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East swallows. “She’s also our mate.”
“Then how do we convince her to stay?” Callum asks, his voice making it crystal clear that he’s pissed off.
“Wild wolves must roam free,” I tell them, repeating words as ancient as our wolf blood.
“So, we let her go?” East asks.
I nod. “And we let her return in her own time.”
“And what if something happens to her?” Callum asks.
The three of us tense at this possibility. “Then we follow her,” I say, “because, hell, we can’t let that happen. She’s our responsibility. Our mate.”
9
Remedy
My blood boils as I leave the cave and storm into the woods. My arm still hurts from last night’s bear attack, but thankfully the wound wasn’t deep, and the bleeding stopped quickly.
As I push my way through the thick trees, I make sure to avoid tripping over fallen branches and exposed roots. Above me, the sky is heavy with fog, but I can make out the hint of a mountain range to my north. Beyond that, I have no freaking clue where I am. And while I stuffed trail mix, energy bars, and a half dozen water bottles into my back pack before peacing out, eventually I’ll need more water. Assuming there’s a river coming off the mountain somewhere, I head that way. Fuming as I walk.
I don’t know what hippy-dippy sex-travaganza happened last night. I must have been seriously deranged after killing Ray because I slept with not only one stranger—but three of them.
I know I’m a mess—I always have been—but then River, Callum, and East held me, and kissed me, and made me feel so fucking good. I don’t regret what happened in that cave—hell no—in fact I’m depressed over the fact that I know there won’t ever be a sexual experience in my life that will top it. But then I remember the way they spoke this morning… like they owned me. Like I was theirs—it gave me the heebie-jeebies.
I get it. We live in different worlds. I’m from the real one and they are from some vortex where men shift into wolves and run as a pack. Alice didn’t fall down this fucking hole.
And the whole “mate” thing. I mean, come on. We screw once and now I am their one true mate? It’s too much to wrap my mind around.
Besides, I’m fighting for survival here. I don’t have time to fuss over them—no matter how rock solid and chiseled their bodies were. I have my own life to worry about. If the police decide to come hunt me down, the forest behind Sadie’s house is the first place they are going to look.
I braid my hair as I walk, securing it with a black band, and try to erase the guys from my mind. Every time I try to think of something else though, my mind returns to River’s eyes on mine, to Callum’s mouth on my breasts, to East’s cock in my mouth.
“Gah,” I scream at the sky, sending a flock of birds in the air. I am just so freaking frustrated. I’m not saying my life should be easy… but I just want to catch a break. And I know last night I experienced something most women dream about—but that's not the kind of break my body and heart really craves.
I want to be able to set down my backpack without fear of a shopkeeper yelling at me for stealing a loaf of bread. I want to change my clothes in a room other than a public bathroom. I want to take off my shoes and know I am home.
Instead, I am in alone. In Alaska. In the fucking wilderness.
Finding a clearing, I sit down on a boulder and rest. Reaching for a bottle of water, I try to remain calm. Drinking half of it, I roll my shoulders back—trying to focus on the fact I’m alive and intelligent. I’ve gotten this far— I can do the next part too. Whatever that is.
Through the trees, I see a flash of fur. For a moment I think maybe the guys have shifted to wolves and have come for me. I’m preparing myself to go off on them again when the bear from last night crashes through the clearing.
Immediately, my entire body is charged. Shoulders, legs, feet, fists. There’s no way in hell this beast is going to get another chance to bite me. No way in hell.
I crouch down, ready to take her on. The fire in my belly grows and the ground seems to quake. The forest rumbles, matching the way I feel inside, the same way I felt before I lashed out against Ray. Angry and alone and threatened. I feel like the orphan girl I’ve never forgotten—me against the world. This bear is not going to win. Hell no.
Instead of retreating, I’m compelled to lunge for her. I want to attack a big ass bear. What the hell is going on with me?
