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Where he’d no doubt find a nice wolf to roll around with. She really didn’t need that thought in her head. It wasn’t healthy to think about the things she could no longer have. Owen held the shirt in front of him which made him no less distracting as now he was safe to look at. Her gaze skimmed over his chest, his abs and lower. The shirt wasn’t hiding much, or he was deliberately letting the dark head of his dick peek over.

“So will you.” He stepped back; the corners of his lips tilted up. “Or we could have our own.” He took another step back.

“We aren’t supposed to cross paths.”

“I found you lost and alone and helped you back to camp.” He said like it was the absolute truth. “No one needs to know.”

She frowned. “Why?”

“Why what?”

Why would you come back for me?But she couldn’t say that. That she hadn’t been able to shake free of her first major crush was her problem not his. No doubt this gathering he’d find himself a mate and his perfect life would be complete.

“Run with me.” He took off, not as a wolf but as a human, with her T-shirt, leaving her wearing only her bra and shorts. Goddamn wolves. This wasn’t a game. She caught him and pulled her shirt. He kept hold and dragged her close.

“Seriously.” His breath was hot on her lips. “If you want to return, I’ll walk you back…otherwise.” He tugged her closer.

She could’ve resisted, but she didn’t want to. “Is this some kind of dare? Did someone put you up to this?”

Why did he want her when she wasn’t a wolf?

“No. Trust me I don’t want this to get out.”

“Gee thanks.” She stepped back, snatching her shirt with her.

“Macey. I remember you. I was hoping to find you this time so we could…I’d thought…I’d hoped we could spend some time together and see if there was something.”

His words hit hard, opening unhealed disappointments. She’d wanted the same but there was too much between them.

“Well you found me.” Her shirt remained balled in her fists. “And none of that matters. Does it? Because nothing panned out.” She hated the way those words sounded.

“We’re both here now.”

They were, so why was she pushing him away? She could have him and get him out of her system. This was nothing but old longing for what might have been. “We shouldn’t be.”

“Fine I’ll shift to wolf and walk you back.”

“What about your run?”

“There’ll be others. They’re fun, but I’ve done it before. I wanted more this gathering.”

She hadn’t even managed one run, but there’d be another one in a few nights. Would people partner up for the gathering or would they swap around? Why waste tonight? They could run together, and she could have all the fun and the guy she’d wanted last time.

It didn’t have to mean anything. Couldn’t. “I can outrun you.”

He nodded. “But do you want to?”

She didn’t reply, she just started running. A few seconds later she heard the wolf’s four feet behind her. She slowed so he could gain. What was she doing? She shouldn’t be encouraging him.

But he was all she wanted.

For the first time in her life no one was telling her what to do or expecting her to be a certain way. She used a tree to swing around to face him. Owen leaped over her. She turned to watch him land and shift. This time she didn’t toss him her shirt when he stood naked and human. She let it fall to the ground.

Her blood pounded hard. The thrill of running changed something. The night was sharper, her body more alive. She stalked toward him and pressed him against the tree. “Just tonight?”

“Yeah.” He kissed her hard. His lips hot and demanding.

Even though she knew this wasn’t a good idea she didn’t want to stop. If she’d been a wolf, this wouldn’t have mattered. Why did it have to matter? Who had made those rules?