Wolves' Bane (The Order of the Wolf, #3)(34)

I forced a smile but slowed even more, the stitch in my side turning into a deep burn. “Trust me. I just need some time for my body to adjust. It’s been a while since I’ve been jogging. Just give me a week and I’ll be able to keep up with you. You’ll be watching my back.”

Lance smirked as he craned his head as if to check out my butt. “And it’s a nice back if I do say so myself, but I think Cal might kill me if I stare too long.”

I hissed out a long breath and slowed my pace even more, resting my hand on my side as I did, grateful for the flush of exercise to disguise my embarrassment. “What does he care? Fuck Cal.”

Lance snorted, his eyebrows raised. “Ah yes, f*ck Cal. That is definitely what he wants.” His gaze swept my body once again. “Who wouldn’t?”

I stopped and doubled over, my hands resting on my knees as I sucked in deep lungfuls of air. “I don’t think that’s really the problem.” I stared up at him as he continued to jog in place. “It’s not the wanting part that I have an issue with. It’s what comes after—or doesn’t come after, in Cal’s case.”

Lance’s eyebrows shot high once again before his expression returned to the usual cocky grin. “He has his reasons.”

I nodded, scowling. “Yeah, so I’ve heard.”

Lance shook his head, and for once, the smirk was gone. “No really. Has he told you why? The whole story?”

I frowned. “What, about not wanting to fall in love with me?”

Lance nodded. “Has he told you why he can’t?”

I forced myself to stand, ignoring the knot of pain that burned in my side. “He doesn’t want to get hurt if I die.”

Lance snorted. “So, no, he hasn’t told you. You know, he might act like an ass sometimes, but there’s more to Cal than meets the eye. The bonding of a Hunter to a Huntress is a big deal in our world, maybe more so than even Cal realizes. I can’t say that I agree with the stand he’s taking, but I certainly understand why he’s doing it. Maybe you should ask him what the real reason is, then perhaps you’ll understand his motivation a little better.” Lance turned and started off to catch up with Candy. Over his shoulder, he called, “Get something to eat then meet us in forty-five minutes in the training room. You’ve got some weapons training to do.”

I slowly shook my head. Weapons training? What the hell have I gotten myself into?

I bent over again, nursing my side as I tried to slow my breathing to a more reasonable rhythm. Despite the pain, my body felt good. Well used. I turned back toward the house. Now that the sun had fully risen above the tree line, the house was awash with the yellow glow of morning. I started at a good speed, walking as fast as I dared without aggravating my side. It would take a few days for me to get back into shape, but I knew I wouldn’t give up again. I’d missed jogging—I just hadn’t realized how much.

What Lance said had me thinking. My anger had flared at the mention of Cal’s name, but was simmering now, losing some of its power. I wasn’t asking for a marriage proposal for Christ’s sake. My very existence seemed to be rooted in this Order of the Wolf stuff. My life depended on becoming the Huntress, and to do that I apparently needed to bond with Cal. But the word itself, bonded, suggested that it wouldn’t be a pairing for a short time. Could we be bonded and not be in love? Would I grow to hate him? Was there a ticket out of the bonding after I defeated Lazarus? All I wanted was some clarity going forward. Because, in essence, I was trapped. Despite what anyone said. I didn’t have a choice unless I considered death an option. If I needed to bond with Cal, I wanted to make sure that he wasn’t going to close himself off to me forever—like being stuck in a loveless marriage, an arranged union out of duty. Or I needed to know that there was a way out afterward. I was willing to go in with an open mind—he wasn’t, and I wanted to know why. For whatever reason, Cal couldn’t directly lie to me. Maybe all I needed was to ask him for the whole truth and he would tell me.

Lost in my thoughts, I’d made it within a quarter mile of the house when I felt an eerie chill of apprehension wash over me. Something unsettling crawled across my skin, fear that slithered down my back. I quickened my step, keeping my eyes on the house and turning away from the edge of the forest, cursing myself for having strayed so close. Figuring it was probably just Cal’s reaction from last night that had me spooked, I turned my head to the side and glanced into the forest, but saw nothing to warrant my sudden fear.

The forest was creepy, dark and dense, probably easy to get lost in, and although I’d been told there was magic protecting me, I couldn’t see or feel it. Being without Lance and Candy had me suddenly feeling very vulnerable.

I turned toward the house and changed course again, thinking to cut diagonally across the lawn. It’ll be faster that way, anyway. I picked up my pace.

The trees rustled behind me. A twig snapped, another cracked and the echo shattered my forced calm. My heart raced with fresh fear. And then a sound touched my ear like a whisper.

“Morgan.”

I stopped dead and turned to face the dark forest.

“Morgan,” the voice whispered again.

Fear clenched my gut, twisting it. Tears pricked my eyes and goose bumps lined my flesh.

“Morgan.” My name, only my name, whispered in the wind.