Page 28 of Howling Night

I sighed, leaning against the door. “I wish that made me feel better.” I covered my face with both hands and let out a breath. “Ugh. I guess I’m stuck here then.”

“Just a few days,” Ryder said, clearing his throat. “Then, if you really want, you can go. But you’re safe here. I promise.”

I let out a bitter laugh. “Safe? After what happened last night? I don’t feel even a little safe.”

“It won’t happen again,” he said with such conviction that I almost believed him. “And if he makes even a small move that tells me otherwise, I will hear about it.”

“It’s not like I have a lot of options here, do I?” I said, crossing my arms. “As soon as my car is fixed, I’m out of here.”

He nodded. “That’s your choice, obviously.”

“It’s the best and right choice,” I said, sticking my nose in the air. “I was stupid for coming out here in the first place.”

“Why did you come here?”

I rolled my eyes. “I was looking to relax and slow down and get away from bullshit. There was this guy?—”

“Why is it always a guy?”

“It wasn’t just a guy,” I said, shaking my head. “It was a guy. It was a boss. It was a job that was making me miserable. I didn’t have any freedom. I didn’t even know who I was anymore.”

Ryder shifted his weight before clearing his throat. “Well, I’m sorry you didn’t find that here. Do you need anything from town? Food or supplies? I could?—”

“I’m good, thanks,” I said sharply.

“Alright then.” He took a step back. “I’ll let you know as soon as Trevor has an update on your car.”

As he turned to leave, I called after him. “Ryder?”

He looked back, eyebrows raised in question.

“What are they?” I asked. The question that had been burning in my mind all night finally escaped my lips.

His face went carefully blank. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“Yes, you do,” I insisted. “Those wolves... those men. What are they?”

Ryder held my gaze for a long moment before looking away toward the darkening woods. “Get some rest, Everly. You look tired.”

With that, he walked back to his truck, leaving me standing in the doorway with more questions than answers. But I wasn’t going to stand there and let it go. I was sick and tired of letting things go.

“I know you know about whatever it is that’s going on,” I said, following him. I realized halfway to his truck that I was still in my pajamas. “I saw you that night, you know. You were out there with them… with the wolves. You were talking to Paul, remember?”

“Everly, don’t,” he said, turning on his heel to face me.

I stepped back, stunned at his tone. But then something came over me and I pushed my shoulders back.

I stabbed a finger against his hard chest. “You’re involved in all this. I know it.”

ChapterThirteen

Ryder’s eyes darted around the yard, scanning the area as if expecting someone to be watching us. His jaw clenched tight, and his shoulders tensed.

“This conversation needs to end,” he said, his voice rumbling from his chest.

“No,” I said, shaking my head.

He studied me for a moment as his breaths came fast. In one fluid motion, he bent down, wrapping an arm around my thighs, and hoisted me over his shoulder like I weighed nothing at all.

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