Page 33 of Wolf Heart

I clean the dishes with brackish water from the tap and set them out to dry. Finishing my chore, I join the others in a big bedroom with a broken bed sitting in the corner.

Their voices stop as soon as I enter.

“What’s going on?” I ask, trying not to let it bother me that Aspen is looking guilty and Dex is smirking. While Raven looks furious. His face is red and the vein down his forehead pulses.

"You need to sleep in here tonight," Raven says in a commanding tone. "One of us will take turns guarding the door."

"Why?" I ask, my brow furrowed. "If there's danger, I'd rather us stay together."

"Because you are too reckless." Raven crosses his arms over his chest, revealing his wolf and flame tattoos and I wonder if there's a meaning behind them or just decoration. "You're much more of a target and the windows in here are reinforced with bars on the outside."

"Really?" My gaze flicks past him to the windows boarded up like all the others with wooden planks. I straighten and try to appear confident despite my legs shaking. "Or am I being put in here like a prisoner so you’re ensured I can't leave?"

"You can leave any time you want." He gives a mock bow of his head. "After you pay us."

"Right." I swallow 'cause I haven't got a cent on me or even a change of clothes. "Like I said, help me find my mom, and then you'll get paid." She has to be willing to reward them for bringing me to her, right? I mean, my dad loved her and he wouldn't have fallen for a bad person. I push the image of my hateful stepmother out of my mind.

Raven stares at me with a glower and my heart thuds. Will he see through my bluff and throw me out to the lost ones outside? I meet his narrowing gaze and hope I look braver than I feel.

"We'll collect our payment," he says, emphasizing each word and I can tell he thinks I don't have anything of value to give him or that my mom will and I hate that he could be right. “One way or another.”

A growl rips from between my lips. I want to rip his words to shreds and make them nothing more than shredded paper. But the hungry look in his eyes makes me nervous. I don't know if he's referring to sex or something worse.

Not that it matters. "We find my mom and then you'll get paid, like I said. No more, no less."

“Raven’s not trying to be a dick,” Dex clears his throat, “but we can’t have you wandering around on your own, with the dangers and shit. We’re here to help you and your wolf, okay? None of us like being stuck in here either, but I know what’s out there, the death and destruction. So, yeah, it’s safer in here for now.”

I swallow and glance over at Aspen, who’s watching me with an odd look on his face. Does he regret our make-out session? I can’t tell and I stiffen my spine. I should be used to rejection by now.

"Okay."

Raven snorts. “If you make us look like fools, we’ll take our payment out of your hide.”

My mouth goes dry, but I nod.

“Tomorrow we plan to find your mom. But for now, you've had a shock and you need rest. We all need to heal from the attacks last night and I doubt we’ve seen the last of them."

He looks over at Aspen and Dex. "In a few hours, it's going to be lights' out. We all need extra rest and we leave at dawn regardless. Sooner we get out of here and you to your mom, the sooner we can get paid and leave you to your fate.”

"Just because you're Alpha doesn't mean you can boss me around." I give Raven my most scathing look but he just sneers at me.

His dark eyes glitter with a hint of irritation. That's the only explanation for why he's being bitchy.

"Maybe it’s best we go our separate ways.” Raven glares. “And you should go back to your pack. Beg for them to take you in. It’s the best chance you have.”

“We made a deal.” I grit my teeth. Why is this wolf so damn hard-headed and stubborn?

He crosses his arms over his broad chest and raises an eyebrow. “I’ve got better things to do than watch out for a lost pup like you.”

This time I feel the need to get the hell out of here. I can try to find my own way out of this mess. I don’t need anyone. I shouldn’t have to rely on anyone.

The wolf inside me is growling and pacing, but I ignore her. I take a step toward the door but stop and glare at Raven. “I don’t belong to any pack.” Not anymore and not until I unleash my wolf. “And I will find my mother without your help.”

Raven laughs. “I’m sure you will, little wolf, but I don’t think you’ll succeed.”

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