by Emma Wolfe
He tried to drop his gaze, but I wouldn’t let him. He was going to look me in the eye when he answered. There was no way he was getting out of it.
He sighed and gripped his helmet with both hands. Then he hardened his gaze as he stared at me. “Yes. This is it. We are done.”
I hated that my eyelids pricked with tears from the finality of his words. It was so heartbreaking. Not sure what I was going to do or say, I just dropped my gaze and stepped away from him. I wanted to tell him about Rose, but I couldn’t seem to find the words. And honestly, seeing Rose so determined to get answers, I wasn’t sure I could meddle in her life. Not when she was literally the only friend I had in Smoky Hills.
Liam’s secret wasn’t mine to share, but if Rose found out on her own that was his problem, not mine. Besides, if I went with Rose, we just might be able to find the answers that Liam hadn’t been willing to give.
With my arms wrapped around my stomach, I headed over to the other cheerleaders. When I got there, Rose made her way over to me.
“Everything okay?” she asked as she wrapped one arm around my shoulders.
I glanced up at her and shook my head. Thankfully, I didn’t have to say anything more. She gave me a squeeze and dropped the subject.
It was nice, listening to her ramble on about her art project while we waited for Coach Betty to walk across the field. By the time Coach started calling out drills, I’d found a way to harden myself to the pain that seemed cemented in my stomach.
Let Liam think that this was the end of us. Let him assume all it took to dissuade me were a few resolute words.
’Cause that wasn’t the case.
I wasn’t part of Liam’s pack. He could tell me to stay away, but I didn’t have to listen. And tonight, in the woods with Rose, I was going to find out more about his pack than I was sure he would tell me.
Liam and I were far from over. And I was going to prove that to him.
5
Liam
“Bronson! Get your head out of your rear and concentrate!” Coach Pennington shouted at me as Noah ran full force into my stomach.
All the breath left my body as I was slammed to the ground. My arm flew out to my side, and I was forced to watch the ball I had clutched in my hand roll away. I glanced over at it and then up at Noah, whose eyes were wide as he stared down at me.
“Sorry,” he said. He stood and reached down to help me up.
Frustrated that I couldn’t seem to pull it together, I shook my head and took his hand. “It’s not your fault,” I said as he hoisted me up.
He nodded, no doubt sensing my distress. One of the awesome things about being a wolf shifter could also be one of the worst things. When one of us hurt, all of us hurt.
Noah patted my shoulder as he made his way across the field. I winced when I saw Coach Pennington heading straight toward me. His face was contorted in a look of pure anger. I’d never seen him so mad at me before.
As soon as he reached me, he grabbed my facemask and pulled it down so I was looking him straight in the eye. “Do we have a problem, Mr. Bronson?” he growled.
I sighed and shook my head. “No sir.”
“I thought you said if I changed your class, this would be over,” he said with his voice low.
I pinched my lips and nodded. He had a point. I’d told him all I needed was to transfer out of home ec, and he’d provided that. I just wished that was all it took to get over Cora. “I’m sorry.”
Coach released my helmet as he took a step back, sympathy softening his gaze. “I get it,” he said. “I understand where you are coming from, but it has to end.” Then he narrowed his eyes. “You did end it, right?”
I scoffed. “Yes. It’s over.”
He studied me for a moment as if waiting to catch me in a lie. But then he nodded. “Yeah, you’re right. There’s no way you’d be playing this bad if you were still with her.” He sighed. “I can’t go easy on you, or the team will see it.” He motioned toward the end of the field. “Sleds back and forth, then tire flips back and forth. Twenty times each.”
My whole body winced at his request. The thought of moving my body made me happy, but I knew the pain that would follow. I was hurting enough already; adding to it wasn’t exactly desirable.
“Smith!” Coach Pennington shouted at Grayson, who straightened and looked at him. “Help Bronson get his head on straight.” Coach turned to look at me. “He’ll give you a good workout.”
I sighed, realizing what Coach meant. Grayson was going to add resistance to the sled. Great.
“Got it, Coach,” Grayson yelled as he jogged over to us.
I didn’t meet his gaze as I turned and started making my way over to the sleds. I was still embarrassed about how I acted last night. It hadn’t been fair to put Grayson through that. I should have been stronger.
Thankfully, I didn’t feel any agitation from Grayson as he walked beside me. If anything, Grayson always had a way of making me feel calm. And calm was exactly what I needed.
“Feeling better?” Grayson asked.
I nodded. “Yeah. You were right. Time is what I need.”
Grayson shoved my shoulder. “Glad to hear you’re finally listening,” he said in a playful tone.
I shot him a smile as we straightened out the sled. Grayson climbed onto the back, and I rooted my feet, preparing myself to lunge at it.
Grayson held up his hand and, a moment later, dropped it. I sprinted to the padding and slammed my shoulder against it. Adrenaline coursed through my body as I pushed against the sled. In no time, I was at the end of the field and turning it around to push it back.
As I worked through my punishment, I became grateful that Coach insisted I do this. When my muscles and joints were in this much pain, I wasn’t distracted by the cheers drifting over from the cheer practice field. I didn’t notice Cora’s heartbeat, pounding in my mind like a ceaseless drum. All I could focus on was the task at hand.
By the time I was done, my body was shaking. I collapsed on the grass and closed my eyes. My body pulsed with exhaustion.
“Feel better?” Grayson asked. I could feel him looming over me.
I squinted as I glanced up. “Yep,” I said, shielding my eyes so I could see him.
He nodded. “Good. Now, just do that…forever, and you might be able to survive.”
And just like that, my heart squeezed at the thought of losing Cora. I growled and glared at him. “Thanks for reminding me.”
He glanced down with a sheepish expression. I pushed myself up, and Grayson moved to help, but I waved him off. “I’m fine,” I said.
He nodded, and we stood there, side by side. I wasn’t sure, but I was fairly certain he was looking in the same direction I was. Toward cheer practice. Toward Cora and Rose.
I growled again and forced myself to look away. “Come on. Coach’ll be waiting,” I said as I smacked him on the back. There was a hollow thud from his shoulder pads.
Grayson turned, and we walked back to the team.
“Planning on going out tonight?” he asked.
I nodded. “Yes. Until I find that wolf, I’m not going to stop.”
Grayson sucked in his breath. “I’m coming with you, then.”
I glanced over at my best friend. “Thanks.”
He shrugged. “Anytime. Besides, who else is going to make sure you come back in one piece?”
Memories from the night before flooded my mind. All I could do was wince. “Sorry. Not my finest hour.”
Grayson shrugged. “Did you at least sense him? Was he at the bar?”
I tried to think back. Unfortunately, I had been too worked up to notice if he had been there. “I don’t know,” I said quietly.
Grayson was silent for a moment. I glanced over at him, waiting to see the disappointment in his eyes. But it wasn’t there. “We’ll find him, Liam,” he said. “It’ll take time, but your body will calm down and you’ll find a way to function.” He shot me a sympathetic smile. “Trust me.”
>
I wanted to. Oh, how I wanted to believe that at some point this gnawing feeling inside of my gut would subside. I was barely functioning. I took a deep breath, and I caught the faint sounds of Cora’s heartbeat. It was fast—no doubt from working hard at cheer practice.
It was like a rhythmic beat that I was born to listen to. It was as important as eating or drinking. If I let it go, I wasn’t sure I could survive.
Grayson recognized my agony. Instead of speaking, he just patted my shoulder.
“I promise,” he said. “It will get easier.” This time, his voice was lower. It was a pain he was all too familiar with.
I needed to trust him. “I know.”
Coach Pennington waved us over as we approached the team. We obliged, moving to stand in front of him. He eyed me with his eyebrows raised.
“Feeling better?” he asked.
I nodded. “Yes.”
“Good. Then you’re ready to run some drills.”
I glanced over at the rest of the team. They were making their way back toward the locker rooms.
“But—”
Coach held up his hand before I could finish, and Noah and Evan moved into my line of sight.
Then I realized what kind of drills he was talking about. A smile emerged on my lips. This was exactly what I needed. To let the wolf out. Stretch those muscles that felt cramped inside of me.
“Your dad requested it,” Coach said, nodding toward me. “You need to learn. To train. If something happens, we need to be prepared.”
“What could happen?” Evan asked, glancing over at Coach.
Coach just waved away his question. “It doesn’t matter. For now, just do what I say, and everything will be fine.”
“I got the note,” Brielle said as she made her way over to where we stood.
Grayson growled. “Nope. No way. Why is she here?”
Brielle stared at Grayson with her eyes wide. “Stop it,” she said, her expression turning into a scowl.
“She’s too young. There’s no need for her to be here,” Grayson said again as he moved to push his little sister back toward the school.
“Grayson, leave her alone,” Coach said. “I don’t care how you feel. She’s training, and that’s final.”
Grayson’s growl rattled in his chest as he stared at Brielle and Coach. I could see the conflict in his gaze as he tried to figure out which part of himself to listen to. The protective part or the desire to obey.
Finally, he pointed his finger at all of us. “If any of you hurt my sister, I will kill you,” he said.
I raised my hands. “Got it,” I said as Noah and Evan murmured the same.
Coach patted Grayson on the shoulder and stepped between us. “If you’re finished, I have some directions,” he said.
He proceeded to tell us to meet him at Creator’s Circle, deep in the woods. There, no one would see us, and we could unleash our full abilities.
We all nodded, and at his signal, sprinted toward the woods. I ran faster than the rest, eager to shed my human form. For some reason, being a wolf helped me deal with my broken heart. But just as I neared the line of trees, I felt a familiar warmth, and all I could do was stop and turn.
Cora was standing at the entrance of the school. Her cheeks were pink from exertion, and her hair was tousled. She was staring straight at me, her bottom lip pinched between her teeth. My heart lurched in my chest as I took in her beauty. I was never going to get over the creaminess of her skin or the depth of her gaze.
I wanted to tell her that. I wanted to give her my heart and never leave her side.
Tearing myself away from her gaze, I slipped into the woods and shifted as soon as I could. Once I was in animal form, I took off through the trees. It felt so good to feel the wind on my fur and the ground under my paws.
I could hear Grayson and the others. They were weaving and dodging through the trees as they raced alongside me.
Here, we were free. This was a part of ourselves that we would never be able to let go of.
Soon, the trees opened up, exposing a large field. Creator’s Circle. We burst into it to find Coach Pennington already there in his wolf form. He looked amused as his gaze roamed over us. Even as wolves, we were still slower and weaker than an adult.
Grayson and Liam will practice together. Noah, you’re with Evan. And, Brielle, you’re with me. Coach Pennington’s thoughts penetrated my own.
I glanced over at Grayson. We moved to the far corner and started circling each other. The memory of the fight with the mysterious wolf came flooding back to me. The one where I would have killed to save Cora.
Grayson lunged, and I dodged. We entered into a dance where we battled for dominance. Fighting wasn’t just about brute strength or force. It was about outsmarting your opponent. Wearing them down and finding your opening.
Grayson was enough of a formidable foe that he had me panting as my muscles were pushed to the brink. Which I was okay with. If I grew in ability, that meant I could protect Cora. Better than I had before.
She wasn’t supposed to matter to me, but she did.
She always would.
6
Rose
The diner was in full swing when I pulled open the door after cheer practice. Grandma was in the far corner, talking to a couple who were sitting in a booth. Her gaze met mine, and I could see the displeasure on her face as she took in my windblown hair and sweaty shirt.
She nodded toward the back and mouthed, hurry up.
I dipped my head, threaded my thumbs through my backpack straps, and headed upstairs.
I showered and dressed in record time. I didn’t want to be lectured when I got back down to the diner. Grandma tended to go on and on and on. Especially about cheer since she wasn’t too thrilled that I had joined the team.
After throwing my hair up into a damp bun, I applied some mascara. Then I slipped my shoes on and headed back downstairs. Thomas was sweating as he flipped hamburgers.
I moved to steal a fry off a plate, but his spatula suddenly appeared in front of me and smacked my hand away. Then he growled and nodded toward a plate in the corner. It was piled high with fries.
I giggled as I rested my hand on his shoulder. “Aw, you do care about me, Thomas,” I said and shoved a few fries into my mouth.
Grandma was not going to be happy if I didn’t get out to the dining room right away, but I was starving. I wouldn't be much use if I fainted from low blood sugar.
Once half the plate was gone—in record time, mind you—I pointed to the plate and said to Thomas, “I’m still working on this.”
He nodded as he continued to flip burgers.
I grabbed a nearby apron and tied it to my waist before heading out to the dining room.
Thankfully, the evening flew by, and before I knew it, it was seven o’clock. Cora and I had decided to meet at seven-thirty to start our investigation in the woods.
She’d wanted to go earlier, but I knew Grandma would kill me if I skipped out on helping with the dinner rush. Cora had been disappointed, but she’d agreed.
I waved at Grandma and then pointed to the apartment as I mimicked reading a book. She scrunched up her nose but nodded. I smiled and began untying my apron as I headed towards the swinging kitchen door.
I changed out of my work uniform and into a sweatshirt and dark jeans. Then I slipped on some tennis shoes and grabbed a flashlight. I padded down the stairs to finish off the fries—even though they were cold, they hit the spot. By the time I was done, it was seven thirty.
I left through the delivery door to find Cora leaning against the building with her head tipped up toward the sky. Her eyes were closed, and her shoulders tight. I thought about asking if she was okay but decided against it.
“Hey,” I said, shooting her a smile.
She startled, glancing over at me. A smile spread across her lips as she straightened. “Hey.” She pushed off the wall.
I pointed my flashlight in the direction of the woods. “Ready
?”
She nodded, and we both started walking towards the line of trees. After a few seconds, I glanced over at her. “Thanks for coming with me. I mean, I’m pretty brave, but walking through the woods alone?” I shot her a look.
Cora just laughed as we stepped under the protection of the trees. “Well, you’ve definitely piqued my interest.”
And that was why Cora and I were friends. She didn’t look at me like I was a crazy person when I suggested that we should go into the woods in search of an animal that some crazy guy was rambling about. Or when I talked about how it matched up with what my parents had written.
Truth was, in Smoky Hills I couldn’t rule anything out. Not when it came to figuring out what happened to my parents. Despite what my grandma said, I couldn’t help but think it hadn’t been just an accident.
Dad had been a race car driver as a teen, and the roads they’d been on hadn’t even been slick. It didn’t make sense that they would suddenly careen off the side of the mountain unless something had forced them off the road.
Dusk was darkening to night, so I flipped on my flashlight as we went deeper into the woods. Cora was talking about something, but I’d been too distracted thinking about my parents to follow.
I shot her an apologetic look. “Sorry. I wasn’t listening.”
Cora shrugged. “It’s fine. I wasn’t saying anything important.”
Our conversation drifted off into silence. It was nice, walking alongside her without worrying about needing to talk. It was like we were both in agreement that words didn’t have to be spoken.
I wasn’t sure how long we walked, or even which direction we were going. I just knew we were deep in the woods. I glanced around, peering through the trees, waiting for something to happen.
Cora glanced over at me with a worried expression.
I met her gaze and furrowed my brow. “Everything okay?”
She shrugged and then glanced in the direction we’d just come. “I’m not sure. Do we know where we are going?”
I paused in a small clearing. Trees surrounded us on every side. A spark of concern rose up inside of me. Honestly, I didn’t know where we were going or even how to get back.
