Page 52 of Howling Night

“Not even a thank you first?” he asked, gesturing toward the house behind us. “I saved your life.”

“Answer me,” I demanded, my hands balling into fists.

Kellan laughed, a low rumble that held no humor. “I didn’t do anything to Ryder. He went off to speak with someone about me. Apparently, when I don’t listen to his orders, which I’m under no obligations to do, he feels the need to try to deal with things using the alternate methods.” He made air quotes with his fingers around “alternate methods,” his amber eyes gleaming with mockery.

“You’re lying.”

“Why would I lie? Ryder thinks he’s so righteous, but what he doesn’t realize is that if I get in trouble, he will, too.” Kellan took a step closer, towering over me. “He allowed a human to know about us. That’s a punishable offense too.”

“You’re not staying in your territory,” I said, crossing my arms.

Kellan’s eyelids fluttered. “I’m challenging our territorial boundaries. I get that you think I’m the bad guy here, but it’s not like that. Ryder has been handed everything to him on a silver platter. I have to fight tooth and nail for every little inch.” He shook his head. “Why am I talking to you about this?”

“I wish you weren’t,” I muttered, my eyes flashing over my shoulder. “What was that woman? Her teeth were… she was so?—”

“Don’t ask,” Kellan said, cutting me off sharply. “It’s done, and you don’t need to worry about her anymore.”

“I didn’t know I had to worry about her before either,” I said, swallowing hard. “Are there others like her?”

Kellan sighed. “You should seriously consider leaving this place and never coming back. You know far too much for your own good.”

“I’m going to,” I said, looking down at my blood-splattered arms. “I just need to shower and forget all of this ever happened.”

“You should,” Kellan said, his eyes fixed on mine. “I’m still waiting for the thank you.”

I stared back at him, reluctant to express any gratitude to this man who had threatened me just nights before. But he and his wolves had saved my life.

“Thank you,” I finally muttered.

The corner of his mouth lifted. “You’re welcome.”

“How did you know I was there?” I asked, chewing my lip.

Kellan’s expression shifted, becoming more serious. “I didn’t. That was the woman we’d been looking for. She has been killing wolves in the area. We finally tracked her down, and apparently just in the nick of time. We initially thought it was you that we were looking for.”

My blood ran cold at the thought. If they hadn’t been hunting Francis already, I would likely be dead. The reality of how close I’d come to death hit me like a physical blow.

“I look nothing like her,” I said, my voice fading.

Kellan shrugged. “We didn’t know what she looked like. Until tonight.”

“Oh,” I said, my head feeling like a helium balloon. “I should go.”

“Yes, yes, you should.”

I stumbled back to the house, my legs shaking beneath me. The adrenaline was starting to crash, leaving me exhausted and jittery all at once. I locked the door behind me, though I doubted a simple lock would stop whatever that woman had been — or Kellan or his wolves, for that matter. I’d seen how they’d launched themselves through the window and knew it was something they could do again.

I grabbed my phone from the couch cushions, and my heart dropped into my stomach. Six missed calls and a string of increasingly panicked text messages lit up my screen.

Where are you?

Everly, pick up your phone.

I’m getting worried.

Please tell me you’re okay.

I’m about to come looking for you.

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