Roman brushed the hair out of my face. “Karo, I have a tent nearby; let’s go get ready there, okay?” He rubbed his hand up and down my arm to warm me.
“Okay,” I said and rustled through the leaves for my clothes and the box.
Roman, looking like a nudist park ranger, led me fifteen minutes away from my camp. He had a high-end tent and a campfire cook site set up, making it look like camping naked in the woods was a regular occurrence for him. The back of his Jeep held enough gear to furnish a wolf’s den.
“Looks like I imposed on your plans.” I nodded to his set up.
He laughed. “You were a surprise.”
He helped me into his tent, and I dropped down on the plush sleeping bag. He sprawled out on his back with his arms crossed behind his head, letting the old Roman swag resurface. He took a moment to study me, then nudged me to him. I rested my head on his chest and absorbed his warmth.
“Karo, I need to know what’s going on with you,” he said. “But first I need to say something.” He took a deep breath. “I’ve wanted that for a really long time. When you showed up last night you were all I could smell. As a wolf, it drove me crazy. I had to have you. I wanted to consume you. You have no idea how frightening it was, but I fought it somehow. I changed back to a human under the full moon. That’s never happened before.”
The longer I waited, the more tension grew in his chest.
“Last night was…surreal,” I said. “But you have no idea what’s happened. I’m in trouble, and I need our friendship now more than anything.” I backed away.
“You have it,” he said. “I promise you. Now what’s wrong?”
I told him everything.
“They’ll run a DNA test on the human remains in the house, and when they find out it’s only Mama, I’ll be the number one suspect,” I said. “Best case scenario they’ll think I’ve been kidnapped. That gives me a day, maybe two tops.”
“Maybe DNA testing will give you weeks, you don’t know,” he said. “Dyads hunt the Forged. They protect people. What bothers me is why the Forged are here.”
“A rush order of DNA takes a day. It was part of station orientation. The Dyads are not the good guys here. That witch killed Mama. How the hell do you know about Dyads, Roman? Where were you last night?”
“What?”
“I said where were you? You said you were coming by and you never came. Instead, I find you out here. You’re a werewolf. You never told me. You say you thought I knew, but that’s bullshit. Like it would ever come up in conversation—hey, Karo, I turned into a wolf last night—how’s it going? You’re defending the beings who killed Mama. How much do you know, Ro?”
“My priority is keeping you safe, Karo” he said. “If there’s more Forged out there, I need to know. I’m sorry Ana’s gone. I loved her too. But my family made promises to yours, and I intend to keep them.”
“And the rest?”
“I couldn’t come by,” he said. “Not after seeing that guy looking for you and hearing you guys dated. I needed to shift, I was jealous, and I didn’t want my anger to get the best of me.”
“And the rest?”
“All the supernaturals know the Dyads! They’re the good guys, Karo. What happened last night was a tragic accident—but still an accident. It’s a big bad world out there. Your mom didn’t want you to be a part of the undergrounds. It’s dangerous.”
So, everyone knows but me.
“Why didn’t you tell me you’re a werewolf?”
“My last name is Lupei, Karo. I have a duty to uphold. A whole pack to be loyal to.”
“You lie to me, yet expect me to embrace you as family?” I said.
“We are, Karo. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you.” He took the moment to immerse me back into his arms.
I was angry, but I let him hold me. “You think the Forged were there for Mama?”
More silence. His muscles tensed underneath me. Even after he’d been caught lying, he was still keeping secrets from me.
“There’s something else. I opened my emergency box,” I said and listed off the contents. “The only living relatives of Mama’s are in Romania,” I said. “I think the Russian address is someone who can help me. Why else would Mama put it in? Maybe they’re affiliated with my father? I think the only way to know is to go there and find out.”
“I would only use that as a last resort,” he said. “You have no idea who this person in Russia is. For all we know, he or she may be sending the Shadow Forged after you. They’re always controlled by a master.”
“Mama wouldn’t have put it in there if she thought they’d hurt me,” I said. “Even if it’s dangerous, it’s my only lead. The way it is now I have two days max, but if I make it to Russia, I’ll have more time to clear my name.”
Roman dropped back down on his back and put his hands over his face. “Fine. Then I’m coming with you.”
No. I lay back down on his chest to hide my expression. Knowing what I knew now, I wasn’t sure if I could trust Roman. If we traveled to Russia together, would he help me find the truth he’d helped Mama keep me from? No, he wouldn’t. Neither would he stay behind willingly.
“Okay, but Ro? Can we just sleep for another hour? I’m so tired. I need more sleep before we leave. Please?”
“All right. One hour.” He wrapped his arms around me.
I nuzzled my face against his chest.
“Goodnight, dark eyes,” he whispered and kissed my forehead. He closed his eyes.
Oh Ro, you’re going to be furious. I summoned as much earth magic as I could muster while I lay in his arms. Focusing my will, I remembered the sleep spell my mother had taught me. A tingling sensation started at my toes and cascaded up my body. After building the power up to a climax, I breathed out, feeling the tingle leave my skin in Roman’s direction.
I opened my eyes, and there was a faint glow around his body. It worked. I leaned over him and touched my lips to his mouth. I had a moment’s guilt for judging Mama for her night of passion with my father when they met. I now knew firsthand how easily it could happen. Like mother like daughter.
I put on Roman’s sweater and threw an energy bar, the box, and some water into a nearby backpack. The scent of him cloaked the fabric at my chin. As I climbed the nearest hill, I hoped he wouldn’t hate me too much for leaving him. I was furious with him, but I didn’t hate him.
I looked out over the hill and set my sights southeast for Ottawa. I would collect whatever belongings I could from my dorm and flee the country. I didn’t know how yet, but I would go to Russia.
Chapter Four
Stranger Danger
Six hours had passed. I dripped with sweat from my journey. The sun shone high, radiating heat down on my forehead through the gaps in the pines. The heavy pack on my back dug into my shoulders. I walked sluggishly. My chest heaved from the heavy run I just abandoned. My heart beat in my throat.
No one at the O.P.P. station could complain about me not doing search and rescue training anymore. I ran more in the past nineteen hours than I ever had in my life. This was not how I expected to spend the day after I first had sex. I always imagined myself at a historical resort for a romantic weekend getaway. Maybe sipping champagne in a bathrobe, getting ready for a couples’ massage with the man of my dreams. Hauling ass through the Canadian wilderness, dirty, sweaty, and about to drop dead—wasn’t what I had in mind.