Bitten (Once Bitten, Twice Shy #1)(40)

Though the words were friendly, Katherine knew the man must have thought she was insane. She managed to swallow the lump in her throat. "Hi," she croaked back.

"If you're here looking for Chad or Samantha, they aren't home."

Katherine forced her breathing to remain even. She wouldn’t allow her panicky thoughts to overtake her common sense.

"Any idea where I can find them?" She could only hope she didn't sound as desperate – or look as crazed – as she thought she did.

"Why, didn't you hear?" The man sounded incredulous. "They left for Iowa days ago – won't be back 'til next week at the earliest. Poor Samantha – word is that there was a home invasion at her parents' house down in Middletown. Her sister's missing."

…Katherine had never felt like a bigger fool.

Of course. Of course Samantha wouldn't be here. Why would she be? It was only logical that she would be in Middletown – picking up the ruins of the house, trying to find Katherine, planning their parents' burial...

Katherine’s breath hitched. "Oh," she murmured, but she doubted that the hushed word of realization reached the man’s ears. He was still looking at her – openly concerned.

"Can I help you with anything else?"

Katherine did her best to regain her bearings. She shook her head. "No. No, I was, uh, I was just leaving."

She walked down the steps and numbly made her way back to the SUV, feeling the man's curious eyes on her until she was back behind the wheel of the vehicle.

She watched as he disappeared back into his house and the porch lights were turned back off.

But she couldn't bring herself to start the SUV.

She sat there, her oversized shirt drenched and sticking to her body, staring up at her sister’s home.

How could she have been so stupid?

She wanted nothing more than to collapse in frustrated tears, but she wouldn't allow herself the luxury. Instead of breaking down, she began assuring herself that Middletown wasn’t that far from Duluth – that she could make it there in a day or two. She had her credit card, after all. She could afford as much gasoline as she need.

But none of her reassurances distracted her from the fact that she couldn’t keep driving. Not tonight.

Her body ached with fatigue and her head was throbbing. Not to mention that she couldn’t stop her hands from shaking – no longer from exhaustion, but from the cold. Digging for that nonexistent spare key seemed nothing short of idiotic now. She was in no condition to drive.

So instead of throwing the car in reverse and beginning the journey back to Middletown, Katherine tucked her hands under her armpits, trying to warm the freezing extremities. And somehow, despite the chill, managed to drift off, curled up in the front seat of the SUV.

Her wolf.

She hadn't realized she had missed him until now that he’d returned. As always, he was staring at her – his deep azure eyes ridding her mind of all other thoughts. In his presence, they were inconsequential.

Today his eyes were sad – intense as ever, but missing a certain glint that had been present before.

And for the first time ever Katherine reached out to touch him. She kneeled and placed a bold hand on his head, petting the ferocious animal's fur.

"Hey," she whispered, "it’ll be okay."

In response, the wolf pressed his snout into her hands, obviously enjoying the soft touch. But his eyes remained distraught. "What's wrong?" she murmured absentmindedly.

"Katherine."

Her heart jolted and she jumped away from the wolf. What the-?

"Katherine."

But the wolf's jaws weren't moving.

Of course they weren't moving! It was a wolf.

"Katherine."

She snapped her eyes open.

Only to once again meet the blue eyes of her wolf. But they were in a different face – a human face.

Bastian.

He was standing outside of the open car door, looking at her with a grim expression. It was still raining and his shirt was drenched, his wet hair plastered to his forehead.

It took Katherine a few moments to realize that she was no longer dreaming. That she was still sitting in the SUV in front of her sister’s house, instead of on her way to Middletown. That she’d been caught.

But instead of feeling upset, or even angry, she only felt sick. She – she felt horrible.

Her heavy head was pounding and it was all she could do to lift it up and look at the man. And there was a gigantic pressure on her chest trying to prevent her from breathing.

Katherine was half-delirious when she opened her mouth and asked Bastian, “Are you mad?”

He must have known she was unwell because he didn't immediately begin berating her – yelling at her for running from him. Instead, he grabbed her gently by the waist and cradled her body to his chest as he walked around the vehicle to deposit her into the passenger seat. His chest was warm and Katherine absentmindedly clutched his soaked shirt with her fists as he moved her. She was much too exhausted – much too sick – to protest being carried.

She allowed her eyes to drift shut and as sleep pulled her back into oblivion, she swore she could feel the faintest press of lips to her forehead and a strong voice whisper, "I'm not mad."