Every night since, I’d deleted a draft booty call message.
And I wasn’t even sure why I deleted the messages instead of sending them.
I knew he’d come and give me what I needed.
… It just didn’t feel right.
Not because of what he was or our situation.
I didn’t know. I should stop overthinking it.
“I can’t wait for this to be over.”
Wade strode ahead of me up the slope. “Ditto, baby girl. But don’t stress. I’ll hold down the fort until you return.”
“Hopefully I’m back by dawn.”
“No stress, remember? We’re the farthest out. No one will think anything of us taking our time back. Half of the tribe think we’re a couple and I’ve encouraged the rumours because of your Sascha issue.” Wade consulted his map and stopped. “This is us.”
I inhaled. “Camera twenty metres to the right.” Like all the perimeter cameras, it was facing outward. “We’re out of sight.”
As he set up the tent, I strode over and waved to Heather through the camera in case someone was watching—Rhona.
She’d been relatively quiet since returning to the manor the day after Clay. She’d kept out of my sight, and I didn’t trust her quietness—though it was also a welcome reprieve.
My fangs lengthened more, and I shuddered. “I better go.”
“Could you just—” Wade took a look at me and blanched. “Never mind. Off you go. See you in the morning.”
“Be good,” I told him.
“Or be good at it,” he quipped.
I passed behind the camera and ran at a sharp angle until I was out of sight. Pausing, I sniffed for more cameras.
Clear.
The sun dipped to the east and I picked up the pace, bursting through the forest for thirty minutes.
I inhaled. Small prey. Water nearby. Something rotten.
Please don’t eat that.
My wolf mentally shrugged.
That didn’t seem like a promise.
“Guess there’s nothing for it.” Delaying the moment, I took out my phone and read the message there from Sascha.
There’s nothing to be afraid of.
I won’t allow any wolf to leave pack lands. I swear to you.
I grinned like a goof before realising what I was doing.
Shuddering at the mounting darkness within me, I texted back.
Thanks. About to go in.
Seriously. How did he text so fast?
Please message me tomorrow.
Warmth filled me.
I will.
My wolf growled. Just whenever you’re ready.
Sorry. I placed the phone in my bag as the last of sunlight disappeared. My body began to tremble.
Oh, shit.
Three missed calls from Sascha.
I put the phone on speaker as I dug out my spare clothes.
“Andie,” he answered after a ring.
“Hey, everything went okay.”
Untangling twigs and leaves from my hair, I vowed to bring a hairbrush and a face cloth next time. I’d woken in a bed of leaves, dirt all over me.
He exhaled. “I’m glad to hear it. How do you feel?”
A smile broke over my face. “Really good.” By comparison, I could feel how tense the last five days were.
Languidness filled me. A warmth. Energy.
Positivity.
The tribe assumed that Luthers were tired and more likely to make mistakes in the grid after the new moon. That was total bullshit—something the pack had to be faking. Because I’d never felt sharper. Wiley wolves.
I could hear the smile in Sascha’s voice as he replied, “It’s a nice feeling. You probably won’t need to run for a couple of days. We’ll meet again on Friday?”
My heart panged. Oh. A whole two days away. “Okay then. Any headway on the other issue?”
I’d keep things vague. Who knew if black wolf was around him?
“None yet. It’s a delicate problem to navigate.”
“The pack has that mind link. Can’t you just hear their thoughts?”
“We choose what others can hear through that link. I can assert my power as pack leader to search for truth, but it’s viewed as a betrayal of a kind. I must be almost certain of guilt before taking that route.”
Dang. “I see. Well… I need to get back.”
It was just after dawn, but I needed to return and hear how Trixie and Stanley did with our latest morale boosting Tribe Night.
“Have a good day, little bird.”
“You too.” Hanging up, I frowned at the screen.
That conversation felt entirely too normal.
So did him calling me little bird.
We were literally on opposite sides. How the hell did we get to the stage where I called so he wouldn’t worry? I mean, the situation was as unique as it got, but even with boyfriends, I never did that.
“Crap,” I muttered.
Making quick work of backtracking to Wade’s salted caramel scent, I shook his tent, grinning at his alarmed shout.
A mussed-up Wade poked his head out, glaring.