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The smile reappears on his face. I bring the bag up to my mouth and sink my fangs into the pack. The Beta turns away with a grimace. Funny, he supplied me with the blood but still can’t stomach seeing me feed.

“How is Torak?” I ask with my mouth still wrapped around the bag.

I didn’t really need to ask about the young wolf. I can feel his presence. I know he’s sleep now.

“He’s good,” the Beta says, still without turning to me. “I checked on him when I got back. You were right. He ate nearly a month's rations of meat when he woke up.”

“It will pass. He will be his old self in the morning.” I finish the bag and lick my lips, cleaning any remnants of blood from my face. My body feels ten times better. My head is clearer, and my energy is restored. I drop the empty bag onto the side table near the door.

“Thanks again for that. I really needed it.” I step out onto the porch, causing him to move back. Closing up the door, I turn back to face a confused Beta.

“You were leaving?”

“Yes.”

“Where are you going?”

I pause in my descent down the stairs. It still chafes to have anybody question my movements, especially these wolves. But he just went out of his way to bring me food. I owed him to at least be cordial.

“The vampire that attacked Torak bit Marley.”

“Okay?”

“He has her blood on his tongue, which means he can track her. At least for the next 72 hours.”

The Beta takes a step toward me. “Which means he could come back here?”

“Yes,” I admit. “I need to find him and kill him before he comes looking for my sister.”

“I’m going with you.”

Shaking my head, I reply. “I don’t need a babysitter, Beta.”

He steps down the stairs ahead of me. “Good. Because I don’t have time to baby you. I hope all your knowledge of fighting translates well into an actual fight.”

Rolling my eyes at the back of his head, I say. “Just keep up.”

The Beta follows me back through the woods. I had Marley describe to me in great detail where the attack happened. As soon as I got near, the different mix of blood hit me. I hold up a hand to stop him.

Squatting down, I take in the dark stains against the forest floor.

“This is where Torak fell,” I explain. Looking to my left, my sister’s scent hits me hard. “Marley was bitten over there.” I point toward the spot I knew I’d find her blood.

A foreign scent hits my senses. Standing, I make my way over to another spot on the ground. There are a few droplets of dark blood. Having the sight of a vampire really comes in handy with things like this.

“What is it?” the Beta asks from behind me.

“The vampire.” I dip my hand into the blood. My fingertips come away with the dark fluid. I place the blood on my tongue. The taste is horrible, but that’s not why I’m doing it.

“You know that’s disgusting, right?” he asks.

I turn to glare at him. “Says the person who licks his own balls when in wolf form.”

He glares back at me before a slow smile spread across his face. “Do you often think about my balls?”

Rolling my eyes, I stand to my feet. “He’s west of here.” I point, not even entertaining his last statement.

“Let’s go. He transforms into his majestic black wolf and takes off in the direction I pointed. I follow him.