Page 72 of The Howl
A rustle of noise gave away his location. I waited and was rewarded with a burst of light as he lit a candle.
He glanced at me then turned toward the dark fireplace.
“Do me a favor,” he said.
“What?”
“Don’t run.”
“Why?”
“I don’t think I’d be able to let you go this time.”
My pulse fluttered, and my mind jumped to too many wrong conclusions.
“Why?” I asked again.
“Because your lips really do look blue. Why didn’t you say you were that cold?”
I let out a breath of relief and moved closer to him as his kindling lit.
“Because I didn’t want to be carried.”
“Stubborn,” he said without rancor.
I wrinkled my nose.
“How’d you like it if I started carrying you around?”
“That’d be hilarious. You can carry me into school on Monday.”
“You’re so weird.”
He grinned at me.
“Weird. Devilishly charming and handsome. All the same thing.”
I snorted this time. Fenris never took anything seriously.
Turning away from the fire, I looked around the small space. It was just a one-room cabin with two chairs before the fire, a bed shoved in one corner, and a kitchen in another.
“Whose place is this?” I asked.
“It was my Dad’s. He showed it to me a while ago and told me it was mine. There’s a creek that runs along the back of it. Perfect for losing my scent trail when I need to get away and hide for a while.”
Fenris added a log to the growing flames then straightened.
“It’s not much. But it’s quiet and secluded, which is perfect for what we need.”
His scent leveled up, and I took a step back from him.
“We? There is no we, Fenris.”
He sighed like I’d disappointed him.
“We are both looking for a place to get away, aren’t we? But I think you need this place more than I do. Stay as long as you like.” He handed me my keys. “I’m going to go for a run. I’ll come back later and close the place up when you’re gone.”
I grabbed his arm, stopping him when he would have gone for the door.
