Page 85 of Wolf's Chance

Had her questions fallen silent because Willow already had her answers? She held my stare with no fear, no judgment. Licking my bottom lip, I turned my head away again. “You know.”

I turned back to see her pushing her hair behind her ear. “I suspected.”

I nodded. “How long?”

“Truthfully?” I nodded again. “Now.” She plucked at the sleeve of her hoodie. “I saw it.” She once more tapped the side of her head.

“And you have no questions?”

Willow gave a low chuckle. “I havesomany questions,” she told me.

“And you kept your silence?” I mocked. “How unlike you.”

“Don’t be mean,” she scolded. Her voice was low, but I could hear her perfectly. “I have two questions you can answer now.”

“Only two?” My voice was a low murmur.

“Why didn’t you tell me? You must have known I was suspicious?”

Of course she was; I’d been lying to her from the outset. “Ididn’t think you would take the news as well as you seem to be.”

Willow’s lips turned down as she thought over my answer. “You’ve protected me,” she said softly. “There are things out there I wasn’t expecting. Things I would never dream of to be true.” Burrowing her hands in the front pouch of her hoodie, she didn’t look up. “I’ve been painting things I can’t explain. It made sense to me that the twoextraordinarythings would be linked.”

“Okay.” I saw her surprise at my simple acceptance. “We should keep moving. You’re cold and they have tea and coffee.” Rubbing my stomach, I added, “And food.”

“I’m too scared to eat,” she admitted. “And I haven’t asked my two questions.”

Frowning, I looked back at her. “You asked two.”

“They were related questions. I have twoseparatequestions.” Her bottom lip pouted petulantly.

“Of course.” I sighed and she moved closer to me eagerly. “Ask.”

“Why are you so scared to go in there?”

My wolf surged upward, and I took a step away from her as my anger lit within me. “There are some things you don’t need answers to.” Without waiting for a response, I walked towards the ridge, my pace steady and deliberate.

I knew she followed me. She had nowhere else to go except the pack. She was in too far now.

As I crested the ridge, I was met by three males, two that I knew.

Cannon took a step forward when I came to a stop. He looked at me with sympathy and understanding in his eyes ashe looked over both of us. “Welcome back to Blackridge Peak. It’s been too long, Caleb.”

I heard Willow come to a stop behind me. I saw the male that had too much human in his scent study her, and I guessed he was the doctor she’d met before.

I ignored the alpha in front of me, and I spoke to the doctor. “She hit her head, knocked her out. We were attacked on the way here. She’s barely eaten, hasn’t had enough fluids, and I’ve carried her for most of the journey.”

He waited until Cannon had turned to give him a nod to go ahead, and then he hurried forward to his new patient. I ignored Willow’s muttering about me being an ass and turned my attention back to the alpha.

“I don’t want to be here,” I told him bluntly. “This isn’t my life, not anymore. I brought her here.” I dropped the paintings between us. “I brought these. There are notepads in the packs.” Cannon stayed still as I spoke. “There’s a box or three back in the truck. I hid it, but you’ll find it. As soon as you figure out how to stop her, I’m gone.” I looked between him and his beta. “Am I clear?”

Cannon watched me silently. His eyes flicked over my shoulder and then back to me.

I had a fleeting feeling of regret when Willow walked past me slowly, the doctor hovering protectively beside her.

“I think we all heard you make yourselfveryclear, Caleb,” she said bitterly as she came to a stop in front of Cannon. “Hi, I’m Willow. I’m really hoping you can finally tell me what the fuck is going on?”

TWENTY-THREE

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