Page 73 of Quarterback Sneak

I can’t believe the words I’m about to say. “The next, they were these awful black beasts.” I turn towards Zane. “I know it sounds absolutely crazy, but you have to believe—”

“What did they look like?” Zane asks, completely calm.

“I don’t know. They were big and terrifying and...” I try to remember. “I think they howled, like a wolf or something.” I watch as Zane’s eyes close a moment. “You have to believe me, Zane.”

He stands and walks towards me until our chests almost touch. “I do, Evie. I do.”

Chapter 32

Zane

I force myself to leave Evie’s room, but it’s not easy. I shove the door open to our house, nearly running Slate over. “Where’s the fire?” he says in that dark tone of his.

“Sorry.” I reach out and give him a handshake that morphs into a hug on my part. “Good to see you’re still alive. No game today?” Slate plays soccer, so the first few months of the year, he’s gone an awful lot, traveling with the team.

“No.” He uncaps a water bottle and leans against the wall. “What’s with your girl?”

From anybody else, it would make me bristle. From Slate, that’s practically worry. I run a hand over my head. “I don’t know what she’s caught up in, but it’s not good. She’s human, and yet, she seems to have caught the attention of some bad people.”

“If they were wolves,” he says slowly. “You would have been able to tell.”

“I know. That’s what I can’t figure out. I’m going to have to talk to my dad and see what he knows.”

He recaps his water bottle. “I’ll go with you.”

“You don’t need to,” I tell him, but he ignores me. We climb into my truck and start the trip over to pack lands. “How’s your season going?”

“Good.”

“Any losses?” I ask.

“Two.”

And that’s that. Slate’s a man of very few words. I let my dad know we’re coming, so the gates are open when we get close. Slate follows me up the driveway to my family’s house, shades over his eyes. My mother opens the door and gives me a big hug. “Slate, what a surprise. I didn’t know you were coming.” She doesn’t touch him; he doesn’t like to be touched. “Your father will be here soon; he’s finishing up a meeting.”

I nod and head into the living room. Riley comes through, sees me and redirects. “Hey, Brother. Hey, Slate.”

“Thanks for taking Evie out,” I tell her.

“Well, she paid for it; so, she basically took me out,” she says with a frown. “Did you find out anything else?”

“Yeah.” I run my hand over my head. “A little.” I tell her what I know so far, and her eyes get wider with every word I say.

“You need to tell her what you are.”

I shake my head. “I can’t do that to her; she’s already terrified.”

“No, she needs to know what you are, so she knows you are more than capable of keeping her safe, of fighting back if need be.”

I take in her words. “She—” I don’t get any further before the front door opens, and my father walks in. After he greets my mom with a kiss, he moves into the living room.

“What did you find out?” he asks, wasting no time.

“The roommate and boyfriend shifted in the woods. She said they were black and huge and howled; and she called them wolves.”

My father frowns at this. “They’re wolves?”

“That’s the thing. I never picked up on that. I would have known if they were. I’m positive they weren’t. I’ve been in Evie’s room; I never once smelled anything on the roommate.”