The Hunt (By Kiss and Claw #2) - Melissa Haag Page 0,82

changes tonight. Get ready to show me your belly, Jenna. Fenris will be mine by dawn.”

The she-wolf shifted to her fur and took off in the direction Fenris had fled.

Jenna turned toward me and gave me an apologetic shrug.

“Beth’s not as bad as she seems.”

“I’m going to have to disagree.”

Jenna grinned.

“There’s a bonfire tonight for those of us who decide to call it quits early. Want to join us?”

“Thank you, but I don’t think that would be smart.”

“They won’t all be like Beth.”

“I’m not concerned with their manners but the blatant nudity. It’s been a long day, and I think I’ll be better off on my own. But thank you for the offer.”

“Are you sure? I can smell you were crying.”

I gave a weak smile.

“So could Fenris.” I gave a small wave goodbye, and her form shimmered back into a wolf.

With relief, I hurried back the way I’d come and let the wind cool my warm cheeks. Talking to Jenna hadn’t been easy. Not only had she unapologetically remained exposed to me and the elements, she’d also reeked of her lust for Fenris. I’d barely kept myself from doing something I would have regretted more than what I’d done at dinner.

On the drive to the cabin, I acknowledged the truth behind that unplanned detour. It hadn’t been to offer my support to Fenris. It had been because I was still so lost. Doing everything Adira and the Council had wanted me to do and letting that thing inside of me loose, should have freed me. Instead, I now better understood how trapped I was. And it wasn’t Uttira’s boundaries binding me. It was my very nature. There was no running from what I needed to do. But how did I come to terms with that?

My nose tingled with new tears. Rather than giving in to another round of self-pity, I parked my car in the clearing and started for the cabin. I’d packed heavy, already having determined that I wouldn’t be going to the Academy the next day. As Fenris had pointed out, I wasn’t learning anything there anyway.

I was almost to the cabin when I felt a tingle of awareness. My first thought was to head back to the car so I wouldn’t give away the location of Fenris’s peaceful haven. My second was to keep going. No one would know the cabin was his. Sure, wolves had a sharp sense of smell, but I’d been in the cabin last. It would be my scent there.

Hopefully.

A branch cracked behind me. I didn’t turn to look or run away in fear. But my eyes did go dark, and my pulse tripped a little.

If it was Beth, I wasn’t sure I had it in me to restrain myself if she decided to attack.

I reached the cabin before I gave in and looked out at the trees. The warning feeling hadn’t diminished, but nothing showed itself. I knew it would when it was ready.

That’s how predators worked.

Bait the trap. Stalk. Then pounce.

Too bad for whatever was out there that I wasn’t in the mood for pouncing.

Chapter Sixteen

The fire crackled warmly in the hearth as I stood back and looked at the clothes I’d randomly placed around the room. Hopefully, the distribution of my scent would trick whatever was out there if it decided to come in.

Tired, but not foolish enough to sleep, I sat in the chair and watched the flames. I debated warning Fenris not to come to the cabin, but I knew that any text I sent would only be taken as an invitation. He liked flaunting the rules too much and would skip out on his mate run at the slightest suggestion.

I didn’t want to be the reason he got into trouble. Although, he seemed to be gifted at finding trouble on his own.

Bored and too tempted, I picked up my phone.

Me: Having fun playing hide-and-seek?

His response took a few minutes.

Fenris: Why? Thinking of joining the fun?

Me: Running around in the snow is not my idea of fun. But Beth sure seemed to be having a good time.

Fenris: Who’s Beth?

Me: A new girl. She seemed to know Jenna. Wasn’t very nice though. She seemed pretty certain you’d be mated to her by dawn. It’s been nice knowing you.

Fenris: You need to have faith in my skills. I’ve been playing this game for years.

Me: And they haven’t?

Fenris: Not like I have.

I shook my head.

Me: How are they not noticing the light of your phone as you’re standing around reading texts