The back door swings open, and in walks Declan, looking like he wishes he wasn’t the firstborn in our family. If it had been me or Zeke, Declan could be sitting here instead, shoving food into his mouth. Rubbing a hand over the back of his neck, he jerks his chin at me. “What’s wrong?”
The surprise question makes me stop chewing. “What?”
“You drove past me on your way back here, looking like you had either just committed murder or were on the way to do it.” With a rueful chuckle, he takes a seat and tears into his order. “I mean, thank you, since you gave me an excuse to come home. Did something happen in town?”
Now all eyes are on me. My wolf is uneasy again, filling my head with pressure. Damn right, something happened in town. I was faced with the reminder of why my brother had to take over as alpha at such a young age. Why my brothers and sister, and I had to fend for ourselves—not that the pack abandoned us, but there’s no substitute for parents, especially as young as we were when they died.
Nobody needs to be reminded of her right now. “Some asshole cut me off on the road,” I mutter, lifting a shoulder. “I was still pissed about it, I guess.”
Declan and Zeke accept my excuse without pushing for more information, but Tara gives me a thoughtful look, chewing slowly. Of course, she would see through me. We joke about the whole twin thing—if anything, it irritates Zeke a little, and we both like getting under his skin. But there are times I’m sure she hears my thoughts the way I would swear I can hear Nora’s. Why did I have to see her today? There’s a sour taste in my mouth now that no amount of soda will erase.
She hangs over me, too, invading what was supposed to be a night spent hanging out together, the way we try to dowhenever we can. Becoming orphaned the way we were can either tear the siblings apart or it can bring them closer. I’m just glad I actually enjoy spending time with them. It would suck to be related to a bunch of people I can’t stand.
But tonight, the last thing I feel like doing is sitting down to watch a movie together. That restless feeling has me in its claws again, and it makes sitting still feel like torture. There’s a thin sheen of sweat on the back of my neck by the time I give up in the middle of the movie I wasn’t paying attention to, anyway. “I’m going to go on a run,” I announce, already headed for the back door.
“You okay?” Tara calls out behind me, but I pretend not to hear her. No, I’m far from okay. I can’t remember the last time I was this far from it. And I don’t have the first idea why as I strip down on the back porch, leaving my clothes in a neat pile before letting the shift take over so my wolf can get rid of some of this energy.
A warm night breeze ruffles my black fur before I start off. The world is sharper now, clearer, thanks to my wolf’s vision. I head for the woods, paws slapping the earth, running hard enough to make my lungs burn by the time I’m concealed in deep shadow.
Still, it’s not enough. I run, and I run until my legs are tired and my breath comes in heavy pants, and it’s still not enough to ease my unrest. I don’t know where I’m going. I only know there’s no shaking this sense of something important I have to do. Something that won’t let me be.
It’s not until I come to a break in the tree line that I realize where I’ve ended up. I’ve been here a few times, back in the early days when I wanted to get a good look at the girl who killed my parents. Why is she looming so large in my headtonight? Instinct draws me closer to the house, which is mostly dark and quiet, except for a light burning in the kitchen window, facing a large backyard.
I should go, but I’m glued in place, staring at the window, watching a small figure move back and forth in front of it. It has to be her. Is she doing chores? Why am I so interested? My wolf’s breath comes slowly now, and there’s almost a sense of contentment stirring in my chest by the time the light flips off. I wait, watching, almost pleased when another light goes on upstairs. She’s going to bed now.
What does it matter, for fuck’s sake? I shake myself free and turn around to go home. Everyone will be wondering what’s taking so long.
But a whining noise makes me stop. My wolf, complaining, wanting to stay.
But why? Why is it so important all of a sudden that I stay here and watch as she walks past the window, silhouetted against thin curtains? Why, when the light goes out, do I still stand and stare up at the darkened window?
Why is there this sense of something important I need to stick around for?
Chapter 3
Nora
I jolt awake,my eyes wide open, and gasping for air. My heart is pounding so fast, I clutch my chest, willing it to slow down. I feel like I’ve had a nightmare, but I don’t remember having one.
Sitting up, I wince at the pain in my ribs. Confused, I check my alarm clock, realizing it’s a few minutes after midnight.
Happy birthday to me.
Lying back down, I try to close my eyes and go back to sleep, but my pulse is racing. My whole body feels restless, and there is an odd sensation coming from my chest.
I toss and turn for a few minutes, but I can’t calm myself down, and the weird feeling in my chest keeps getting stronger. It’s like a pull of some sort.
Sitting up again, I reach for the nightstand and flip on my bedside lamp. Soft light illuminates my small room. Kicking the blanket away, I swing my legs off the bed,and get up.
Pacing the room, I hope these feelings will go away so I can get back to bed, but it’s only getting worse. Looking out the window into the darkness, I realize the pull is definitely coming from outside. It’s like it’s leading me somewhere… or to someone.
Oh. My. God.
I freeze where I stand. My mind is going a million miles per hour, racing alongside the drum of my heart.
Could it really be?
Is there a possibilityIhave a mate?
