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“What sort of virus?”

“The hospitalized ones? Blood coming from their eyes, thick as sludge. Brain bleeds, I guess. No other warning. It’s been traveling through the small communities in Utah.”

My gaze lifts just as Astra appears from the deepest aisle. She has an armful of things.

I bite back my frown at the sheer amount of shit she holds. Soda, water. Those pre-packaged sandwiches. Bags of different flavors of chips.

“What?” she snaps at me. “I suppose you’d rather eat raw steaks than a tuna sandwich?”

She got me food?

“Forget it.” She tosses the stuff on the counter and snags two sandwiches, ready to put them back.

I haul her back by her arm. “I like tuna just fine.”

“I—” The owner gapes at her. “Your face. What⁠—”

She ignores him and glares down at my arm. “Let go of me, Kian.”

I like the way she says my name. Especially angry.

“Or what?” I goad.

“Or…”

“Kian—?” the owner blubbers.

“I’m going to wait outside. You sure know how to be an asshole.” She shakes me loose.

I glance at the guy, who seems just as surprised as me. The bell over the door dings with her fast exit.

The owner gets over his shock faster than me. “Women. Can’t live with em, can’t live without em. That’s what my brother always says, anyway. Is her face okay?”

“What?” I find her out the window. She’s gone past my bike, standing on the edge of the road. With her fucking thumb out, like someone is going to pick up her hitchhiking ass. “Yeah, she’s fine. It’s a temporary tattoo.”

I’m totally fucking distracted. I toss him cash and take the bag from him. She’s hot and cold. I can’t figure out her mind games either. Did she wear my sweatshirt just to piss me off? Does she know she’s damn sexy in it?

My throat closes. I’m not attracted to a witch. I don’t enjoy the way her eyes dip down to my dick when I’m naked in front of her. Nudity in any wolf pack is common. Most of our children don’t wear clothes until they start school. But she doesn’t see me that way. Like it’s normal.

To her, it’s anything but.

I’ve smelled the lust on her skin and the arousal between her legs.

A truck rumbles to a stop beside Astra. The window rolls down.

Oh, absolutely fucking not.

“Hey, little lady,” the guy in the cab says. “Where you heading?”

“Anywhere away from here.” She’s got her hand on her hip, jutted out like she’s posing for him.

I narrow my eyes and lengthen my stride. She’s going to get someone killed if she’s not careful.

His gaze lifts to me, and understanding flickers in his eyes.

The lock on the passenger door pops up, and Astra jerks the door open without hesitation.

She’s leaving me. Just like that?