Page 3 of Pack Kasen: Part 2

He studies me for a beat, then sticks his hand in his pocket, pulling out a piece of paper and a pen. I watch him, curious, as he scrawls a message on the paper and hands it to me.

“Where to find us if you ever need us, and my number, in case you need help.”

I study the scrap of paper.

Directions and a cell phone number.

I frown. “He said the place was Burning Wood. Why is it called that?”

As much as I hate the Wolf King, my curiosity about the strange name for their home keeps sneaking up on me. No matter how many times I tell myself to stop being curious, I can’t help it.

“I believe Aren wants to be the one to tell you that.”

He walks away.

He did it on purpose. I should have buried my curiosity, then maybe he might have answered a question that has been itching at my brain instead of hinting that I need to follow him to northern Montana and get my answers from a certain blond-haired and amber-eyed man.

Not happening.

I’ll just have to stay curious.

Screwing the paper into a ball, I’m getting ready to toss it into the nearest trash when, out of the corner of my eye, I spot a familiar sneezing figure headed this way.

Cristofer.

He’s holding a tissue as his metal wire-rim glasses slide down his long nose. As usual, the library technician is in blue jeans and a sweatshirt with sneakers. Like me. And like almost every student packing up their cars in the parking lot.

He looks concerned as his watery gray eyes bounce from me to Finan. “Everything okay? You looked upset.”

I smile. “Hi, Cris. Just someone I hadn’t wanted to see. I’m fine now.”

“Should I call security?” He sneezes.

“No need. He’s gone and won’t be back.” I edge back a half step to get away from his nose twitching herbal remedies. “Allergies still bad?”

I’m struggling to identify the overpowering floral scent he’s using this time. Must be a mix of different herbs. One is bad enough, but a combo? I edge further away as my wolf sneezes and grumbles at me to swipe at him so he keeps his distance.

“Uh, huh.” He blows his nose and stuffs the tissue back into his pants pocket. “Are you sure you’re okay?” His eyes linger on Finan, who glances our way as he gets into a black Ford Mustang.

A tiny frown forms between Finan’s light green eyes as he hesitates.

I glare at him. If he eventhinksof coming over here to warn Cris away, believing he’s doing his boss a favor, I won’t be responsible for my actions.

Finan smiles slightly at me, probably reading my intent, and slides into his car. But he doesn’t immediately drive away. He lifts a phone to his ear, and I bet I know exactly who he’s calling.

Not everyone believed my disappearance was innocent. Cris is the library technician whom I sometimes chat with. Worried about me, he went with Rachel to report me missing.

He sneezes five times in succession.

Geez. This guy’s allergies are no joke.

“That must be some kind of record,” I say, smiling, relieved that I never get colds or flu.

Along with fast healing, it’s another benefit of being able to change into a wolf. It has long been a mystery to me how I came to be what I am, but I’m glad to have a wolf in my head. I don’t know that I’d have survived foster care without the ability to fight back against guys who were bigger and stronger than me.

Without my wolf, I’d have been truly on my own.

“Surprisingly, it’s not. The beginning of spring is the worst.”

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