EIGHT

Night falls.

I am in my room, lying in bed.

I can hear the music and laughter of the pack drifting through the trees. They have been enjoying their lives while I have been sitting in my room all evening, watching the shadows lengthen across my floor, pacing, wondering.

And remembering.

I cannot get his gold eyes out of my mind.

I cannot forget his scent.

He smelled as familiar to me as Tomasina or Alia.

As Hunter. As myself.

My mind is full of him.

My body aches for him.

I wonder if he thinks of me, too.

Or has he forgotten me?

Has he already moved on? Picked out a new mate? Someone more appropriate than an enemy gamma?

My mind pulls back from that last thought.

It is too painful.

I need a plan.

He is out there right now and I want to be with him.

I chew my fingernails, staring into the darkness and wondering what I am supposed to do.

I have found my mate.

I have found love.

My hand goes to my heart, which seems to be beating double-time.

I cannot stop thinking of him.

I cannot forget the way time stopped when we met.

I'm not sure if I can go on like this.

I don't want to have to choose between being with my true love or being with my pack.

I wish I could talk about this with someone.

I wish I didn't feel so alone.

I wish I had someone to make sense of this for me.

I sit up.

I cannot bear this any longer.

I need to do something.

I cannot lie here and wallow forever.

I move quietly so as not to wake any of the others, collecting my things. I grab a weapon, just in case. I doubt anything will happen to me at this hour, but a lone wolf is always vulnerable.

I slip out the pack house into the darkness.

I move stealthily through the shadows.

I know there are guards stationed at the exits, but they'll be looking the other way. Their job is to keep people out, not in. As long as I time my escape correctly, they won't even notice.

Getting back in is a different matter altogether, but I will cross that bridge when I come to it.

I pause when I see the two guards on duty tonight.

My heart slams into my chest as I press my back against the edge of the building in the shadows out of sight.

It's a cold night. I can see their breath as it coils from their mouths into the frigid air. There will be frost tomorrow.

I wait for the guards to begin their patrol-every five minutes they are to walk along the perimeter fence and back again- then take my chance and run for it.

I race to the edge of the forest, not looking back.

Then I'm away.

Hidden by the darkness of the canopy overhead.

I run, going back in the direction I traveled today with Val. Retracing my steps back to the place where my heart came to life.

I am a skilled hunter and I know the territory. I can find my way around, even in the dark.

I just hope he is here.

I reach the clearing.

I pause, out of breath.

Then I see it.

I stare.

The clearing is illuminated with glowing embers. Red flames flickering against the blackness of the night.

In the abject darkness, two burning embers tells me everything I need to know.

He has been here.

He was waiting for my return.

My heart seizes.

He is not here now.

Did he give up and leave?

I am overcome by emotion.

I kneel, panting, laying my hand on the rough grass.

My heart is hammers against my chest.

I hate this.

I hate my love for him.

I hate what it has made me become.

I lied to my alpha.

To my friends.

I ran from my pack.

Sneaked away from my home.

I put myself in danger as a lone wolf, following a cold lead.

For what?

Two glowing embers that tell me I am too late.

I pull my hand back from the grass and stare at the moisture shining in the moonlight.

My lips tremble.

I feel a trembling lurch in my chest, as if something inside me is trying to get out, trying to get away.

But I know it is too late for that.

The breeze stirs, bringing with it his scent.

I lift my nose.

He is out there somewhere.

I step over to where the grass has been flattened.

There are clear footprints there.

They are his.

My mate.

I look up at the moon, which is so bright in the black night sky. His golden eyes were like the moon.

They held a million secrets.

I almost feel like they are on me now, watching me standing in the middle of the clearing.

Then a noise comes from the trees ahead of me. Something moves in the darkness.

I blink.

And then I see it.

Two golden eyes peer at me.

He is here.

My breath catches as he emerges from the shadows. The sight of him fills me with relief. He is still here. He did not give up on me. I am so full of fear and hope and love I think I might explode.

He looks down at me with a longing that mirrors my own.

"Hey," I whisper, my heart in my throat.

I boldly step forward.

He moves back.

I freeze.

I don't want to frighten him but I am so full of love it hurts.

"Hey," I say, softer now. "It's okay."

He is still watching me. His eyes glint in the dark as he takes me in.

Still, he says nothing. Just like before. Is he sick? Is there something wrong with him?

"Rylie," he says.

His voice is like a kiss.

I don't have time to ask him how he knows my name, because suddenly I realize I know his.

"Patrick."