Page 65 of Red

Eventually, my speed starts to decline, and I put the pedal to the floor. It works for only a second before dying off. I pull my car to the side of the road as the engine idles down to nothing and it finally rolls to a stop.

Damn spirits. I’m trying to save lives here.

My life lately has been nothing like what I expected or dreamed. Pratt’s passing set me off on a path I can’t seem to steer away from. I’d accepted my solitary life with Pratt, knowing he might go find someone to love one day. Gretch’s cackling comes to mind, then Tripp’s snug embrace. Maybe . . . I don’t know what I want anymore.

With nothing else I can do, I guess a run would be a nice way to cool down a bit before going to a house full of werewolves. I leave the keys inside the car and stretch my limbs to run. The only shoes I have are these clunky boots, so I toss them off, letting my socks soak in the melting snow. I quickly tie my hair back, then tug at the long sleeves cuffing my wrists, and the rips are satisfying. Stupid human clothes.

The sun is high in the center of the road and warms my skin before taking off in a run. The smile on my face grows as each foot lands. I speed up and follow the curves of the road. Dirt is starting to poke out where the tire tracks line the road. A group of birds soars in twirls around the trees. I take one more turn toward Stark’s, feeling more at ease than I have in weeks.

When the driveway entrance is another hundred yards away, I slow to a walk and take a deep breath. I will explain that I wanted to help, then it will all be fine. Stark might be angry and injured when I show up, but Jocko and Lirea will be happy.

The house isn’t visible until after the first narrow bend. Large vehicles are lined up at the house. The expansive timber-framed home makes me smile, despite the reason why I ended up in it.

The front door swings open and Stark steps into the doorway. He’s not hurt. Relief washes over me, but it’s gone in seconds when he charges toward me, his dark hair pointing in all directions. Those strong hands grip my shoulders and throw me onto the ground.

Fuck. Great reminder about his personal space issues.

He growls, and in seconds, it’s a majestic black wolf staring me down. If we could pause this and I could stare at his coat, I might accept that he threw me onto the muddy driveway.

“Hello,” I yell, trying to push up with my hands, but they keep slipping in the mud.

He doesn’t move closer, his lip curling to reveal long white canines.

“Could you like be normal? Change back.” I roll my eyes.

A deep growl comes from him, his eyes thinning into slits, and heat rises inside me. I need to be calm. I wish I could send thoughts to him again, except he can’t know it was me who shot at him or spoke into his mind.

He sniffs the air, and the growl comes again.

“Stark,” I say with a little desperation this time.

His large head shakes, nose flaring, and his claws grip deep into the ground, forming streaks on either side of me as he backs up.

I push up to my feet, wiping the mud and tiny rocks off my hands, leaving smears across my dark pants. He turns back to his human self and stands upright in front of me. Dressed in black, his shirt looks like it needs to be washed. He reeks like wolf even more today, and I scan him to check—no bullet wounds. The rest of the knots in my stomach from yesterday release.

“Red, you usually smell.” He growls and pulls at his hair. Dark circles surround his eyes.

“Oh, thanks.” I cross my arms.

“No.” He grabs my arms and moves his nose into my neck. I hear him sniff. “You smell like humans. Why do you smell like a human? And where the fuck have you been?” The Alpha energy pours off him now.

I glance behind him to see a few others standing on the front deck. One werewolf, Jocko, has his hackles raised.

I pull at my fingers. “I, um, I was with them. The ones who have been shooting at you.”

His eyebrows shoot up, then a firm hand slides down to my wrist, and he starts to drag me toward everyone.

Here we go. I’d be lying to myself if I expected him to learn boundaries since I left.

Jocko comes closer and growls at Stark. Leave her be.

Stark’s jaw ticks. “I’m not going to hurt her.”

Yeah, I don’t believe that yet.

But Jocko stands down.

“Everyone who isn’t already out of the house, get out. Now.” He swings the door open hard, cracking the hinges.