The small, exclusive hunt that Parker was invited to participate in is likely well underway by now. I can't hear anything in the woods surrounding the cluster of buildings that make up the Recovery campus, but I wouldn't. Hunts aren't supposed to be loud. The hunts here are contained, though, which is why I'm going to walk on the little road that they use for supply shipments.
The road leads from the back of the kitchen towards the back of the grounds. I've seen personal vehicles using it, as well as the supply vans and trucks. I'm not going to go very far, and I won't go too far off the path. Probably. I don't know. I'm not exactly restless, but I need to see something new while I consider my new possibilities.
The rough pavement turns to loose gravel within feet of walking past the treeline. The sound of the gravel crunching underneath my shoes as I walk seems so much louder in the cool quiet of the forest. I step off of the gravel and into the damp grass to mute the noise. The hunt won't be in this part of the property. None of the others have been. There's too much traffic and activity back here. But I still don't want to interfere with it. Noise travels so much farther than you think it will and I don't want the sound of my feet to carry into the hunt.
I breathe in the scent of the trees and let my mind wander and stretch. Unsurprisingly, it goes straight to Drew. I don't know what happened in the few hours between leaving me in the suiteand him coming back later, but he wasn't the same person. He wasn't the same this morning. This new version of Drew makes me remember what it was like to long for him when I was young, before the first mating ceremony. Before he hurt me. This new version makes my heart ache in ways I never knew possible and it's only been less than a day. How long until he gets bored and loses interest?
It is more than obvious that he and Parker are a unit. They have an entire history together while Drew and I really only have a few hours. With enough time, will Drew and I be the same? Do I even want that? I'm supposed to want it, but now that it seems like an actual possibility, do I?
The way I can take a breath without feeling the weight of it makes the answer clear. I want it. Even with our past, even with Parker, I want it.
Parker is different, too.
Actually, no. I don't think he is. I think he's changed his mind about me, or something having to do with me, but I don't think he's any different from the sarcastic, dickish ass he's always been. But there's a look in his eyes, a weight in his voice now. I think he's tired, too. I think we're all tired and the only way we'll ever get to rest is if we create a world where we can rest together.
But why would he make it a point to tell me he likes women? Was it supposed to be an insult? He barely touched me last night, maybe he wanted me to know he's attracted to women, just not me. He said that he and Drew had shared women between them. If he wanted me to be jealous about that he's got a long wait. I've had years to listen to all the tales that females carry from their time with Drew and Parker because women can be vicious and spiteful and they made sure that I knew. Or maybe that wasn't the point. He also made sure I understood that he wanted Drew but not other men? While that is significant, and worth thinking about, what would it matter tome, unless he wanted me to know that he will be loyal to Drew? No, that's ridiculous. Who knows why Parker says any of the asinine things he says?
The path forks a few feet ahead. It makes sense that going to the right would take me towards the back entrance of the property, but where does the left go? The way to the right has gone from sparse gravel to a heavy layer of it. I can see the indention left from tires and regular use. The way to the left shows no sign of regular use, but there are fresh tracks on the grass that show recent use and there's a faint scent of exhaust fumes clinging to the air. The longer I stare down the path the stronger my sense of dread grows until my skin is prickled with it. What's down there? My stomach knots, but I already know what's coming before my feet start moving. This is none of my business. It has nothing to do with me. I should turn back right now and go back to my room and lock the door behind me. But my gut is never wrong and it is pulling me deeper into the trees.
The path leads down a small hill and when I glance behind me, the darkness of the forest has eaten up all traces of light. All I can see that might lead me back to the main track is the dim impression of light from the main campus. Every step I take makes me feel sick with trepidation. Something bad is happening in this part of the woods and I don't know what I'll do when I find it. I'm alone. No one knows I'm out here. My best bet would be to scream for help, but the grounds are massive and there's no guarantee that I'll be heard. My feet keep up their slow, careful pace as my eyes and ears grasp at anything that might mean something or give some clue as to why I feel this way.
I follow the gentle curve around a dense clump of trees and again around a grouping of large rocks and that's when I see it. Or who. Someone is wandering through the trees, just ahead of me. They aren't on the path, rather they're picking their waythrough the brush and debris littering the ground. I follow for a few minutes, keeping silent and out of sight, before I recognize the shape and movement.
It's Parker. What is he doing out here? The staff is very insistent about the parameters and this area isn't even on the map of the property. What is he doing? I stop following and turn back towards the rock formation. There's a reason he's out here, but there's no way he's out here alone. This has to be part of the hunt he's doing, but it feels so off. I watch for a few minutes until his shape is almost swallowed by darkness, but then I hear a nearly non-existent rustle from somewhere deeper in the woods. Parker's head snaps in that direction then he slinks into the black space between the trees. I shake my head. This is part of that stupid, pointless hunt. I'm going back to my room and my bed.
My wolf's voice whispers suddenly, startling me. Follow him.
I shake my head. No. He's fine.
Follow him. He shouldn't be out this far alone.
We're out this far alone.
She scoffs. We're used to it. There are others out here. They're close. They mean him harm.
I think about the unease that's been making me almost sick and the strange, almost dangerous placement of this hunt. But it's Parker. He's part of the hunt. He's an enforcer, for goodness sake. Second in Command to the future alpha of his pack. He's fine.
Follow him. He can't shift with that thing on his neck. He needs someone to look after him.
What thing?I ask her. I couldn't see.
Her answer is haughty, full of the superiority that comes with surety.He's wearing one of those collars from before. I can smell it. He needs someone to watch over him and keep him safe.
I huff inwardly.He doesn't need anyone to look after him, especially not me. He can just take the collar off.
She snaps her teeth, frustrated with me.What if he can't? If we keep him safe, our mate will be proud of us. He will want us if we watch over his…
I smirk at her confusion over how to label Parker.Lover? His chosen? Parker will be fine. He wouldn't look after us. He'd shake his head and go back to his room to wait for Drew.
The sting of my words runs its course through my connection with my wolf, but she persists.Yes, he would. Try. Just try. For me. Please. Follow him. Keep him safe for our mate. Our mate loves this male. If we watch over him, our mate will see that we are good and he will want us.
I heave an inward sigh.Fine. You take the lead, though. You'll sense trouble before I can smell it.
I quickly strip off my clothes and tuck them into a bundle that I tie to a tree branch and roll my shoulders with the beginning of the shift. It feels so good to settle into the back of her mind and let her instincts lead us. I haven't had to do more than casually communicate a human concern while in my wolf form for years, and she loves that I trust her instincts and judgment with almost anything. I love the connection I have with her. She makes me strong when I feel weak, and I comfort her when she feels alone.
We pick up Parker's scent soon after shifting and it takes no time at all to find him. We stay far enough away to keep him from noticing we're watching him, but close enough to get to him if he needs help. My wolf was right. We aren't the only ones watching him. He's being hunted. I can't place the scents, but there are two wolves somewhere in the trees just waiting for their chance to take him.
He seems oblivious to their whereabouts, which is ridiculous because he's so much better than that. He's strolling through thewoods whistling like he doesn't have a care in the world. Then he stops and turns abruptly to the side.
