Page 9 of Fractured Mates

Not any longer.

It’s nearly dusk when I park my car in a dirt area at the start of a hiking trail. Humans frequent these woods and I’m still about ten miles from the pack, but I know I can’t just drive right up to their front door. Not like I did in East Texas.

The protectors might have made sure nobody ever came after me, but that doesn’t mean I’ll be safe just showing up. That’s what I need my family to tell me.

My plan is to get far enough on the trail where I won’t likely be seen before shifting. I can run the rest of the way and check things out from a distance before stopping by my old home.

Even though it’s been well over five years since I’ve heard my mother’s voice and even longer for my father and sister, I could have reached out over the years as well. At least, that’s what I keep telling myself, so I don’t show up filled with resentment. That won’t get me my closure.

If they want nothing to do with me when I arrive, well, maybe Dawsyn was right and I don’t belong here. But that’s something I need to sort out for myself. Not for anyone else to tell me.

After locking my car, I leave my bag behind and start the trek toward the dense and humid woods. The air is wet and the ground soft beneath my boots, as if it just rained. Everything is green with thriving foliage. There’s a chill pressing in, but for October, this feels warm to my wolf shifter skin. As long as the bugs I hear rattling within the trees don’t come at me, I’m fine with anything else.

A shifter afraid of some cicadas, my wolf says with feigned disappointment. Honestly, could you get any more lame?

Shut your mouth, I retort, not at all ashamed that I don’t like six-legged creatures crawling on my skin.

With only my keys and phone in hand, I shove them into my back pockets—where they’ll be safe even when I shift, thanks to the bit of magic wolves have—and jog toward the forest. Listening with my enhanced hearing, I don’t sense anyone near, just more wildlife, but I still wait another five minutes before shifting.

One more cursory check around us to confirm we’re alone and I start to let the energy of my wolf push forward.

Her presence begins to take control, and my skin vibrates with a power that has my bones shifting and reforming from human to animal within seconds. Coarse hair pushes through my skin as it basically shreds apart but then snaps back together, thanks to my wolf genes.

I land on four paws, and we shake out our fur as my wolf looks around. We might be two separate minds, but in this form, I consider us one while also allowing myself to take a back seat as she does her thing.

Her nose sniffs the air, checking once again for unwanted guests, and then she claws at the ground before running. We head north, which is actually farther away from the pack, but circling around is the better way to sneak up on anyone who might be out there on guard.

Thankfully, my childhood home is rather far from any other houses, so my hope is that there isn’t anyone around to see me slip inside. But I won’t be holding my breath on that.

If we were that lucky, we would have gotten lucky last night, my wolf huffs, making me chuckle.

Seriously, this beast has a one-track mind. Some days, I’m not sure what to do with her, even if she’s rather entertaining.

She continues running through the trees, the wind whipping past us and everything becoming a blur except the path we’ve already chosen to take. I’ve never clocked our exact speed, but I know there aren’t many wolf shifters who can outrun us.

Maybe that’s because we’ve always been running, but I like to think it’s our strength and wit that have us always ahead.

We continue to move strategically through the wooded area, leaving behind the public trails. Soon, we’re far enough out that we shouldn’t see any humans but where the wolves typically steer clear of, just in case.

The pack boundary line is just a mile ahead, I remind my wolf.

I know. She veers left instead of right like I was expecting.

Where are you going?

She’s quiet for a beat. Someone is following us.

Shit. That was quick. Almost too quick, like they’re expecting me, but I don’t know how that could be.

How many? I ask since her senses are stronger than mine at the moment.

Just one.

I scoff. What’s the problem, then?

She doesn’t answer me. Instead, she stops behind a tree and looks around. He’s shifted back to human form.

Then let’s tear his throat out.

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