Page 49 of The Tracker's Secret

I didn’t know what to say. Earlier, he’d insulted me with similar words, and now...

He sighed deeply, and his shoulders slumped a little. He looked tired, like someone who had seen too much and had lost all interest in seeing more.

“There are things,” he said, “that words can’t explain. I need you to be patient and do as I say. Don’t question me. I could try to explain but it would be a waste of time. Suffice it to say that your wolf holds the answers you want, and once you’re able to remember, you’ll know everything, and any words I could waste now trying to explain, would pale in comparison to reality.”

I found myself nodding, accepting his explanation because it made sense. If I tried to explain to anyone how the tracking trance worked, my words couldn’t come close to describing that shimmering darkness that enveloped me, and the way smells and sounds and sights assaulted me as I involved my every sense.

“Good,” Eric said when he saw I understood.

“But I have so many questions,” I said.

“Our time for today is up, but you can ask your most pressing question.”

This was so unfair. Why didn’t he leave time to answer my questions? But I knew why, I was a beggar stealing his time, and the best I could do was to content myself with his scraps. All right... my most pressing question. It jumped to the forefront without me even trying to find it.

“Damien told me to use pain to stop the shift. It works, but just barely. Is there a better way? I’m terrified of hurting my friends like... I hurt you.” I pointed at his arm.

He threw a careless glance at his arm, which was already healing.

“You don’t have to worry about that today,” he said. “Your wolf will be content. Now, go. I have a long day ahead of me.”

He picked his phone up and rushed out of the room in the direction of his study.

I headed toward the front door, telling myself not to be dissatisfied. He’d said my wolf would be content today, and he sounded certain about it, so I had to trust him. He was the expert, after all. This temporary reprieve was more than I could ask for from someone who didn’t owe me anything.

I walked with my head down, deep in thought, and reached the front door. It slid open on its own to let me out. I took a step forward and, too late, noticed a figure standing outside. Startled, I halted and gave a yelp of surprise. Then the figure lunged forward—claws extended, fangs dripping—and attacked.

Chapter 18

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THE CREATURE SMASHEDinto me, wrapping its arms around my waist, and pushing me against the wall that faced the entrance. My back banged painfully against it. Paintings fell from their hooks and crashed to the floor. I crashed down too, the creature falling on top of me, its sharp claws at my throat.

“Where issss it? Give it to me,” it hissed.

I cringed, trying to shrink and melt into the floor. I stared at its disfigured face, terrified. The features were drawn back, made sharp and savage. The eyes were all black, huge voids ready to swallow me whole. The lips were pale and thin, set in a gray face that appeared cracked, like ancient stone.