49. Ryan

The lodge was silhouetted against the moonlit backdrop, its old timbers worn and weather-beaten. Two cars were parked to one side, and I wanted to roar my challenge to any who might be inside. I could smell Mai, and it was driving my wolf crazy. No one seemed to be around. The only sounds came from the forest and a lonely ring of a phone from somewhere in the lodge. It stopped mid-ring. Then started again. Someone was keen to get in touch.

I forced myself to move cautiously, even though every muscle in my body was coiled tight. I'd already done a circle of the lodge, making sure there weren't any unpleasant surprises waiting for me. Both the hoods of the cars felt cold, so whoever was in there had been there for a while.

I came at it from the east, sliding along the veranda, and tried a side door. Unlocked. This felt too easy. I stepped inside and followed the persistent ring of the phone. I found it on a kitchen table, Korrin's name flashing on the screen. Ignoring it, I moved deeper into the house. My wolf was still, his rage tightly coiled and primed for what we might find here. The scent of Mai was stronger now. I followed my nose and circled back to the kitchen and an open doorway with steps leading down to the basement.

The soft, regular sound of someone breathing drifted up. I knew it wasn't Mai; my wolf would have told me if it was.

I slipped silently down the narrow staircase, feeling the air change as I descended. It turned colder, and the scent of damp concrete and fresh chalk mingled with the stronger, distinct smell of Mai. It was full of pain and panic. She's been hurt here. My wolf snapped at me.

Soon, I promised him.

A werewolf in human form lay unconscious on the concrete floor. Tall and muscular. Seth? I kicked him over.

Not Seth. Isaac, then.

I slowly spun around, taking in every detail of the room, trying to piece together what had happened here. A tray lay in the corner, food and drink splattered across the room. So, Isaac brought Mai food. They fought. And Mai, my fucking courageous little wolf, won. I looked up the stairs. There was no sign of Mai or Seth up there. The house upstairs was empty. A shiver of anxiety snaked down my spine, and my wolf nudged me on. He'd already put it together. Mai was on the run, and I was wasting precious time.

I sprinted upstairs and out of the lodge. The two cars were still there. My eyes narrowed on the forest. She'd run. And Seth was chasing her.

I ripped off my clothes and let my wolf take over. I felt my bones crack and realign, my senses sharpen to a razor's edge. We raised our nose, and as soon as her scent hit our lungs, the bond flared to life. We could feel her fear, her desperation, coursing through our veins, setting every nerve alight. She was on the run, and the bond was tugging us westward. We didn't hesitate. Our paws hit the damp earth, and we raced off into the darkness.