I’d take a mattress over the field and the stranger any day.
As I sat up, I looked around the room. It was my temporary room, the one I was supposed to stay in while I was in Crystal Lake. I’d missed the entire trip back, lost to the nightmare. Only…it wasn’t a nightmare, was it? It was more, real.
And my wolf…my heart hurt just thinking about the wolf. My wolf had suffered, too—and she was already weak. How much more could my wolf take? How much time did I have to let her out?
Maze had pulled up one of the kitchen chairs, asleep on it in the most uncomfortable looking position, his head tilted back, his mouth hanging open. A light snoring sound came from his throat, and I did my best not to laugh. This wasn’t a laughing business; this was as serious as anything could be.
I swung my legs off the bed, tiptoeing around Maze’s sleeping figure, heading into the nearest bathroom. The house had two of them, one on the first floor and one on the second. I passed what must’ve been Dylan’s room, spotting that he was asleep on his side, his arm bandaged up. I felt bad for him, but I had to see my own damage first.
Judging from the darkness penetrating the windows, it was well into the night. After I cleaned up…well, I supposed I should tell the others what I’d dreamt. Somehow I was connected to whatever was going on. The voice had mentioned a barrier—did he mean no one was allowed to go past a certain point in the woods? Was that why Dylan’s arm had caught fire and I had felt like I was going to die?
I contemplated this as I shuffled into the bathroom, quietly closing the door before flicking on the lights. It would make sense—if magic was real, that was. Dylan had been the farthest one out, the one not to stop and look at me when I’d called out to them and collapsed.
But, still. Why would it affect Dylan differently than me? Why did I cry tears of blood while he caught on fire?
My eyes flicked to the mirror, and I winced as I looked at myself. My hair was greasy and unkempt. Big bags hung under my eyes, so dark no makeup could possibly conceal them. I didn’t even think I brought makeup, anyway—and that wasn’t even going into detail about how my cheeks were covered in dried blood, and the small crusty bits at the corners of my eyes.
Honestly, I looked like crap even without the blood.
I thought about just scrubbing my face in the sink, but my whole body felt gross; used almost, dirty.
No. Definitely shower time.
I dropped my clothes and hopped in, pulling the curtain and setting the water to practically its hottest setting. If my skin wasn’t red by the end of this, it wasn’t nearly a hot enough shower.
I scrubbed my face first, mostly to rid myself of the dried blood. The water circling the drain grew pink and nasty, and I did my best not to focus on it.
One day here, and I’d already had a near-death encounter, from a magical source, to boot. Did the pack know about the barrier? Did they know about magic? Maybe I was the only oblivious, ignorant one because my mom had kept everything from me.
I had to use soap and shampoo that wasn’t mine, but I figured the guys wouldn’t care. If anything, they’d probably get a thrill out of it. The weirdos.
When I stepped out of the shower, I also had to use a towel that wasn’t mine. I wasn’t about to go searching for a stack of them, so I just took the one hanging closest to the shower surround, rubbing it on my head and drying myself before returning it to its rightful place. Maybe its owner wouldn’t even know.
Then again, these were wolves. They had super smell. They’d definitely notice.
I dressed in the same clothes, not wanting to go back into the bedroom to find fresh ones. Maze, although he didn’t look comfortable, was sleeping. And my stomach was suddenly so very hungry. I couldn’t remember the last time I ate anything. Yesterday?
Jesus.
It was a record, and not a good one.
I left the bathroom, heading down the stairs to the kitchen. I flicked on the light and started glancing inside the cabinets. I didn’t want to cook, but I needed something. Cereal or a breakfast bar or even chips. My stomach needed something now.
Like a miracle unfolding before my eyes, I spotted a box of miniature cookies, and I grabbed it from the cupboard, heading to the table. It was minus a chair, thanks to Maze. I sat down, sighing as I opened the container.
A whirlwind wouldn’t describe my life.
First, I was expelled from college for attacking my professor—and I still didn’t think my research paper deserved a C-minus. Then I found out I wasn’t human, I was a shifter, a fact my mom had kept from me for nearly twenty years. I found out I was supposed to be with not one, not two, but three different guys, their chosen mate. One of said guys disappeared, and suddenly running home to Sarah wasn’t the first thing on my mind anymore.
I still didn’t want three mates. Right now, I wasn’t sure I even wanted one, regardless of the way my body reacted to Dylan and Maze. All I wanted was to find Landon and see the relief on their faces when they were reunited.
And, of course, I couldn’t forget about my wolf. My sad, depressed inner wolf who’d been neglected and forgotten all these years. I had to let her out. Knowing she was there inside of me, knowing the wolf was a part of me—how could I possibly say forget it and move on? I didn’t think I could be so awful and cruel.
A figure appeared by the entryway of the kitchen, and I felt myself jump. I dropped the small cookie I was about to shove into my mouth, and the piece of junk food rolled on the floor. At first glance, I thought it was Maze, having woken up and wondered where I was.
But it wasn’t Maze. It was his alpha. Forest, the wolf who’d been particularly rough with me back there.
Just because I understood his reasoning did not mean I was happy about it; I was rather upset, actually. Miffed. Why would I come to see the pack just to cause trouble? These disappearances had been going on for a while, based on what Dylan had said. That alone should separate me from the list of suspects, if there even was a list.
Forest was slow in moving to sit at the table with me, folding his hands atop it, his blue eyes watching me all the while. At least this time he was clothed. No more nakedness for a while would be great.
“Why are you here?” I asked. “Don’t you have a house of your own to get back to? A pack to watch over? A woman to…” Okay, I wasn’t going to finish that sentence, because ew.
“I don’t have a mate,” he said. “Not anymore.”
Oh. Right. Awkward. “I’m sorry my—”
“I’m not talking about your mother.”
I shut my mouth, realizing how stupid it was for me to think he never had another woman. He was a man. One of the manliest men I’d ever met. No way in hell would a handsome man like him stay celibate just because his intended mate ran away.
So stupid. Completely dumb.
“And I’m here because I need to know what happened,” Forest continued. “What you felt. If it was anything like what Dylan felt.”
Of course. He wanted to get to the bottom of it, that was all. He didn’t stay to make sure I was all right. I needed to remember not everything was about me. One of their pack was missing; that was worlds more important than me and my decision about leaving.
“How is Dylan?” I asked, mostly quiet.
“He’ll be fine in a few days. Now tell me what you felt.”
“I felt,” I started, “like my skin was on fire. Like a thousand knives were stabbing me in my gut. Everything on me hurt like you would not believe. It was the worst pain I’ve been in, I think, in my whole life. Even my brain hurt.”
“You told us to stop before Dylan caught fire,” Forest asked, “why?”
Oh, God. How was I going to explain this part? Even I wasn’t sure how I’d known. “I don’t know. I just…did.”
“How did you know?” he asked again, sterner this time. Harsher.
“I said I don’t know,” I replied quickly. Forest wasn’t the only one who could get an attitude. I could, too. “Why did you turn o
n me so fast? Why did you suspect me of doing something?” I turned around the interrogation, flipping it on him. “What did I ever do besides come here? I didn’t even know shifters existed until my ass of a grandfather showed up with a wolf in tow. How would I have anything to do with the disappearances from your pack?” I was, for all intents and purposes, yelling at him now.
Probably not the best way to talk to an alpha, but Forest was not my alpha.
Instead of getting angry, Forest broke eye contact and stared at his hands. Those hands had been rough with me.
I wasn’t counting him carrying me back as being nice. If he wouldn’t have done it, Maze would’ve. Even Dylan, all burnt up, would’ve helped me back. No, Forest wasn’t out of the doghouse so easily, even if I did understand where he was coming from.
“I should not have acted like that. I’m sorry. Don’t let my actions interfere with your choice. I’ve never seen anything like it before, and…you are the only unknown.” Forest heaved a sigh, his wide, strong shoulders rising and falling once.
“I’m not unknown—I’m a shifter, like you.” I wasn’t sure why I said it. Making him feel better was not high on my priority list.
“Only part shifter, and I thought you’ve made your choice,” Forest spoke, his striking gaze returning to me. The intensity in his expression made my stomach harden. He was a handsome man, strong and tough, chiseled and stubbled. He was, in all likelihood, the most attractive man I’d ever seen. If only he was a few years younger, then…
Uh, hold it. No, I told my wandering mind, heck no. That was inappropriate in more ways than one.
“I’m staying until we find Landon,” I said, doing my best not to let my mind ruminate over his appearance. If I lost myself to any good-looking man that crossed my path, I’d lose it a dozen times before getting into the car and driving out of Crystal Lake. Just because shifters looked like gods didn’t mean I should get weak in the knees. I wasn’t that kind of girl. Never was.
Although, maybe I was just never that kind of girl because humans didn’t do it for me. It was more than possible a shifter was all I was attracted to, hardwired into my head.
Best not think of it.
Forest tilted his head, as if hearing something. He looked back at me as he said, “I am sorry about what I did. I do regret it.” He got up, walking away, though I did not hear the sounds of the front door opening and closing, so I knew he remained in the house.
I stuffed a few more mini-cookies into my mouth as Maze walked in, rubbing his neck with a pained expression. He must’ve gotten a kink in it, sleeping like he was. His blonde hair stuck every which way, his dark eyes droopy. He was still half asleep as he took up the chair Forest recently vacated.
“How are you feeling?” Maze asked, the concern for me evident in his voice.
I liked hearing it, his voice—and the concern in it. It meant he cared about me in some way. Something which I should not give a crap about, since I was going to leave in the end.
Why did my willpower waver so much around these guys?
“Better,” I said. I was even better when he was around, but there was no way I was going to say that.
Maze gave me a dimpled grin, a sloppy smile that made my heart skip a beat. Or two. Or maybe it sped up. I wasn’t sure. All I knew was my heart acted up anytime he was around. “You look better, though I wish you would’ve woken me up before you showered.”
“Why? It wasn’t like I invited you to my next one.”
He grinned. “No, but I’d still like to be awake for it. Just the thought of you using the shower and—” Maze made a big show about sniffing the air. “—my shampoo makes me feel all giddy inside.”
It was my turn to smile. “Giddy? Why would it make you giddy?” I couldn’t believe how strange he was. What man used the word giddy in everyday, normal conversation?
Apparently him.
“Because,” he answered, the stupid grin still on his face, still making my heart act up and my stomach warm, “it makes me feel like you’re mine, and that makes me giddy, happy, excited. Whatever adjective you want to use.”
I dropped my gaze to my lap. His words were so sweet, they practically dripped sugar. They would’ve sounded weird and fake coming from anyone else, but I knew he meant it, and knowing it made me feel terrible. How the heck was I going to leave him? How was I—
“Hey,” Maze said, breaking through my thoughts as he reached across the table for me. It was a very similar gesture to the one Dylan had made in the morning, and feeling his fingers curl around mine was a comfort. “I didn’t say it to put pressure on you. If you want to stay, we will have you a thousand times over, but if you want to go…I won’t stop you.” There was a pause before he added, “I will be absolutely devastated and depressed, but I’ll let you go.”
God. How could anyone think of leaving after being given that declaration? I would be just like my mom if I left. Like mother, like daughter. Each and every one of them knew I wanted to leave, but they all hoped I’d stay. How was I supposed to just go and never look back, like Sarah? How could I be away from these guys after forming a connection to them?
A connection.
I was mad at myself for letting it happen, but it was true. I felt something for Maze, for Dylan. And despite recent events, I kind of admired Forest. I hated Henry, and Landon—well, the jury was out on him. But the twins? They were my kryptonite, and just like Superman, I knelt because of their power over me.
“A devastated and depressed Maze,” I spoke, trying to make light of the situation, doing my best not to think of the reality of it all, what it would mean if I stayed, “I don’t think I can picture it.”
“He doesn’t come out often,” he said, referring to himself in the third person, making me chuckle. “But he’s there, hidden deep down, past all the wit and sarcasm and handsomeness.”
I munched on another small cookie, letting the silence take over the room. I had to change the subject, otherwise I wouldn’t stop thinking about staying. Staying was out of the question. To stay would mean I was okay with everything, and I most certainly wasn’t. Having three mates was…weird. Wasn’t it? “Have you checked on Dylan?”
Maze snatched a cookie from the box, tossing it in his mouth. He must be the type who liked to play with his food, for anyone who could catch something in their mouth like that had to practice. I was not nearly as coordinated as he was; maybe it was a wolf thing. “He’ll be fine. Needs some rest. It’ll heal in a few days.”
Good to know physical wounds were nothing to these shifters. Now, me, on the other hand? I tended to make a big deal about burns that took up an entire arm and tears made of blood. Call me old-fashioned.
“A few days,” I echoed. “That fast, huh?”
“Shifters are better at a lot of things, you know. I can teach you all about it, if you stay.” He gave me a wink. A real, freaking wink. Guys didn’t wink anymore, did they? Did they ever? I was pretty sure it was just a thing guys did in movies, or books.
Still, that freaking wink made my lower stomach tighten.
Maybe it wasn’t the wink that got me, but his implications. Yeah, that had to be it.
Focusing on my cookie snack, I said, “Sounds like you’re trying to bribe me into staying.” I should not egg him on, but I strangely didn’t want this moment to end. Who knew how much time I had left with him.
“Maybe I am,” Maze offered. “Would you like me to get on my knees and beg? Because I totally will. Hands and knees. You can do whatever you want with me while I’m down there.”
My mouth fell open. Wasn’t Forest in the other room? The man could probably hear every single word being said in the kitchen. Embarrassment filled me, and I could think of no response to his comment.
His very inappropriate comment.
“Maze,” I hissed.
“What? Oh, right. Forgot—your human upbringing. Addie, if you haven’t already guessed by now, we shifters are very cavalier when it comes to certain things.” M
aze grinned. “Come to the dark side. It’s fun over here.”
I felt myself starting to laugh. The more Maze talked, the more I couldn’t believe him. How in the world was I going to get away from him? If I left, I knew I’d long for him, for Dylan.
Could I really leave them? Was longing for my old life, for a normal life with my mom, just a pipe dream?
And with my recent nightmare…
I knew I had to stay. I was connected to this thing, to that stranger. I’d tell them about it in the morning. For now, I was content with just being there and getting Maze’s mind off of his missing brother and his injured twin.
It had to be enough for now.
Chapter Sixteen – Addie
I was in bed, all comfy and cozy beneath the sheets, the comforter heavy atop me just the way I liked. There was nothing better than basking in my own body heat, nothing like snuggling against an even warmer solid body.
Wait. There was something better.
Snuggling between two strong, muscles bodies.
Though my eyes were closed, I knew who they were. I wasn’t a fan of their protectiveness, but it was something I would grow accustomed to sooner or later. I was seconds from moving, wanting to touch them, both of them, but their shared bed suddenly grew very cold. All the warmth their bodies created vanished in the blink of an eye, leaving behind a chilliness that seeped into my bones and slowed my heart.
I didn’t want to get up, but I knew I had to. I sat, wearing nothing but shorts and a tank top, my pink and brown hair tumbling over my shoulders in messy waves. I glanced around.
Well, it wasn’t a wonder why it had gotten so cold all of a sudden, because the bed wasn’t in a house. It was in the middle of a field. A field whose grass was covered in a deep red mist, a mist I found vaguely familiar and yet foreign all the same.
I turned to climb over the sleeping figures beside me, one way or the other, but when I looked down, I was no longer in the bed. I stood on my own two feet, totally freezing and cold. Where the heck was my jacket?
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