Page 32 of Gone Hunting

“Neither will I,” I say, trying to sound reasonable and to keep my wolf in check. “I know you’re scared, and that you don’t have a lot of faith in us.” I sigh when Liam asks me to pass the bacon. “But you’re in danger.” I glance at my friends. “And unless we can figure this out, so is the rest of our pack.”

Chapter Eight

I knew Celia was fast. The way she outran me yesterday blew me away. How she avoided falling to her death when the earth collapsed beneath her feet was something to see. But as fast as she was, I didn’t expect her endurance to rival mine. I don’t know much about tigers, but I know they can’t maintain their maximum speed for long. Celia does just fine, keeping pace, despite the fact that her legs are nowhere near as long as ours.

We jet through the rough terrain leading to Mimi’s territory, avoiding the dense tree trunks and rows of brambles with ease. Our feet barely make a sound as they push into the earth and kick up debris. I’m quiet when I move. Celia is close to silent, disappearing into her environment as naturally as her inner beast.

Gemini carries the elk he bagged yesterday in a fireman’s carry. He’s gifting it to Mimi as payment for her knowledge. Koda offered his elk, as well, but I refused. He needs it. If Mimi requires more as an offering, I’ll think of something else.

“Does he need help?” Celia asks, glancing behind her toward Gemini.

Gemini is breathing harder, because of the weight of his kill. Still, if he had to, he could run the rest of the day and into the night. Celia doesn’t seem to know that. She doesn’t know a lot of things, which worries me. As much as she’s avoided the mystical world, it seems to have its eyes set on her.

“He’s fine,” I say, keeping my voice low.

“Are you sure?” she asks. “I’m happy to take over.”

“I know you’re trying to be nice, but an offer of help would be construed as an insult and make Gemini appear weak.”

“Because I’m a girl?” she asks.

She’s not being defensive. She’s curious and trying to understand. It makes it hard to say what I do. “No. Because you’re not one of us.”

Celia doesn’t like what I have to say, but neither her steps nor her voice falters. “I know.”

“That’s not what I mean.” I’m so preoccupied with her that I misjudge the set of boulders we encounter and stumble as I land. My hiking boots slide across the soil and I barely keep my feet.

Gemini’s twin wolf tosses me a look over his shoulder. He knows I don’t fall, ever. But I also don’t encounter females like Celia.

Like Gemini’s twin, Celia doesn’t miss my almost wipe-out. It bruises my pride more than it should. I stumble over my words like I did my landing.

“I don’t mean to offend you,” I press, trying to normalize my breathing and beat away the flush of heat overtaking my face. “I’m just trying to make you understand our ways.”

She keeps her focus ahead, saving her words until we leap over the next set of boulders. These are sharper and more jagged than the last. I need to concentrate to avoid an injury that could slow us down.

“Understand your ways?” she repeats, maneuvering over the boulders as easily as she did flat land. “So, I don’t say something that will make me get zapped inside out?”

She’s trying to make a joke. I manage a grin. “No,” I say, catching her pretty face in my periphery. “I just want you to know more about me, so maybe I can know more about you.”

Her surprise is as clear as the mountain air surrounding us. I’m stunned. Back inJersey, there has to be an army of males trying to get with her—telling her how beautiful she is, wanting to spend time with her, and—

“Is something wrong?” she asks. “You look ready to chew on someone’s jugular.” She looks ahead as if danger lurks around the next cluster of trees.

I clear my throat, a stupid habit I’ve developed since I met her. It doesn’t, however, clear the thoughts of all the males who are no-doubt pacing and panting in anticipation of Celia’s return.

“I’m good,” I reply.

Liam speeds up to run beside me. “Hey, Aric. Are you blushing?”

“No,” I say through my teeth. “I’m just hot from running.”

Celia can’t sniff a lie. Liam can. He throws back his head, laughing. “Liar. You are blushing. Is it because of Celia?” If that’s not bad enough, he points. “Hey, Koda. Aric’s blushing in front of Celia again. You’re right, he has it bad—oh, look! She’s blushing, too. You totally have to see it—”

I shoot my foot out, hooking his ankle and making him fall on his face. Liam scrambles to his feet, spitting out dirt. “What was that for?”

“Sorry, it was an accident,” I say, lying again.

I reduce my pace and hold out an arm as we near Mimi’s territory. “We’re here,” I say. “Let’s take things slow.”

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