“Where’s Charlie?” she demanded. I could tell by her smug look she already knew the answer.
“She went home,” I said.
“Good,” Lane muttered.
Bevin snorted. A few of the others rolled their eyes; at either Bevin’s comment or Charlie’s whereabouts, I wasn’t sure which. “Of course she did. Did she even take down that deer or did the poor thing trip and fall over Charlie’s awkwardness?”
My temper flared. At Bevin’s challenge, at my own tendency—already—to defend my little sister. “She did what she needed,” I said, probably too quietly.
Bevin narrowed her eyes. “What happened on your hunting trip, Vuk? The real story.”
“You saw the real story.” My eyes flashed at being directly challenged. It didn’t matter that I was lying. I was alpha. Almost. “The deer was hers.”
“You said that, but I’m not sure I believe it,” Bevin said. She wasn’t backing down. Usually, I liked that about her, when she was directing it at someone else. Not at me.
I closed the distance between us, hands on hips. Tension crackled in the clearing. No one else moved. “Drop it, Bev. Before I drop you.”
The tension thickened. No one breathed. Bevin glared at me, nose to nose. My skin quivered. My wolf wanted out. Not to hurt Bevin, and she knew it. I wanted to show her who was boss, though.
Eventually, she backed down, stepped away. “Whatever.” Her eyes flickered to me. “You’re our alpha. Not her.”
Finally, with nothing else to do, I exhaled and let the tension go. Bevin acknowledged it and turned away. The spell was broken.
Still, no one moved to leave.
“Show’s over. Hit the showers.” Carter waved a hand, making his point, and the crowd finally dispersed.
Lane, her scar glinting in the sun, lingered behind the others. She looked disappointed there hadn’t been a fight. They all did. That was the animal in us. Bevin fell into step beside her and, heads tipped close in quiet whispers, they made their way toward home.
Tension ebbed slowly as the clearing emptied. Dad was waiting on me. I needed to shower and get over to the office, but I wasn’t ready to face him yet after what Charlie said. I hesitated, tempted to run again. If nothing else, I’d wear myself into exhaustion. Maybe I’d even be too tired to think. It seemed like a good idea right now.
“You wanna walk?” Carter asked, startling me. I hadn’t realized he’d stayed behind.
I rolled my shoulders. “Yeah.”
I let him pick the direction. Not surprisingly, he walked straight back into the forest. I followed, hands in my pockets, ponytail bouncing. The wind shifted and for some strange reason, I widened the distance between us, suddenly aware of how sweaty I must be. I shook my head, trying to convince myself how ridiculous this was. I’d never been self-conscious around Carter before. Charlie was getting to me. Her girliness was rubbing off or something. As if to prove my own self-assuredness, I veered in, once again closing the distance until our shoulders almost brushed.
We walked for a while, taking the trail we’d run earlier. It wound deep, toward the boundary line we shared with the vamps, before circling back toward my house on the hill.
“Your dad sure likes to come out swinging,” he said finally, and I recognized the fishing tone immediately. He wasn’t so much stating a fact—although we both knew it was—as he was checking to see how I felt about it.
“Don’t manage me,” I said, but the flick of temper I’d used on Bevin wasn’t there, and I knew he wasn’t done yet.
“I’m just stating a truth,” he said, hands up as if in defense.
My mouth twisted wryly. “Uh-huh. Well, here’s another: I don’t need you managing me every time I get irritated.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” he said. “We’d be here for days at that rate, and I’m way behind on my Netflix binging.” I shot him a sideways look. He swallowed a smile. “You’ve got to admit, your percentage rate for brooding walks in the woods has shot way up over the past couple of weeks,” he said.
“So what if it is? That’s my business. Like I said, you don’t have to come out here and … talk me down or whatever it is you’re doing,” I said.
“And you shouldn’t let every little thing get to you,” he shot back. “Bevin’s probably PMSing. You should ignore her.”
I cocked a brow at him. “Seriously? That’s your excuse? Are you trying to get on my bad side today, too?”
“No, why?”
His cluelessness seemed legit, and I shook my head. “Girls don’t like it when you blame everything on chemical mood swings. It makes us want to defend each other for it.”
“Oh.” He grinned. Not the cocky grin he usually wore when he wanted me to think he was better at something. It was sheepish. Boyish. I liked this one so much better than the first.
We walked in silence a while longer.
“Are you going to ask me what happened on the hunting trip?” I asked.
“No.” He ducked beneath a low-hanging branch, held it out for me to pass underneath.
“Why not?”
“I don’t need to.” He shrugged. “I know something happened but I also know you aren’t going to tell me or anyone else about it until you’re ready. If ever. I’m not looking to waste my time.”
“Is that what I am? A waste of time?” I couldn’t help the nasty look that went with my words. Most of the time Carter treated me like a little sister, bickering, fighting, one-upping. That was, if he even acknowledged me at all. Although, he had been hanging around a lot more lately. I’d chalked that up to the beta position he wanted so bad but now I wasn’t sure…
“Hardly,” he said and the sarcastic tone I’d come to despise was back. This was the Carter I knew and loved to fight with. “The insults alone are more entertainment than I see around here in a week. And the way you handle Charlie.” He whistled. “Your dad must be so proud of the sister bond you’ve got going.”
“Shut up, Carter. I’m not in the mood.”
“You killed both of those deer, didn’t you? Admit it, Vuk. I’m sure you’ll feel better.”
Something inside me coiled too tight at his flippant remarks. I whirled on him, my eyes blazing. “Go ahead, laugh it up. I bet my life looks picture perfect to you, doesn’t it? Brand-new sister to show off like a shiny toy, alpha position is in the bag. Whatever, Carter. You don’t know anything.”
“Regan—”
“Just leave me alone. I can walk the rest of the way by myself.”
His hand closed over my arm and whatever was coiled broke free. Only, to my horror, instead of shifting and taking a chunk out of his bicep, my expression crumpled. Tears rained down, and I sobbed. It was mortifying, which only made me cry harder.
“Shh.” Carter pulled me to him. He wrapped one arm around my back and stroked my hair with the other, as if he’d done this a thousand times. Which he hadn’t.
“I’m … sorry. I don’t … normally … do this.” I could barely talk coherently. The sobs wouldn’t quit, which only added to my embarrassment—which only made me cry harder.
“It’s okay, Regan. I’m here.” His voice was gentler than I‘d ever heard it. I told myself it was just pity. Otherwise, I had no idea what to make of his kindness. “I’m sorry I said those things. I was being an ass on purpose, trying to distract you.” He continued to stroke my hair. He leaned closer, his lips grazing the top of my head.
I stiffened. Carter was apologizing? And kissing me? What was happening?
“I was just trying to make you feel better,” he said.
I sniffled loudly and frantically wiped the wetness from my cheeks. Crying in front of Carter was a horrible show of weakness. Regardless of the nice words he used now, he’d no doubt taunt me with this memory later.
“It’s fine,” I said pulling away. I smoothed my hair. I couldn’t make myself meet his eyes. “It’s just a lot right now. With the contest and Charlie and my dad. Lots of pressure, but I’ll handle it.”
/>
“I know you will,” he said, his voice still way too gentle.
His gaze was piercing. It took every inch of alpha I had in me to hold it. The effort sent waves of heat through me. I told myself it was the hysteria. Not a reaction to Carter himself. But the waves kept coming.
“Carter…” I couldn’t finish it. He was staring at my mouth and just like I’d wanted so badly earlier, my mind went utterly blank.
“Regan.” His voice was low and hoarse. He leaned in. I parted my lips parted without meaning to.
When our lips met, it was a shock.
The kiss itself took my breath away. Delicious heat crept up from the tips of my toes and out through the top of my head before crashing back down over me like a tidal wave. I’d kissed a few boys before, and it hadn’t been horrible. But it hadn’t been this, either.
In the depths of my heart, a tectonic plate seemed to shift and my entire world spun.
The fact that this was actually happening—with Carter of all people—made me dizzy. I pulled away, taking a full step back, struggling to clear the haze in my mind.
“What … just happened?” I stammered.
Carter shoved his hands in his pockets. Some emotion flickered. Disappointment? Did he regret kissing me? Of course he did. It must’ve been a reflex reaction to my tears, some masculine need to protect or something. It sounded scientific, so I made myself believe it.
“That was…” Carter trailed off.
Fear speared through me when I realized I wanted to know what he’d been about to say. “I, um, have to get back,” I said.
Before the words were even out I was running. I tore through the trees. Branches scraped my arms, pulled my hair. I didn’t bother shifting. The humanity inside me felt too ashamed to be a wolf right now. I wanted the sanctuary of home. My own room, my own pillow. The woods felt far too public.
Carter didn’t try to stop me. I wasn’t sure whether to feel relieved or disappointed.
Chapter Eight
Charlie
The following morning, Dad excused me from class. I had to tell Brent The Babysitter I was experiencing “female problems,” but it worked. He’d reddened, mumbled something about delivering the message, and a few minutes later, Dad had sent a note up to “rest and feel better.”
I spent the day alone in my room, reading the pack law book and talking to my mom. Both were frustrating tasks. The law book still yielded nothing even though I’d been through it twice now. And there was only so much I could tell Mom. I wasn’t stupid. I knew they were listening to my calls.
At least my new family had left me alone. Even Regan hadn’t showed and that was fine by me. I might’ve choked on taking down that deer but I was determined to beat Regan. To show them all I wasn’t useless—as a wolf or a human or even a sister. Part of me did wish I had some ally—even Regan—to ask about the strange vampire I’d seen in the woods. But I wasn’t willing to do that if it meant giving away my secret friendship with Owen. At least, I thought it was a friendship. Every time we got closer to something else, one of us seemed to scramble back. I wasn’t sure what we were headed toward anymore.
When I woke Saturday morning, the sunshine streaming through my window made the future seem a little brighter.
It was a day off that hopefully included some training time with my favorite vampire. I checked the clock, towel-drying my hair still damp from the shower. Time to go.
I grabbed my hoodie—despite the warmth of the day, I needed to cover the growing sets of bruises that proved I wasn’t spending all my time away simply running. I took my usual route down the stairs and out the back door. The morning air was cool, still fresh with the dew evaporating from the tips of the grass. I loved it this way, when all the smells melded together and created a scent so intoxicating you wanted to bottle it for later.
But even the perfect weather here in Paradise wasn’t enough to distract me. The moment I looked up from the wet grass, I was met with the completed construction of the arena. It sat erect and silent in the lower half of the yard, the wood so new and smooth it looked like an imitation rather than fresh oak felled by pack members mere days ago.
Owen was expecting me in the gray in-between of our territory line any minute now. But the frustration of what felt like impending defeat choked me, and I couldn't make my legs move into those trees. All I could do was stare at the arena. One of us would lose there. At first, beta had seemed like an acceptable consolation prize, but not anymore.
The idea of deferring to Regan, dealing with her mood swings and cutting remarks day in and day out forever … and even worse—watching her marry Owen…
Hot tears burned my lids at the thought.
It was crazy. I was seventeen—NOT ready to marry anyone. And I wasn’t even sure I had feelings for Owen. I mean, I couldn’t. Or shouldn’t. He was the enemy. So it’s not like I wanted him for myself, but some possessive, animal instinct flared with fury at the thought of watching him promise himself to another.
I paced the lawn, slapping my fist loosely into the opposite palm, taking calming breaths to center myself. It was ridiculous, but I felt like I was going to start crying.
I could not cry.
Not here. There were eyes on me—there were always eyes on me—and I knew that if I started crying, the pack was going to see it. They didn't need one more reason to think less of me. I tilted my head back to the sky, shutting my eyes.
Calm down, Charlie.
With my nose tilted to the air, I caught a familiar cold, woodsy smell. A smell that immediately shot thrills of excitement deep into my belly.
Owen.
My eyes flew open. Even though I couldn't see him, I knew he was here—lurking just on the edge of the woods again.
Fearing for his safety made me forget all of my self-pity. I tied my hair back into a ponytail, just like I did every time I "went jogging," and ran into the forest.
It might have been my imagination, but I thought I could feel Owen's presence. It was more than just his smell. It was a sense of certainty deep in my stomach. Even though I couldn't hear him, I knew that he was following me into the murky depths of the forest.
I stopped in our usual clearing. There was still no sight or sound of him. But he was there.
“Owen,” I whispered, eyes narrowed as I scanned the trees for a flash of pale skin.
Nothing.
Another rustling but still no visual, and I realized what it would take to find him. Slowly, I let my eyelids slide shut.
“Owen,” I repeated, letting my hearing drift on the air, through the subtle cracks and shifts in the trees. Over broken leaves barely brushed by footsteps too light to detect with human ears.
My wolf pricked, shoving to the surface until I was only centimeters from shifting. I barely hung on to my fingers and toes as I leaned in.
I felt the softest shift of air along the small hairs of my cheek.
He was coming.
I heard the rustle of leaves an instant before a fist drove into my back, between my shoulder blades. If I had stood still, it wouldn't have hurt much at all—it was meant to be a love tap. But I did move, and I moved the wrong way. I threw myself backward on instinct—the wrong instinct—and his concrete knuckles jammed into my spine.
“Ouch!” I cried, eyes flying open.
Owen stopped dead, shock in every line of his body. "Charlie!"
He stepped forward, hands outstretched, trying to catch me and comfort me.
But the sharp pain of the blow brought all of my instincts roaring to the surface. I grabbed his wrist and jerked him forward, jutting out my hip. I threw him over my leg and onto the dirt. He landed on his back and had barely scuffed the dirt before he was on his feet again.
Owen blurred into motion, leaping at me, crimson eyes blazing. I twisted out of the way, gripping my wolf with all of the mental strength I had. Rather than force it anywhere, I let it rule me for once. I let it choose.
Jumping to the other side of the cleari
ng, where he couldn't reach me, I dropped into a crouch and gave in to my wolf. Owen waited until I finished shifting and then advanced. I pulled my top lip back in a toothy growl. The wolf in me was pissed about that first hit—accident or not. After everything that had happened over the past few days, I wanted to show him I could fight. I wanted him to look more scared than amused.
When he was almost on me I darted forward, head low and jaw open. I went for his shin, hoping to throw him off balance, but he danced away faster than my eyes could follow. I huffed and repositioned.
We went again.
Every time I got close, Owen would dance away, always just out of reach. He also never got in any more blows against me. I was more out of breath than battered when we finally stopped.
I shifted back near a hidden cluster of trees. With Owen around, I never knew when something would distract me or throw off the shift and I’d end up human with no shirt or something embarrassing, so I needed to be careful. But my running shorts and tee were firmly in place when I felt two legs under me again instead of four.
I stepped clear and marched back over to Owen. He was leaning against an ancient-looking spruce, arms crossed loosely. His stance appeared bored or faintly amused. The look in his eye let me know there was more to it than that.
“You did okay, kitten.”
“Okay?” I echoed, indignant.
“Well, it wasn’t Chuck Norris or anything, but you’ve got potential. If you’d learn to defend your vulnerabilities you might have a shot.” The corner of his mouth quirked into a smile. “And if you didn't throw yourself onto my fist.”
I glared, hating how easy this was for him. For all of them. “You really suck at pep talks, you know that?”
He grinned. “You should hear my inspirational speeches.” The smile faded as he grabbed my arm, pulling me against his chest. Owen suddenly looked serious. So much more serious than I had ever seen him before. I could barely breathe with my face pressed into his neck as he tilted my head to the side, pulling back my shirt to look down at my back. “Did I hurt you?”
If I said no, was he going to let me go? Honestly, I didn't want him to.
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