“For your first time out, absolutely,” he replied. “But that’s exactly what this is—your first time out. Liam’s right about statistical significance. We need more time to train, more time to know this isn’t just a fluke.”
“A fluke? Are you—”
“Sunrise isn’t for a few hours yet,” he said, leaving no room for argument. “I think we should run through that exercise one more time. After that, I’ve got some mental tests I’d like to…”
His words trailed off as I headed back the way we’d come, ditching my blindfold on the way.
“We’re not done yet!” he shouted, his voice echoing across the meadow. “You can’t possibly tell me you’re tired.”
I wasn’t tired—the opposite, actually. My body was buzzing with energy, glad for the exercise and the fun night out, despite the few hiccups and Darius’s apparent inability to dish out a compliment.
But I was also eager to get back to the lodge, to rest up before tomorrow night. I’d proven myself stable enough for public exposure—that much was certain. After a day’s rest, I’d finally be able to spend some time with my sisters.
I hadn’t even spoken to either of them since we’d gotten Adele out of that cell. The three of us had so much catching up to do.
“You guys can stay if you want,” I called over my shoulder, “but I’m ready for some hot chocolate and a nice roaring fire with—”
The howl of the wolf pierced my eardrums, and I spun around just in time to see Emilio charge at Liam, knocking him to the ground.
Liam struggled in vain to fight back.
And then Emilio, the man I loved, the one I trusted with my life and the lives of everyone I’d ever cared for, tore out Liam’s throat.
Nine
GRAY
“Liam!” I shot back across the meadow, launching myself at Emilio, desperate to put an end to the carnage…
I face-planted into the snow.
Emilio vanished. Liam vanished. The crimson pool of snow… All of it was gone.
What the fuck is going on?
I got to my knees, blinking away the lingering images, shocked as Liam came back into view.
He stood between Ash and Ronan, shivering in the cold but otherwise unharmed. All of them were watching me like I’d totally gone off the rails, which I basically had.
“Gray?” Liam’s brow furrowed as he knelt before me, reaching up to touch my face with a gloved hand. “What’s wrong?”
“I don’t…” I closed my eyes, then opened them, certain I was losing my mind.
“You’re trembling,” he said.
“But… You’re alive!” I blurted out, hauling him against my chest in a crushing hug. Seconds later, Emilio bounded toward me, still in his wolf form, and pressed his nose against my thigh.
There was no blood. No vicious snarl. Only my beautiful, gentle wolf. I reached out and stroked behind his ear.
I’d imagined the whole thing.
“I heard Emilio howling,” I said, trying to piece it together. “Then I saw him… He attacked Liam. He… he killed him.”
Liam pulled out of my embrace and narrowed his eyes at me. “Gray, are you feeling alright?” Then, to Darius, “Perhaps we should get her home. The drop in external temperature seems to be adversely affecting her, or maybe the stress of all the activity after her lengthy bedrest.”
Darius shook his head. “I can assure you, Liam. Neither of those things is affecting her.”
“Then what the fuck was that?” I demanded, my limbs still vibrating, my heart heavy. Even with Liam in my arms, the grip of loss and grief had yet to fully retreat. “I saw him lying in a pool of his own blood.”
