone crunching, grunts, and growls as Heath went through the fast but painful-looking shift from man to massive wolf.
“Can you hear me?”
“Yup. We’re good,” I answered. “Let’s get moving.”
He huffed and began to trot toward the trail back. I followed behind him as we entered the woods and fell into an easy formation. I walked the trail, keeping my eyes and ears out for anything. As a wolf, he sniffed around the trail sides, looking for any place where it seemed someone or something might have been following alongside the path or taken off in a different direction. We trekked for a long time, not speaking. It was odd for me to talk to a wolf, and he probably had nothing to say because he wasn’t finding anything.
Either way, it was a silent walk.
We were nearly to the house when Heath whined.
“I smell something, and it’s bad news, I bet.”
“What?”
“Gasoline,” he answered before taking off faster. I ran after him, unable to keep up.
“Heath!” I called. “Wait up!” I really didn’t want to get left behind in the woods—not now.
I watched him slow down, and together, we ran at a reasonable pace to the place where the two werecats once met and where we left our ride. I was about thirty yards away when I could smell what he had. The gasoline was strong in the air.
“Oh fuck,” I snapped. “No. No. No. No.” I continued to run for the ATV the humans had left behind for us and snarled at the fuel line—severed clean, all the fuel poured onto the ground.
“Does it seem purposeful?”
“Yes,” I answered, my hand shaking as I continued to stare at it. “What do you bet our rental is in the same condition?”
He growled. “You think?”
“They wouldn’t be stupid enough to screw us here without fucking with the car. I don’t smell anyone new. Just those three. Unless it’s our scentless killer.” I leaned over, holding my face in my clean hand. “God damn it. Even if we make it back to the car before dark, if it’s fucked up, we’d have to repair it at night.”
“Or we can fortify here and make a break for it at dawn,” he suggested. “I’ll stay in wolf form as protection. We’ll borrow their…home.”
I looked over at the house. Hasan is going to kill me. He’s going to send the entire damn family out here, and people are going to get hurt.
I felt like a fuck up. I was a fuck up.
So fucking stupid, Jacky. I should have known better! Why didn’t I know better than to leave my ride out unsecured?
“We’ll stay the night here,” I said, sighing heavily. “This is probably easier to secure than that little shack they used to hold this shit.” I dropped the cut fuel line and stood up, shaking my head. “I’m going to need help securing if you’re okay with changing back to human form.”
“I would rather you get into werecat form,” he countered. “We’re both safer in these forms.”
“That works, but I want to lock us in the building.” I started marching to the door, Heath on my tail. Once we were both inside, I shut the door and locked it. It probably wouldn’t be too much help, so I shoved the couch in the way of the door as well. Then I went into the bedroom and lifted the bed to block the window. Slowly, I made