Page 28 of Pack Kasen: Part 2

He ignores me.

I shuffle a little to the right.

He follows.

Sniffing, I refocus on my view. “I’ll help you get rid of your guest, and you play bait. That was the deal, right?”

“What happened?”

“I don’t understand,” I say, playing ignorant.

During the hours-long drive to Burning Wood, guilt plagued me about not doing enough to save Cris. It was guilt that had made me swallow my pride, pack up a few outfits, and make the drive up here.

Too many people have died already. If I have to put up with the Wolf King for a couple of days to track down a killer, then so be it. I’m still here because it’s too important to walk away.

“You seemed pretty set on doing things on your own. I’m guessing something happened.”

It’s too embarrassing to admit that I failed. He’s a hunter who tracked me down so easily, it’s not even funny.

“I just want this over.” It’s only a partial lie. I do want this to be over. But that’s not what drove me up here. My failure did.

He doesn’t speak for so long I wonder if he knows I’m lying.

“You’re missing breakfast,” he eventually says.

“I’m not hungry. Aren’t you?”

“It can wait. This is better.”

His stomach growls.

I look at him.

He smiles down at me. “That you?”

Shaking my head, I bite the inside of my cheek to hide my smile and refocus on the creek.

We’re sitting several minutes later when a small gray wolf sprints past.

Moving almost too fast to track, Aren grips the wolf by the scruff of its neck and hauls it back. He holds a wriggling, excited, and adorable wolf pup in his arms.

Leo.

“Your mother is going to kill you,” he warns. “Aren’t you supposed to be grounded?”

Yipping with excitement, Leo licks the end of Aren’s nose and I hide my smile when Aren sighs.

The front door swings open, and Dania rushes out. “Have you seen…”

She releases a sigh of relief when she spots Leo.

“Go home,” Aren tells Leo slowly but firmly, and sets the wolf down.

When Leo immediately darts toward the creek, Aren’s growl is nothing less than an order to come back.

Changing direction, Leo jumps into my lap, giving me a wolfy grin.

Laughing, I turn my face away when he licks my chin and cheek. “Nice to see you too, Leo. Now go. Your mom is waiting.”

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