Page 36 of Runaway Wolf
Penny waggled her brows. “Maybe it’ll be Isaac that comes to take the first shift.”
Caitlin felt her cheeks flame. That was exactly what they’d planned.
And that set off more laughter.
Penny looked out the window before unlocking the door and stepping onto the porch.
“I should walk you to the car,” Caitlin said. “Make sure you get there safely.”
“House of Wax!” Penny laughed. “They’d snatch me right as you watch from fifteen feet away.”
“Not funny!”
“Oh, all right, all right. Think about this. You’d walk me to my car to make sure I’m safe, but then I’d have to walk you back to the cabin to make sure you’re safe, then you’d walk me back… we’d never get anywhere, right? And the first guard will show up here and tell everyone in the pack that we were walking each other back and forth like idiots.”
Caitlin giggled. “I feel like only Misty would understand this dilemma.”
Penny turned to her and hugged her hard. “I’m so glad you’re here, Caity. I’ve missed you so much.”
Caitlin wrapped her arms around her sister. “Me too.”
“Maybe you can come back for Christmas?”
“I will.” She’d figure out a way, even if she had to take unpaid leave.
“Okay. You stand right here in the doorway so no bad guys get inside. I’ll run to my car and get inside, lock the doors so you know I’m safe. Then I’ll wait for you to lock the door—”
“And I’ll move to the window to watch you pull away.”
They both laughed and hugged each other one more time. “Give me some sugar in case I get beheaded halfway to the car—”
“Penny!”
She laughed in her ear. “If I do, preserve my head in wax and prop me up in the center of the dining table for Christmas dinner.”
“Gross!” Penny pulled away just as Caitlin smacked her butt, then jogged to the car, waving.
“Run!” Caitlin screamed, like something was coming.
Penny screeched, hit the unlock button, and dove into the car, laughing like a maniac. She clicked the doors locked and then pointed at Caitlin.
Laughing just as hard, Caitlin closed the door and locked it, slid the giant sliding deadbolt home, then ran to the window, moving aside the curtain so she could wave. Penny started the car, shined the headlights at her, and pulled away.
Still giggling, Caitlin started to move from the window when movement from the trees across the road caught her eye.
Giant black wolf. Isaac was here. A sense of calm and safety enveloped her as she let the curtain fall. Probably Noah would already be home as soon as Penny got there and tomorrow, they’d be laughing as they told the guys over breakfast how silly they’d been.
She’d wait for him to change into his human form on the porch. He’d knock, letting her know it was safe before she unlocked the door. But then again, his wolf was more protective of her now. He understood that changing her could kill her. After all, he’d allowed Isaac to mark her and he didn’t jump in to bite her instead. Then, they’d made love and she could see him, right there on the surface. It seemed like Isaac and his wolf bonded too.
A giant thud hit the front door, shaking the foundation and making her jump. Shit, maybe Isaac’s wolf wasn’t playing nice today. He’d licked her and seemed fine, but must’ve decided that wasn’t okay. Maybe he needed to be reminded that she was human and fragile.
“Change back!” she screamed at him through the door. Isaac needed to be present.
Instead of changing, the wolf howled. Then hurled himself against the wood again. And this, this was why Isaac installed the sliding bolt. He didn’t trust his animal but something was off. Last night something changed for the three of them.
She moved to the window, looked outside. Across the road, still in the trees, she could make out another lighter wolf, but he just… watched. Who was it? Was he afraid to take onIsaac? Or, like her, was he just waiting for Isaac’s wolf to come to his senses and change?
That must be it.
