Page 19 of Gone Hunting

“Please stop speaking,” she begs him.

He frowns. “Why? I’m just getting to the good part.”

“Because she’ll vomit,” Koda snaps. “And die,” he mutters to me.

“What?” I ask.

Koda shrugs. “Look at her, Aric. She can’t heal and she’s more human than beast.”

“I don’t know about that,” I say, keeping my voice low.

“Didn’t you say she couldn’t even catch a fish?”

“Yeah,” I begin.

“Ever hear of a cat who couldn’t fish? Let alone a big cat? She’s what you call delicate. Delicate beings throw up and die.” He shakes his head. “It’s a wonder she’s made it this long. I mean, how many times have you heard about humans found dead, lying in their own vomit?”

“I see your point,” I admit.

Gemini and his twin edge toward Celia. The twin whips his tail back and forth when he reaches Celia. Celia doesn’t seem to notice, too busy scrubbing Liam’s leftover bits from her arms in the river.

“That was some impressive surgery you performed,” Gemini tells her.

Celia rubs her hands harder, the amount of dirt and fluid that caked her skin clouding the water. “I’ve watched a few operations online.” She makes a face. “I’ll be honest, it’s easier to handle when you’re not actually the one poking around.”

Gemini smiles. “Are you planning on becoming a surgeon?”

She shakes out her hands, examining her fingernails closely. “No. I’m actually starting nursing school in another few weeks.”

“Nursing school? Wait, how old are you?” I ask. I’m just suddenly there, although I didn’t feel myself approach.

Celia tilts her head to better see me. It’s more than she’s done with my friends. “Fifteen,” she replies.

“You’re not in high school?”

She shakes out her hands and stands. “Not anymore. I dropped out and took my G.E.D.”

“Why?” I ask.

Celia lowers her lashes, appearing not to want to say more. “My foster mother is really sick and she can’t support us much longer. As the new head of the household, it’s up to me to make sure we’ll be okay.” She lifts her chin. “It’s one of the reasons I have to get back. They need me, Aric. They won’t make it without me.”

You’re just a kid. I want to say.Too young to have so much responsibility tossed on your shoulders.

“I understand,” I tell her. “But you can’t go home. Not tonight. We don’t know what’s out there.”

She wipes the remaining moisture on her shirt. “If I can just get to a bus or train station, I can get out of here. I’ll take my chances. I’ve already been gone for too long.”

“Celia, we can’t let you leave on your own,” I insist. “We just took on a skinwalker—a creature most are too terrified to speak of. He’s not dead. Do you hear me? Even after everything we did to him, at best, he’s vanquished. He could return, and this time with friends.” I ignore Liam’s shudder. “You’re not safe out here, and you’re definitely not safe on some bus. Come home with me and I promise to protect you.”

“Aric,” Koda begins.

“I’m not leaving her out here,” I tell him.

“I’m not suggesting that,” Koda says. “I wouldn’t leave my worst enemy out here. Not after everything we went through. But you’re a pure, Aric. It won’t look good if the pack finds out you brought her home with you.”

“My parents will understand,” I insist.

It’s true. But the rest of the pack won’t.

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