“Yeah… yeah. I was nervous last time, but I feel good about being alone this time.”
“Well, if you need anything, you have my number,” she said.
“I know, and I’ll call if I need you,” I said, then the line clicked.
I went back to making my sandwich. I sat down and finished it, with my book lying open on the table beside me. I was hooked on this romance story. Once I was done, I cleaned my plate and curled up into the chair with my book.
Awooooooo.
I lowered the book and looked around. He sounded right outside the cabin. I looked at the clock. Twelve-ten. Shit. I hadn't realized how many hours had passed. I finished the chapter I was on, folded the corner of the page, marking my place. I curled into bed and fell right to sleep.
My dreams were restless. I dreamed about wolves and home and Brenden. I missed home and my friends. Something woke me. Dishes clinked around in the kitchen. I made my way out there. Quinn was standing next to the counter, spreading jam on a biscuit.
“How was your evening?” I asked.
“Not great…” he said, his voice low.
“Oh…” I walked to the counter, standing next to him. “What happened?”
“Nothing,” he said flatly.
“Hmm… it definitely wasn’t nothing,” I said.
“Zalayuh, I don’t want to fucking talk about it,” he said.
“You don’t want to talk about anything!” I shouted.
He turned toward me. “It’s complicated.”
“You always fucking say that too!”
He growled. “Because it is!”
“No, it’s really not. Just tell me! I’m not fucking fragile,” I shouted.
“Yeah, ya are,” he muttered.
“I’m leaving. It’s time for me to go home! I’m healed and—”
“No! You’re not!” he shouted.
“YES! I am. You said I’m not a prisoner, remember!”
“You’re not ready!”
I didn’t answer him, just turned around and headed for the door.
“Zalayuh!” he shouted from behind me.
I kept walking. I opened and then shut the door behind me. As soon as it clicked shut, I took off running into the woods. I didn’t know where I was going. I could run into town and call someone. Brenden. He would find a way to get me.
“Zalayuh, are you seriously runningfromme?” he called out.
I started running faster, weaving in and out. I doubled back and rubbed myself against a tree trunk. I ran circles around the tree, then ran back to where I came from. He taught me that wolves use scent to track.
“I taught you better than this, my little doe,” he said.
Anger surged through me, driving me to run faster. Leaves crunched close behind me. I darted back toward the river.