Page 7 of Red

Chapter 5

Morning air hits my skin as soon as I step outside the next day. This time, knowing Jocko would be here, I layered up as a human would be expected to. It’s going to suck, but I look the part in dark leggings—which are paper thin—and a long-sleeve quarter-zip that has vents under the arms.

“Good morning, Aloka.” Jocko raises his arm overhead in a stretch as he moves to the bottom of the stairs to greet me with a cheeky smile.

“Morning. You ready?”

“I guess you don’t turn, so I’ll match your pace.”

For the first time, I don’t feel insulted. He’s just being nice.

When we hit the driveway, there’s no sign of Stark in the front yard. My stomach sinks, betraying me. It’s that face—that sharp, square jawline that ground together when Jocko and I finalized our plans before I went to my room for the evening—that haunts my dreams.

Fresh snow lines the road, our tracks gone from the previous day. Snowfall this time of year doesn’t seem to stop.

Jocko does as he said he would, matching my pace. He’s tall beside me, but not as towering as Stark. I absorb the fresh, icy air into my lungs and hold it there. No sprinting today—the goal is to build trust so I can be allowed out alone.

Jocko smiles and is quite chatty the entire time, talking about different people I’ve seen at dinner. I learn that Mitus and Kiya are mates, and that Hudry is only eighteen—the youngest one to show up. I almost need a picture book to remember them all.

When we reach Otis and Farias’s place, we slow and walk a few steps before turning around.

“Who are they?” I ask, glancing down their driveway.

“Do you mean why are they always at Stark’s?”

“Them and Graden. Is it normal for Elders to be around so much?”

He smiles at me, and we keep at a walk. “Graden is family to Stark, raised him after . . . well, I’ll let him fill in those blanks. Otis ran this area’s cohort before becoming an Elder. Story is that they were a lot alike at one time. Most cohorts have a few Elders that stick close, but I don’t know if they come for dinner every night. That might just be ours.”

I don’t pick up the run again. Talking to Jocko reminds me of Pratt when his protective defenses dropped.

“What was that meeting about last night?” I pry, keeping my eyes away from his face, knowing I’ll give my intense curiosity away.

“Nothing, just Stark and the Elders disagreeing on what’s next. After Pratt’s death, things have escalated even more. A few other pack members came back with graze wounds.”

The world spins around me. My body keeps tricking me into thinking this is temporary, that he will walk through Stark’s door laughing, saying it was all some dumb test.

“Shit. Sorry, I didn’t even think.”

I wipe the wetness of my cheeks and force a smile. “No, it’s good. Let’s just pick it up.”

He doesn’t say anything else. I appreciate the space.

A rumble comes from down the road and Jocko glances behind us. It’s a truck engine; I focus on the sounds and hear two voices—men. I can’t tell if they’re human or pack members, but humans shouldn’t be up here. The sound grows and Jocko loops around me to be on the high side of the road.

A shadow in the woods moves, and my ears pick up soft, snow-crushing steps. Chances are it is a pack member out for a run, except they stay close and move slow.

The truck rumbles to a stop next to Jocko and he walks to meet it.

“Hey, Jocko. What dumbass shit are you into running like that now?” the man behind the steering wheel says, leaning out the window. He’s large and wide, and a full light beard covers the lower half of his face.

“Graham, just trying something new out.”

I keep my distance but don’t run off. I am judging his friends nevertheless. I don’t blame the comment. No werewolf wants to run on two legs for fun without reason.

“Wait a second.” The guy in the passenger seat leans across the center console. They look similar. Must be brothers. “Is that the human girl? Pratt was stupid for keeping her here.”

“Go back to the humans. We don’t need your kind here,” the driver adds, yelling as if I’m not a few feet away from them.