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“I’m not,” Nathan assured. “I’m doing what I can to secure Khan’s safety.” Before they could ask another question, he told them, “I’m going to talk to the people who know about these hunters in the area and make it safe here for Khan.”
With that declaration, Nathan headed out of the house.
Chapter Six
Khan’s wolf howled mournfully as he forced his animal to run away from their mate. His animal didn’t understand why they’d left the human. He wanted to turn right around and go back to the living room.
Instead, Khan kept them moving down the hall and out the side doggie door. The chilly evening air wrapped around them, and he’d never felt so grateful for his fur. Khan needed a run to clear his head.
As his feet tore up the light dusting of snow that had managed to fall to the ground between the pines, Khan couldn’t suppress his whine. He’d never been at odds with his wolf before, and he struggled with his warring instincts. Part of him desperately wanted to go back to his mate, but his fear kept him running.
Khan didn’t deserve such a fine mate, a wonderful human who’d seemed ready to accept him just like that. His mate didn’t know him. He didn’t know about his past or the reason why he’d ended up a witch’s plaything. If Khan ever explained how his own shifter pack bought their freedom with his worthless hide, he felt certain Nathan would turn away from him.
It’s better this way.
This way my mate can’t reject me.
With that thought in mind, Khan ran... and ran. He leaped over downed branches, ducked under low-hanging ones, and pushed through the brush. Khan had no particular destination in mind. His one goal was to tire his wolf.
Slowing at the edge of a clearing, Khan peered around the forest, trying to get his bearings. Except, he’d only been in the area for a few days. He’d certainly never run so far before.
Khan had no idea where he was. A look at the sky showed him the moon had traveled quite a distance, so he’d been running for hours. His tired limbs told him the same thing. Huffing, Khan sat on his butt as he realized he really only had one choice.
He would need to turn around and follow his scent trail back the way he came. Well, he supposed there was another option. He could wait for someone to find him.
Except, what if it was a stranger from the wolf pack that located him? Would he get into trouble?
And what must Nathan be thinking of me?
Growling to himself, Khan wondered how he could be so stupid. Earlier that day, leaving the cabin, he’d been prepared to shift and ask Kontra to help him manage going into town. Then the alpha had surprised him by having Nathan in his home, damn near ready to accept him, and he’d let his fears and insecurities get the better of him.
Except, earlier at the cabin, Khan hadn’t known about the hunters in the woods. They’d discussed that on the drive back to the farmhouse. Scenting Nathan there had driven the information out of his mind until Congo had brought it up again.
And Kontra had already known!When had the alpha planned to tell the rest of them? What if Khan had gone wandering by himself and unwittingly gotten captured?
Oh, you mean what we’re doing right now? Running away from our mate and wandering alone in the woods?
Khan mentally groaned upon hearing his wolf’s angry snarky comment in his mind. Still, he couldn’t exactly counter his animal. The wolf was right.
The snap of a twig behind Khan had him up and spinning. He sidled to the left, keeping to the shadows. Going backward would leave him exposed in the clearing. Instead, Khan hid under several low-hanging pine bows.
A second later, Payson’s hyena’s nose shoved under those same branches. The enforcer stared at him for several heartbeats before pulling back again. The hyena’s normally playful, teasing visage was nowhere in sight. Instead, he looked annoyed.
Cringing, Khan eased out from under the branches. By the time he’d exited, Payson was already in human form. He stood with his fists on his hips and his feet braced while frowning down at him.
On either side of Payson sat Vail and Ishmael. The pair of wolves appeared a little more sympathetic, eyeing him with concern. Once Khan was out from under the wet pines, they even came forward and rubbed against him—one on each side—covering him with their scents and reminding him that he was pack—that he wasn’t alone.
Khan sighed, relief filling him. Then he focused on Payson, ready to face the music.
“Shift,” Payson snapped, frowning intently at him.
For a few seconds, Khan tried to resist the command. Payson wasn’t the alpha, after all. Unfortunately, the hyena shifter was pretty damn dominant in his own right, even though he usually hid it beneath snark and inappropriate comments, and Khan’s wolf had always been extremely submissive.
Which was why his pack had been happy to get rid of him.
As soon as Khan shifted, he rested on his knees on the ground and wrapped his arms around his torso, trying to keep in as much body heat as possible. He appreciated that his two friends pressed against him. Their fur was a little on the damp side, but the body heat still seeped through.
“Good grief, man,” Payson snarled. “You make us chase you all the way out here? What the fuck for?” He growled as he frowned at Khan. “And don’t forget about lyin’ by omission to our alpha or leavin’ your mate. Stupid, man.” Shaking his head, Payson curled his lip in a sneer as he continued, “And do you know what the worst part is? Do ya?”
