"Are you quite certain?" he asked.
"Uh--yes. I think so."
He folded the paper with maximum bustle and delay, then laid it in front of me. Front page of the Bear Valley Post. Top headline. Wild Dogs Spotted in City.
"Oh," I said. "Whoops."
Jeremy made a noise in his throat that could have been interpreted as a growl. I read the article. The two boys we'd seen in the alley had woken their parents with the story, who'd in turn woken the newspaper editor. The boys claimed to have seen the killers. Two, maybe three, huge shepherd-like dogs lurking within the very heart of town.
"Three," Jeremy said, his voice low. "All three of you. Together."
Peter and Antonio slipped from the table. Clay looked at Nick and jerked his chin, telling Nick he was free to leave, too. No one would blame Nick for this. Jeremy knew the instigators from the followers. Nick shook his head and stayed put. He'd take his share.
"We were returning from the mutt's apartment," I said. "The kids walked into the alley. They saw me."
"Elena didn't have enough room to hide," Clay interjected."One of them grabbed a broken bottle. I lost it. I leapt at them. Elena stopped me and we took off. No one got hurt."
"We all got hurt," Jeremy said. "I told you to split up."
"We did," I said. "Like I said, this was after we found the apartment."
"I told you to Change to human after you found him."
"And do what? Walk to the car butt-naked?"
Jeremy's mouth twitched. A full minute of silence followed. Then Jeremy got to his feet, motioned for me to follow, and walked from the room. Clay and Nick looked at me, but I shook my head. This was a private invitation, as much as I'd love to share it. I followed Jeremy out of the house.
Jeremy led me into the woods, taking the walking paths. We'd gone nearly a half-mile before he said anything. Even then, he didn't turn around, just kept walking in front of me.
"You know we're in danger," he said.
"We all know--"
"I'm not sure you do. Maybe you've been away from the Pack too long, Elena. Or maybe you think because you've moved to Toronto this doesn't affect you."
"Are you suggesting I'd purposely sabotage--"
"Of course not. I'm saying that maybe you need to be reminded how important this is to all of us, no matter where we live. People in Bear Valley are looking for a killer, Elena. That killer is a werewolf. We are werewolves. If he's caught, how long do you think it'll be before the town comes knocking at our door? If they find this mutt alive and figure out what he is, he'll talk. He's not in Bear Valley by accident, Elena. Any mutt with a father knows we live around here. If this one is discovered, he'll lead the authorities here, to Clayton and me and, through us, to the rest of the Pack, and eventually, to every werewolf, including any who are trying to deny any connection with the Pack."
"Do you think I don't realize that?"
"I trusted you to set the tone last night, Elena."
Ouch. That hurt. More than I liked to admit, so I hid it in my usual way.
"Then that was your mistake," I snapped. "I didn't ask for your trust. Look what happened with Carter. You trusted me with that, didn't you? Once burned ..."
"As far as I'm concerned, your only mistake with Carter was not contacting me before you acted. I know it has more meaning for you, but that'
s exactly why you're supposed to contact me, so I give the order. I take the responsibility for the decision. For the death. I know you--"
"I don't want to talk about it."
"Of course not."
We walked in silence. I felt the words jammed up in my throat, desperate for release, for the chance to talk about what I'd done and what I'd felt. As I walked, a smell hit me and, with it, the words dissolved.
"Do you smell that?" I asked.