Page 22 of Wild Fated

Not dead, either. Almost back to Black Lake.

That meantthey’d driven through the night again.

Kael:

Send us information when you get there.

Will do. Keep me posted on Rowan and Evelyn.

I putmy phone away and looked up at Destin. He'd been silent, watching me with those intense eyes. I reached down to the plate and ate the last bite of meat. "Thank you for this."

He nodded once. “Time to go.”

Chapter

Ten

Destin

We shifted and ran most of the day. Lana’s wolf was strong despite her ordeal. My limbs still ached from my own wounds, but by the time we stopped for the night at the last hostel on our route, I felt almost normal.

There were no attacks that night. The shrikes almost seemed like a fever dream. I woke on our second morning before dawn, the early morning light filtering through the forest canopy and casting dappled shadows on the walls. For a moment, I couldn't place where I was.

Then the smell of cooking meat pulled me fully awake, and I sat up, my eyes locking onto Lana at the stove.

"You're up." She didn't look over.

"You're making breakfast." It was a statement more than a question. The scent of sizzling rabbit hit my nostrils. I was impressed. "You trapped that?"

"Yeah." She shrugged as if it was the most normal thing in the world.

"And you found the stove?" My voice was still thick with sleep, and I cleared my throat.

"I did." She turned, and her lips curved into a small smile. "I hope you don't mind, but I was freezing when I woke up. I searched a bit and found this."

I shook my head, trying to clear the fog. "No, it's fine. I just . . . " I looked at the camp stove. "You’ve used one before?"

Lana scoffed. "I’m not a princess. I have camped before."

“I didn’t mean?—”

"You’re not the only one who can be useful.” She raised an eyebrow, then turned her attention back to the pan and flipped the rabbit leg with a stick.

My eyes fell to her stomach. Healed. My makeshift bandage was gone, and her skin was probably a smooth expanse . . .

A dull ache started in my chest, and I cleared my throat, forcing my gaze away. My wolf whined. “Sleep well?" I asked gruffly. Probably the stupidest question I’d ever asked. That was why I preferred to stay silent.

She nodded. "You?"

"Yeah." I lied. I’d slept for a solid five hours, but it hadn’t been restful. Not with my wolf on edge, sensing every shift in Lana’s breathing, every movement of her body next to mine.

We sat in silence for a moment, the only sound the sizzle of the cooking rabbit. "I didn't want to wake you," she said finally, breaking the silence. "You seemed like you needed it."

I grunted in response.

"Here." Lana plated the rabbit and handed me half.

I took it without a word, biting into the tender meat. It was gamey but satisfying, and I couldn't help but feel a surge of gratitude. People didn’t cook for me. People didn’t do anything for me.

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