by Jane Hinchey
Shoving her way to the door, she stepped outside, gulping in the cool night air. She pulled out her phone and checked the time. It wasn’t late, not by a long shot, but she was ready to call it a night. The loud voices, the brash laughter as the patrons inside succumbed to the effects of alcohol, all triggered memories she’d tried very hard to forget. One thing was clear in her mind—she had to leave this town. She had to move on. She’d stayed too long, had let the generosity of Rhys and his pack sway her. It wasn’t safe. Not for her, nor them.
Swiveling on her heel, she began walking, not paying much attention to where she was going, simply trying to formulate a plan through her muddled brain. She had cash in her pocket. Enough for a bus ticket? She wasn’t sure. She’d need to find a bus station. Her things were at Rhys’s place. Out of town and too far to walk. Did she dare ditch everything and run with only the clothes on her back?
“Hey!” A hand grabbed her wrist, halting her, and she reacted without thinking, her clenched fist connecting with a male jaw with a satisfying, if not painful, impact. “Geez Kasie, what’s going on?” Rhys grumbled, releasing his hold on her to rub a hand over his jaw.
“Rhys!” Shit, she hadn’t realized it was him, hadn’t even known anyone was behind her until he’d grabbed her and she’d reacted instinctively. With violence. “I’m sorry.” Her voice was a choked squeak. She was mortified that she’d hit him. This. This was why she needed to get away. No one was safe around her. Squaring her shoulders, she glared at him. “What do you want?”
“I saw you leave. You looked upset, thought I’d check on you.”
“I’m fine. Had enough of the noise though. I’m heading home.”
“Walking?” He arched a brow, and she wanted to smack the smug look off his face.
Her emotions warred within her. She wanted to be near him, but she also wanted to run to keep him safe. She was tired of it. Tired of the running, tired of the confusion and lies. It was exhausting. Without a word, she continued down the sidewalk, not particularly caring that it would probably take her all night to reach Rhys’s place. If it was even in this direction. She’d never been into Redmeadows before, had no idea of the layout.
“Kasie, come on.” Rhys blew out a breath, catching up and walking by her side. “I’ll give you a lift.”
“No. You need to stay and spend time with your friends. Georgia tells me you haven’t hung out with them in months.”
“Guys! Wait up!” Kasie looked over her shoulder to see Ana rushing toward them, her cheeks flushed. “Phew, it’s packed in there tonight. Too much for me. I’m going to head home. Do you need a ride, Kasie? I know you don’t like crowds too much, either.”
“That’d be great.” Kasie smiled. “What about Naomi?”
“She’s staying. Billy said he’d drop her home, he’s staying to keep an eye on the younger ones, make sure things don’t get too…rowdy.” Ana held out her hand, and to Kasie’s surprise, she took it. Together they walked hand in hand to Ana’s car, leaving Rhys standing on the footpath watching them.
Rhys watched until the red tail lights disappeared into the night. Kasie attracted him and intrigued him at the same time. She was a contradiction, warm as a winter night’s fire one minute, cold as an Arctic breeze the next. Yet always, her eyes gave her away, drowning in emotion she couldn’t suppress. He’d bet most people didn’t notice, but given his training, he could spot it a mile away. This girl had secrets. Deep, dark secrets that she was carrying alone. And their weight was taking its toll.
He’d run her name through the police database, but nothing had come up. She wasn’t a fugitive, running from the law. He’d been so relieved, he’d grinned like a lunatic behind his desk, attracting his partner's attention, who’d demanded to know what he was so goddamn happy about. He’d also started searching for Todd. The man whose name she cried out in her nightmares. Turned out Todd Jackson was her brother. There was nothing on him, either. No criminal record, clean as a whistle.
So why did Kasie dream of him every night and wake up in terror and tears? Had they had a fight? Was that why she was running? It must have been a doozy to affect her so badly, yet she didn’t seem the type to let an argument ferment in her mind like that. He’d taken her as the hash it out type.
What he also knew was that pushing her would only make her clam up. Like tonight. When he’d taken her by surprise and she’d decked him, he’d seen it all flash across her face—fear, worry, anger, determination, resolve. She was making plans and he was pretty sure they didn’t include him, and that had him panicking.
Kasie Jackson had gotten under his skin, and he’d be damned if he’d let her walk away from him again. There was something between them, besides the hot and reactive chemistry. There was something more. He could feel it. And as a cop, there was one thing he’d learned early on. To always trust his gut.
7
Now that the idea had planted itself in her mind, Kasie couldn’t shake it. She didn’t have to stay here long enough to buy a car, just long enough to buy a bus ticket. She was kicking herself for not thinking of it before, but then, she’d been too busy avoiding her attraction to Rhys and the complications it entailed to think clearly at all.
Now she felt calm. Now she had a solid plan. She’d researched bus tickets online. She could get one to Shadow Falls for seventy dollars. She had enough for the ticket, but the biggest problem was how to purchase it. She didn’t have a credit card, just cash. Which meant she’d have to travel into Redmeadows and visit the bus depot to buy the ticket in person. All without anyone finding out.
Naomi’s call came at the perfect time.
“We still on for yoga tonight?” Naomi asked.
“Yup. You said we’d go straight from work?”
“I can come pick you up at knock-off time if you like? We can hang out in Redmeadows until the class starts, then grab dinner after.”
“Sounds great. I have some errands to run, actually, so that works perfectly for me.”
She should be able to get away on her own for half an hour, long enough to buy the ticket without any of the pack finding out. A twinge of remorse had her frowning, but she shrugged it off. It was better this way. The less they knew—the less they were involved—the better it would be for them. If her Alpha knew they’d helped her, sheltered her, he would kill them for it, and she couldn’t have any harm coming to them.
“Kasie!” She could hear Rhys calling her from downstairs. “You just about ready? We need to head off.”
“One second.”
Usually, she didn’t take her wallet to work with her, preferring to keep it hidden in her room, but she’d need it tonight. Pulling the bottom drawer out of her bedside locker, she reached in, feeling around the floor space beneath the cabinet. Her fingers brushed the wallet, clasping it and pulling it out. Quickly, she put the drawer back into position, then flicked her wallet open.
That was odd. Her driver’s license was in a different slot.
She checked the rest of the contents, which wasn’t much. Just the cash she’d managed to squirrel away and her license. Everything was here, nothing was missing, but she was a creature of habit and always kept her driver’s license in the second slot down. Normally, her bank card occupied the top slot, but she’d destroyed that when she ran from Athel Tree City. But now her license was sitting snugly in the third slot. Had someone been snooping?
“Kasie!” Rhys called again.
“Coming!” she shouted back. Shoving her wallet into the back pocket of her jeans, she hurried downstairs, her mind a whirl.
“Everything okay?” Rhys asked, standing by the front door waiting for her.
“Had to find my wallet. We’re going to a yoga class after work tonight.” It was the truth.
“Naomi’s been looking forward to it.” Rhys smiled, following her out the front door and locking it behind him.
“Ana has too. We’re having dinner after, so I’ll be home late.” It felt odd, referring to this place as her h
ome. Because it wasn’t, not really. She feared she’d never have a home again.
The car ride to the workshop was spent in silence. Rhys tried to draw her into conversation a time or two, but her mind was on other things. Distracted. All going well, she’d buy a bus ticket tonight, leaving Friday evening. She’d called the bus station and discovered she could arrange to be picked up out on the highway, at a marker point, rather than traveling into Redmeadows itself. That meant she could travel on foot. It was all falling into place and she was impatient for it to be done, to not have to think of the pain of leaving Rhys, and the others, behind. Of how hurt and disappointed they’d be that she’d run out on them. But it was the only way. And the sooner the better, because if someone had been snooping in her room, had seen her driver’s license and discovered her true identity, time was running out.
She’d had to adjust her travel plans, for she’d already told the pack too much, that she’d been heading to Stipton when she had the accident. If anyone were to follow, that was where they would look. So she’d changed track. Instead, she would book a ticket back to Violet. Hopefully, that would buy her enough breathing space to formulate a new plan.
“Thanks for the ride.” She hopped out of the car, not looking at Rhys.
“Kasie?” he called after her. She turned and looked at him through the window, one eyebrow arched.
“Is everything okay? You seem really distracted this morning.” She could see in his eyes that he wanted the truth from her. Only she couldn’t give it. And it hurt that she was hurting him.
“Everything’s fine.” Turning away, she made her way into the warehouse, knowing he sat and watched her. She could hear the engine idling before he finally drove away.
“Good morning, Kasie.” Sophie breezed past her, dressed immaculately as always.
“Morning,” Kasie mumbled, watching the other woman with a frown. Sophie never acknowledged her. Why the change?
“Don’t mind her.” Billy slapped her on the back. “She’s been as sweet as pie to everyone this morning. Word is she finally got some loving, but you didn’t hear that from me!” With a wink and a laugh, Billy was gone, leaving Kasie to get the paint station ready for the day.
Time flew by quickly, as it always did when she was at work, which she was thankful for. She’d just finished sealing the last truss when Naomi walked in, calling out greetings as she crossed the workshop floor.
“Almost done.” Kasie smiled at her, quickly swiping the last few strokes onto the wood before turning to the sink to wash up.
“No rush. I’m really looking forward to tonight. Thanks for doing this with me. I know it’ll probably be boring for you.”
“Not at all.” Kasie smiled over her shoulder. “It’s always fun to do yoga in a class. I don’t usually do classes because of the cost.”
“Oh. That’s kinda sad.” Naomi’s face looked crestfallen.
“Don’t feel bad for me.” Kasie frowned, suddenly irritated. “I don’t need your pity.”
“I’m sorry,” Naomi said again, and her eyes were shining.
Shit. With a sigh, Kasie turned to face her, wet paintbrush dripping on the floor. “It’s okay. Just…don’t worry about me, okay? I’m fine. I’ve had a tough life, but I don’t like people to feel sorry for me. A girl has to have her pride, if nothing else.”
“I hear ya.” Naomi tossed her head, making her white bob swing against her face. “Change of topic coming up. You mentioned you had some errands to run in town first?”
“I’ve got a little personal shopping I need to get done, if that’s okay?”
“Totally. I’m always up for a little shopping.”
It had been too easy. Kasie had ditched Naomi in a department store, ran all the way to the bus station and purchased her ticket, then returned to the store and made it seem like she’d been looking for Naomi the whole time. She’d purchased some personal hygiene products as a cover story, and now the bus ticket burned in the back pocket of her jeans.
The yoga class had been a laugh. Both Ana and Naomi had done really well up until the moment Ana farted and both women had lost their pose, rolling around on the floor laughing. They’d finally regained their composure and continued, but they wobbled all over the place, their concentration gone.
“Thanks for tonight, that was really good fun. Sorry if we embarrassed you.” Ana talked through a mouthful of salad. They’d found a nice little restaurant near the yoga studio and were enjoying a late dinner.
“You didn’t embarrass me.” Kasie chuckled. “You both did pretty good for your first time. Do you think you’ll keep it up?”
“It depends,” Ana replied. “This farting thing. Does that happen often?”
“It can. It's trapped air, some of the poses push it out.”
“But you didn’t fart.”
“Not out loud.”
“What? You mean you were farting too?” Naomi almost choked on her spaghetti.
“It’s natural! But no, I didn’t fart tonight. But it’s happened to me before and it’ll happen again, I’m sure.”
“Will you come with us again?”
“For as long as I’m here.” She felt guilty about lying, knowing she was leaving in two days. There would be no more classes for her. And she’d miss these two women who’d become her friends. They were chalk and cheese—Ana, a little overweight brunette, married to Billy, who worshiped the ground she walked on, and Naomi, the white haired goth rock chick with the heart of gold. Her friends. Her eyes grew misty and she blinked to clear her vision.
“Everything okay?” Ana asked, placing a hand on her arm.
“I’m fine. Chili flake,” she said to explain her watery eyes, reaching for her water glass to take a healthy gulp. They bought her story, and she hated herself for the lies she continued to tell. Her life was all lies and she didn’t deserve friends like these.
It was late when Naomi dropped her off. Kasie was surprised to find Rhys had waited up, legs outstretched on the sofa. He was watching television when she walked in.
“Oh! You’re still up.”
“How was your night? Have a good time?” His smile was warm, his eyes inviting, and in that moment, she wished with all her heart that things could be different.
“I had a lovely evening. Ana and Naomi are great company.”
“Good, I’m glad. Sit, watch the rest of the movie with me.”
He moved his legs to the floor and indicated the space he’d cleared for her. Knowing it was a bad idea but unable to help herself, she sat. She could have chosen either of the empty armchairs, but she sat next to him, the cushions still warm from his legs.
The movie played on and she couldn’t have said what it was about, for having him so close fried her brain cells. All she could think about was him. Memories of their nights spent together in Violet danced in her mind, and she wanted it again. She wanted more. She wanted him. She’d be leaving in a matter of days, and desperation was now clawing at her to make one more memory of him, to take with her and cherish.
Turning to him, she was surprised to find him watching her and not the television screen. His eyes darkened, and it was as if they had gone back in time, to when he’d walked into the bar at the beach and their eyes met for the first time. Everything else faded away. It was just her and him and the crackle of tension in the air.
She wasn’t sure who moved first, but suddenly she was straddling his lap, their mouths a clash of tongues and teeth as they devoured each other. He pulled back, cradling her face in his hands. “Are you sure?”
“Don’t talk!” Pulling him back to her, she silenced him with her kiss. If he spoke, he’d break the spell, and she needed this. She needed him. She had to fill up her heart with every little memory of him—his taste, his touch, his scent. Tuck them all up inside and hold them close, cherish them as she lived a life without him. Tears scalded her eyes at the pain of losing him, of even trying to imagine going on, day by day, without him.
“Hey,” he
murmured, feeling the wetness of her cheeks. “Babe, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I love you, that’s all.” Her words were tainted with pain, but she didn’t give him time to dwell on them, instead tugging his shirt over his head, exploring his chest with her fingertips, dropping her head to nibble on his neck. His growl vibrated through her and she delighted in it, laughing when he flipped her so he was on top and she was stretched out beneath him on the sofa.
“I love you too, little wolf.” She closed her eyes, hiding from him the riot of emotions coursing through her at his words. Instead, his hands got busy, stripping her, and all thought fled her mind. All she could do was feel him love her as only he could.
She woke in the morning curled against his side, his arm around her, both wrapped up in the covers of his bed. A loud banging on his bedroom door roused them both.
“What is it?” Rhys growled, keeping Kasie pinned to his side when she would have wriggled away.
“We have a problem,” Billy replied.
“What sort of problem?” Rhys sighed, flinging his arm across his eyes.
“A visiting pack problem. Who say that Kasie is theirs and to return her to them pronto.”
The silence that followed Billy’s words was deafening.
“What?” Kasie squeaked, sitting up, clutching the covers to her chest, her face panicked. Her pack had found her? Here? But how?
“We’ll be right out.” Rhys’s voice was devoid of emotion. “Where are they?”
“Turned up at the workshop but followed me out here. They’re outside.”
“How many?”
“Five.”
“Call the pack. Keep the women away.”
“Gotcha.” Billy’s footsteps faded away.
Throwing back the covers, Kasie slid out of bed, pulling on one of Rhys’s t-shirts that was draped over the chair in the corner. In a daze, she crossed to the window and peeked out. Sure enough, three vehicles were outside, and standing near them was her Alpha, Mack, his second, Leon, and three other men from the pack. She shivered, fear making her skin cold.
