Page 12 of It's Kind of a Bunny Story
Copeland wrapped me in a gentle embrace. “Yes. A family.” He buried his nose in my hair and nuzzled the top of my head.
Linc cleared his throat. “And for the record, we do have a house. Now feed our woman before her inner wolf breaks free and devours us all.”
Stretching my arms above my head, I stared at the three men lying in a tangled heap on the blanket pile. They were so exhausted after spending the past three days making sure I stayed stuffed full of soup and their man meat, that they hadn’t even noticed when I climbed out from between them.
Linc had fallen asleep holding a sandwich that was now mashed against his face. Barely stifling a snicker, I watched as Copeland rolled over and spooned Fletcher. Both men were going to be pretty upset when they woke up and realized they were cuddling. I couldn’t wait.
Thanks to their valiant efforts, they’d sated the heat enough that I’d been able to sleep for several hours before my temperature had spiked and I’d woken drenched in sweat. My inner slut was up early and already stoking the fires of myheat. Resting a hand against my churning stomach, I breathed through a cramp.
How long before I have to wake one of my mates and find release? Probably not very long…
Deciding I needed to make the best of the limited time I had, I padded to the corner of the cave where Copeland had stacked supplies. I found the toothbrush and toothpaste Copeland had brought along with the food. After brushing my teeth, I ran a comb through my tangled hair.
What I really wanted was a shower, but the wet wipes would have to do. Realistically, I wouldn’t be comfortable leaving my nest for several more days. But maybe there was a water source nearby where we could take a quick dip? I decided to ask the wolves when they woke.
Needing a snack, but not wanting to wake my mates with the sound of crinkling wrappers, I tiptoed my way outside.
The moment I emerged into the late afternoon sun, every hair on my body rose, standing on end. Tendrils of smoke drifted between the thick tree trunks of the surrounding forest, creeping ever closer to the cave entrance.
Don’t freak out, Charlee. Maybe someone is camping? Or maybe it’s another gender reveal gone wrong, and the firefighters will have it under control within minutes.
As I took a deep breath, hoping to calm my frayed nerves, a new scent caught my attention. It was faint, almost entirely hidden by the acrid odor of burning wood. But there was no mistaking who—or rather,what—it belonged to.
Coyotes.
The cave was on pack lands, although just barely, since we hadn’t been willing to venture too far across the boundary before receiving permission from the alpha to stay. Still, it would be suicide for coyotes to venture close enough that I could pick up their scent. Needing to make sure I hadn’t imagined it, I tookanother deep whiff, coughing as the thickening smoke filled my lungs.
Predator.
Instincts that had passed from grandparent to parent to child kicked in.
Run! Do not pass go and do not collect $200. Move!
The scent seemed to be coming from all directions, so my best bet was to head left and get a head start. The cave wasn’t an option, because they could follow and I’d be pinned. But as my muscles tightened to obey the primal survival instinct and disappear into the brush, I hesitated. My mates were in the cave, and if caught unaware, they’d be in danger.
Run. Run. Run.
The demand drummed in my skull, demanding that I obey. Rabbits survived predators one of two ways: outrun our would-be murderers, or run until we find a hole to dart inside that was too small for the predator to follow.
Fighting my instincts, I tripped backward into the entrance of the cave. I had to warn them, even if it meant being trapped.
I flew through the tunnel. “Get up!”
The men remained motionless. What the warren was wrong with them?
Why hadn’t they heard me scrambling through the tunnel?
Maybe I killed them. Is this what they meant by a body count? I was like a freaking dragon, but instead of gold, I was collecting penises! Pull yourself together, Charlee!
“Get up!” I hissed, leaping on top of the guys and shaking them. “Coyotes are coming, and the woods are on fire!”
The three men bolted upright so fast that I fell backward, screaming and grabbing my chest in shock.
“Are you sure?” Fletcher asked, pulling me back into a sitting position.
“Y-Yes,” I whisper-shouted. “They are close, but still a little way off. I think. Ugh! Rabbits don’t exactly stop to see how close a predator is, so for all I know, they’re right outside. We have to run if we’re going to escape them!Now!”
Linc snorted, pushing to his feet. “Run? Wolves don’t run; we fight.”
