Everything that happened back at the cottage seemed a blur of gunshots and snarling wolves. But the sight of the wolf lying there with its throat ripped out was as clear as day.
And I shot it.
I made it possible for Logan to do that to it.
He shuddered and clung on tighter as Logan took the next bend far faster than Cole was comfortable with. The ache in his shoulder was getting worse, the dull throb now a pulsing pain that reminded him exactly why he’d shot that fucking wolf. All those years of training had meant nothing when it came down to it.
His leg throbbed too as the adrenaline left his system. He knew from experience that the next few hours were going to be shit.
Logan tapped him on the arm, and Cole gave him a thumbs up. He’d made Cole promise to tell him when he got too tired to hang on, which, by the way Cole’s body was getting heavier and heavier, wasn’t going to be too much longer. Tightening his grip, he hung on for dear life, and despite trying not to, relived the last hour when everything had gone to shit.
“WHY ARE WE stopping?” Cole murmured, eyes still shut. He winced as he sat up straight, stiff from being in the same position for a while, and everything hurt.
Logan caught him as he tried to get off the bike and stumbled. Strong arms wrapped around him, and Cole sank into them, too tired and sore to give a shit about anything. He could go to sleep right there. Logan was warm, solid, and Cole felt safe, which made him want to laugh because, when had he ever felt safe with a shifter?
“It’s late,” Logan whispered, answering Cole’s question. “And you were falling asleep.”
“Was not.” The words were muffled against Logan’s T-shirt.
Logan’s huff of laughter made his chest shake a little. “At one point I thought you were going to tip right off the back of the bike.”
“Mhmm.” It might have been true; Cole had a vague recollection of the last... “How long have we been driving?”
“About an hour.” Logan eased Cole back a bit and steered him over to the nearest tree. It was then Cole noticed they were in a forest.
“Is that all?” It felt like much longer. The moon hid behind the clouds, making it almost pitch black in the forest. Cole shivered, suddenly cold now he didn’t have Logan’s body pressed against him. “And where the fuck are we?”
“At the edge of The New Forest. I wanted to use the trees to hide us from the main road.” He walked to the back of the bike and started searching in the storage box attached to the back of it.
Cole wasn’t all that into motorbikes. He’d only been on the back of one once before, and that had been enough to put him off for life. He ran a hand through his hair, noting their lack of helmets. “And shouldn’t we be wearing helmets?”
Logan glanced up at him long enough to roll his eyes. “We were in kind of a hurry if you recall.” He shrugged a shoulder, lips curving up at the edges. “Besides, I don’t really need one.”
“Well, that’s okay then,” Cole huffed. “As long as you’re all right.”
“Bingo.” Logan pulled out a blanket, a bottle of water, and what looked to be a travel first aid kit, brandishing them like prizes. Which Cole supposed they were given their current circumstances.
He moved close to get a better look. The blanket had seen better days, but Cole didn’t complain when Logan wrapped it around his shoulders. And he could ignore the musty smell if he lifted his head a bit.
Logan took a small drink from the water bottle, grimacing a little at the taste. Cole hadn’t realised how thirsty he was until that moment. When Logan handed it to him, his fingers closed over Cole’s. “Only a bit, we don’t know how long it’s got to last us.”
Cole grumbled but did as asked, only taking a few sips before handing it back. “Can’t we just go and buy some?” He’d left his backpack at the house somewhere, but he still had some cash in his jeans. He pulled it out and waved it in the air. “I have some money.” Shame he didn’t have his phone, but that had gone along with his wallet when they’d swapped cars at the park.
Logan shook his head. “They’ll have sent word out to packs in the surrounding area to keep a lookout for you. I’m not sure if they know where we’re headed or even if they know I’m involved, but we can’t risk being seen by a shifter.” He opened the first aid kit and inspected the contents.
Cole peered inside it. “I thought you said shifters didn’t need first aid kits?”
“They don’t. Maybe this came with the bike.” He looked up, meeting Cole’s gaze. “Or maybe the bike didn’t belong to a shifter. It doesn’t really matter, does it?”
“No, I guess not.” He pointed to the kit. “Anything useful in there?” To Cole it looked like plasters and not much else. He yawned, jaw cracking, and would’ve given anything for his bed right then. And some painkillers.
His shoulder hurt, his leg hurt, his whole body felt drained.
Leaving Logan to it, he limped over to the nearest solid-looking tree and lowered himself in front of it, back leaning against the trunk. His eyes slipped shut on a sigh, and he pulled the blanket tight with his good hand.
“Hey, Cole.”
Hands gently shook him awake, and Cole scowled, opening one eye. “I was asleep.”
