Page 4 of Defeated

It’s about fighting back.

I don’t know if Colton lived in this part of town because it’s so quiet. Most people must still be at work this early afternoon. Which makes now the perfect time to act.

My stomach grumbles again.

But first…

I fish out the last half of my granola bar from my jeans pocket. It’s flat from having sat on it, and slightly sweaty, but it’s the last bit of food I have. I cram it into my mouth, chewing fast.

After giving the street one last look to confirm I’m not alone, I venture deeper into the alley, scrunching my nose against the foul, pungent aroma as I tuck myself behind a dumpster. Then, I start stripping.

My shoulder-length, white-blonde hair is a poor defense against the bite of the wind. Ordinarily, I wouldn’t feel the cold this badly, but I’ve barely eaten these last few days, and no cleaning or waitressing job pays well enough to eat well and have a safe place to sleep.

I chose a safe place to sleep, and my stomach has been grumbling on a near-constant basis since then.

After shifting, I creep out of the alley, sticking close to the ground as I dart from parked car to parked car, hoping to hell no one steals the clothes I hastily stuffed behind the dumpster.

The door swings open as I approach the house, and I duck behind a black Hyundai.

Footsteps pound down the front steps. I stick my snout around the side of the vehicle, watching closely as the thief with the kind eyes loads a side table into the U-Haul and slams the door shut.

As if he feels my attention, he looks right at me.

I yank my head back, holding my breath as I wait, braced to run.

His scent surprises me.

I’d expected to hate it.

Sandalwood, wild forest, and peppermint. I like it, even though I know I shouldn’t.

His attention doesn’t linger in my direction for long. When you’re robbing an apartment, I guess you don’t have time to hang around.

I lean around the car as his footsteps move away from me and observe him jog up the townhouse steps and disappear inside. He leaves the front door open a crack.

Careless, thief. But that’s okay, it will be the thing that kills you.

After waiting a minute to make sure he’s fully entered the apartment, I continue my prowl toward the house.

2

CHRIS

Ipull the U-Haul to a stop outside Colton’s townhouse and cut the engine before climbing out.

Immediately, I feel it.

I’m not alone on this quiet suburban street. My wolf isn’t snarling to warn me of a looming attack—yet—so I shrug off the watchful presence.

For now.

It’s been years since I left Winter Lake. I’ve gotten used to life in the quiet retirement town and hadn’t realized leaving it would expose me to dealing with so many people.

And questions.

Endless questions.

About everything. And also about nothing.

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