Bitten (Once Bitten, Twice Shy #1)(38)

Caleb must have mistaken her shock for fear because he looked away from her in shame. She didn't know what to say to comfort him so she just let the man keep talking.

"Word of the attack got out and werewolf hunters showed up."

Katherine tensed, quickly finding her voice. “Stop,” she demanded, knowing the moment he mentioned hunters that his story was too similar to hers. It would be too agonizing to hear.

Caleb startled at the sound of her voice, almost as if he’d forgotten she was there as he relived his memories. He nodded solemnly, however, and obeyed her order. He quickly ended his story, only adding that he’d been rescued from the hunters by someone from the colony – he didn’t say who – and that was how he’d met Bastian and the others.

Katherine couldn’t help but notice the irony – whereas Caleb had considered himself rescued, she felt as if she’d been kidnapped.

Kidnapped.

Katherine nearly choked on the air she was breathing. What was she doing?

She glanced at the clock on the nightstand – it was tantalizing close to the SUV's keys. The time – 9:37 – glared back at her. Why was she wasting precise time talking when she could have left – escaped – by now? The others could be back any minute!

Panic caused something in her chest to tighten and before Katherine could even really think about what she was doing, she was flinging the bed sheets off her body. She stood and began tugging frantic fingers through her long, wavy hair, trying futilely to make the knotted mess lay straight.

Caleb stood with her, looking confused by her sudden actions and more than a little nervous. "Are you okay, Katherine?"

"I'm hungry," she blurted. It was the first excuse she could think of to get Caleb to agree to leave the motel room. And he'd have to leave – at least for a minute or two – for her half-cocked plan to have a chance of working.

The man's eyebrows shot up. "You are?"

His astonishment was downright comical.

"Yeah, I thought we could join Markus and Zane for some breakfast."

The blonde's eyebrows rose even higher – almost disappearing past his hairline. "You want to go eat with Markus and Zane?"

"Yes," she snapped, glancing back at the clock. 9:41.

Caleb seemed to recover from his surprise. He subtly – though not subtly enough for Katherine not to notice – put himself between her and the exit. "Bastian ordered that we stay here," he reminded her – as if she needed reminding. "Maybe we can order some food?"

"Breakfast food?" Katherine questioned incredulously. "I doubt anyone delivers eggs."

Caleb grimaced. "Can't we just wait until Bastian and Sophie get back? They should be here soon. You could even change clothes and-"

"But I'm hungry now," Katherine immediately objected. She gazed at Caleb imploringly. "Please."

"I don't think-"

"Markus and Zane left. Why can't we?"

"Yes, but Bastian-"

"Bastian," Katherine stressed, "will be so pleased that I'm eating that he won't even care that we left."

The man frowned, but seemed to be considering her argument. "Maybe," he conceded.

Katherine could sense victory and wasn't above begging. "Please,” she repeated.

Caleb looked at her for a long moment before sighing. "Okay," he resigned, "I know Zane said something about a cafe a few blocks from here. I think that's where he and Markus were going. We could meet them there?"

"Sounds great," Katherine immediately agreed despite having no intention of walking any further than the parking lot. "Just let me use the bathroom quickly. Meet me outside?"

Katherine prayed this would work.

But Caleb looked reluctant. “Bastian said not to let you out of my sight."

Bastian. Bastian. Bastian. Katherine was so sick of hearing about him and what he wanted. She crossed her arms, hoping she looked more nervy than nervous. "I assure you that I don't need any help in the bathroom. A little privacy please?"

Caleb flushed. "I'll wait outside."

Yes.

Katherine wasted no time scurrying to the bathroom. Once she locked herself in, however, she did little more than nervously trail her fingers through her hair, waiting to hear the sound of the motel room’s front door closing. It was her signal that Caleb had, indeed, left.

When she heard the squeaky hinges, she only waited a heartbeat before hurrying out of the bathroom. She quickly made her way to her backpack – she’d discovered yesterday that Bastian had grabbed it from her car when he’d snatched her – and pulled out her wallet. The leather folds contained a few bills, but more importantly, a silver Visa credit card. To be used only in emergencies, as per her father’s instructions.

If this didn't qualify as an emergency then Katherine didn't know what did.

She shoved the wallet deep into one of the pockets of her overly large sweat pants, strode across the room to the nightstand, brazenly grabbed the keys to the BMW, and shoved them into the same pocket. Then, talking a deep, calming breath, she walked across the room, opened the door, and peeked outside.

So far, so good.

Except that Caleb was leaning against the SUV.

Damnit.