Page 68 of Mated
Fuck.
Heat. Nisha’s in heat.
My jaws open and the sound that pours from me is all roar as I sprint into the trees.
Chapter 30
Nisha
My lungs heave and every step shoots up through my legs with a painful ache. But the sounds of followers have faded, and only the babble of a nearby creek filters past the blood roaring in my ears. I slow to a stop and look around, panting.
The trees are just more dark blobs. There is nothing different about this section of land. No way to mark how far I have run, how far back I left Caine.
I lean back, opening my airway as I try to calm my breathing.
Something snaps off to my left. I whirl, expecting Caine to stalk through the brush.
Instead, a pair of glowing yellow eyes are locked on me from much lower than the demon’s should be.
I step back, pulse thundering in my veins. “If I say no, will you listen?”
A low growl spills from the brush in answer and a massive chocolate brown wolf presses forward.
The beast is hip high on me, and longer than Tanner is tall. Its maw opens, flashing long white teeth. My foot slips back. A dark blur slams into its side, and the two shapes roll over the earthen litter.
The wolf comes up first, and I stare in shock at a head of familiar dark hair. Callus peers over his shoulder at me as he crouches in the wolf’s path. His eyes are solid gold and glowing softly. “Cross the creek.”
I gape. “What?”
“The creek is the edge of Silver Rock land. Cross the creek and they will stop chasing you.”
I stare at him, teetering between listening and unsure why I should.
The wolf stalks just past him, the animal pacing in a loose loop of agitation. It snarls low and long but seems unwilling to get closer thanks to Callus.
“Nisha, cross the gods-damn creek,” Callus snaps.
I turn on my heel and scramble down into the cool water. It soaks the lower half of my legs, leaving pine needles and dirt clinging to my skin as I climb up the other side.
The wolf howls and the cadence raises every hair on my body. But it gives Callus one gnashed snap of its teeth and dives back into the trees.
Callus slowly rises from his crouch, his body clad still in only the cut off jeans from earlier. He runs a hand through his dark hair. “You’re in heat,” he says, his tone almost conversational.
My face flames. “What?”
“It’s why the pack is in a frenzy. Your human fertility cycle is triggering your first heat.” He turns finally, his glowing eyes bright and his jaw tight. “If I had known, I would not have allowed you to run.”
My arms cross over my chest. “It’s not like I’m doing this on purpose.”
“I know that, but no female shifter runs during her heat. It causes too much chaos. Bloodshed.” He peers around. “Where is your shadow?”
“Caine?”
He nods.
“Fell behind,” I say coolly. “He was taking care of a cat.”
Callus exhales. “Well, you’re free to make your way back to the cars. Just follow the creek bed out.” He turns on his heel and starts off.
