Page 73 of Into the Night

Immediately, my beast awakens, and the now familiar darkness seeps into my veins. We’re not safe yet. Instead of standing here chatting, we should have been on the move.

Posture stiff, Jack turns back to us, eyes glowing. “There’s someone down there. I can only sense one person, though. Could it be Henry?”

Ben shakes his head. “He’s got too much going on. I doubt he’s set foot outside the police station in the last forty-eight hours.” Ben edges closer to Jack’s side and peers down.

“Jed?” Jack asks, raising a hand to his brow to shield his eyes from the sun. “Would he be stupid enough to come here alone?”

I can’t see anything moving, but my beast senses another presence, and he’s not happy, but he doesn’t want to leave Kali’s side to go and investigate, either. It’s not Jed. I know for certain he wouldn’t come here without backup.

“I don’t think so.” Ben’s eyes are glowing as he scents the air. “I think it’s Jed’s fucking sister.”

41

GRIFFIN

Jack sniffs the air again and frowns, looking perplexed.

“It’s definitely a female. Did they leave her here alone?” Maps and feral beasts are forgotten for the moment, and Jack is all business. “You two take Kali and get moving. I’m going to check it out. She could be scouting for them, if they’re planning an ambush.”

We’re all on high alert now, sending feelers out into the woods around us, trying to detect anything out of place.

“Unlikely,” Ben mutters through gritted teeth. “But she’s up to something. Always is.” Growling, he places his hand on Jack’s shoulder to stop him from going. “Leave this to me.”

With that, he’s gone. A dark, focussed look fills his eyes, as his beast switches into hunting mode. The determined set of his jaw tells me he’s going to find whoever is down there, and they’re going to regret snooping around.

Jack and I exchange a look. There’s a story there, but now isn’t the time to hear it. We have to go.

As Ben turns and sets off into the trees at a jog, I clamber down to the cave.

Kali comes to me, finally looking a bit healthier despite the ordeal she’s been through. Or maybe, she just looks happier. Either way, my heart melts at the sight of her, and I tuck a strand of blonde hair behind her ear as I pull her close.

“There’s someone here,” she whispers. She sensed them, too.

I nod, pulling her close, not liking the hint of anxiety in her voice.

“Ben doesn’t think she’s helping Jed, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. Jack and I will be with you, but we need to leave. If she knows the cave is here, they might, too.”

Nodding resolutely, Kali goes up on tiptoes to kiss me. “Let’s go home.”

When I go down on bended knee in front of her, her eyes widen until I swivel, giving her my back and gesturing for her to climb on. “One thing at a time, mate.”

She keeps her arms wrapped tightly around my neck, and lets me carry her up the rocky slope, her front plastered to my back, and her body shielded from view. Nudity doesn’t seem to be a big deal for these people, but I still can’t cope with letting anyone see her naked.

With an indulgent chuckle, she lets me stand in front of her, blocking her from view, while she shifts into her beautiful blonde animal. How could anyone hate something so beautiful?

After shaking out her fur, she comes to my side and rubs herself against my leg.

I stroke my hands over her back and scratch behind her ear.

“Yeah, yeah. I get it. You’re deliriously happy. Spare a thought for the rest of us, will you?” Jack moves forward to greet her, but then sniffs and recoils. “What the fuck? You smell like you were rolling in… never mind. I don’t want to know.”

Kali butts his leg with her head before coming back to stand at my side.

Rubbing a hand over the back of my neck, I grimace. “He got a bit obsessed with marking his territory.”

My mate shows me her teeth, not appreciating being referred to as my territory, but she does belong to me.

Seems the longer I spend with the beast in my mind, the more I’m coming around to his way of thinking.

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