Page 94 of The Tracker's Secret

God, the things I put her through. It wasn’t fair.

After getting undressed, I got on tiptoes and checked my back in the mirror. To my surprise and relief, there were no signs that a vicious werewolf had tried to turn me into confetti—not even the tiniest of scars.

Wow!I couldn’t help but be impressed by my own healing abilities.

I’m a badass.

I whirled on the mirror and, wearing a fierce expression, thrust my hand forward, willing my claws to spring out. Nothing happened. I frowned at my fingers and normal-looking nails. I coiled my fingers into a fist, then let them spring out, willing my claws to make an appearance. Still nothing.

Disgusted, I got in the shower, determined to get Eric to show me how to do that trick. The hot water loosened my muscles, and I stayed under the spray for several extra minutes. Feeling renewed, I stepped out and immediately applied my poop perfume. I endured the stink until it dissipated, telling myself I wouldn’t be needing it much longer.

As I was towel-drying my hair, my phone rang. I picked it up in a hurry and was relieved to see the name on the caller ID.

“Jake, so glad you called back. How are you?”

“I’m good. How about you?” There was concern in his question.

“I’m fine. Just worried about you.”

There was a rustle, then he groaned. “Sorry, I’m still a little sore,” he said. “They told me you stopped Blake.”

I nodded as if he could see me. “Yeah. Um, I shot him. The wolfsbane was the only thing that saved me, he got away, though. Someone helped him.”

“There was a second werewolf there. He joined Blake after you ran,” he said.

“What?! No one told me that.” I wrapped the towel around my body, hurried to my room, and pulled out a pair of jeans and a T-shirt from the dresser.

“I told the police in the hospital when they took my statement once I was conscious.”

“Any idea who it was?”

“No, I didn’t even get a scent. He was masking it like we were.”

“Damn!” I cursed. “He must have been the one who helped Blake escape. There’s no other way he could have walked away on his own. The wolfsbane had completely knocked him out.” Holding the phone between my shoulder and ear, I tried to get dressed, but it was awkward as hell. “Where are you?” I asked.

“My grandfather’s.”

Ew, I really didn’t like that old man, but it didn’t matter. I wanted to see Jake, make sure he was fine. Though there was more. I was ready to tell him everything.

“How did you manage to beat Blake?” Jake asked, sounding confused.

“I’m coming to see you. I’ll tell you all about it when I get there.”

“I’m okay. Don’t worry. I can see you Monday.”

“No, I have to see you today.”

“It’s all right. Today, I—”

“Be there in a few.”

I clicked the “off” button. I wasn’t taking “no” for an answer. I needed to tell him everything before I lost my courage.

Fearing he might call to try to dissuade me, I put my phone in silent mode and slipped it into my back pocket. I quietly left the house and got in my Camaro.

Fifteen minutes later, I parked in front of Walter Knight’s house and jogged up the walkway. The house was just as beautiful and grand as I remembered it. The sweet perfume of roses tickled my sniffer, drawing my eyes to an array of well-tended bushes full of blooming pink buds. The plants made me wish I didn’t have such a black thumb and killed everything I tried to grow. They were so pretty.

Inhaling deeply and rolling my shoulders, I rang the bell.