Page 35 of The Tracker's Secret
Did I need a pack? Would being with Jake mean I was joining one? He’d been a lone wolf when I met him, but now he was talking about building his legacy. I didn’t understand enough about being a werewolf, and I needed my head clear to be able to make the best decision possible. That definitely meant staying the hell away from Jacob Knight.
“I have enough problems as it is,” I said. “Don’t add more to my list. Do you think you can do that? Because I can surely help you with your promise and legacy problems. I’m trying to let you be, to move forward.” I swept a hand over the room to indicate the party. “You see, this is me trying. So let me.”
I waited for an answer, but he just stood there staring at me, his eyes dark, his expression guarded. I felt what he felt. It was plain in his features. He shared my pain, and it tugged at my heart. But I had to be strong. I had to look further than today. He and I couldn’t have a future together if there was no trust.
At last, he spoke, “You’re right.” He took a step closer and lowered his voice. “I’m trying, but it’s not easy. You have a hold on me that I can’t understand. It’s like...” He shook his head and pressed his lips together, unwilling to say what he thought. “I know you feel the same. It’s been like this since that first time.”
I held his gaze, unable to deny any of it. We were like two open books to each other. The dumb attraction was mutual. We were a pair of fools who lost all reason whenever the distance between us was less than a few hundred miles. God, maybe Rosalina was right about moving to China.
“Why can’t you understand I just want you to be safe,” he continued. “If something happened to you...”
I took one of his large hands in mine and squeezed it. “You have to let me go, Jake.”
“Don’t friends have a right to worry about each other?”
“We can never be friends. You know that.” I let go of his hand and retreated a step. “Friends don’t...” I gestured toward the corner where we’d just made out.
“Then maybe we should...” He let that hang, eyeing me suggestively.
Wait?!Was he trying to say that we could be lovers while he found someone else to fulfill his other needs?
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Don’t you dare say what I think you’re going to say.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to insult you. I guess I can be a selfish asshole sometimes.” He paused and considered for a moment, then added, “It wouldn’t do for me either. I want to give you everything.”
My chest squeezed painfully. I wanted everything with him, too. God, this was so painful. The back of my eyes stung, and I turned away before tears made their appearance.
“There you are!” Rosalina came running toward me. “Damien’s friend is ready to meet you.” Noticing Jake standing behind me, she came to an abrupt stop, looking surprised.
“Hi, Jake.” She gave him a little wave.
“Hello,” he said.
Her sudden presence brought my onslaught of tears to a halt, for which I was more than grateful.
“Oh, good,” I said, putting on a cheery voice. “I was starting to get bored. Let’s go.”
Damien appeared next, weaving through the crowd. “C’mon, Eric Lone waits for no one. Hurry up!”
What? Eric Lone? That was Damien’s friend?
Eric Cross—or Eric Lone as he was known in St. Louis—was an infamous werewolf that had almost become a sort of urban legend. The rumor went that fifteen years ago his wife and daughter had been killed by the leader of a rivaling pack. They said that when he heard the news he was stricken with grief and tried to take his own life. His pack stopped him and when the bulk of the pain passed, he vowed to avenge his loved ones.
He parted from his pack, becoming a lone wolf, and a year later, every trace of his enemies had been erased from existence. Eric Cross had killed every single one of them, down to the last descendant, erasing their legacy forever. Ever since, everyone knew him as Eric Lone, and his name inspired dread and curiosity in all Skew circles.
My insides shivered at the thought of meeting such a legend. And not only that, Damien intended for him to teach me how to be a werewolf. That didn’t sound like a good idea at all.
“Well,” Damien said, “are you just going to stand there and waste everyone’s time?”
Mechanically, I took a step forward.
“Wait, Toni.” Jake put a hand on my shoulder.
Damien scrutinized Jake with a frown.
“What business do you have with Eric Cross?” Jake asked.
There he went again, sticking his nose in my business as if we hadn’t just had the most painful conversation ever.
