Page 75

My thoughts weighed heavily on me for the rest of the day.

While Cameron and I were mindlessly watching some ’90s Will Smith action movie, I kept drifting back to the problem.

For the first time in my life, I wished I could do something .

I’d spent so much time living for myself that it was hard to rectify that with my desire for a better world.

Perhaps I wasn’t as bitter and self-centered as I’d always imagined myself to be.

We’d had the leftovers for an early dinner, but less than four hours later, Cameron started digging through the takeout bags.

I shot her a bemused smile. “What are you looking for?”

She shoved an empty takeout bag into the trash can. “I’m freaking starving. Why am I hungry again?”

“It’s your metabolism,” I explained, pausing the movie. “It’s faster now that you’ve shifted. One of the benefits of being a shifter.” I shrugged. “It’s kinda why a lot of us look…” I cleared my throat, not wanting to sound too conceited. “Uh, look like?—”

“Underwear models?” Cameron asked.

“I was gonna say ‘really fit,’ but I guess that works, too.”

“So, I can have a great body, but I’ll be starving all the time? Great.” She grunted and crossed her arms as she looked out the window.

The sun hadn’t quite gone down yet. Following her gaze, I spotted a small market a couple blocks down the road.

“What are you thinking?” I asked warily.

“I’m craving something.”

I grinned. “I bet you are.”

She turned a withering glare on me. “Not like that . I’m craving junk food.”

I studied her, recalling my past experiences with female shifters. “Not to pry, but when is your next period?”

Cameron’s eyes narrowed into slits. “Why?”

“Well…” I hesitated. “I’ve heard, from multiple women, that the first menstrual cycle after the initial shift can be really rough. So, I don’t want you to think anything is wrong if it’s super uncomfortable.”

Cameron threw her hands in the air. “This just keeps getting better. That’s it. I am going to get some snacks.” She glanced out the window again, then looked back at me, the smile fading. “Do you think it’s safe for me to go down the street?”

Looking out the window, I estimated the distance to the store to be only about three hundred meters.

“No one knows we’re here,” I said. “We’ve only used JC’s credit card, so I don’t know how anyone would find us. Still, I should go with you.”

Cameron sighed and made a face. “I kinda wanted to call Lesley on the walk over. Chat a little, you know. This is gonna sound bad, but I’d rather have a girl talk with just a girl.”

“How about this?” I said, and rose from the couch. “Compromise. I’ll head outside and watch you go. If anything weird happens on the way there or back, I’ll see it and swoop in to save the day. Fair enough?”

Cameron shot me a dazzling smile. “That works.”

I handed her the credit card, then shrugged on my jacket.

“Thanks for this,” Cameron said. “It sounds silly, but it means a lot. Just a few minutes of chatting with my friend alone might make all this feel normal for a bit, you know?”

“I get it.” I grabbed her hand and pulled her close. “I’ll be watching, but be careful, anyway. Got it?”

“Yes, sir.” She gave a silly mock salute. “I’ll keep my head on a swivel?—”

I yanked against my chest before she could finish and kissed her. I parted her lips with my tongue and drew in the taste of her.

When I pulled away, I winked at her. “Just be careful. That’s all.”

Cameron pressed her fingers to her lips, looking a little frazzled. “Okay,” she said with a smile and turned to go.

Grinning to myself, I swung a leg over my bike to sit and watch her go.

Waving, she pulled her phone out of her pocket and pressed it to her ear as he walked.

Within seconds, I could see her body language change as she spoke to Lesley.

I kept a close eye on the surroundings, studying every passing vehicle for threats—there weren’t many in this quiet neighborhood.

The sun was sitting low on the horizon, and the day had the faint glow that came moments before nightfall.

My thoughts drifted back to the issues I’d been contemplating all day.

Pack hierarchy, society dynamics… all the shit that made it hard for lone wolves to succeed and ferals to heal.

My gaze landed on a guy ahead of Cameron.

He moved in a way that screamed stealth as he ducked into the store.

From this distance, it looked like he was watching Cameron.

“What the fuck?” I muttered.

It was probably nothing, but better to be safe than sorry. My finger hovered over the ignition button when something else caught my attention.

A scent. Behind me.

I twisted around to confront whoever had snuck up on me, but I was too slow to evade the club swinging at my face.

It slammed against my forehead with a brain-rattling thunk , and I fell off my bike onto the pavement.

As I hit the ground, the back of my head smacked into the asphalt.

As if someone had slapped the light switch, everything went dark.