Page 87 of To Hunt A Wolf
“Leisure is the perfect word, isn’t it? All you do is sit on your ass while everyone else does the dirty work.”
“You are an alpha for the sole reason that I never challenged you,” Jadick says coldly. “Remember that, and remember what you’re fighting for. Or who.”
This time, it’s Levi who glances at me.
“Believe me,” Levi says, “I haven’t forgotten.”
Then he walks away, disappearing into the darkness that’s fallen around camp.
Jadick lets him go without a word.
Finally, he takes his seat again, clapping Tripp on the back and sliding right back into his cheery persona. “Who wants a beer?” Jadick asks.
Tripp doesn’t answer.
“I’m going to bed,” my mother says and abruptly stands and walks off.
She doesn’t go after Levi. I wonder if I should follow her.
“Mac?”
I look up to find Jadick holding a can out toward me. Tripp eyes me across the fire. I can’t read his expression—or more specifically, I can’t figure out who he’s frustrated at most right now. But I don’t wait around to find out.
“See you tomorrow,” I say and leave Jadick and Tripp to strategize a plan I never plan to follow.
ChapterTwenty
Levi’s long gone by the time I try to catch his scent. The tracker in me could still hunt him down, but after what just happened back there, I need time alone to think. Especially now. Turning away from Levi’s trail, I head into the woods, crashing through brush, uncaring where the path leads. The sliver of moon overhead provides a dim light, though my wolf can see the way easily enough without it.
I walk until I come to a wide creek. The rushing of the water echoes around me, and in the chaos of that noise, I search for clarity.
Adrenaline pumps, my thoughts consumed by the video. Thiago’s demand replays over and over in my mind. If I don’t deliver Jadick, he’ll hurt Kari. I know it. Just as I know I’ll never convince Jadick to come back with me.
There has to be another way.
But the only other option is Levi, and I can’t bring myself to ask him to sacrifice himself. Not even for Kari. Maybe a few days ago, I could have done it. But too much has happened since I left the pack. Too many crimes have been forgiven between us. I can’t lose him again, not this way.
A branch cracks, and I whirl to see Tripp coming toward me in the darkness.
He holds up his hands in mock surrender.
“Just me,” he says. “Don’t shoot.”
I turn back to the creek, staring at where the water breaks over a rock. “I figured you’d still be at camp, plotting war games with Jadick.”
“Your mother agreed to go to Franco in the morning. To ask for backup.” He sighs. “Jadick’s gone back to drinking with his fan club. He considers it settled for now.”
“I bet he does.”
“It’s not going to work.”
I frown. “What are you talking about?”
“You have that look in your eye. The one you get when you think you can just talk someone into something. I’m telling you, Mac. It won’t work. He won’t do this—not for you and not for Kari.”
I turn to look at him. “She’s his sister.”
“He’s out here trying to strategize how to kill his own brother. Do you think family ties matter to any of them?”
