Page 19 of Collar Me Crazy
"I can't believe that wolf just appeared out of nowhere," Sarah said, flexing her injured ankle. "It was like he knew exactly what we needed."
"Wild animals are more intuitive than people give them credit for," Ryker called from the back room, his voice carefully neutral. "They can sense distress."
Sonya helped distribute hot chocolate from the emergency supplies, but her attention kept drifting toward the radio crackling in the corner where Ryker had been trying to raise the rescue teams. The storm showed no signs of letting up, and being trapped in close quarters with him was doing dangerous things to her equilibrium.
"The roads are completely impassable," one of the students was saying. "My dad's going to freak when he hears about this."
"At least we're safe," his friend replied. "Could have been a lot worse if these two hadn't found us."
Sonya caught Ryker watching her from the doorway, his green eyes unreadable in the firelight. The moment their gazes met, she saw him stiffen before deliberately turning away.
"Radio's not getting through," he announced to the room. "We'll have to wait until the storm passes."
"How long do you think that'll be?" one of the boys asked.
"Hard to say. Could be a few hours, could be all night." Ryker moved to check the wood supply, his movements careful and controlled. "Everyone should try to get some rest."
The students settled in with surprising ease, exhaustion from their ordeal winning out over the unfamiliar surroundings. Within an hour, soft snores filled the cabin, leaving Sonya and Ryker alone with the crackling fire and the howling wind outside.
Sonya pulled her jacket tighter and moved toward the small kitchenette, needing something to do with her hands. "Want some coffee? There's instant in the supplies."
"Sure." Ryker remained by the fire, but she could feel his awareness of her every movement. "Thanks."
She busied herself with the simple task, hyperaware of how small the cabin felt with just the two of them conscious. When she handed him the steaming mug, their fingers brushed, and she saw him flinch at the contact.
"We need to talk," she said quietly, settling beside him on the worn couch.
"About what?"
"You know about what." She kept her voice low to avoid waking the students. "About what happened at the lake. About what we both felt."
Ryker stared into his coffee like it held answers to life's greatest mysteries. "Nothing happened at the lake."
"Bullshit." The word came out sharp with agitation, and one of the students stirred restlessly. She lowered her voice again. "I'm a seer, Ryker. I know recognition when I feel it. And I know you felt it too."
"It doesn't matter what I felt."
"Of course it matters." She shifted closer, close enough to catch the scent of pine. "Do you have any idea how rare this is? How special?"
"Special." He laughed, but there was no humor in it. "That's one word for it."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means you don't know what you are asking for." He finally looked at her, and the pain in his eyes made her breath catch. "You don't know what I am."
"You're a wolf shifter who runs an animal sanctuary and saves people in snowstorms. You're kind and protective and obviously care deeply about helping others." She set down her mug and turned to face him fully. "What else do I need to know?"
"That everyone I have ever cared about has ended up hurt. Or worse."
The raw honesty in his voice made something ache in her chest. "That's not true."
He stood abruptly, pacing to the window where snow continued to fall in thick curtains. "My pack is dead. My entire family, wiped out because of what I represent."
"What you represent?"
He was quiet so long she thought he wouldn't answer. When he spoke, his voice was barely above a whisper. "There's a prophecy. About a wolf born under a blood moon who would either unite the supernatural or destory it."
Sonya's heart stuttered. "You were born under a blood moon."
