Page 40 of Samuel
“Hey back,” Samuel said.
In that moment, I knew I didn’t need words.
The weight of what was unspoken passed between us, settling into something deep and real.
I pressed a kiss to his jaw, feeling the slight roughness of his stubble, savoring the simple intimacy of it, the quiet beauty of the moment.
“I could stay like this forever,” he murmured, pulling me closer, if that was even possible. “You and me, right here.”
“Sounds perfect,” I replied, feeling a flutter of happiness that seemed to expand with each beat of my heart.
Just as I let myself relax, a howl pierced the air, sharp and desperate, and was immediately followed by a scream.
My eyes snapped open, and I froze, holding my breath. That voice...why did it sound vaguely familiar?
“Samuel,” I whispered, a knot of dread twisting in my stomach.
“Hm?” His tone was relaxed, unconcerned, like he hadn’t heard anything out of the ordinary.
But that only made me feel more on edge.
“Did you hear that?” I asked, searching his face.
Another scream cut through the silence, closer this time, echoing through the trees and slamming into me with the force of a punch.
Samuel’s easy expression shifted, his body going tense beneath me as he sat up, listening.
The scream wasn't in my head, and from the look in Samuel’s eyes, he’d heard it too.
I scrambled to my feet, my instincts kicking into high gear as adrenaline shot through my veins.
Someone was in trouble—bad trouble.
“Someone needs our help,” I murmured, already searching the room for my clothes.
“We left our clothes in the dining room,” Samuel reminded me, his voice clipped now, all business.
I ran out ahead of him, my heart pounding as I grabbed my shirt and yanked it over my head, barely pausing to lace up my boots.
Samuel came up beside me, his face set with a deadly calm as he handed me a gun and a knife.
“What about you?” I asked, gripping the weapons, feeling the familiar weight settle in my hands.
He gave me a wry smile, his eyes gleaming.
“I have my claws—and my fire,” Samuel answered.
Right. Samuel didn’t need weapons; hewasone.
We raced out the front door, and I paused just long enough to listen, to feel where the screams and howls might be coming from.
I was at a loss, every direction seeming to echo with the same unnerving sound.
Samuel, however, didn't hesitate.
He closed his eyes, tilting his head as he took a deep breath, and then, without a word, he darted into the trees.
I followed, his confidence giving me something to latch onto as we moved, each step quick and purposeful.
