My Best Friend's Werewolf

14 Into the Forest

I laugh nervously. It's not that I think he's right. But he sounded so serious. "Don't worry. I could take them down with my bare hands." I smile.

He chuckles. "I'd like to see that. Enjoy your book."

I nod and watch him walk down the stairs--still shirtless. I'll admit it, he's got a toned back and it's quite nice.

******

I pull my legs to my chest and grabbing the comforter I wrap it around me and lean against the window seal. The novel lies propped open against my knees with one of my hands keeping it open.

The howls reverberated in my head, growing increasingly louder. I knew they were close. They'd be here soon. And then... and then there's hardly a chance I would survive.

Even my own mate was with them.

The full moon helped me to see my path but if it hadn't been for it they wouldn't be after me.

I began to hear rushing water mixing with the howls of the wolves. My heart pounded in my ears. If his wolf killed me he would never forgive himself. I glanced up at the moon. I just needed to survive a few more hours.

The moving water had grown to a roar. I looked over my shoulder. The wolves had caught up with me. Water seeped through my shoes, and I stumbled back. I panted. One step more and I would have been swept away by the current.

An added set of howls joined the night air, and from across the river the Onyx Pack's wolves paced the line of their territory, eyeing me.

I turned sharply at the snarl behind me, my eyes locking with the eyes of my mate's wolf.

I close my book with a snap. When you have an impending deadline it's hard to concentrate on or enjoy anything. I set the book down on my bed and stand. Well Travis is gone. There isn't anything I can do to find out the answers to Hanna's inane questions. I haven't talked to my mom or dad for awhile. Biting the inside of my cheek, I push myself off the bed.

I dial my mom's cell using the the phone at the bottom of the stairs. I hold my breath. Bad news could be in any word...potentially a blow that would take me a long time to recover from.

"Addy? Is that you?"

A weight is lifted off my chest from the homesickness I didn't realize was there, and all from hearing her voice. That's the thing about moms. Sometimes all you need is their voice.

"Yeah."

"Are you socializing?"

I roll my eyes and stop, cringing. I'd be grounded if she saw that. "That's kind of hard to do when you're alone."

"Addison, what are you doing alone? You aren't alone with that boy are you?"

I bite my lip. She'd drag me back to my bedroom at home if she knew Hanna's plan was for me to get to know her brother better. Favorite shape? Where does she even come up with that? As crazy as that is, it's hard not to love her. "No, Mom. Hanna and her parents are planning a surprise for me, and her brother is. . .you know, I don't really know what he's doing. He's out."

I hear her sigh.

My hand squeezes around the smooth cream plastic. "Is everything all right? Is it Eliza? Do you have any news on her?"

In the silence that follows I imagine her closing her eyes and pressing her palm into her forehead. Not a comforting vision.

"They're sending out a team to search around the trail."

"They wouldn't just go back. I don't think they're--They're looking for her body. . ." My eyes don't immediately fill with tears but they are about to, my eyes quickly growing tired and sore.

"I'm sorry. I didn't want you to know."

"She's not dead. They wouldn't kill her." The way that guy looked at her. . .it was like he would protect her from anything. I'm pretty sure he's not an ex-boyfriend stalker. I've never seen him before. He's definitely not one of the two boyfriends Eliza has had.

"We have to start trying other options."

"No—"

"Addison."

"No. She's not dead. I refuse to give up." I press the end button quickly and run upstairs to my room. I stop in the center, running my fingers through my hair. You're not dead. I turn in circles trying to latch onto something. Something that can help. I'm going to get you back. I stop spinning and stare at my hiking boots. The reason I got into this mess. The reason Elizabeth is gone.

I grab a pair of socks from the dresser and march up to the brown leather boots. I need to relive that day. I tug the socks on followed by the boots. They squeeze against my ankle as I pull the laces taut. I need to remember that day. Go over it in my head. Every aspect.

I make my way out of my room and to the front door. Tears have been in my eyes for a long time but refuse to fall. I pull open the door. The forest stares at me, mocking me. One of the things I love most has become my nightmare.

I have to remember those eyes. I have to remember what I saw in them.