Chapter Twenty-Eight

I headed back down the stairs and into the cave. The book was heavier than I expected and weighed me down as I squeezed back through the entrance of the cave and back into the tunnel. I started to run, feeling like something was chasing me. But as I hit the bottom step of the stairs heading up, a howl ripped through the air, unlike any howl I had ever heard before. Deeper, darker, and somehow two-toned. It made even Nix perk up and Megan hide.

“What the fuck is that?” I whipped around to face the way we had just come, but my flashlight showed nothing. It sounded like it was right behind me.

It came from far off. Nix paced the edge of her home, brushing her fur against my side, calming me and herself with the contact.

“How did it reach me down here?” I whirled back and stumbled up the stairs. It was that loud. Nix’s voice sounded a little breathless.

“Are you okay?” I paused with my hand on the door and waited for Nix to answer. Another howl ripped down the tunnel, somehow louder. And Nix started to pant. “Nix? What’s going on here?”

“I don’t know. But I can’t stop my reaction to the call. Move, now. Before I cannot stop myself from keeping you here and waiting for the male that is calling for us.” Nix huffed and slunk back into the depths, forcing herself with every step. “Go now. He’s coming.”

I pushed the hatch and slammed it behind me, running to the panel and pulling it back. I made sure everything was closed up before running straight back to the pack house.

“Amy!” I looked over my shoulder as I burst through the back door and ran straight into Cass.

“Cass!” I pulled her back from falling on her butt and looked behind me again.

“Woah. Are you okay?” Cass gripped my arm, and I snapped back to her.

“Yeah. Yeah. I’m fine. Why do you ask?” I let her go and went back to the back door.

“Well, you are acting like, well, this.” She waved her hands up and down my body and then laughed. “Are you looking for something? Or someone?”

I peeked through the curtain and then turned back. “No. No. Of course not.” I laughed and shook myself. “I’m fine.” I took a breath and turned to face Cass. “Were you looking for me?”

“Yeah. For like six hours.” Cass looked concerned and got closer to me. “Are you sure you’re okay? And why are you holding a stone?”

“What?” I looked down at the book in my hands and back to Cass, who was also looking at the book in my hand. “This?” I waved it around, and she nodded.

“Yes…the black stone in your hand.” Cass pointed at the book, and even though I was confused, I stammered out an answer.

“I liked the way it looked and wanted to bring it home.” I smiled and put it behind my back.

“When did you collect rocks?” Cass laughed and pulled me through the kitchen. “And where have you been? It’s so late.”

“I guess today.” I laughed and headed back up to my room. “I went for a hike to clear my head. What time is it?” I looked around, but I left my phone in my room.

“It’s past midnight.” Cass flopped down on my bed as we entered the room. I headed into my closet and opened my safe. I put the book into the safe and closed it up. I headed back into the room, and I mind-linked an omega to bring up some food. I was starving.

“Fuck.” I wiped my face and stretched. “I didn’t realize I was out there so long. I have to be up in a few hours.”

“Why?”

“Training with my dad.” The knock at the door had me calling out. “Enter.” The omega sat down the platter. “Thank you, Wendy.” The girl nodded and left as I dug in.

“I wanted to sleep over.” Cass moaned as she rolled to face me. “I wanted to talk about my wolf with you.”

“Honestly. Once I nail down what my dad is trying to teach me, maybe I can talk him into skipping one day. We deserve a girls’ day.”

“But, I feel a but.” Cass eyed me as I shoveled food into my face.

I coughed on a chunk of ham. “But I need to figure out the technique before anything else.”

“Why?”

I stopped eating and faced her. “Because I need to know how to protect myself for when I go home.” I turned my face away, and Cass stayed silent. She got up and walked over to get in my face.

“Are you in danger?” And for the first time since this all started, I let the fear in, and I gave a small nod.