The Better to Bite (Howl #1)(31)

Rafe was helping?

Then I saw another man walking behind Rafe, an older man, but with Rafe’s same bright, glittering eyes.

“Rafe’s father, Charles Channing, is one of the rangers who patrols this section of the mountain,” my dad said. “And Rafe—”

“He knows the woods like the back of his hand,” the ranger said, giving a firm nod. “I wanted him on the search team.” But the guy frowned at me. “No disrespect, miss…”

Uh, oh. Usually when folks said that, disrespect was coming.

“But you’re not from around these parts,” his drawl was thick. “I don’t really see what help you’ll be providin’.”

“You might be surprised,” I murmured.

One of his dark brows rose. “Maybe.” He motioned behind the house. “We’ve kept the focus primarily between the Peters’ house and the Hamilton land. Once we’ve cleared that track, we’re going to start branching out.”

They could do that. They could search all they wanted between the two properties, but that search would be a total waste of time. Sissy wasn’t there. The pull I felt was leading me in the dead opposite direction. Not between Sissy’s and Brent’s, but toward the thick line of trees on the other side of Sissy’s house.

“Good work, Charles,” my dad said, and I knew that was his cue for Charles to get back to that good work.

Charles nodded and stepped back. “Rafe, come help with the teams.”

Rafe pulled back, but his eyes were on me.

I waited until they were far enough away that I didn’t think they could hear me, then I leaned in close to my dad and said, “They’ll never find her over there.” I pointed to the woods next to the Hamilton driveway. “She’s on the other side.”

“What?” My dad’s voice was whisper quiet, but his head snapped around.

And because I was watching him from the corner of my eye, I saw Rafe’s head whip around, too. His gaze immediately zeroed in on me.

He’d heard me.

I was over twenty feet away from him. I’d barely breathed the words, and yet I knew he’d heard me.

Just like I knew Rafe was too strong and too fast.

Just like I knew I wasn’t the only different one anymore.

Not here in Haven. I was starting to wonder if different was the norm in this town.

My dad gave a firm nod. No questioning. No doubt. “Let’s go.”

The gravel crunched beneath my feet. We walked slowly and easily until we were covered by the woods, then once the eyes were off us, my dad said, “Don’t go in all the way, Anna, okay? Last time…”

Last time I’d been so locked on the girl that I’d raced right into the building, never seeing the danger. My dad had ordered me to stay in the car. He’d called for backup. But…

Caitlin had been calling to me. Lost, lost…

I licked my lips and remembered the taste of blood. “I won’t, Dad. I’ll pull back.” I hoped.

I advanced cautiously at first. I felt like I had a string around my waist, and someone was pulling me deeper into those woods. The more I walked, the faster my steps became. Faster. I jumped over fallen logs, twisted around trees.

Sissy had strayed far from the safety of her house when she’d gone into the woods. Far, far from her home.

She’d grown up here. She should’ve know better but—

But Sissy was lost.

Lost.

I ran now and my side burned and cold breaths heaved from my lungs. Closer, closer…the faster I ran, the more the pull jerked inside of me. Sissy wasn’t far now, she wasn’t—

“Pull back!” My dad’s yell as he grabbed my arm.

I stumbled to a stop. I’d done it again. Gone in too far, gotten hooked on the one who was lost.

His hold tightened, and he lightly shook me. “Baby, don’t you smell it?”

It?

Then the smell hit me. Heavy, thick, rotting. I covered my mouth even as my eyes widened in horrified understanding. I knew this smell.

I’d smelled death twice before.





Chapter Eight


I wrapped my arms around my body as my dad slipped forward. I didn’t want to see this. There were some images that just wouldn’t get out of your mind, and I realized this would be one of them.

“Sonofabitch.” My dad’s snarl, and I knew we’d found Sissy.

He stormed back toward me even as he yanked out his small radio. “Jon, dammit, yeah, I found her.”

I heard the crackle of static and the excited yell that came from Deputy Jon Parker.

But my dad cut him off. “Don’t tell the parents yet.” He exhaled and rubbed a hand over his face. “And get the ME out here.”

No more excited yell. Stark silence.

“Pull back the search teams,” my dad directed. “I’ll meet you all at base camp.”

“Yes, sir.” Deputy Jon’s muted answer.

I hugged myself tighter. I hadn’t found Sissy soon enough. Again. Another body on me. Another death on my conscience.

My dad lowered the radio and closed the distance between us. “You okay?”

I nodded.

“Liar.” But he said the word like it was an endearment.