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Suddenly, Callie’s house feels claustrophobic, and I have to get out. I stumble to my feet, crashing through the room toward the back door.

It’s up to me to protect Cleo, it always has been and always will be. But right now, I need to run.

Maybe in my wolf form, this will make sense.

With my eyes on the forest, I jog out of the house, shifting as soon as I’m near the tree line.

Chapter Fifteen

Yelena

I run as fast as I can, darting down the familiar paths. My wolf stretches out, eager to explore the area we used to love. We race through the underbrush, paws pounding against the ground, thudding in rhythm with the frantic beat of my heart.

The wind whistles past as we duck branches and leap over logs. It’s a potent sense of freedom that I’ve been missing in my time away. Despite everything, running like this, reconnecting with my wolf, it feelsgood.

But all too soon, the exhilaration fades, replaced with the grim reminder of reality.

Cleo.

I skid to a stop under a tree, my mind racing back to her. This time of day, she’s probably badgering Susan into giving her a snack before dinner, blissfully oblivious to the fact that she has been chosen by the Goddess herself.

I feel the panic prickling at my skin again, but this time, it’s coupled with fierce determination.

I have to protect her. I will do whatever it takes.

A twig snaps in the forest, and I jerk my head up, sniffing the wind for signs of an intruder. Austin steps forward, shifting from his big black wolf into his human form as easily as breathing. My breath catches in my throat as I look at his body. The last time I saw him naked was the night we made love in our cottage. The last five years have been good to him. He’s put on more muscle and he carries himself with the confidence of a man who has grown into himself. He’s beautiful.And not mine anymore.

He’s carrying a small bundle in his hands, and he lays it in front of me.

“Hello, Yelena,” he says softly.

I look down, sniffing the bundle and realize he’s brought clothes to me.

I shift back, grabbing the clothes, and turn my back to him to pull them on.

“What are you doing here? Why did you follow me?” I ask once I’m fully dressed.

I’m relieved to see he’s pulled on a pair of shorts as well.

“You looked upset leaving Callie’s,” he says evasively. “I was worried about you.”

The idea of Austin being worried about me makes a hidden part of my heart tingle, but I brush it aside.

"I don’t need your concern," I reply, my voice sharper than intended. But Austin doesn't flinch. Quite the opposite. He smiles gently at me.

"I know you don’t." He steps closer, and for a moment, the shadows from the sun and the trees frame him, tall and protective. My heart twinges again.

"But you have it, anyway."

I swallow hard and look away, struggling to reconcile the man standing before me with the Austin I've known.You have it anyway.

I shiver and try to make sense of it all. This isn’t the Austin I remember. When we were together, it was always me who gave support, not him. I can’t remember a single time when Austin went out of his way to comfort me when I was upset.Has he really changed that much?

"I'm fine," I say, although it is far from the truth. But this isn't something I can involve him in, not yet. Not until I've figured things out.

"Are you sure?" he asks, his gaze steady on me.

"Yes," I reply tersely, turning away from him and toward the forest, wrapping my arms around myself.