Page 29 of Howling Night

“What the hell?” I shrieked, the world suddenly tilting sideways as blood rushed to my head. The feeling of not having control over my body sent a wave of panic through me. “Put me down right now!”

I pounded my fists against his back, which felt like hitting a brick wall. My pajama shorts rode up uncomfortably as he strode toward my front door.

“Ryder!” I yelled, kicking my legs. “Put me down!”

“In a second,” he grunted, as he carried me through the doorway with ease. Once inside, he set me back on my feet and closed the door behind us.

I stumbled slightly, disoriented from being upside down. “Don’t you ever do that again.”

I backed away from him and straightened my clothes. His eyes were on me as my heart hammered in my chest — from fear, from anger, from something I didn’t want to examine too closely.

I crossed my arms over my tight T-shirt to cover myself. He leaned back against the door, annoyingly calm compared to my agitation.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” he finally said, his voice even. “You need to let this go.”

“No,” I said, taking a bold step forward. “I won’t. After what happened to me and what I saw, no chance. No chance in hell.”

“Everly—”

“And for the record,” I interrupted, pointing a finger at him, “if you ever pick me up like that again, you will seriously regret it. I don’t care how big you are.”

Ryder had the grace to look slightly ashamed, running a hand through his hair. “I’m sorry. I just needed to get you inside without arguing about it out there, and you’re just so… stubborn and defiant.”

“Me?” I asked, my voice squeaking like a rusty hinge. “Let’s start with the truth. How about that? Don’t I deserve that after nearly being killed by your friend?”

“He’s not my friend,” Ryder muttered.

“Colleague? Associate? Whatever term you want to use, I don’t care,” I said, throwing my hands in the air. “Just stop playing games with me. I’m sick of fucking games everywhere I go!”

Ryder began pacing the small confines of my living room. His massive frame made the space feel even smaller. He moved like a caged animal as he ran his hands through his wild hair.

I watched him, mind racing. The pieces were there, scattered but starting to form a pattern. I’d seen him that day in the woods, arguing with Paul — Paul, who could somehow transform into a wolf. There had been other wolves surrounding them that night, massive creatures that hadn’t harmed Ryder at all.

“You know all about them. You didn’t even seem surprised when I told you,” I said quietly as I looked up at him. “The wolves.”

Ryder stopped pacing but didn’t look at me.

“That day in the woods, when I first saw you,” I said, not even thinking as I spoke. “You were talking to Paul about boundaries. About protecting your brothers or something.” Each word felt like stepping out further onto thin ice, but I couldn’t stop myself. “It was serious. Important. And Paul wanted to be done with it. He didn’t ask for this life… those were his words.”

“Everly, stop,” Ryder said, his shoulders rising and falling with his deep breaths. “Please.”

“He said something about a pack,” I said, my head bobbing as it came back to me. “Screw you and screw the pack.”

A wild, impossible thought hit me, and it made my lips curl into a smile. Somehow, I’d put the scattered pieces together.

“You know about them because you’re one of them too,” I said, my voice barely a whisper. I stepped up in front of him bravely. “Look me in the eye and tell me you’re not.”

“It’s not what you think,” Ryder said, avoiding my gaze.

“Jesus Christ, how is this real life?” I said, swallowing hard.

He grabbed my shoulders and peered into my eyes. “You have to forget about this. Humans can’t?—”

“Oh, my God,” I said, my mouth dropping open. “I’m right! I figured it out. What the fucking hell, Ryder? How is this possible? Like seriously, how?”

“Calm down, you can’t…” he said, turning away again. He ran his fingers through his hair. “Shit, shit, shit.”

“Can you do it now?” I asked, my eyes wide.

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