Chapter 8

Chapter

Eight

Destin

T he bed was a mess when I woke up. Sheets tangled and twisted, the pillow halfway across the room. I must've thrashed around like a wild animal.

An apt description.

I dreamed of her. Or my wolf did. One of the two. Either way, images of Lana beneath me played through my mind's eye as I threw on clothes and silently made my way out the front door. I peeked at Lana on my way through. She was still asleep on her cot. Her dark hair splayed out over her pillow.

That wasn't helping.

I stepped out onto the porch and sucked in a breath of crisp morning air. Going for a run in human form wasn't something I usually did, but I was so full of restless energy I thought I might burst out of my skin.

I took off, heading for my favorite trail through the trees. As my pulse quickened, I considered the day ahead of me. I'd stop by a few wolves on our way north, then take Lana to the site. We wouldn't drive. Too obvious. Hopefully, she was up for some long runs on her paws.

The thought of seeing her in wolf form nearly made me stumble on an exposed branch. I was suddenly desperate to know what she looked like. What color of fur she had.

I ran faster. I ran until my saliva tasted metallic at the back of my throat, then looped back to the cabin. Since there was still no sign of life inside, I switched into my boots and walked to the shed to retrieve my toolbox. The morning air was crisp, biting at my exposed skin. I walked around to the side of the cabin where an eave hung crookedly, one of the hinges barely attached. I grabbed my ladder from the back and went up with my drill.

The metal was icy against my skin, and I had to blow on my hands to warm them up. I worked the screws loose, the old metal protesting with a screech. I reshaped it, forcing it back into place, then put in extra screws to reinforce it.

I packed away my tools, satisfied, and then walked around to the front of the cabin. Kael, Callista, and Lana were all in the main room, sitting around the table. Lana's eyes were half-lidded as she gazed at the steaming mug before her.

I stepped inside and closed the door behind me.

"Morning." Kael nodded, then returned to talking with Callista. I hung my coat on the rack and tugged off my boots, but my eyes were glued to the woman sitting across the table.

Lana looked like she hadn't slept any better than I had. Dark circles under her eyes, a furrow in her brow that hadn't been there the night before. My wolf pawed in my head, drawing my attention to her and her alone. A movement of her hands, a flicker of emotion in her eyes. My skin prickled as my instincts sharpened, noting how her chair was turned away from Callista and Kael.

She lifted her mug to her lips and took a sip, her eyes flicking up to mine, then away again. My wolf growled, but I shoved him back. It wasn't a surprise that she kept her distance, but my chest squeezed at the loneliness sinking inside her. I felt it. The emptiness. The black hole that couldn't be filled.

My psi abilities allowed me to feel everything. Whether I wanted to or not.

She needed an outlet, someone to let her vent or just sit with her in silence, and I wanted . . . I wanted to be that person. But that was how I'd gotten into trouble with my pack. Always trying to fix things. Always trying to be the one people turned to.

I couldn't let people come to me. I had to go to them.

I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. I couldn't do it. She was temporary, moving through on her search for the relics. I had a place. I was needed here.

I was already too close to the wolves who lived near me. I was the one who helped with their injuries, listened to their complaints, and made sure they had what they needed. I was their fixer. But I wasn't their friend. I couldn't afford to be. I'd learned that too many times the hard way.

What I could do was offer her coffee. Or breakfast. Anything to ease the tension in my chest. "Want more?" I motioned to the empty pot still sitting on the stove.

Lana shook her head, and my wolf huffed in disappointment.

Kael looked between the two of us, his eyes narrowing. "What do you know about the northern alpha?"

Tension curled up my spine. I knew what he was asking, but I wasn't going to go there. "Not much."

Kael's gaze was steady. "They were masking their scent."

I breathed, working to keep my expression even. "Huh."

"There aren't many wolves who can do that." His voice was low. Calm. His mate had no idea what he was communicating behind those words.

The past clawed at the back of my mind, memories I'd long since tried to bury. Kael thought he knew about that alpha. The one who had left him. The one Kael believed was his father.

Kael wasn't the kind to spill his soul. He'd been young when I'd found him, and his story had come out in pieces between drinks and the rare moments we weren't focused on surviving. That bastard was the reason for everything wrong in his life. He'd abandoned him, left him broken and unwanted. Given him the same abilities

The question wasn't whether I should tell him. It was whether I could. Whether I wanted to throw a wrench into everything Kael had managed to build with that truth. Kael thought his old alpha was dead. Probably because that's what I'd told him when he was a teen. What would it do to him, to his mate, if I dragged that ghost into the light?

My wolf shifted uneasily under my skin, pacing in my mind. I'd always been good at handling instinct—knowing when to fight and when to keep my head down. But maybe I'd chosen wrong with him.

I cleared my throat. "I thought you met with them."

"Only one," Kael answered.

If I told him, he'd hate me for it. If I kept quiet, he'd hate me anyway, eventually. "I think we've all picked up some tricks."

Kael's jaw tightened, the muscle ticking once, twice. "Not many tricks like that."

His mate glanced between us, sensing the tension but staying quiet. Smart. She knew when to stay out of it. But Kael wasn't going to let this drop, not now. I could see it in his eyes—the gears turning, the questions forming. He was chasing a scent, and soon enough, he'd catch it.

I weighed my options, the silence stretching too long between us. My wolf nudged at the edge of my thoughts. "It's him," I said finally.

He was quiet for a beat. "And yours?"

I nodded, anger boiling in my chest.

Callista leaned forward. "Both of your alphas are part of this alliance?" For the first time, something fiery and hot burned in her eyes. Her disgust and rage flared, hitting me in the gut. She put a hand over Kael's. "We have to find them."

"We have to find the relic." Lana's hand sat on the dagger she kept at her hip. "We don't know if they're in the same location, and without something to track?—"

"Evelyn." Callista turned to Kael. "She tracked you. Even though you masked your scent, she still found your trail."

Lana straightened. "Do you think she'll come?"

Callista shrugged. "Not without Rowan."

Lana's brow furrowed. "He'll come. He's desperate to help the packs, and finding the alpha alliance would be the highest form of protection."

"What about the pack?" Callista asked.

Lana's words were sharp. "He has Jasper and your brother. He has Tori and Mara. Tori is the regional alpha. She can give support. It's in all of their best interests."

I tried to keep up with their pack politics, but the only thing that rang in my head was that Lana was telling Callista and Kael to go. Which meant?—

"I'll go with Destin. He can show me the site, and then once I know what the situation is, we can reconvene." Lana leaned back in her chair. She was trying hard not to look at me and didn't know that I could feel the spike in her heart rate. Was she afraid of me? I scowled.

"That okay by you?" Kael gave me a questioning glance.

"Do I have a choice?"

"No." Lana stood, drinking the last of her coffee and rinsing her mug with the pump at the sink.

After gathering their things, Kael and Callista said their goodbyes. Lana was still in the bathroom. When she reappeared, her hair was pulled back in a braid.

I'd packed the night before when I'd been restless. My pack was twice the size of hers, and she raised an eyebrow. I wanted to tell her she'd be grateful, but instead, I slung my pack over my shoulder and stopped by the door.

Lana took the non-perishable food I'd set out on the table and stowed it in her bag, then stalked forward and put on her boots. She followed me out, and we started hiking up the trail in silence. The only sounds came from the crunch of our boots on the trail and the occasional rustle of leaves in the wind. I kept my eyes on the path ahead, trying to ignore the way my wolf was pacing inside me.

After nearly an hour, Lana broke the silence. "Are we going to walk the whole way?"

I glanced over at her, then back at the trail. "Where we're going, there aren't roads. And I have some errands to run."

"Errands?"

I nodded, not elaborating. She didn't need to know what I was doing or who I was seeing. She didn't need to know anything about me.

We reached the first cabin, a small, sturdy structure nestled in the forest. Smoke curled from the chimney, and sounds of life pulsed through the walls. My wolf settled as I approached the door and knocked. The latch lifted, and a she-wolf looked up at me with a relieved expression. "Destin, thank you for coming."

I nodded, then stepped inside, motioning for Lana to follow. "How's he doing, Ingrid?"

She stepped back and motioned to the main room, where a young wolf lay on a cot, his leg bandaged up to the knee. "Better, but I want to ensure the bone's set and there's no infection."

I crouched next to the boy and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Hey, bud. How's it feeling?" I'd gotten word the day before that he'd fallen out of a tree while I'd been gone. If Kael, Callista, and Lana hadn't shown up, I would've been here last night. Guilt settled in my gut that I hadn't been there to look after him the day it happened. Since wolves heal faster, setting a bone correctly and quickly was imperative.

He looked up at me with wide eyes, pain etched into his features. "It hurts, but I can move my toes now."

"That's good. I'm just going to take a look, okay?" He nodded, and I gently unwrapped the bandage. The skin around the wound was swollen and bruised, but there was no sign of infection.

Ingrid hovered behind me. "I told him a million times not to go up there, but he doesn't listen."

I nodded, then started re-wrapping the bandage. "You're a tough one, aren't you?" I smiled as the boy nodded. "This looks like it's healing well. Keep it elevated and try to stay off it as much as possible for the next couple of days." I looked up at Ingrid. "If the swelling doesn't start to go down or if it gets red and hot to the touch, let me know."

She nodded, and I stood, patting the boy on the shoulder. "You're going to be just fine. Running again by next week." As I turned to leave, I caught Lana's eye. She'd been standing silently in the corner, watching the whole interaction.

"Thank you, Destin. Truly." Ingrid stepped forward and grasped my hand, and I gave it a squeeze.

"Of course. If you need anything else, let me know." With a final nod, I walked out the door and back onto the trail.

Lana followed, her expression more subdued than it had been before. "You do that often?"

"Do what?" I hadn't done anything.

"Set bones. Treat patients." She glanced back at the cabin, then up at me.

"When I can."

She didn't respond, and we hiked again in silence until we reached the next cabin. I could tell immediately something was off. The air was thick with a scent I recognized all too well. My wolf stood at attention. Shit. I frowned and knocked on the door.

It creaked open, and a she-wolf with flushed cheeks and a sheen of sweat on her brow peered out. "Destin, thank you for coming." Her voice was strained, her breath coming in quick bursts. And then she turned and saw Lana. Immediately, her expression clouded over.

Annika was in heat. And she'd called for me.

I coughed. "What do you need help with, Annika?"

Annika stepped back, her eyes darting to Lana and then back to me. "The shutter on the back window broke, and I can't get it to stay up. I don't want to risk it falling in the middle of the night," she snapped. At least she had a real complaint. Save us both the embarrassment.

I nodded, then motioned for her to lead the way. As we walked around the side of the cabin, I could feel Lana's gaze burning a hole in my back. I crouched next to the broken shutter. "This won't take long." I pulled out my multi-tool from my pack and set to work, ignoring the way Annika's scent was making my stomach flip. I didn't want her. Not in the least. But that scent was meant to drive wolves wild. It was simple biology.

I worked quickly, securing the shutter and reinforcing the latch. "That should hold." I stood and brushed off my hands, then turned to Annika. Normally, I'd ask if there was anything else she needed, but by the way her lips flushed, I only took a step back.

Her eyes flicked to Lana, then to me again. "I'm making cottage pie this afternoon. If you have time to stop back." Her eyes bore into me. Alone.

I nodded, then started back toward the trail. Lana followed, her steps quick and purposeful. The silence felt thick. "Just say it."

Lana snorted. "Do you do that often?"

I didn't need to ask what she was referring to that time, and I didn't need to answer. The truth was, I was a rogue living alone in the middle of the woods. If a lone she-wolf needed me for more than fixing her shutter, I was usually happy to provide assistance.

I stopped and turned. Lana almost ran into me, and I dropped my head to stare down at her. "Do you have a mate?" I already knew the answer by her scent. By the loneliness that clung to her.

She swallowed hard. "No."

"Then how do you handle it?"

She opened her mouth, then snapped it closed. I turned and continued on through the forest. There. At least she knew I was more than open to a little stress relief if the mood hit her. My wolf was practically panting, and I walked faster. My breaths came in sharp, clipped puffs, and I flexed my fingers, the chill in the air doing little to soothe the heat simmering under my skin.

"Why do you do it?" Lana asked, and I almost laughed.

"Well, you see?—"

"Not that," she growled. "Why do you help them? You don't want to be a part of a pack, and yet you act like?—"

I whirled on her. "I'm not an alpha. I don't require their allegiance or obedience."

Lana's eyes narrowed. "What about their love and respect?"

I blew out a breath. "You've seen I'm very respectable."

She laughed as I turned and kept walking. "Ah. So that's it, then. You're paying penance for something."

I ground my teeth. She needed to stop talking.

"What do you think you did that required you to leave your pack and live the rest of your life doing good?" I didn't answer, but Lana wouldn't let it go. "You and Kael. Your alphas really twisted your minds, didn't they?" She was breathing hard, taking long strides to keep up on the incline. "Packs are about family, support, loyalty."

A derisive snort escaped me. "Yeah, and with family comes expectations, obligations, and all the other shit I don't want to deal with."

"Because you don't want to screw up again?" Her voice dripped with sarcasm.

"Because I don't want to be responsible for anyone else." I spat the words, my chest tightening.

Lana reached out and grabbed onto my arm, pulling me to a stop. "You're not responsible for me, Destin. This is my choice."

I stared out through the trees. "Good to know."

We arrived at an abandoned hostel two hours later. The building was weathered, its wooden beams greyed with age and overgrown with moss. The hostel had been built for human hikers but had been left to rot decades ago. Even the closest small town was over twenty kilometers from here.

I set up a lantern since the sun was dropping. The wooden walls creaked in the wind as I dropped my pack and unloaded the simple food I'd brought. Sandwiches and dried meat. I pulled out a small propane heater and heated water in a metal canister.

"You're pretty responsible for someone who doesn't want to be." Lana watched me.

I grunted without looking up. Once the water was hot, I stepped outside and returned with a handful of herbs. I dropped them into the canister, and the air filled with the scent of chamomile and mint.

Lana took a mug gratefully, and we sat in silence, sipping the tea. The warmth spread through my chest. I watched the way Lana's hands wrapped around her cup, the way her eyes flickered in the dim light.

When heat beyond the tea began building in my middle, I stood and stretched, scanning to determine the best way to set up our mats. The only times I'd been here, I'd been alone. I walked to my pack and pulled out the tightly packed blankets.

"I have one. Not a mat, but a blanket." Lana reached for her bag.

I nodded and set the extra on the floor next to my bag. Then the light on the lantern flickered, and the hair on the back of my neck stood on end. I stilled, my eyes scanning the room.

"Did you hear that?" Lana whispered.

I nodded, my body tense. "Stay here." I pulled my knife from my bag and moved to the door. The night was still. I listened, straining to pick up anything out of the ordinary. Then it came again. Not a sound. A feeling.

I sucked in a breath as the door handle suddenly froze over.