Page 62 of Her Shifter Pack

Chapter 19

MARKUS

Damn... I felt like shit. My tongue was as dry as the desert and my eyes were full of gritty sand. What had I done? Fallen asleep in a kid’s playground or something?

Fuck. I had to move. Shake it off.

I stretched onto my back, cringing at the pain that shot through my spine as hard, lumpy rock dug into my muscles.

This did not feel like a sand pit.

“What the hell...” I shoved the heavy blankets off me. I was way too hot. Since when did I sleep under so many layers?

“Markus? Markus!” Lexie landed on top of my chest, her head against my heart.

I wrapped my arms around her, relief that she was here with me flooding over me. “Hey, Lex... whhhy is this mattress soooo uncomfortable? And why can’t I open myyyy eyes propppperly?”

I kissed the top of her head, aware that I sounded intoxicated even though I was sure I hadn’t had anything to drink last night. But I was slurring a little, and seriously couldn’t get my eyes to open.

She chuckled against my skin. “Sit up. Let’s get more water into you.”

I wasn’t going to argue. I struggled to sit up and managed to crack my eyes open a little. It was light out, just. The red and orange hues of the sunset were just leaking over the trees.

Trees!

My eyes opened wide, but it hurt to do so. “Why are we in the forest?” I glanced around. “And why... oh...” We were in the cave.

It all came flooding back to me. The fight. The rain.

Nancy. Mom. Everyone turning on me.

“Here. Drink this. And eat,” Ollie said, pushing a packet of candy into one hand, and a bottle of water into the other.

I tipped my head back and skolled the water, my swollen tongue struggling with the coldness but loving it at the same time.

“Another?” Lexie asked, handing me a second bottle.

I took it but didn’t open it yet, assuming there would be limited water and we’d need to share. “Thanks.”

I cracked open the packet of candy and shoved a handful into my mouth. I was starving, but had no idea why.

“What happened?” I managed to ask around the candy. “Why are you guys here? Wait.” I stared at Lexie. “How are you guys here? Ollie I understand, but...”

She grinned at me. “It’s a long story. Involves a dirt bike and sheer determination to prove Nancy and your mom wrong.”

Ollie stood up from the pile of blankets on the ground and shook his head, walking away. From the line of his back, he seemed annoyed.

Huh?

I glanced over at Lexie. “Any ideas you wanna share?”

“You don’t remember shifting and running up here?”

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