Page 93 of Savage Hunt

No, she couldn’t.

“Is this all I need, Julia?” I lifted the vial as unease pumped through my veins. Memories of Heldrok bubbled forward, and guilt for the people I left behind scratched at my soul. Maddie was gone, but Knox was still there. Why did I get to leave and not him?

The healer nodded. “I’ll run some tests and let you know.”

I stood and turned to exit the room, but Julia’s voice stopped me.

“You need to be around shifters on the night of the next full moon.”

Camus picked up his glass of tea. “That’s a good idea. You’re not part of the pack, but you are connected to it through the Anders. Wolves are always better together than apart.”

I shoved the vial in my jeans pocket and folded my arms. “I can’t even shift. Why would I need to go?”

Cirilla answered before Camus or Julia could. “Because the moon and energies released that night will help to cleanse the darkness from your soul.”

I couldn’t stop the snort from slipping out. Nothing would be able to wash this sinister cloud from me.

Julia glared at the old wolf before turning back to me. “Seriously, Tate. The pack is having a bonfire that night, and it would benefit you greatly to be there, surrounded by shifters.”

“I’m not into watching a bunch of people strip before they transform to frolic in the woods.”

“It’s not like that,” Camus said.

Cirilla scoffed. “Sometimes it is.”

The healer waved her hand in the air. “It won’t be this month. Shifting is optional. And there will be food, drinks, and music to celebrate the lunar phase.” Julia laced her fingers together. “Being with your own kind—half your kind—will help. I promise.”

“I’ll think about it.”

“You really should be there.” Cirilla rested her hand on my arm and leaned forward. “Just as you did, your mate will return. He can’t stay away from you for long.”

I frowned at Preston as he pressed play on the horror movie about a vengeful ghost haunting a family in their new home. “When I agreed to watch a movie, I didn’t think you’d pick this crap.”

“Crap?” Preston plopped down on my right with a bowl of popcorn, flicking his honey-blond locks out of his face. “This is a stellar pick in the haunted house sub-genre of horror. It has everything. The bright, sunny beginning as the family moves into their perfect dream home. Little things start happening, and everyone thinks they’re crazy.”

“Until something totally unbelievable happens, and there’s no denying the supernatural is at work.” Dylan joined us on the couch, leaning against my left side. “Then all hell breaks loose.” He gave the cutest maniacal grin.

The movie started with the loving family happily moving boxes into their haunted mansion. I pointed to the screen. “How can they not think this place is haunted? Look at it. It’s Victorian with stained glass windows. It screams ghost house.”

Dylan chuckled. “Duh. They’re all idiots. But it’s fun to laugh while they run around like chickens with their heads cut off.” He grabbed an empty bowl, leaned over me, and scooped some popcorn into it. “You’d never catch any nightworlder, especially a wolf, moving into a haunted house unless it was on purpose.”

“That’s the thing with a lot of humans.” Preston shook a few popcorn kernels in his hand like dice. “They ignore the most obvious signs of the supernatural. The mom saw a freaking shadow in the window when they were touring the house and again in the mirror. Hello! That was not a trick of the light. That was a ghost.”

“Exactly!” Dylan grabbed a shaker from the coffee table and dumped seasoning on his popcorn. “If I see any moving shadows that aren’t mine, I’m outta there. And crap in the mirror? Gone.” He placed the bowl in my lap.

My brows dipped. “What’s this?”

“I made a special topping for your popcorn.” He wiggled the shaker and grinned. “Extra spice.”

Intrigued, I tossed a few kernels into my mouth, heat crackling over my tongue. “Oh, that’s good.”

The shifter’s eyes lit up. “I knew you’d like it.”

Preston grumbled under his breath. “My little brother is such a suck-up.”

Dylan flipped him off. “Don’t be jealous because I can catch female attention with more than good looks. You could learn from me, Preston. Your looks won’t last forever.”

“You little shit.” He tried to punch his brother’s shoulder, but I blocked him.

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