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I can’t say I’m particularly excited about sleeping in tight quarters with a man I barely know. My cramps are acting up today, and I don’t want to seem weak in front of the team. Just another prissy omega who couldn’t hack it in the field.

But something about the massive security alpha sets me at ease. He’s formidable, to be sure, but he’s also got this boyish charm and an easy smile. I wonder what he smells like. Does he smell as delicious as that banda?—

“Nope. Not going there,” I mutter under my breath as I walk toward the shower area.

When they delivered the equipment, they also dropped off three small portable shower trailers. Each one is like its own little room with a short open area in the front and a curtain sectioning off a shower area in the back. It seems a little excessive to me, but then again no one wants to flash the camp or have sand blow in when they’re trying to get clean. Even though it’s nothing fancy, and we’re limited to five-minute showers, it feels luxurious after a day spent covered in dirt and sweat.

I spent longer than I thought fiddling with the puzzle box after dinner, trying to get it to open with no success, so it’s late now, and there are no lines for the showers. A nice change from the norm.

I close the curtain, quickly strip out of my grimy clothes, leaving them on the short bench that’s just out of reach of the shower’s spray, and turn on the tap. The small water reservoir built into the back of the trailer sits in the sun all day, and is insulated to keep the water warm. I sigh and rub my tight muscles.

The puzzle box and everything else we’ve found swims in my mind. If we could figure out how it works and get it open, we might find a clue to what happened here or how close we are to Lunara’s temple. Although, I’m starting to wonder if this site could be the temple itself. It doesn’t meet the historical descriptions, but maybe there’s something we’re missing. We’ve found the foundations of a few walls and a few pots, but nothing that suggests the vast place of worship that historical texts allude to. Maybe this is the remains of a nearby town or outpost of some sort. Though, the positioning of the bones really does look like one big—for lack of a better term—orgy.

Could this have been a ceremonial site somewhere near the temple? Maybe where the festivals were held. The tales of those ceremonies are legendary. I kind of wish I could have been there and experienced it for myself.

The scent-neutralizing soap stings my nose, and I’m struck with a sense of longing for my natural perfume. I’ve spent a lot of my life on scent blockers, but this is the longest I’ve gone without a break from them. Usually I only take them on days when I’m at the university and not on weekends. We’ve been here almost two weeks with nothing but the scent of sand. I didn’t think sand had a scent until coming here. It’s dry and neutral, nothing like the refreshing botanical quality of my perfume or the heady intoxication of the bandana I smelled this morning.

A cramp twists my belly as I think of that piece of fabric stashed away in Bear’s tent. Like an addict, I crave the rich, masculine smell of it. Mine .

“No,” I snap at myself.

A snarl answers.

“What the—?” I’m cut off by a bark that sounds way too close. Entirely inhuman.

Shutting off the water, I slowly peek around the curtain. A massive jackal is standing at the entrance to the vestibule. My breath freezes in my lungs. I’ve never seen a wild animal outside of the zoo before.

Okay, okay, this is fine. They’re not aggressive unless cornered, right? I just need to stay quiet and wait for it to leave. How the fuck did it even get in here in the first place?

Its head snaps in my direction and it yips. I jump back, scrambling to pull on my pants, but tripping over the legs. With the curtain still half open, I can see the jackal stalking toward me. He sniffs the air and licks his lips like he’s spotted his next meal. They don’t eat humans, do they?

I’m not sticking around to find out.

Giving up on getting dressed, I grab my towel and wrap it around me, tucking in the edge. The beast howls, and I have a sick feeling it’s calling in reinforcements.

My heart thuds as I stare into the creature’s eyes, unable to move.

Jackals were said to be the watchdogs of Lunara, protectors of omegas. So why the hell is this one looking at me like I’m its favorite meal? They’re also supposed to be small, something this one is not.

With shaking hands, I swing my pants at it. “Go away!” I yell, trying to make myself bigger and scare it off. That’s something you’re supposed to do with wild animals, isn’t it?

The jackal snaps its teeth, its imposing body blocking the door.

I know you aren’t supposed to run from a predator, but if I’m fast enough, maybe I can get past it. For a second, I envision how that would go. I’d dash forward, try to duck around it, trip, and end up the jackal’s chew toy. I’m a scholar, not an athlete, and I’ve always been clumsy. Outrunning a jackal is out of the question.

Smarter, not harder , my dad used to say. Gaze flying around, I get an idea.

Inching toward the showerhead, I never take my eyes off the animal. With each of my movements, its body tenses as if it’s getting poised to jump. Not willing to wait and find out, I dive for the shower nozzle and turn it on, spraying water directly at the wild dog. He howls and shakes his head, stumbling back, disoriented. But it won’t last long—neither will the water supply. Sacrificing the little bench, I throw it at him and sprint toward the exit. I see now that I left it unlocked and partially open. Goddess, I’m an idiot.

Just as I reach the door to escape, teeth sink into my heel, and I scream. Kicking out, I hit the jackal in the nose, freeing my foot.

Without looking back, I scramble to my feet and run.