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“How could you tell that was what I was thinking?”

“I’ve had many chaotic moments.”

“It would be nice to get to know you when those moments are over,” I suggest.

“That would be great. We’ll get the girls together after,” she agrees.

“Baby,” Bash calls quietly.

She looks back at him and then at me. “Be careful, but be confident. You can do this.”

She stops walking as I go on. The guys must have made it to the location and let Sam out of the van. With our shifter noses, we can pick up the scent from miles away. Also, Grant will be able to feel that he is close and not obscured by concrete.

I keep a steady pace, touching the things I pass.

I don’t like being separated from Elijah. We haven’t been further than a room away from each other much since we met. It’s like a piece of me is missing. If the need to be near him is as strong as it is now, I can’t imagine what it will be when I mark him.

The pavement turns into a gravel road and the noise from the town settles to a distant hum. I can smell the trees and see the black outline of them. The closer I get to them, the only sound I hear is the crunch of the gravel and dirt under my feet and the natural wildlife coming awake in the dark.

The vampires have disappeared. They made no sound and gave me no clue of their location.

Shivers rack me for a moment at the thought of them not keeping their promise—but only for a brief second.

I am totally alone.

There is a gentle breeze that ruffles my hair and chills my skin. I can hear the creek, the soft tinkling water flowing slowly. With my nose, I can smell the deer running away from a cheetah entering their home. Birds and squirrels watch from the trees above. It seems as if there is no human life around for miles.

Once I enter through the trees, everything holds its breath.

I stop and do the same. I reach down and take off my shoes, kicking them to my side. I love sinking my feet into the earth in either of my forms. I run better and connect more in my environment without them. Elijah had someone put spare clothes around the area. He knew we would probably need to shift at some point. I was grateful as I didn't want to be naked in front of my new friends.

Most shifters were completely comfortable with being nude in front of others. It was natural for us. The dragons are the only ones who can shift with clothes on and keep them when they turn back. It’s only been my mom and I. I didn’t have a large pack to run with and to get used to shifting around them. Plus, Elijah doesn’t seem like the type of mate that would appreciate anyone seeing me that way.

I rely on my senses totally.

I walk forward, my eyes still closed, my hands trailing over the rough bark of the trees as I pass. I hear the leaves and smell the dirt that covers the forest floor. My nose pinches when the odor of Sam floats lightly by me. I pick up others. The cheetahs are on the hunt for their packmate. I can’t separate them as they are too far away.

Grant is closing in. I barely catch his scent. I have time before he gets to me.

Still no sign of the vampires.

I don’t know how I will react to seeing Grant after all this time. We have been running for basically all of my thirty-two years. He’s like the ghosts that you believe are around you but can’t see. I want the games to end.

I wander deeper into the dark woods. My eyes adjust as my cheetah takes over. She wants her mate. We are in agreement. It’s funny how fast I fell for him. Sure, the bond pushes you together, but it can’t compel you to love each other. I guess there is something about the universe being all-knowing. There is that perfect person out in the world who is meant for you. I never dreamed I would stumble into this little world of shifters Elijah was hiding among.

A cowboy.

He’s wild and rude.

He loves control and violence comes easy to him.

Why do I find all of that charming?

With the way I grew up, it’s not shocking that I don’t find it easy to trust people. My mom always preached that we were alone in the world. We had to take care of each other and screw anyone else. Logically, I realized it wasn’t a healthy mindset to have. My heart ached for the love of a big family—to have somewhere soft to fall.

My mom never talked about her family. I have always wondered if she had brothers or sisters. Uncles or aunts? Did she know her parents? I asked her many times about her past, but she shot me down. She said they gave up their relationship a long time ago. I would give up after she would get so upset. She would shut down. I assumed her childhood must have been very traumatic if she left them in the past, never to see them again.

But I still wonder.