I shake my head at my own stupidity and realize he probably thought of this and will be carrying some sort of bag and attire for changing back, that’s if he intends to. Maybe he will stay in form and talk to me that way.
No stupid, he said face to face, as using our mind link will make this worse!
I chastise myself, blaming the lack of sleep for my dumbing down lately as I slide trough the kitchen unseen and get to the back-porch door in record time. Getting used to my new speed and zipping around when you don’t want to be seen is the perfect practice. I’ve stopped bumping into things and tripping over my own feet in hyper speed mode, but I haven’t yet mastered how not to get breathless. It takes it out of me after a short sprint.
Th garden is empty but most of the classrooms look onto the courtyard, so I make sure I stay in the shadows against the wall and slide along to the concealed part of the garden, behind the outhouses. Up and over the eight-foot brick wall with an easy leap and I’m free to run for the woods with no one seeing me escape. It’s easier than I thought. Then again, no one expects me to defy rules and go chasing after Colton Santo. I was never this girl before him and yet now, he just has to say the word and I go…. blindly following my alpha; another annoying trait of being mated. He commands and I do. It’s kind of pathetic.
I start running in the direction I need to go, stopping and dropping behind trees anytime I catch sight of movement or pick up a sound or scent. My senses are firing on all cylinders of their highest ability, and it’s making me a paranoid wreck as I try to forge a path without trace, through the dense forest that leads to where I want to go. Heart pounding so hard through my chest I’m sure anyone nearby will hear it. I try to calm down but to no avail. I’ve never been a risk taker or had the bravery to do anything wild, like defy Juan Santo. I must be insane.
I know if I get caught, I’ll be dragged in front of Juan for breaking the rules set for me. He might be worried about killing his son, but he isn’t worried about putting him through a little pain and I’m not one for a public flogging if I can help it. Colton is stronger than me and even if he does feel my pain, Juan will use it to teach us both a lesson. I don’t doubt that cold hearted bastard would do it for that reason. I’ve never liked him.
I feel like I run at least five miles before I stop for much needed breath, gasping crazily with crushing agony, my limbs beginning to ache and burn from overuse and the unfamiliarity of speed running like this. Much like unfit people, we have to build our stamina so the human side of us can catch up, and I have not been good at building up to this kind of sprint. My legs and muscles are throbbing and feel like my tendons are being torn apart. I collapse behind an overgrown ridge to try and regain some equilibrium. So my lungs don’t cave in and give myself a few moments before dragging myself up and walking the rest of the way at human speed now I’ve made up good time.
Deep in the woods, following the worn animal path to the cavern that I know well, I feel a little lighter, and less depressed. Every kid has been here at least once in their life, long before the vampire attacks. This used to be the go-to spot to hang out, play and swim in the lake nearby and the path made it impossible to get lost. Animals walking the link to their watering hole once you reach the shadowy depth of a forest so dense that it’s permanently in shade, even on the brightest of days.
I know this is why he chose this place. In my memories he would have seen I frequented it a lot with my brother Jasper, as a child. He knows I know it well. No one comes here now; they’re too afraid, yet every kid knows the way and knows exactly how to get there. The fear of vampires still haunts us even now with all the years of quiet living. They are still out there somewhere and shaded gloomy secluded areas like this, would be an ideal spot for them to hunt.
A twig snapping off to my left makes me jump a foot high, head snapping to follow its source and eyes burning to see what is coming. I dart inside a large hollow log to conceal myself and glance around, heart elevated and breath laboring quickly. Senses kicking into red alert.
It’s me…. don’t be afraid.
The much longed for voice in my head, smothering me with calm, like thick honey and I exhale with both relief and something else. That elation at being close to him again, but I wonder why I haven’t picked up on his scent or his proximity yet. We’re supposed to feel our mates when they’re close.
Where are you?
I mutter awkwardly as I crawl back out, peeking cautiously, picking the dried moss from my hair and straighten up to scan the woods around me.
“Keeping my distance, downwind of you, over here.” He calls back verbally, drawing me to him by voice alone. That explains why I didn’t feel or smell him approaching. He’s close enough to make me jump, and I spin in the direction his voice came at me from. I catch sight of him, jumping down from a rock overhanging the clearing, to one lower, I placed myself in, as he pulls on a t-shirt over those sculpted tanned abs and throws a backpack to the side of him. He must have carried clothes with him, and I have to admit, I’m a little disappointed and eye rape him appreciatively. My body heating up with the insane lust I feel for this man, just because he got within fifty feet. My crazy hormones have had me dreaming of doing all kinds of naked things with him that a virgin shouldn’t know how to do.
I make a move towards him, but he raises his palm and throws me a serious frown that halts me in my tracks. That dominant warning, I have to heed.
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