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“Petra said I could get some exercise,” he says, falling back on his earlier lie with more confidence this time. “I was going to do some stretches with the equipment in the exercise grounds.”

Samuel doesn’t waver. “You could have done stretches where you were.”

Everything in him wants to wither under his father’s disapproval, but Sascha fights it. “I’ll let Petra know when I get back. Sorry.”

“You’re getting soft, Samuel,” Celeste says. “Can’t even keep your own cub in line?”

Like a wire snapping, Samuel turns on her, growling andshowing his fangs. Sascha can’t remember the last time he saw his father drop fangs, but it terrifies him. Desperate to mitigate the unfolding rage, because Celeste’s pack is far from weak, even on another pack’s territory, Sascha says, “Can’t you just get out of here? He said no.”

“I don’t need your help, Alexander.”

“Why not? Because I’m not good enough to be an alpha, so I can’t even support my own father?”

Even Celeste looks surprised by that. “Maybe you should get the cub to lead us to his were-bitch,” she says mildly.

Sascha snarls, his own fangs dropping. “I’d rather eat glass.”

“Even if your own alpha ordered you to?” Celeste asks, raising her eyebrows in mock surprise.

When Sascha doesn’t respond, Samuel turns to him, blinking away his rising anger.

“Alexander?” prompts his father.

Sascha’s heart pounds. This might be the most precarious exchange he’s faced this entire ordeal, and he has no idea what to say. It’s not until he sees Marty hovering in the kitchen doorway, watching him with a knowing expression. He can’t verbalize why or how it triggers the confession that bursts free. Maybe it’s just because Avery deserves someone who isn’t ashamed of him. Avery has been failed by everyone who was supposed to care about his wellbeing; Sascha won’t add himself to the list.

“I would never do anything to hurt Avery. I love him.”

At the admission, something twists in Samuel’s face. Sascha doesn’t have the chance to question it before Samuel turns to Celeste, the coolness returned to his voice when he says, “After some consideration, I think you’re right, Celeste. The werecreature is too dangerous to be left alive. You have the support of my enforcers in your mission to hunt him down.”

The words are like hot coals dropping into Sascha’sstomach. He’s running before he’s aware of his legs moving, breathing without feeling the air enter or leave his lungs. His hands shake around the key fob to his car, just barely managing to unlock it and throw himself inside without dropping the fob like a horror film victim. This is Sascha’s personal nightmare come to life, and he refuses to let it reach Avery.

A squeal of car wheels announces Sascha’s departure from the drive, but he can’t risk slowing down enough to be quiet. He guns it, speeding off the pack lands like a man possessed.

When Sascha realizes Avery is headed toward Mackinac City, a vice tightens around his heart. He feels restless and eager and anxious, preparing himself for the relief of holding Avery againat last, while still looking over his shoulder every other minute, expecting to see someone in pursuit. He knows better than to feel safe, even in the absence of strange cars following him.

Sascha’s car belongs to his dad, legally. If Samuel reports the hatchback stolen, police will be on the lookout. If they’re pulled over, that’ll be it, so Sascha plans on ditching the car in the Dairy Queen parking lot as soon as they get there. From there, it’s not even a ten-minute walk to the Shepler’s Ferry, and that will take them across the Straits of Mackinac to the island.

But first, he has to find Avery—which turns out easier than expected.

Avery isn’t hiding. Rather, he’s standing by the side of the road as if he knew to expect Sascha coming this way.

Pulling up, Sascha opens the passenger side door for Avery, who flings himself inside. Avery slams the door, and Sascha hits the gas before Avery gets his seatbelt on.

After he’s thrown his backpack behind them and buckledup, Avery blurts, “I didn’t tell you before you left that I’m pretty sure I love you, too.”

Sascha glances away from the road to see Avery staring into his lap, cheeks bright red. A small smile tugs the corner of Sascha’s mouth.

“I’ve never been in love before,” Avery continues, “so I’m not sure what it feels like, but I have this… this weird sensation, like a string around my heart. I never believed that love actually felt like that, but I guess it does. Sorry, this isn’t very romantic.”

Laughing, Sascha says, “I told you I loved you when I was about to leave you alone in a cave. Now we’re on the run.”

“Maybe that’s more romantic than dinner.”

“I’d take dinner over this, actually.”

Avery laughs, and for the first time in days, Sascha grins with pure joy. He wants to stop driving so he can gather Avery in his arms, but there’s no time. They’ll have to wait until he reaches the Dairy Queen.

After a few moments of contemplation, Sascha says, “I feel it too. Like I was being pulled toward something, and I knew it had to be you. That’s how I found you so quickly.”