clue about rogues. “I wish it were that easy but no, that won’t work.”
“Why not?”
“Because no rogue in history has ever come back from insanity.”
“So that means your wolf is beyond saving? That he’ll always want to kill?”
My jaw locks. After a moment, I manage a curt nod.
Her lips part, making a surprised O. The musky scent coming off her completely disappears. Nothing like talk of a little murder to really kill the sexy vibe.
Another long moment passes before she asks, “So what have other rogue werewolves done when this has happened to them? Surely, there’s a way to still live normally?”
With a regretful shake of my head, I tell her something that’s been nagging at me. Ever since my interest changed toward her, I’ve been wishing for the impossible, but the truth is that even though I want a future now, I don’t have one. “No, Brianna. None of them ever live normally again. Once your wolf has gone rogue, there’s no coming back.”
“But then, how will you not kill…” Her words trail off, as if she’s too afraid to ask the question.
“I don’t know. My wolf won’t hurt you. I’m certain of that, but as for everyone else—” I feel him rise from his slumber and stretch. He’s obviously sensed that our mate is talking about him. “I’m going to do everything I can to keep him from killing again, and I will be successful, but his impulses will never go away. He’s always going to want blood.”
She shudders. “So he’s like an alcoholic? He’s always gonna want booze, but as long as he goes to meetings and stays away from the bottle, he’ll be okay?”
I laugh at her analogy. “Hopefully something like that.”
“Then why are we running from the SF? Why don’t you just tell them that your beast isn’t going to kill any more so they stop following you?”
Her naivety is endearing, but I can’t let her wish for things that will never be. “The SF will always hunt me. That’s not going to change. Never in the history of werewolves has a rogue ever stopped murdering.”
Her mouth parts but then determination lights her gaze. “But you could be the first. You could show them that you’re not going to do it anymore. I mean, if your wolf isn’t going to murder me then he’s obviously capable of stopping. Right?”
“Yes, we can hope for that.”
She nods, and some of the tension eases from her shoulders. It doesn’t sit well with me, though. Cause while I didn’t lie, I also didn’t tell her the full truth, because not only has no rogue ever stopped murdering, but no rogue has ever been able to run forever.
Sooner or later, the SF always catches up with them, and when that happens…
Death is waiting.
Chapter 19 – Collin
By early evening, we’re in southeastern California. I stay in the eastern part of the state. It’s less populated here and will keep us well away from LA.
Heat wraps around the land like a glove. It’s sweltering this time of year, but it’s also less populated, and the less populated area may thwart the SF.
Rogues typically dwell in cities where it’s easy to pluck off humans. As for rogues hanging out in deserted areas of states? Not so much.
The dry desert flies by my window. We’ve passed a few cheap motels, some open but most boarded-up and closed. There have been a few gas stations, too, and the random small town. But that’s about it.
“Where are we going to stay tonight?”
Brianna asks the obvious question, and the unsettled feeling I’ve been dealing with for the past hour grows. “I’m working on it.”
Once again, it becomes obvious that I can’t provide for my mate. I have no money, no shelter, and hardly any food. I can’t even fill the hatchback with a new tank of gas since I have no cash, which means we’ll need to ditch this vehicle and find a new car soon.
Brianna’s not going to like that.
My jaw tightens and then it grinds when her stomach rumbles. I don’t even need my enhanced senses to hear it.
“You’re hungry.”
“I’m okay,” she says.
“Right.” She’s not fooling me.
The only option I’ve come up with for surviving the next twenty-four hours is to knock some dude out and steal his wallet. If I can even find a dude to knock out…
Regardless, pretty sure Brianna’s not gonna like that either.
I’m almost desperate enough to use my old credit card. If I did, I could pull into the next