Page 41 of In the Mouth of the Wolf

“John,” I whispered. “Can’t I at least wear something? I’m so cold, and Paul didn’t even let me…”

“Oh shit, yeah, of course.” He leapt off the bed so quickly the mattress bounced, and he stuck his head out the door. “Paul! You got anything she can wear?”

Paul’s frustrated voice called from the kitchen. “Shit, I don’t know. Shouldn’t we just keep her naked? You know, until she’s bonded?”

John turned towards me and I let out a whine. He bit his lip and yelled louder this time. “She needs clothes, NOW!”

He came back to my side. “We’ll get you something to wear for today, but I can pick up something nice from the store later. I bet you like dresses, right?”

I fought back the urge to roll my eyes. Dresses were fine and fun to wear sometimes, but I lived in jeans. Instead, I giggled. “How’d you know?”

He blushed, rubbing his hand along his head. “Just a guess. Omegas like pretty things, so…”

I was almost expecting him to start asking me about the rabbits when Paul and Greg returned. “One coffee with cream and sugar.”

Greg set it on the nightstand and then helped me sit up as best I could with my hands still tied with the belts. John cleared his throat. “Maybe we should let her get dressed first? And we can undo her hands while we’re here, can’t we?”

Paul crossed his arms. “She stays restrained whenever possible. I forgot to tell you, she can fully shift.”

Greg and John looked at me and laughed. “Well, you’re just full of surprises,” Greg said. “I guess those threats to rip out our throats had some oomph to them after all.”

“She still deserves clothes,” John grumbled.

Paul sighed and went into his closet. “I think I have a box of Suzanne’s old things in here…”

A few minutes later, he’d managed to find me a large old house dress that smelled like mothballs, but it was certainly better than nothing. They only released one hand at a time to help me put it on, and then Greg pulled me up slightly so I was sitting up.

“Here, your coffee’s getting cold.” He held it up to my lips and tipped it slightly to allow me a sip, and I took it gingerly.

Paul’s anger simmered in the air. “Where was all that sweetness when you nearly burned my face off this morning, huh?”

I took delight in the red, puffy skin on his cheeks, but pretended to cower, and a growl reverberated through John’s chest. “Watch the way you speak to her!”

Paul threw his hands up in the air and stormed out of the room.

Greg and John shared a knowing look and then followed him.

I looked out the window into the gray sky, sending a plea for my pack to find me.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I’m ready now.”

21

CAMDEN

“Igot something over here!” I yelled. Large paw prints gathered at a spot near the stream and then continued northward. We’d wandered throughout the night, the sky now turning to blue as dawn approached.

She had to be tiring soon. Archer had versed us on his research into full shifts during the drive over. Marlowe was alone, with no pack and no home to return to. She’d likely wander aimlessly until she exhausted herself, seeking shelter to rest and possibly revert back to her human form.

There was nothing but farms out here, and wolves typically gave people a wide berth. Would she find safety in time? A few hours without clothing in these conditions could kill her.

I didn’t wait for the others to follow as I trailed the prints up. She was heading back to Maiingan Hollow, whether she realized it or not. Was she trying to find us?

We weren’t bonded yet, but I ached for her all the same. I was also furious she’d been tricked by a vampyr, that he’d thought he could take one of ours into his servaglio. And I was shocked by her shift, but it was a race against the clock and I refused to entertain any worst case scenarios.

Nolan caught up with me, the second most physically fit out of the four of us. Elias and Archer were strong, but they had desk jobs and didn’t get outside as much as me or Nolan. Nolan was a very active and hands-on mayor and spent most of his time pitching in wherever he could. And then there was me, of course. My muscles weren’t for show, and most of the new construction in Chippewa Valley was proof of that.

“Here.” Nolan handed me a beef jerky stick, and I nodded my thanks. I wasn’t hungry in the slightest, but for Marlowe’s sake I would eat. Food meant energy, and I needed every ounce of it if I was going to find her.

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