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“I don’t know,” she said lightly. “I’m just saying, I might be out of practice.”
But when we walked out of the house and into the expansive front yard, she turned her face up toward the sunlight. A look of pure joy came over her face, reminding me of the way I felt at the best of times when I ran.
That look made my heart melt. It was nice to see her looking happy, if only for a few moments.
We walked into the forest and separated—not by much—so we could shift. I threw my clothes on the ground, forgetting to fold them neatly like I usually did. I couldn’t stop thinking about seeing Amelia as a wolf.
Something primal built up in my chest, and I couldn’t have resisted the pull to shift if I had tried.
Then I darted back to the clearing where we’d just separated.
She wasn’t back yet, and the forest felt eerily still. The strange scent I’d found in the woods the other day rose in my mind, and a vivid image of Amelia being dragged away rose in my mind. My stomach twisted. I raised my head, scenting her, then let out a howl.
As a wolf, she padded out to meet me. She had turned into the most beautiful wolf I had ever seen, a petite white wolf, her fur almost silvery. Thin stripes of black fur lined her striking eyes.
She looked at me with her mouth open and panting, a smile written across her face, and then she ran toward the forest. I chased her, not sure how she’d react, but she threw her head over her shoulder, still grinning. My heart sang. The worries melted away; I was here to protect her, and this run already felt joyful.
Shaw slammed into my shoulder, and I whirled to attack him, but he was grinning at me too. He just wanted to play. The three of us ran together through the forest, where red and gold leaves drifted down around us.
I wanted to catch a rabbit when I saw one take flight through the underbrush, and I ran off to catch it, but then I couldn’t resist the urge to bring it to her. When she nudged it toward Shaw, I relented and, instead of growling at him, the three of us tore into the snack together.
For a few wonderful, crisp, fall moments, everything felt perfect.
And then I smelled a familiar wolf scent. It was the same strange scent I’d smelled before, wrong somehow. I’d thought that maybe it was one of the Longroads, but now I realized it carried the familiar scent of our pack, wood smoke and apple. It was just wrong. Chemical. Almost pack, but not pack.
Shaw and Amelia raced on ahead, still playing, but my rare bout of playfulness was over. I kept an eye on them, trying to drive them back toward the safety of the house. We separated in the forest just long enough for us all to dress, although I made sure Amelia was still in earshot, that I’d hear if anything happened around her. I hastily dragged my jeans on and then looped back toward her.
She stepped out from behind two birches, and relief spiked through my chest at the sight of her. I’d felt as if she might disappear while we were separated oh so briefly.
Her eyes were shining. “Can we do that again?”
“Maybe.” My voice sounded harsh, and her face fell. Instant regret spiked through me. I was worried about the strangeness in the woods, and I wanted to make sure she was safe. But that seemed like too much to try to tell her.
“Right,” she said disappointedly. “The doctor said I was supposed to run because it would help me heal. Did Stone tell you to take me out?”
I hesitated. She wasn’t wrong, but I’d loved running with her.
“Why didn’t Stone take me himself?” she demanded. Half-mockingly, she asked, “Is he afraid of me?”
I had a feeling she assumed that he couldn’t stand her, but I questioned that interpretation. Stone wasn’t stupid. It was obvious she was scared of him, and maybe Stone was afraid of what he did to her. He might want her to be intimidated into telling him anything she knew, but Stone wouldn’t savor her fear.
“We can run again soon,” I told her, but it was too late; she was already turning toward Shaw.
He threw an arm around her shoulder, looping it around her neck and pulling her close. She looked a little stiff and uncertain, but then she grinned up at him, genuine joy written across her face.
And I wished I hadn’t just fucked that all up.
When we came back into the house, Amelia seemed lighter. The bruises on her face had faded to a deep yellow. Then she tucked her hair behind her ears, her lips pressing together.
“What’s wrong?” Shaw asked.
She shook her head. “What isn’t wrong right now, Shaw? I don’t know if my brother, my best friend, survived the attack on my pack’s convoy. I don’t know when I’ll ever feel safe again.”
“Because of us or because of Nathan?”
She looked at him like she didn’t want to answer.
After a second, he spoke for her. “Both.”
