Page 48 of Wolf's Endgame

Anxiety twisted inside me as I waited for Kris to answer. What if something happened to him? What if he no longer had this phone? What would I do if he never answered? How much had I missed? Was anyone hurt? Was he alive? What if Bale answered?

Panic surged through me. Shit!

“Who is this?”

Tears spilled down my cheeks as I heard his gruff voice. “Kris?”

“Kezia?”

“Yeah, it’s me. Are you okay? Are you free? I need you to come get me.”

“Kezia?” I could already hear him moving. “Kezia, is it… Fuck. Is it you? Tell me you’re okay.”

I was sobbing now. “Is he alive? Are you hurt? Is he okay?”

“He’s fine. I’m fine. Where are you?” I heard the phone move and a muffled shout, realizing Kris had covered the phone. “I shouted for him. Where are you? Are you hurt? Is she there?”

She? I understood.

“I’m fine. I’m with old…friends.” Both of whom were watching me with a mix of curiosity and suspicion. “They found me in the woods. They took me home?—”

“Home?”

“To their home,” I corrected quickly. “One of their homes. I got a cup of tea, a whole lot of explaining to do, and a phone call. I can’t get to you as I am,” I told him, hoping he would understand that I was scared to shift. I couldn’t explain more with the women both listening, so I asked what I needed to know. “How is he?”

“Furious.”

I laughed. It felt as if I hadn’t laughed in so long, but my brother’s blunt one-worded answer made me feel light. “Good, I am too.”

“Cannon isn’t nearby. He’s…busy with pack stuff. Tell me where you are. I’m coming for you.”

Busy? Lowering the phone, I asked Lottie. “Can I tell your address to my brother?”

“Is he coming?”

“Yes.”

“He dangerous?”

“Yes.” I saw the scowl again. “But not to you.” My eyes flicked to Maggie, who had a death grip on the gun, and I put the phone back to my ear. “On second thought, I’ll wait on the edge of town. I’m in Baywater Creek; it’s not that far really.” It was pathetic how close I’d stayed to the mountains of my home when I thought I was “running away.” “When will you leave?”

I was eager to see him. I was eager to be back on the mountain. If I shifted and lost control, who knew how long it would take for me to come back.

“I’m leaving now, Kez.” His voice was soft, but I could hear his urgency.

“Kris, how long have I been gone?”

Lottie’s eyes widened with sympathy, and even Maggie looked less likely to shoot me. I looked away from them. I didn’t want to explain anything, but I knew I had to tell them something.

“Seven weeks.”

That was almost two months.

“Three days short of two months,” he added gruffly.

“You counting?” I tried to tease him, but I was too emotional.

“Cannon is.”

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