Page 53 of Big Bad Wolf

“That kind of fun isn’t allowed anymore.”

Another infuriating shrug. “Don’t tell me you never get the urge to chase some sweet thing through the woods, Rafe. Tackle her in the dirt, hold her down … consensually, of course.” The asshole winked.

“Shut. The. Fuck. Up.”

Theo’s cackle made Rafe think maybe his father was right. Maybe he should have killed his brother when he had the chance. “Never mind. You clearly don’t know shit.”

“What makes you think this is more than a one-time thing?”

Theo’s question made him stop in his tracks, one hand on the door.

It was already more than a one-time thing. Wyatt kept showing up. Add that to Lena’s visions or episodes or whatever the hell they were, and it had to mean something. It couldn’t be a coincidence that Ruby was attacked and her sister had some kind of power. But should he tell Theo?

He turned around to face his brother again. The smirk was gone, replaced by actual curiosity.

Rafe sighed. “Her sister has these visions. It feels like it might be related.”

“What, like a seer?”

It was Rafe’s turn to shrug. He had no idea what Lena’s deal was. There hadn’t been a known seer around in decades. At least not one that anyone had heard about. But if she did have clairvoyant powers, it would definitely be something people would be interested in. Like willing-to-do-some-damage-to-get-their-hands-on interested in. The power to see what was coming, who wouldn’t want that?

“Shit. That’s wild.”

“Yeah, well. If you hear anything let me know.” Rafe fidgeted, the old floorboards groaning beneath his weight. “Anything about Knox or the Highland pack or … I don’t know, anything. Just let me know.”

Theo nodded, his brow knit together in concentration. “Whatever it is, I doubt Knox is involved, man.”

Rafe’s skin prickled. He had no desire to listen to Theo defend their older brother.

“I’ve heard that he’s done a lot for the pack,” Theo went on.

Rafe snorted. “I’m sure he has. Feel free to go crawling back whenever you like.”

A low growl rumbled from Theo’s chest. “Fuck you, Rafe.”

“Same to you.”

He was out the door and shifting again before he had time to think about how much he wanted to throttle his little brother and how much it pissed him off that he’d bothered to save his life if he wasn’t going to do anything with it.

Another pleasant visit and nothing to show for it.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Rafe loped into Ruby’s yard a couple hours later, his muscles aching from the long run, but his lungs filled with fresh piney air. He’d almost completely shaken off the bullshit with his brother when Ruby’s cottage came into view.

Rafe stopped dead in his tracks. The yard reeked of wolf. Wyatt. And a few others. Rafe sniffed the grass around him, the trail leading straight to Ruby’s back door. His heart stopped.

Ruby.

He was changing as he ran, tugging on the gym shorts he’d left on the back deck. He never should have left her.

He nearly tripped head-first into the house, his shorts still not fully covering his ass, his pulse pounding in his ears, to find Ruby and Lena at the kitchen table. Ruby was braiding her sister’s hair as they talked.

Their heads snapped up, wide-eyed, when he stumbled into the room.

“Uh, hi. Welcome back,” Ruby said, a small smile playing around her lips. She’d painted them bright red. Blood red. Goddamn this woman.

“Come with me.” He grabbed her arm, tugging her from her sister and nearly dragging her from the room. He was being an asshole. But all he could imagine when he smelled those other wolves was Ruby’s body torn to pieces, her blood staining the floorboards. The memories of Scarlet’s blood staining his hands flooded his thoughts. He’d been the one to find her. His father had made sure of that.