Wolves' Bane (The Order of the Wolf, #3)(9)

Lance nodded. “They’re on it.”

I cringed, a sickening sense of unease filling my stomach. “They took his body?” I scanned the spot where I’d last seen Jimmy. The body was indeed gone. I trembled, replaying Jimmy’s gruesome death. “He died, right?” I swallowed the hard lump in my throat, determined not to cry in front of these men. “I mean, I know he died, no one could survive that kind of attack.”

“You’d be surprised.” Lance snorted. Caleb shot him an angry look, and Lance shrugged before adding, “Yes, the wolves killed him and then took the body. That’s what they do, Morgan. They’re animals, after all, and unfortunately your friend was their prey.”

Lance’s tone was so matter-of-fact I almost thought he was joking, but the truth of it was in the blood trail that led away from my house.

This was real. Jimmy was dead. I retched, covering my mouth as my stomach heaved.

Caleb reached out to me, but I took a step back, fighting the urge to vomit.

“They…they’re going to eat him? His body?” When no one answered, I retched again. “Oh god.

Lance’s face was drawn into a deep frown, his hand out to steady me. “Morgan, there’s a lot of information you need to know. Things you should have been told from the time you were a child.” He shook his head. “Once we explain it all to you things might be a little easier to accept.” He patted my shoulder. “I’m sorry about your friend.”

I nodded, still covering my mouth, my eyes darting from Lance to Caleb, and then to the sickening puddle that was all that remained of Jimmy. No matter how I’d felt about him, he didn’t deserve to die that way. No one deserved to die that way.

“It was my fault,” I whispered as tears prickled my eyes.

Caleb stepped closer to me, his expression one of pity. “It was bad timing. He shouldn’t have been here.”

I shook my head fiercely, dropping my hand to my side as I continued to stare at the bloody spot on the pavement. “No, that wolf wanted me.”

Caleb gently guided my chin until I was looking at him. “The wolves were after you, yes, but you had no control over what they would do. This is not your fault.”

Looking into his eyes was like staring into a still pool of the bluest water. There was no deception there—he believed what he was saying and I found myself relaxing under his gaze, my stomach calming and my heart slowing. His presence, his assurances did more than they should to ease my worries.

“This is not your fault, Morgan.” He brushed my arm, trailing down to my fingers, lingering there as if he were playing with the idea of holding my hand.

His touch, however subtle, sent a rush of comfort over me. I shook it off. Eyed him suspiciously. Who was this guy? How did he keep disarming me so easily?

He pulled away then spoke to Lance over his shoulder. “We leave now.”

“Yeah, but I’m driving. You haven’t slept in days—no way I’m getting in a truck with you behind the wheel.” Lance chuckled as he headed toward the large SUV parked in my driveway. “Morgan, girl, you’ve been a devil to get a hold of.”

“I thought you were hunting me.” I wasn’t about to apologize. Caleb had scared the crap out of me in a freaking terrifying situation. “Where’s the safest place for me to go? I mean, what if they come back?”

Caleb motioned toward the SUV. “You’re coming with us.”

“What? I don’t even know you.” I frowned, shifting my eyes from the vehicle to Caleb. Lance was already at the driver’s side door, his arms draped over the top. He was watching me, a smirk playing on his lips. “I might be crazy enough to swallow the idea of feral wolves on the hunt, but leaving with complete strangers is something that’s totally not going to happen.” Okay, good, ol’ logical Morgan back in control.

Caleb sighed and rubbed his hand along the back of his neck. “Listen, Morgan.” He locked eyes with me. “I’ll explain everything once I get some sleep. For now, all you need to know is that you’re safe with us. We were born to protect you. I was chosen for you. I told you, I’m your Hunter. I’m not hunting you. I’m protecting you.” He waved his hand around. “You know, from the beasts.”

I opened my mouth to argue, disbelief still warring with the reality the night had shown me. “This makes no sense.”

“You know what you saw, what you heard. It was all real, every moment of it. Those wolves won’t stop chasing you as long as you’re alive. You’re only safe if you’re with us.” He turned toward the truck and Lance tossed a bundle at him, which he caught with both hands. “Here, you need to wear the cloak while you’re outside. I know that this is hard for you to grasp, but as Lance said, this is information that should have been passed down to you through your family. You must trust me. If you stay here or if you run anywhere else, the pack will find you. If you value your life, you’ll put on the cloak and come with us.”

“I could stay with my friend Rachel until—”

“Until what?” His tone was sharp, his patience clearly waning. “Until the beasts come and kill her too? Maybe I wasn’t clear enough before. They will hunt you until everyone you love is dead. They will toy with you, and then they’ll kill you too.”