Page 22 of Dark

Whatever. He and Lacey were tight and no way was I getting in the middle of that. Although would it kill one of my brothers, just for once, to take my side?

No reply from Hayden. I was starting to fume, but two more orders came in and the kid working the counter was starting to panic. Time to pull my head out of my ass and act like the manager.

Ten minutes later (and oh yeah, I knew it was on purpose), my phone buzzed. It was from Hays. Rather than answer, she sent me a middle-finger emoji.

Me: Cute. You know what else would be cute? You at the end of a leash.

Me: I think PetCity even has one with daisies.

WillKillforThinMints: Devil-horns emoji. Meat-on bone emoji. Knife-emoji.

She and Ellie had entire conversations in emojis. I was pretty sure Brody hadn't even heard of them. August sent a bunch of GIFs to Ben once as a joke, and Ben threatened to throw his phone in the lake.

Me: You’re pissed, but willing to talk over lunch. Out of silverware so I should bring. What time?

Me: I’m sorry

WillKillforThinMints: Skyping with my band. Got to go.

By the time someone finally made it in to finish out the lunch rush, it was after one. I punched out and grabbed my keys.

The trailer park east of town was just as dilapidated as ever. Think chipped paint and AC units that sagged from broken windows. Rusted-out cars up on cinder blocks. Half-starved attack dogs strung out on chains. Brody had done a lot this past year to try to clean up the place, enforce curfew and chase away the dealers and low-lifes. Word around town was Hayden’s aunt still paid rent on their trailer just in case her brother ever decided to get clean and come home, and to keep Ellie from making the long drive back to Austin at night when she worked at the local vet clinic on the weekends. There was still no way in hell I wanted Hayden staying here.

I banged on her door two times with no answer. Like the whole neighborhood hadn’t heard her guitar wailing from the highway. The third time I raised my fist, the door flew open. Hayden slouched in the doorway, looking pissed enough to deck me.

She had on black chucks, an olive-green cropped canvas jacket and skinny jeans that hugged every inch of her legs and hips. I pictured how she looked on her back the night before, those slim legs bare and spread for me, and my cock rammed up into my fly. She was still wearing my shirt, which my wolf liked. A lot. Almost as much as the messy knot of hair on top of her head.

Don’t get me wrong. Nothing turned me on like the sight of those dark strands tumbling loose and luscious around her face. But damn if seeing my mark openly displayed on her skin didn’t send fire roaring through my blood. I’d never done long-term. There was no point when we all knew I’d just wind up razing things to the ground. But suddenly it seemed like no accident I’d jammed my cuffs up to my forearms the moment I got into my truck.

Hayden gave me a look that would have flash-frozen a horde of zombies in July. “You shouldn’t be here.”

“And you shouldn’t have taken off. Not when we don’t have a feel yet for what’s going on.” I folded my arms. “Out of curiosity, what were you planning to do at sunset, go furry and do donuts in your trailer?”

“Cute. You try that line out on Lacey Blair before you headed over here?”

She started to slam the screen door in my face. I blocked it with the flat of my hand.

“This isn’t a game, Hays.”

I’d seen friendlier looks offered to roadkill.

“I had some stuff I needed to run through with my band over Skype. We’ve got a huge gig the weekend after next. What are the chances I’ll be able to go out at night without eating anyone?”

“Varies. For most shifters, moonlust lasts roughly three days, a week at the outside. For new Bittens, you’re probably looking at a week, maybe ten days each month where you won’t be safe. For Ferals, the period of lucidity shrinks each cycle until eventually they never come back to their human selves even during daylight hours.”

“Great,” she muttered.

“You do remember there’s someone after you?”

She scoffed. “Totally slipped my mind. And not that you asked, but we’ve busted our asses to get where we have. So sorry, but this sucks just a little for me.”

We stared each other down. Fine. We’d do this the hard way.

“Can you take a break? Something you need to see.”

She let out a little huff. But a second later, the screen door slammed and she followed me out into the bright Texas afternoon. Stalked me was more like it. I got the feeling she was only coming along for the opportunity to do some yelling. Which I probably deserved. I weaved us between busted washing machines and sticky picnic tables swarming with flies towards the chain-link fence at the edge of the property.

She slapped a clothesline out of the way. “Was Lacey the one who texted you last night?”