Page 46 of Wolf's Vow

“Maybe?” I rubbed my jaw. “Apart from that, the conversation was civil. Pleasant.” I met his look. “I don’t think it’s her.”

“And?”

“I miss her fire.”

He grinned, wolfish and sharp. “Careful. You keep that up, someone might think you actually like her.”

I didn’t answer because I did. I really did. And I didn’t know what to do with that.

“I’ll check in in two days,” Diesel said, moving to the door. “If I’m not back?—”

“You’ll be back.”

His grin faded into something serious. “If I’m not back, you burn the trail behind me. No hesitation.”

I nodded once. “Go.”

And he was gone.

I stood alone in the flickering light of the afternoon, feeling the bond stretch toward the west where she was, steady and sealed in—but no longer fraying at the edges.

She hadn’t betrayed her pack. She hadn’t betrayed me.

I let myself breathe. I wondered if Thalia would show her how to video call. I scoffed at myself for acting like a fool.

I picked up the next report and got back to hunting my traitor.

Chapter 12

Rowen

Thalia had takenthe phone from me earlier this morning.

Even though the screen had turned black not long after Wolfe said goodbye, I still wanted to keep it nearby, which was silly. Still, she whispered she would get me my own, and I went through my training with Killian and Cody with such enthusiasm that Killian cornered me and demanded to know what I was up to.

Thalia had confessed before Killian and I had come to blows, and when Killian had stormed off, mumbling about females and never understanding them, I had turned to Cody for an explanation, but he was in a glare off with Thalia until he also walked off, muttering.

“I didn’t mean for you to get into trouble,” I said to Thalia in apology.

“Pft.” She waved me off. “I’ve been in trouble with those two since I was a child. Trust me, their grumbling is all for show.”

“So, they’re not mad?” I asked, thoroughly confused.

“If they were mad, they’d be kicking my ass in the training area and not yours.” Thalia came into the fighting square. “Want to spar with me?”

I looked up the hill to where I could still see Cody’s retreating back. “Is that ok—” My head snapped back as she punched me.

“You think your attacker is going to wait for your attention?” she asked as she circled me. “You ready?”

I shook my head a little, clearing it from her blow, my fists raised and my grin eager. “Let’s go.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw others in the pack come forward to watch as Thalia and I circled each other, barefoot over the packed dirt, the air suddenly thick with anticipation.

Thalia was already moving; she didn’t waste time feeling me out—she lunged like she meant toendthis before it had even started. I barely twisted out of the way, her fist grazing my ribs hard enough to rattle my insides.

Okay. No courtesy to be shown.

She pivoted fast, faster than I expected, and drove her elbow toward my jaw. I dropped, rolled, came up behind her, and swept her leg. She staggered, caught herself, and grinned at me like a wolf with blood on her teeth.