I slow to a trot as we enter the forest, picking my way between the massive roots that snake across the ground. Caelan follows close behind me, breathing heavily. I lead her deeper into the trees until I find a small clearing, sheltered on all sides by dense undergrowth and far enough from any trail that we shouldn’t be disturbed.
I stop in the center of the clearing and let my wolf recede.
The transformation is never painful, not with the Amanzite pendant hanging around my neck, but it’s always disorienting. One moment, I’m on four legs, seeing the world in shades of gray and smelling everything within a mile radius. The next, I’m standing upright on two feet with dull human senses. Clothes materialize around my body as the magic takes hold, and within seconds, I’m wearing the same jeans and shirt I had on before we shifted.
I turn to watch Caelan transform.
She’s beautiful in both forms, but there’s something ethereal about her wolf. As she changes back to human, I watch the fur recede, and the features rearrange themselves as she becomes the woman I spent last night memorizing with my hands and mouth.
Her clothes reappear the same way mine did, simple traveling attire that’s now rumpled and dirty from our run. She stands across the clearing from me, trying to catch her breath, and I watch the confusion on her face slowly harden into something much more dangerous.
Rage.
“Where the hell are we?” She looks around at the fog-shrouded trees, at the unfamiliar forest, and I see the moment she realizes where we are. “This is Hysopp territory. Patrick, why the hell did you bring me to Hysopp territory?”
“I needed to get you somewhere safe. Somewhere they won’t look for us.”
“Who is looking for us? What is going on? You show up in the middle of the road, kiss me like the world is ending, tell me I have to come with you right now, and then drag me halfway across the valley without a single word of explanation. I deserve to know what’s happening.”
“You’re right.” I hold up my hands in a gesture of surrender. “You deserve the truth. All of it. I’m going to tell you everything, but you need to let me get through it before you react. Can you do that?”
Her chest is heaving as she gawks at me. Then she gives a short, curt nod.
This is going to destroy whatever fragile connection we built last night. She’s going to hate me by the time I’m finished. But she deserves honesty, even if it costs me everything.
“My name is Patrick Walzak,” I begin. “And I’m a Thornridge warrior.”
The effect is immediate. Her face goes pale, and she takes a stumbling step backward like I’ve physically struck her. I keep talking before she can run.
“I’ve been with the pack for sixteen years, ever since they absorbed my birth territory when I was twelve. I’ve done things I’m not proud of. I’ve followed orders I knew were wrong. But I’ve been looking for a way out for a long time now, and meeting you last night…” I trail off, searching for the right words. “Meeting you changed everything.”
“You’re Thornridge.” Her voice comes out as a whisper, horrified and disbelieving. “You’re one of them. The pack that tried to destroy my sister. The pack that’s been terrorizing this valley for years.”
“Yes.”
“And you didn’t think to mention this last night? Before you took me to bed?”
“I should have. I know I should have. But I…” I shake my head. “I didn’t want to ruin it. I didn’t want to see you look at me the way you’re looking at me right now.”
She barks out a bitter, betrayed laugh. “So everything was a lie. The sad story about running from your problems. All of it was just an act to get me into bed.”
“No.” I take a step toward her, and she takes a step back. “Everything I felt last night was real, Caelan. Everything I said to you was true. I just didn’t tell you all of it.”
“Why should I believe anything you say?”
“Because I’m here.” I spread my arms wide, gesturing at the forest around us. “If I wanted to hurt you, I could have handed you over to Bastian this morning. He was waiting for me on the road back to Thornridge territory. He had photos of us together at the bar, and he told me exactly what Mordaunt wants to do with you.”
That stops her. “What does Mordaunt want to do with me?”
“Use you. Thornridge has been watching Llewelyn territory for months, looking for weaknesses. They think it will be the easiest to break. When Bastian saw me with you, he thought I was already working the plan. He congratulated me for finding a way inside your pack. He told me to make you fall in love with me, gain your trust, and use you to bring down Llewelyn from within.”
Her face has gone from pale to ashen. “And you said what? That you’d be happy to help?”
“I said nothing. I didn’t agree, but I didn’t refuse, either, because refusing would have gotten me killed on the spot. I let him think I was on board, and then I came to find you as fast as I could.” I take another step toward her, and this time, she doesn’t retreat. “I’m not going to let them use you, Caelan. I’m not going to let them hurt you. But to protect you from Thornridge, I need to do something that’s going to sound insane.”
“More insane than kidnapping me and dragging me to witch territory?”
“Yes.” I swallow hard and steel myself for what I’m about to say. “We need to bond. Properly. In a way that Thornridge can’t undo.”
