Nick scrunched up his brows in thought. “It’s… something, isn’t it? I feel like I heard – oh!” Nick spun, his eyes wide. “I heard it on the radio while I was waiting for you! It’s the anniversary of that huge forest fire!”
I suppressed a chill threatening to run down my spine. Somehow hearing someone else say it made it more real.
“Do you believe what they said?” Nick asked. “About it being arson or not? Because of the werebears?”
I narrowed my eyes. As much as I trusted Nick, I couldn’t let him know the truth about Liam and I. “I wouldn’t be surprised if it was to flush them out,” I muttered. “You know how people feel about them.”
Nick sighed. “I know they’re nothuman, I guess, but there’s no reason to try and kill them. Some people are just awful.”
I blinked gratefully at him while his gaze was averted, but I said nothing. Now wasn’t the time.
“I have to find Liam,” I said. “You stay here. I’m going in the building.”
“Vic,” Nick said warningly. “You know it’s not safe in there. Especially with… whatever those guys are doing. I don’t trust them.”
“Stay calm,” I said, clapping him on the shoulder. “Call for backup if you think I need it. Just think of this as a regular call without the fire.”
Nick nodded. “Just be careful.”
I shoved my hands in my pockets and strode down towards the building. “I will.”
15
Liam
Something was calling to me. My body moved on its own, as if drawn by some invisible force. I found myself walking hurriedly down the street and it wasn't until the scent of ash hit my nose that I realized I was heading right towards the abandoned building where I had first met Victor.
My headache from earlier had returned, and this time it wasn’t going away. I gritted my teeth and tried to bear it, but it was difficult. It was like Victor’s scent was right underneath my nose, even though he was nowhere around. I shook my head with a growl. It didn’t go away.
But Victor didn’t need me. He’d made that clear enough. Even being a fellow bear shifter wasn’t enough to convince him of trusting me. My heart was torn between love and betrayal. The sharp pain of loss gutted me. I lost Victor – and I had a desperate feeling I’d lost something else, too.
My core was being pulled. Something deep inside of me had awakened, I could feel it. It was a nagging feeling in the back of my mind since Victor rescued me from the fire, like an annoying fly that kept buzzing in my ear, except now it was too loud and too close to be ignored.
I’m missing something.
The charred building stood out on the street like a black skeleton. Although it survived two fires, it was barely being held together by the fragile lumber left behind.
I stopped suddenly. There was a strange scent in the air. Something –someone– smelled of fear.
But that wasn’t all. There was a familiar sharp tang, one just unpleasant enough to make my nose curl. It was hard to discern underneath the lingering scent of smoke, but it was definitely there. It made my skin crawl. I stepped back and rubbed my arms, shivering.
Something else drew my attention. The street was unusually crowded. Strange black cars that I’d never seen before were lined up the curb. I narrowed my eyes. All the car windows were tinted and I couldn’t see inside.
Something definitely wasn’t right, but despite knowing that, an overwhelming urge pulled me toward the building. I couldn’t ignore it anymore. I kept close to the other buildings, hoping to hide in their evening shadows, but I still felt eyes on me. A dark anxiety built in my stomach.
I slipped into the back alley and approached the abandoned building from the side. Most of the walls had collapsed and I could see right through it. I grimaced, noticing the places I’d spent so much time in – the den, the front hall where Doris would visit me, the now-broken upstairs balcony where I would watch people on the street. I’d spent so long there and now it was all gone.
But something in the back of my mind nagged me.
How long was I there for?
I stopped suddenly, sending up a cloud of ash from the weeds at my feet. My head pounded.
How long?
I gritted my teeth and hissed, kneeling down as I was overcome by the pain throbbing in my head.
What is wrong with me?
