chapter 32

One of the pack caught sight of the strange wolf Savannah spotted hanging around her cabin, so the pack went out to hunt him.

Not that anyone told me about it. No, that would make too much sense.

I learn about it from the muffled conversations I overhear outside mine and Dayne's window early the next morning.

With yet another sighting, I can’t help but wonder at what I saw, whether it was the same wolf who seems to be haunting the pack.

Even though I’m tempted to follow since I caught sight of him too, by the time I've climbed out of bed and stumble to the window, I'm in time to see most of the pack has already shifted and are disappearing into the forest.

Still half asleep since it's just turning five, I shove the window open when Luka appears directly below me.

And after glancing at something or someone I can't see, he tells me to stay out of the forest today and not bother with breakfast. They'll be out hunting most of the morning.

Then, a large, heavily-muscled gray wolf draws my gaze when he leaps down the front porch steps. I recognize him at once. Dayne.

He pauses to shoot me a look loaded with meaning, I'm guessing to warn me against running away again, before following the rest of the pack through the woods.

Turning my attention back to ask Luka about this strange wolf, I'm in time to catch a flash of lean, tanned muscle before I wrench my gaze away. He's preparing to shift, and I doubt Dayne would appreciate me watching his beta strip.

From what I hear, bones cracking, and then a wolf chuffing, it doesn't take Luka long. And a couple of minutes later when I risk a quick peek, the clearing is empty and the pack are gone.

A yawn sneaks up on me. It's so wide it makes my jaw crack and my eyes water.

About the same time, I realize something. No breakfast for the pack means there's no reason for me to be awake early. Which means there's nothing to stop me from crawling back into bed and staying there.

Dayne has such an insanely comfortable bed, the prospect of returning to it has me eagerly pulling the window closed when a small voice in my head speaks up.

But you're Luna of the pack.

Although the voice is very small, it stops me dead.

Is it right for me to be lazing about in bed while the pack are out hunting?

As Luna, I should be out there, running beside my alpha leading the pack but I'm not. Once again, I'm an outsider an outcast.

"That's what I should've told him I wanted," I mutter, forehead pressed against the cool glass. "To be treated like I belong."

Which is stupid, I tell myself, because there's no way I have it in me to be Luna and take on the responsibility of helping Dayne run the pack. Not that he needs any help from me.

Then I remember the state of the fridge.

I doubt there would even have been enough eggs or bacon to feed everyone this morning, anyway. Maybe it would be enough food for those with a human appetite, but we shifters can put food away like no one's business.

When Dayne went off with Luka after we nearly had sex beside the lake, I didn't see them again. Not even at dinner.

They were out late enough for me to be well and truly dead asleep before he came up to bed. If he came up to bed at all, that is, so telling him about the state of the refrigerator was impossible.

As it's Friday, I could go into town and do the food pick-up since Regan said it was a standing order situation, so I probably don't have to pay. I can just say it's for Dayne and they'll know.

It isn't like the guy carrying boxes into the grocery store didn't see me sitting in Dayne's car on my first day in Hardin. He even waved at me, and since it was only a few days ago, he couldn't have forgotten me already.

I can do this, I tell myself, starting for the bathroom.

I may not be the Luna, but I can stock up the fridge and maybe even stop at the diner and pick up some muffins for breakfast.

I pause.

Unless they expect me to pay for the food, which would be a problem since I have no cash.

But that's no big deal. I can just ask, and if they say they need me to pay, then I won't bother. That way I know I at least tried since the worst thing that can happen is they say no.

For a second, I picture it: the pack returning from hunting to find the table beautifully laid out with pies, pastries, and muffins, and I'm waiting with freshly brewed coffee.

Maybe Dayne even smiles.

Er, probably not smiling since it is Dayne.

But if I can get away with him not glaring at me, I'd say that was something worth celebrating.

Yes, I'm going to do it.

It doesn't take me long to shower and dress in a pair of blue jeans and a tank top. Then, heading for Dayne's truck, I get two massive signs the universe must want me to go through with it when I find the doors are unlocked and the key is in the ignition.

"Like it was meant to be." I grin, climbing in and reaching for the seatbelt.

But just before I turn the engine on, I have a moment of doubt.

What if Dayne thinks I'm running again?

No, I tell myself, as I turn the key. They'll be hunting for hours, Luka said. Plenty of time for me to hit the store and be back again before anyone's even noticed I'm gone. And I’m doing this for the pack.

I refuse to believe getting groceries is going to piss Dayne or anyone off. He might even appreciate my help. Because God knows after the humiliation at the pack meeting, he should be grateful I'm doing anything at all for him.

With that, I turn my attention to trying to remember how to reverse.