When my house came into view, I reached for my door handle. Liam punched the lock button, then swerved down the road toward the pond.
“What are you doing?”
He didn’t say anything, just kept driving until his cabin came into view. The door was opened and Lucas was standing there, barefoot, wearing only a pair of sweats.
“You want to help?” he asked, before getting out of the car.
“Yes.” I hopped out and followed him into the house.
Lucas’s pale eyes gleamed neon-blue. “Storm’s asleep.”
Liam tossed his jacket on the couch, then crouched and undid his boot laces. “How’s your leg? Good enough to run all night in deep snow?”
My heart caught on a beat, then slowly pulsed it out. I wanted to say yes, but it would’ve been a lie. “No.”
“Then could you stay here with Storm so that both Lucas and I can head out?”
I looked over my shoulder at Lucas, who had his arms crossed in front of a lean, muscled torso dusted in black hair. I had no doubt he’d be way more effective out there than I’d be.
Sighing, I dropped my bag and took off my jacket. “Sure.”
Liam nodded to Lucas, who stepped out of the house.
“Is there anything I need to know about Storm’s nighttime routine?”
His fingers caught on the hem of his black V-neck. Was he going to get naked in front of me? Even though fear battered my chest, the slice of stomach that appeared between the elastic band of his underwear and raised shirt had a whole array of other feelings hitching my breaths.
I averted my gaze, focusing on the orchid poised on the middle of his wooden coffee table.
“He still wakes up once or twice during the night. You don’t need to give him milk or change his diaper, but he likes company.”
When his belt buckle clinked, I swallowed and plowed my hands through my hair to curtain off my warming cheeks. How ironic that I’d gotten my wish—going home with Liam and getting him naked. Too bad I hadn’t added some fine print:Chasing after blood-crazed lunatics not included.
“They’re on foot so they won’t have gotten too far. I should be back soon.”
“No worries.” I dug through my bag for my phone but then remembered I’d jammed it into my coat pocket.
As Liam’s jeans whispered off his legs, I reached out and snatched my jacket, then retrieved my cell. I typed out a message to Niall to ask him how he was feeling, and then to my mother to tell her I was at Liam’s, babysitting Storm, so she wouldn’t worry. I concentrated so hard on my phone screen to avoid the temptation of peeking at Liam that every word blurred and bled together until they resembled trails of smoke.
“Thank you, Nikki.”Liam’s voice was like a siren’s call, and yet I resisted it.
I was so freaking impressed with myself. Especially as the air churned with his wind-musk scent. Had Grant’s smell set off my pulse the same way? The fact that I couldn’t remember pointed toward ano.
Liam’s palms smacked the floor and then bones popped, transforming the man into a monstrous black creature that made my two-toned alter ego appear cute as a bunny.
A howl echoed outside the cabin.
Liam backed up, his claws clicking against the hardwood floor, then spun and leaped out the front door with almost feline grace. I went to shut out the moonless night but ended up leaning against the rough wood instead, admiring the two massive wolves racing up the hill, melting into shadows before reappearing like ink smudges against the starlit snow.
The sight of others in fur enthused my own wolf, and she paced.
“Not tonight.” As though to make sure she didn’t emerge without my consent, a dull ache spread through my knee, reminding her and me that we were in shifting timeout for the foreseeable future. I shoved the door a little harder than necessary.
Why had I exerted myself for a stupid lope around the compound? I should’ve walked. Or trotted.
When I returned to the couch, two messages illuminated my screen.
MOM:Do you want me to come and relieve you?
