chapter 28

Tali's POV

After the whole lying to Dayne’s face thing, I hang back as all the others trudge back in the house.

That’s when I catch sight of Luka disappearing into the forest with an empty duffle bag.

Spotting an opportunity to get some questions answered that I don’t dare ask Dayne, I cast one last glance at the house where all the rest of the pack Dayne included have disappeared inside after their run and sprint after Luka.

I remember Regan and Jenna telling me there were cabins in the woods. And since he has a bag, I put two and two together and figure Luka must be on his way to Savannah’s cabin to grab something for her.

It’s about time I find out who the hell Savannah is, and why a model who has an agent and modeling jobs in Paris is living in a cabin in the woods.

Although I left not long after Luka, by the time I follow him down a well-trodden path into the thick forest, somehow I’ve already lost him.

Since I have the benefit of my shifter nose to track him, I’m soon off again after a quick peek behind me to make sure Dayne hasn’t noticed I haven’t followed him back in the house.

But when I spot the light in his office has come on and a figure sat at the desk, I figure if there’s any time to go looking for answers, the time is now.

For several minutes I follow Luka's scent, enjoying the quiet of the forest at night, and even though it’s nearly pitch black, my shifter sight makes seeing through the darkness no problem.

Finally, after nearly ten minutes of walking, I can just make out the hint of a cabin ahead of me when I hear a branch snapping behind me.

My heart lurches and I whip around as my eyes probe the darkness.

I frown in confusion when I realize the only scent I’m picking up is mine and Luka’s.

How could Luka have circled behind me when I’ve been following his scent, and it’s been leading me in a pretty much straight line?

“Luka?” I call out, trying to see where he could be hiding.

He could have shifted, and since he seemed like a playful wolf, maybe he’s playing some kind of game with.

I grin. “Just because I don’t shift, doesn’t mean I’m not fast enough to chase you.”

Then I glimpse dark fur, the briefest hint of a wolf hiding behind the trees, and as if he spots me, he turns and takes off.

For a second I do nothing. Just stand there. And then it hits me. That wasn’t Luka.

I don’t know how I know, but I’d bet my life on it.

And then I take off after him, not stopping to think about what I’m doing.

I sprint through the forest, dodging branches, leaping over fallen trees, careful not to trip and go down.

I don’t know why, but there’s something about this wolf that has my human side half-terrified, and my wolf ready to tear him apart. I have to know why.

And I have to know why I’m not catching even the hint of its scent.

But then, in the sudden silence, I realize I’ve lost him in my mad dash and I have no idea how to even begin tracking a wolf I can’t smell.

If I changed, my wolf could track him.

The idea of me shifting is so dangerous, I don’t know why I would even consider it.

Yet, even though I know it, I’m reaching for the hem of my shirt.

I can’t say why but it’s important I find this wolf, and it’s not like I’m even near anyone, so I could shift, and once I’ve sniffed him out, then shift back and no one would even know.

I just have to hope I can control my wolf enough. She goes after this wolf instead of rushing back to the house and going for Savannah.

A hand lands on my shoulder and I shriek.

“Hey, it’s okay. It’s me… it’s Luka.”

Once I’m no longer in danger of having a heart attack, I stop my half-run and turn to find it is indeed Luka whose gaze shifts from me, to where the wolf disappeared.

“Uh, sorry. I wasn’t expecting anyone to surprise me from behind,” I say, feeling my face heat with embarrassment.

“I didn’t mean to scare you. What are you doing here?” Once again he gazes into the forest and I hesitate about what to tell him.

If I tell him I think I saw a wolf, he’s going to do one of two things:

Either he’ll march us both back to the house, in which case my opportunity to find out anything about Savannah goes out the window.

Or, he’ll order me back to the house and go after the wolf, which also means my questions go unanswered.

It may have just been a wild wolf, and it wasn’t like I picked up any kind of scent at all.

I may have just been seeing things. God knows I can’t be entirely sane with a half-crazed wolf bursting to get free inside me.

“Nothing.”

Luka turns to me with a raised eyebrow. “Okay, so I was following you. I got lost.”

It’s clear he doesn’t believe me, but he doesn’t call me out on it. “Following me, huh? And why would you be doing that?”

My eyes go to the bag in his hand. “I wanted to see where you were going. Regan said there were cabins in the woods, and I wanted to see them.”

After one last lingering glance at where I think the wolf, or whatever it was I was chasing disappeared, Luka turns and heads back through the woods.

I follow.

“It’s late, and you should be back in the house. I’m sure Dayne won’t ”

“It’s not that late, and I like being in the forest,” I interrupt since I can see where this is heading. He’s gearing up to send me back.