Page 55 of Gone Hunting

I don’t tell her what I’m thinking. I can’t. Not when the thought of losing her hurts as much as it does.

Chapter Fifteen

The run over the mountain and back to my place is quicker than our initial run to Mimi’s. Then again, we didn’t worry about an attack from supernatural insectoids on our way there.

What a day. We’re tired and hungry. Asweres, our supernatural bodies will eventually develop so we can fight for days without stopping. For now, our bodies are still growing and the need for rest is as important as our next meal.

Celia keeps up. I’m not sure how. Although she was spared from the scorpion venom, the exertion and the bumps and bruises she acquired must have done a number on her. I’m starting to learn that unable to heal or not, it’s going to take a lot to bring this little kitty down.

Gemini’s twin wolf runs alongside Celia, panting and looking up at her while leaping and avoiding the hazards of the mountain terrain, as if no obstacle matters as much as her. Totally love-struck, his tongue dangles from the side of his mouth and his tail wags as he runs. My wolf isn’t doing anything close to tail wagging. Mostly, he’s raring to take a bite out of Gemini.

Celia laughs when the goofball leaps up and butts her elbow. She pets his head. “Looking for a little attention there, buddy?” she asks.

My glare cuts to Gemini. “Yeah, a little lonely there,buddy?”

Gemini grins, his face reddening when Koda and Liam throw their heads back in laughter.

“What’s wrong, Aric?” Koda says. “A little jealous there, pal?”

“Naw,” Liam says. “Not our fearless Leader, Aric. He’d have to like Celia to feel threatened.” He cuts in front of me, running backwards and trying to throw my pace off. “Do you like, Celia, Aric? Do you think she’s pretty? Do you dream that one day you’ll make pups together—”

“Liam, look out.” He whips around. I trip him before he realizes nothing is there. He crashes to the ground, kicking up dirt.

And suddenly, all is right with the world.

Celia gasps. “You tripped him.”

“No.” I grin, lying through my teeth. “That was a total accident.”

“So is this,” Gemini says. His twin zips in front of me. I leap over him. I don’t quite plant my feet as the incline drops when Gemini tackles me to the ground. We topple down the mountain, both trying to get the upper hand.

We crash into a muddy creek with Gemini’s twin wolf circling and yipping. I drag and lift Gemini into a full Nelson, using his body as a shield to keep his twin from leaping on top of me. Koda is roaring with laughter. Liam reaches us then, lifting a pile of mud in his hand. I guess what he’s going to do and duck.

Liam nails Koda in his opened mouth with a good chunk of mud. “Oops,” Liam says, laughing. “Sorry.”

Koda is spitting and drooling mud. “What the fluk, Liam?” he growls, which only makes the rest of us laugh harder.

Koda crashes into Liam, their large bodies colliding into us as we continue to fight for the upper hand. We roll to a stop against a tree, freezing when we see Celia sitting quietly on a small boulder. She smiles when she sees us, but I notice how tired she seems and I’m not alone.

Gemini’s twin trots over to her, releasing a small whine. “She needs food,” Gemini says.

I’m already on my feet. “Yeah. Let’s get back.”

Koda has Liam in a choke hold, trying to feed Liam mud. Liam’s extra-long neck makes it hard for Koda to secure his grip and Liam is doing his best to bite him. Gemini jogs over to separate them. I immediately go to Celia.

“Hey,” I say. “Are you all right?”

She nods and offers a small smile. “I’m fine if I keep going, but if I stop . . .” She shrugs. “I’m just a little tired is all.”

I open my mouth, but she cuts me off by lifting her hand. “Before you ask, no, you may not carry me.”

“I wasn’t going to offer,” I say.

“Liar,” she says.

“Yup,” I agree, unable to stop my smirk.

We take off again, my friends yapping it up and apologizing for their actions. Me, I mostly keep quiet, watching Celia to make sure she’s okay. She starts off slow and at first, I worry that the brief rest did more harm than good. But like the trooper she is, Celia resumes her quick pace.

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