Page 42 of Wolf Hunter

“I would have liked it better if you ditched the clothes altogether,” he says in a low voice. “I didn’t mind the nakedness.”

My brows draw low. “You didn’t see anything.”

“I saw enough.” The man has the nerve to wink at me.

“We might be playing pretend lovers, but that doesn’t mean I’m actually going to let you see me naked.” Except the idea holds so much appeal that I force myself to look away. “Tell me what’s the plan for today.”

Reid links his arm with mine—probably to make sure I don’t try to bolt again—and we make our way down the hall toward the main staircase.

“I respect the privacy of my pack.”

I barely hear his whispered words.

“I leave their rooms alone, unless I have an irrefutable reason to suspect them of treachery.”

We pass the area of the hall where I felt the strange sensation of being watched yesterday, and I force Reid to stop, digging my heels into the carpet. Nothing today. No odd chill. No eyes on my back. Only the two of us.

“What is it?” he asks.

I shake my head, and we walk on.

“While they’re out, I thought we might…”

“Take a look around?” I say. “That’s what you said earlier, right? Don’t tell me you’re getting cold balls already.”

He avoids my glance in his direction. “I hate how this feels. I hate knowing that someone within these walls isn’t being honest with me. And normally, I wouldn’t put any stock into what you’re saying, but things haven’t been right for a long time. Guess I need to be honest withmyselfabout that.”

I get it, I really do, because it’s hard to take a good look at yourself and actually see the truth. I’ve had to do it every day since Carmen disappeared, knowing I didn’t do shit at all to protect her.

“You said your wolves went out and got stuck in town?” I repeat to take the focus off myself.

He nods, the lust on his face making it difficult to do anything but want him. “I sent them out for supplies after dinner last night, thinking it would be soon enough to beat the storm. The weather had other ideas.” Reid stops at the first door and gestures for me to step in before him. “Do your worst.”

My worst, sure.

“Who does this one belong to again?” I already know, but I want to hear him tell me, considering it a test.

Reid is having a serious crisis of faith. This eats at him, and I don’t blame him one bit. No one wants to see how the people they cared the most about are actually liars and assholes.

It’s safer to be alone. That’s what I usually think. It’s what I’ve told myself since Carmen.

“My second-in-command, Bullet,” Reid replies. “He shares the room with his wife, Darcy.”

I remember him from the circle the night of the sacrifice, standing to Reid’s left. I remember his narrowed eyes and the odd upturn of his lips as he watched. It was almost as though he were excited for the sacrifice. Like he waited for the blood and the taste of it on his lips.

“Yeah, I’m going to be honest with you, I didn’t like him,” I say, more for my benefit than for Reid’s. I want to see, once more, if he’ll give me a satisfactory answer.

He simply shrugs. “Bullet has his purpose. And he’s been with me since we were both pups.”

“That doesn’t make him innocent.”

It actually makes him more of a suspect in my mind because the person closest to the alpha has the most to gain, and the most cover with which to move in secret. He has the alpha’s trust and the might of the pack behind him, along with the muscle to improve his position.

Who better to kidnap local witches?

Hesitating for only a moment, I step into the darkness, sending my senses out to look for anything that feels wrong. Like the thing I sensed in the hall yesterday. The same wrongness that curdles the blood.

“He and his mate share these quarters,” Reid reminds from behind me.

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