Page 52 of Salvation

What could he do? Chase her down? Tie her up? Force her to listen to a truth that disgusted him as much as it disgusted her?

He turned back for the saloon, kicking a trash can on the way. The metal lid clattered to the ground and the can tipped on its side, but he left it. And why not? Every time he tried to do the right thing, he screwed up. Why bother trying any more?

Soren came prowling out of the alley, but Todd strode on. He was not backing down for anyone today.

“Whoa,” Soren grunted as their shoulders collided. “Hey!”

Todd ignored the thump and hammered on, heading down the alley. No way was he stopping to talk now.

He forced his chin up and gauged the distance to the hills surrounding town. It wouldn’t take too long to get out there at this hammering trot of a walk. When he got there, he could disappear deep into the woods, shift into bear form, and maul a few trees. He’d walk as far as his legs could take him and then walk a little more. Maybe he’d walk all the way back to Montana. Starting tonight.

Sick of this,he let himself rage.I’m so sick of this.

He was sick of fate giving then taking away. It was turning into a cruel game, and he was tired of playing along. What purpose was there in being the good guy when it only got him screwed over and over again?

Behind him, metal rattled against asphalt as Soren righted the trash can and hurried after him.

Todd flicked his fingers, loosening his claws. Let Soren try to talk some sense into him now.

“Todd,” Soren said, using his nice-guy voice instead of his alpha growl.

Yeah, well, Todd wasn’t going to fall for that, either.

“Todd,” Soren said, more sharply this time.

He barreled on, intent on getting away.

“Hey,” Soren said, grabbing his shoulder.

Todd spun with a snarl — a real bear snarl, letting bear claws emerge from his fingers to slice the air an inch in front of his cousin’s face.

“Whoa.” Soren stopped and stuck his hands in the air.

Todd was about to spin and resume his march to the hills when he caught sight of his claws. He froze, looking at them. Claws. All his claws were out. The ones on his injured hand, too.

He flexed and straightened his fingers, suddenly distracted from the rage that had taken over his mind.

Hey. They work!His bear cheered.

A moment later, he retracted them and started walking again. So his hand had recovered slightly. So what? It wasn’t as if that would help him make up with Anna. It wouldn’t restore his hearing or turn back the clock on all the other regrets that loomed over him like a dark winter cloud.

“You had to tell her,” Soren said, calling after him.

Too bad that trash can was out of range. He’d have liked to give it a few more kicks.

A car rumbled into gear behind them, and he turned to see Simon heading out in another vehicle.

“I told him to follow her,” Soren said. “Just in case.”

Todd cursed. God, how could he have let the rogue wolf slip his mind?

“We still don’t know who it was,” Soren said, glaring at the traffic flashing across the intersection at the end of the alley. “Until we do, we have to keep every member of this clan safe.”

Todd stared at his cousin. Had he just implied that Anna was a member of this clan?

Soren shrugged, reading his mind. “She could be.”

The words hung in the dry air, and for a second, Todd nearly let himself hope again. That Anna would forgive him and come back again. That she’d give him another chance and maybe even accept his bear. They could—

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