Page 68 of Howling Night

“Ryder,” I said as he pulled away.

“Yes?”

“What happens after I leave and you refuse to give Kellan the pack?” I asked, wrapping my arms around my middle.

Ryder let out a heavy breath. “Things will just go back to how they were before you got here, I suppose. He’ll keep antagonizing me. Anyway, I’ll call you later, okay?”

“Okay,” I said, ignoring the twinge in my heart as he opened the door and slipped out of the house.

I moved to the window, watching as he walked toward his truck. He opened the door and paused, his head tilted upward, and his shoulders tensed as he seemed to sniff the air.

Instead of getting into his truck, he walked around to the bed and, without warning, he slammed his fists against the side panel. The metal caved inward with the force, leaving two deep dents in the steel.

I rushed outside, pain jolting through my bare feet when I stepped onto the gravel. “What’s going…”

My voice fell away as I looked into the bed and stumbled backward, barely managing to stay on my feet. Tufts of dark fur, and a limp paw hanging over the edge.

A wolf.

A dead wolf.

“Oh, my god!” I breathed, looking at Ryder. The world around me started to spin.

Ryder turned to me, his chest heaving with barely controlled rage, his knuckles bloody from hitting the truck. “It’s Paul.”

ChapterThirty-One

My hand flew to my mouth, stifling a gasp as I looked again at the lifeless animal. Paul, who had been begging for Ryder’s forgiveness, was now dead in the back of Ryder’s truck.

The morning sunlight caught on Paul’s fur, cruelly highlighting the deep red gash across his throat. His lifeless eyes stared at nothing. My stomach lurched.

“Son of a bitch,” Ryder said, his voice dropping to a dangerous growl. His eyes flashed an eerie blue for a split second. “This isn’t good. He’s gone too far this time.”

I stepped back, my breath coming in shallow gasps. “I don’t understand. Why would he?—”

“Everly.” Ryder grabbed my shoulders, his grip firm but gentle. “You need to go inside and get your things. You need to leave. It’s not safe for you here.”

“What?” I shook my head. “But we have more time.”

“We don’t. Something’s wrong.” He glanced back at the truck, his expression dark. “Something’s changed. I don’t know what, but I’m worried sick that something could happen to you.”

“But—”

“Now, Everly. Please.”

The urgency in his voice sent me racing inside. I grabbed the bag I’d never unpacked, stuffing in a few items I’d taken out. My hands trembled as I collected my laptop, chargers, and toiletries from the bathroom.

I quickly got dressed, not even caring that my socks didn’t match. I hauled everything out to my SUV, tossing my things into the back. Ryder stood on the lawn, his phone pressed to his ear as he spoke in a low, intense voice. When he saw me, he ended the call and walked over.

“Learn anything?” I asked, nodding toward his phone.

“Not yet,” he said, running his hand through his hair.

I swallowed hard and looked into his eyes. “I guess this is goodbye, then.”

“I never wanted it to be like this,” Ryder said, his blue eyes searching mine. “I will visit you.”

“Sure you will,” I said, flashing him a warm smile. “I’ll never forget you.”

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