Rejected (Shadow Beast Shifters, #1)(11)

I smiled at him while refilling his juice. “Sounds amazing. I’m working for the next few days, but maybe I’ll get a chance to sneak away.”

Greg, who was nearby chatting to one of the regulars, must have heard me. “Your friend from California was in here yesterday asking about you. Maybe you can take her there. It’s definitely one of the highlights of the holidays.”

Like someone had doused me in icy water, shock traced across my skin, freezing me in place. “My friend?” I managed to choke out.

He nodded, still looking affable, like he had no idea of the bombshell he’d just dropped on me.

“Said she was in town to surprise you. Figured she made it out to your place last night.”

Somehow I didn’t drop the jug I held. Somehow I didn’t scream and sprint out of the room.

Somehow I managed to calmly nod my head and walk away, into the back room.

“Everything okay?” Tessie asked, nudging the door open to drop off her armful of dirty plates.

Shaking off my panic, I forced a natural smile across my face, failing miserably, if her expression was anything to go by. “Just got some bad news. Could you maybe cover the rest of my shift? I need to head home quickly.”

Her sweet smile pulled at the corners as her face crinkled in concern. “Of course! Lord knows you’ve covered me plenty of times over the past few weeks.”

“You’re the best,” I blurted out in a rush, grabbing up my bag and jacket. “I’ll make it up to you.”

Total lie. This was the last time I’d see any of them.

I hadn’t been paranoid—my cover was blown. And after I grabbed my stash of cash from the cabin, I’d be out of here never to return. I was already cursing myself for being so stupid not to bring the money with me. It hadn’t felt safe wandering around with thousands of dollars, and I might pay the ultimate price for that stellar decision.

“Lucy,” Tessie called as I hurried out the door.

Forcing myself to slow, I turned my head back.

“Take care out there,” she murmured, and I found myself staring into her sad, grey eyes. It was almost as if she knew this was the last time we’d see each other, and as sadness welled up, I forced it down. I had no time to dwell on my losses.

The rest of today was about survival.

“You too,” I replied softly before I slipped out of the room and left the diner behind for good.

Unlike when I went into work, the carnival and food stalls were completely set up now, brightly colored tents visible as I dashed away. The streets were filled like I hadn’t seen here before, and it was clear this traveling event was a big deal. In some ways, it was a total blessing in disguise for me.

The more people, the easier it would be to hide my escape from Hood River.

The crowds thinned as I got closer to my forest home, and when I was a mile or so out, I went into stealth mode, heading off the beaten path and into the dense foliage. A direct route was way too risky at this stage.

When the familiar surroundings of the cabin came into sight between a mass of old redwood trees, I slowed to a stop. Closing my eyes, I let my senses roam out as far as I could, searching for a disturbance to my area.

I stood there for at least ten minutes, not moving—barely breathing while not letting my guard down. Despite my lack of a completed bond with my wolf, by the time I was done, I could hear the rustling of birds from miles away, crickets and other insects nearby, and the creek that was across the way from the cabin.

My senses were stronger than ever, and I was almost certain no one lay in wait. At least not around my cabin.

I didn’t relax as I slowly crept forward, taking care to step silently—not exactly an easy task in a forest. But I was close enough to shifting to have the grace of a wolf at my disposal.

Avoiding the front door, I sidled along the west side of the cabin, toward the bedroom window. I might have been a dumbass in not keeping my cash on me, but I wasn’t completely without brains or logic. If anyone was lying in wait to ambush me, having successfully hidden themselves from my senses, they’d expect me to walk through the front door. I’d anticipated this from the start, and the bedroom window was my backup plan. It was always unlocked and well oiled, for a silent escape.

That part of my plan worked perfectly as the glass slid up silently, and I paused again, more cautious than I’d ever been in my life. The room was empty of scent and movement. No other heartbeats or feel of new energy. Lifting my leg over the windowsill, I entered with barely a sound…

I was getting good at this stealth mission.

My bag remained packed at all times. It held cash, some clothing, plus food and water. In a heartbeat, I had it on my back and was slipping out the open window.

Fuck yes! I silently congratulated myself as I took off into the forest, sprinting with less worry about creating a noise. It appeared they hadn’t found my cabin yet, and maybe there was still a chance at escape.

Maybe that was the point I made my first mistake: having hope and letting my guard down.

Thinking I was so clever, getting away with my cash and bag. Already planning where I’d go from here, never to see Hood River again.

But I wasn’t the only one racing through the forest today. Someone had been waiting for me, just not where I’d expected. The cabin was too obvious, and those bastards had lulled me into a false sense of security when there’d been no one inside.