Page 105 of Big Bad Wolf

“We should go.”

Ruby’s gaze shot to his, a frown bracketing her lips. “We need to ask about Lena.”

“It’s not a good idea.”

She stood up, hands going immediately to her hips, fighting stance. “Why the hell not? We came all this way and all we found out was that your mom misses you and maybe your brother didn’t want to murder you!” Ruby’s voice rose with each word, and Rafe could feel the pack perking up around them.

He tugged her closer. “Keep your voice down,” he warned.

Ruby blew out a frustrated breath but whispered when she spoke. “I thought we came to help Lena. We need to figure out her visions.”

Rafe glanced around them, but the camp was quiet. “You need to trust me.” He waited, his gaze locked on Ruby’s. She wanted to argue. He could see it in the grim set of her mouth and the furrow of her brows and the anger flashing in her dark eyes.

“Fine,” she ground out. “I trust you. Let’s go.”

He took her hand and they strode back through camp, not bothering with goodbyes. His need to leave was stronger than his need to mend fences right now. Maybe someday he’d come back and try again, but a year hadn’t been enough to close his old wounds. He still couldn’t forgive what had happened here. Or his own role in it. Maybe he was a step closer than before, but today wasn’t the day he rejoined the pack.

When they were finally far enough from the camp that Rafe felt safe again, he tried to explain. “Being back here, it reminded me of something. Something I’d managed to push aside while I was living on my own.”

Ruby turned to look up at him. Her cheeks were pink with exertion. Rafe slowed the fast pace he’d set since they left.

“Oh?”

“The pack comes before everything else, Ruby.”

“Okay. But what does that have to do with Lena? We still don’t know what to do.”

Rafe flinched at the accusation in her tone, but he went on. “If we told Knox what Lena is, the first thing he would do with that information would be to figure out how it could benefit the pack.” He’d seen it in his brother’s eyes, the calculations he’d made when Rafe told him about Wyatt. He only agreed to increase patrols because it would look bad to let Highlanders stick around on County land. He hadn’t done it for Ruby. And certainly not for Rafe.

What he would do with information about a seer was anyone’s guess, but Rafe didn’t think it was worth the risk. It was just like Eloise had said: a seer would be valuable to a leader. Someone to guide the Alpha in his decision-making. And that didn’t only go for the Highland pack. His former pack could use the help just as much. Werewolves lived a perilous life. Whatever small assurance a seer could give would be welcomed. The more Rafe thought about it, the happier he was that he hadn’t told Knox the whole truth.

“You think he would hurt her?”

“I don’t think so. But I do know his first thought would be for the pack. Not for helping Lena.”

Ruby sighed, pushing the wispy hairs from her face. Curls stuck to the sweat on her brow. “Well, fuck.”

Rafe grunted. “Yeah.”

They walked on in silence, the afternoon unseasonably warm, before Rafe spoke again. “I’m sorry I didn’t think of all this before we left. I can be impulsive, I guess. Act before I think sometimes.” More so when she was involved.

“You were trying to get away from me again.” He hated the words, but Ruby’s tone was light like she was trying to tease him.

“I’m sorry about that too.” He said it even as Knox’s warning rattled around in his head. Exhaustion settled heavily on his shoulders. He was so tired of fighting this thing between them. He wanted to sink into it, to give in and crawl into her lap like a damn puppy.

“Rafe, stop.” Ruby tugged him to a standstill on the narrow trail.

“What is it?”

Her face was tipped up, and he couldn’t stop himself from brushing the damp tendrils from her brow.

“I know,” she said, never taking her dark gaze from his face.

He swallowed hard, his blood suddenly speeding through his veins. “You know what?”

“I know what we are. To each other, I mean. At least I think I do.” Her forehead scrunched in hesitation, and Rafe pressed his lips to the creases, unable to stay away, to stay back, to resist.

“Say it,” he whispered, needing to hear the word from her blood-red lips.