rest of camp. I realized, much to my shock, that it had been the most exciting night of my life and I wanted to spend more time with Markus—a lot more time.
We were both silent. I was so wrapped up in my thoughts about what just happened. I became a wolf, I helped kill a deer, I had fur … every so often, Markus would glance over at me and I could see a look in his eyes I couldn’t quite place—desire? Nah, it was probably just my imagination.
After what seemed like an eternity, we got to the cabin, and Markus howled at the door. Not getting a response, he nudged the wood with his nose and the door opened, allowing our entry. I peered over his wolf to see Dorian in human form, passed out on the sofa and snoring away, his blonde hair splayed out on the pillow. The stench of alcohol was overpowering.
“He’s drunk,” Markus growled disgustedly, “plastered as usual. That’s why I was so pissed at the council meeting when he chose you. He’s a drunkard. He can’t protect you from the Vlodiks. See those scratches,” he added, pointing to the red marks on Dorian’s face. “He claims he got them when he fought the Vlodiks, but I know he was lying down in a patch of thorny bushes, dead drunk while they were attacking.”
I gasped. “Well, didn’t you tell Caleb?”
Markus lowered his head. “No, I was the first one on the scene and I pulled him out of the way to keep him from any harm. He must have rolled out of sight into the bramble branches. He came staggering back to Camp Vickers the next morning and claimed he had tried to fight the Vlodiks. I didn’t have the heart to tell my dad.”
“That’s horrible for him to lie like that to you, to your dad, to everyone in your pack.” I said.
Thrusting his jaw out, Markus grabbed my hand. “He can’t protect you from anyone, not even himself,” he said, nudging me toward the doorway. “There is only one way to make sure you are safe tonight and going forward.” He looked directly into my eyes and said, “You are staying with me. Change back and put on your clothes, we will go to my cabin.”
Markus and I quickly took turns using the bedroom; changing back into our human forms and throwing on our clothes as quickly as possible. My hands shook as I zipped up my hoodie. What was going to happen if Dorian found out I had stayed with Markus? But I didn’t see any other way. Dorian was passed out asleep and I couldn’t be alone after experiencing this new body and new life. I didn’t know what else could be coming my way and I wanted someone with me who could help if something went wrong.
We bolted out of the cabin as quick as we could, and walked to Markus’s.
CHAPTER SIX
Back at Markus’s cabin, I awkwardly wondered what I should do. The cabin was a man cave with a brass studded leather sofa and several chairs interspersed with solid maple side tables. It was comfortable, very masculine, and surprisingly tidy. There was no way I could sit on his sofa with beads of sweat dripping from me and mud caked on my body from the hunt; plus, my clothes had been through the ringer these past two days.
“Well, make yourself at home,” Markus said. “I’ve got the bed in the other room where you can sleep, and I will take the couch. Would you like something to eat or drink?” He moved to the kitchen and started rooting through the cupboards for coffee and tea.
“N-no, I’m fine,” I stammered awkwardly. “I just want to shower… I’m all shook up from the run and don’t think I want anything; well maybe just some tea.” Not hungry? That was a new one for me but I couldn’t think about food right now.
Markus gingerly grabbed a chamomile tea packet from the cabinet, and put a kettle on the stove. Then he walked to the bathroom, turning the faucet in the shower to warm. “How hot do you like it?”
Oh, God. Here I was, in a man cave with a sexy werewolf man, about to take a shower with him only a room away, just a thin wall between us? I
We were both silent. I was so wrapped up in my thoughts about what just happened. I became a wolf, I helped kill a deer, I had fur … every so often, Markus would glance over at me and I could see a look in his eyes I couldn’t quite place—desire? Nah, it was probably just my imagination.
After what seemed like an eternity, we got to the cabin, and Markus howled at the door. Not getting a response, he nudged the wood with his nose and the door opened, allowing our entry. I peered over his wolf to see Dorian in human form, passed out on the sofa and snoring away, his blonde hair splayed out on the pillow. The stench of alcohol was overpowering.
“He’s drunk,” Markus growled disgustedly, “plastered as usual. That’s why I was so pissed at the council meeting when he chose you. He’s a drunkard. He can’t protect you from the Vlodiks. See those scratches,” he added, pointing to the red marks on Dorian’s face. “He claims he got them when he fought the Vlodiks, but I know he was lying down in a patch of thorny bushes, dead drunk while they were attacking.”
I gasped. “Well, didn’t you tell Caleb?”
Markus lowered his head. “No, I was the first one on the scene and I pulled him out of the way to keep him from any harm. He must have rolled out of sight into the bramble branches. He came staggering back to Camp Vickers the next morning and claimed he had tried to fight the Vlodiks. I didn’t have the heart to tell my dad.”
“That’s horrible for him to lie like that to you, to your dad, to everyone in your pack.” I said.
Thrusting his jaw out, Markus grabbed my hand. “He can’t protect you from anyone, not even himself,” he said, nudging me toward the doorway. “There is only one way to make sure you are safe tonight and going forward.” He looked directly into my eyes and said, “You are staying with me. Change back and put on your clothes, we will go to my cabin.”
Markus and I quickly took turns using the bedroom; changing back into our human forms and throwing on our clothes as quickly as possible. My hands shook as I zipped up my hoodie. What was going to happen if Dorian found out I had stayed with Markus? But I didn’t see any other way. Dorian was passed out asleep and I couldn’t be alone after experiencing this new body and new life. I didn’t know what else could be coming my way and I wanted someone with me who could help if something went wrong.
We bolted out of the cabin as quick as we could, and walked to Markus’s.
CHAPTER SIX
Back at Markus’s cabin, I awkwardly wondered what I should do. The cabin was a man cave with a brass studded leather sofa and several chairs interspersed with solid maple side tables. It was comfortable, very masculine, and surprisingly tidy. There was no way I could sit on his sofa with beads of sweat dripping from me and mud caked on my body from the hunt; plus, my clothes had been through the ringer these past two days.
“Well, make yourself at home,” Markus said. “I’ve got the bed in the other room where you can sleep, and I will take the couch. Would you like something to eat or drink?” He moved to the kitchen and started rooting through the cupboards for coffee and tea.
“N-no, I’m fine,” I stammered awkwardly. “I just want to shower… I’m all shook up from the run and don’t think I want anything; well maybe just some tea.” Not hungry? That was a new one for me but I couldn’t think about food right now.
Markus gingerly grabbed a chamomile tea packet from the cabinet, and put a kettle on the stove. Then he walked to the bathroom, turning the faucet in the shower to warm. “How hot do you like it?”
Oh, God. Here I was, in a man cave with a sexy werewolf man, about to take a shower with him only a room away, just a thin wall between us? I
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