Page 37 of Fangs
“Wolf!” Scar shouted, lunging forward.
I darted for the unguarded door, abandoning the blanket when someone, probably Wolf, managed to snag it. It was snowing, a slew of tiny snowflakes drifting through the air. Under any other circumstance, I would’ve thought it was beautiful, but I hardly noticed. I sprinted barefoot through the snow for the trees, Lee’s shirt flapping around my mid-thighs. I made it maybe twenty feet before Wolf tackled me to the ground. I gave into my instincts and fought him as hard as I could, even managing to snag one of the knives he had sheathed on his belt before he disarmed me half a second later. By the time I sucked in another breath, he had me pinned.
I shrieked and thrashed, losing myself to fury and panic.
“I thought I taught you better than this.” He raised one eyebrow as he easily kept me trapped on the ground. “Guess it wasn’tmytraining that kept you hidden for twelve years.”
“I hate you!” I spit out at him. “Get off of me!”
He tried to hide the pain that flashed across his face, but he didn’t quite succeed. It made guilt and vindictive spite twist together in my chest. A shadow fell over us, and we both peered up to see Kai and Sable.
“Seems like that went well,” Kai said dryly.
“Next time you decide to run for it, make sure you have some fucking shoes on,” Wolf ordered, swinging off of me and yanking me to my feet, his grip tight around my upper arm.
I jerked Lee’s shirt down from where it had ridden up around my waist and exposed Lee’s undergarments, wanting to die.
Wolf’s disapproving scowl deepened, “And, for fuck’s sake, somepants.”
I sat in the small bedroom on the floor against the wall, picking pieces of tree branches and evergreen needles from my wild hair. Scar leaned against the wall, watching me with a mixture of irritation and amusement. The two of us were locked in a ridiculous stalemate, and I bitterly hoped she knew what she was in for because I hadnothing leftbut my stubborn fury and I was ready to dish that out in spades.
I was supposed to be changing back into my clothes. Iwantedto change back into my clothes but refused to change my shirt with Scar in the room. I’d lost the privilege of privacy, Wolf had informed me. So instead, I sat on the floor in my pants and boots, plus Lee’s damp, muddy shirt, and started trying to untangle my hair as I pretended Scar wasn’t there. We’d been in here for a while.
“Ember, I already know about the scars, so why don’t you just get dressed?” she asked for the twentieth time. “I think you know your brother is not gonna be this patient.”
Turns out twelve years did nothing to temper my relationship with Wolf. The two of us always managed to get under each other’s skin. Dune used to say it was because we were too alike. I was pretty sure it was because Wolf was an asshole.
“You’ve got maybe a minute before Wolf busts in here and takes matters into his own hands,” Scar warned.
I flipped her off, and she sighed heavily.
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” she muttered.
Three seconds later, someone rapped on the door. Scar opened it, made a series of gestures with her hands, and then Wolf stepped inside. He looked pissed.
“If you’re gonna act like achild,I’m gonna treat you like one,” he snapped.
“You’re already treating me like a child,” I snapped back. “I’m not changin’ in front of someone.”
“Well, you should’ve thought of that before you tried to run…twice.”
I glared at him. “I told you I’m not going back.”
Scar tapped him and then gestured again. He frowned, and she moved her hands again so rapidly it was hard to track. He let out a heavy sigh and pinched the bridge of his nose.
“Fine. You want to wear a wet, filthy shirt? Go ahead. Have fun.”
Surprised, I blinked, but he just turned and strode out of the room. Scar turned back to me, her face unreadable, and gestured at me.
“C’mon, dinner’s ready.”
7
Wolf and his pack were sitting on the couch and chairs, eating what looked like some sort of stew. My stomach growled, but I ignored it.
“Saved you a spot, Freckles,” Lee called, grinning from the couch.
I looked at the small space he gestured toward between him and Sable.Fuck no.I went around them and sat on the floor by the fireplace again.
