Page 7 of Tangled Hearts

“Two days?” I wanted to scream. “We have to wait two days?!”

I couldn’t do this, all this worrying, all these bad thoughts and the weight of the truth was suffocating me. For the first time since we had left the tower, I wanted to go back. My safety bubble was so enticing because I wasn’t made for this life.

The door opened, interrupting my thoughts.

“I’ve spotted two men in the forest, and I think they might be looking for us,” Maxton said, looking anywhere but at me.

“Shit, how far out?” Ryder asked, standing and taking his plate to the kitchen.

“They will be here within the hour,” he said, glancing at me.

“We have wards on the place; we should be fine,” Soren said, looking unsure.

“I don’t think we should risk it,” Maxton shook his head. “For all we know, one of them is a witch and can feel that sort of magic.”

“I agree we have to leave, and we have to leave now,” Ryder said, grabbing my own plate and putting it in some sort of container before Soren went upstairs.

They moved quickly and before I knew it, I had my backpack on as Maxton shifted into another wolf.

“Where are we going?” I asked, as we walked out the back door. “How will Gray know where to find us?”

“Once he finds no one here, he will find a way to call me,” Soren said, not as confidently as I would have liked. “Our phones are charged, he will get in contact with one of us.”

Leaving made me feel uneasy. My bond with Gray was strong and I knew that if something were to happen to him, I would feel it, but I longed to see and touch him.

“I know you don’t want to leave, but we have to,” Ryder said, catching up to us. “Gray knows what to do and he will do whatever he needs to come back to you.”

Damn him for saying the right thing to ease my worry. Ryder gave me a small smile that hit me straight in the chest. He had been mostly broody with me, but Ryder's smile was like an aphrodisiac.

“Come on, we have to hurry, but keep an ear out for anyone close to us,” Ryder said, slipping into his leader role naturally. “Maxton, run ahead of us.”

Maxton nodded before running ahead of us.

“Soren, go with Maxton and loop around, staying behind us,” Ryder said, putting a backpack on too.

“Take this with you,” I said, taking two beads off my necklace. I whispered the incantation to activate them.

I threw them and he caught them with ease, disappearing without a sound.

“What else do you have in that necklace?” Ryder looked amused staring at it.

“Uh…” My words left my brain as his smile widened.

“Anything that can create an illusion?”

He led me away from the cabin.

“No, but that’s a good idea to put on the necklace,” I said, hoping to remember that.

“It would make this easier if we could fake that you went a different way,” he said, walking fast so it was hard to keep up with him.

“What if we did use me as bait?” I panted, trying to keep up.

“Absolutely not,” he growled.

Hell no, Blondie.

I rolled my eyes that they both had the same answer.

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