Morgan wouldn’t think to look here, where storms appeared at random. At least, not for a while. He would put the pieces together, though. He would follow my trail. I’d done my best to hide it, but Morgan was a determined man. I couldn’t hide from him forever.
I collapsed onto the couch and threw my feet onto the table in front of me. I needed a beer or something harder, but I couldn’t afford to dull my senses tonight. The pack might show up on my doorstep, and I needed to be ready to defend myself.
Without alcohol to numb my thoughts, I drifted into my memories. My father’s laugh always found me first. It echoed in my ears and made me believe he was still here with us. I tumbled back to the cookouts we used to hold for the clan. Dad liked to wear silly aprons while managing the massive grill he’d built himself.
In those days, his laugh had drawn everyone in. People fought for a chance to be the center of his attention. And he’d made sure to give them all a little bit of his time. That was what had made him such a good leader. He’d made everyone feel safe and wanted.
The clan didn’t have that anymore. I wondered how they were doing without him. Was Morgan a good leader in his stead? I couldn’t reach out and ask. Morgan likely hated me.
My dragon roused and reminded me that I’d done the right thing.
Had I? It didn’t feel like it some days. There were times when the road stretched out forever in front of me. It seemed like the running would never stop, like I’d made a rash decision without thinking things through, like I’d thrown away everything good in this world because I’d been too stupid to try something else.
The guilt of what I’d done sat heavy in my chest. My dragon growled as the weight shoved the beast back down. I half hoped that the local Alpha would pull up tonight and try something because I wanted to fight.
My hands curled into tight fists. My knuckles popped, one by one. The soft sound echoed in the living room. But no one rose to the challenge. No one showed up on the doorstep. I strained to listen for signs of the pickup-truck, but I heard sirens in the distance and nothing else.
Ness
Cocoonedin a fluffy bathrobe I’d found in the closet, I stumbled into the kitchen and yanked the fridge open. My stomach grumbled greedily until it slapped the floor.
I straightened and called out to the man sleeping on the couch. “Why isn’t there any food in your fridge? Are you a monk or something?”
The incomprehensible grumble that came from the living room made me shake my head. Ryder wasn’t going to be any help. I reached for the cupboard only to find the same thing. The cupboards were just as empty as the fridge.
How could this man live with no food in his house? Not only was he a shifter, but he was a dragon shifter. You would think that a beast of that size required a pantry the size of a master bedroom. He needed to eat at some point. So, why wasn’t there any food in this house?
Ryder staggered into the kitchen while rubbing his eyes. His dark gray hair stood up in messy tufts. He yawned and revealed his sharp incisors. Immediately, my hound forgot all about her hunger. My core tightened as a warmth spilled through me. I spun around and stared down at the counter.
Ryder reached past me, plucked a cup from a nearby cupboard, and filled it with tap water. When he set it down on the counter in front of me, he said, “That’s the best I can offer.”
I scowled. “My hero.”
“Damn right,” he grumbled. “Don’t forget who saved your ass last night. You owe me now.”
I spun. “No, that was not the agreement. Butting into a situation that didn’t involve you is not enough. I still need you—”
He groaned, the sound turning into a dull roar. “I know! You need me to kill your Alpha. Give me some damn time to think about it.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “Well, you’re not getting anything out of me until you follow through.”
Nothing but a panting hound, it seemed. Despite his anger at me, my hound desperately wanted his affection. She wanted to roll over and bare her stomach like a fool. I swallowed and warned her that there would be consequences if she embarrassed me. I didn’t know what those consequences would be, but I wouldn’t stand for this behavior.
“Looks like I have to get breakfast at work,” I said, trying to hide my disappointment.
My hound whimpered and filled my thoughts with other things that I could eat, but I would have to get on my knees for that.
“Fuck,” I whispered as I shook my head.
I needed to get out of here. Before Ryder could even ask what was wrong, I spun and bolted for the door. At least my car would still be parked down the road.
“Where the hell are you going without clothes?” Ryder let out an exasperated sigh. “I know I’m a bad host, but you don’t have to run like I’m trying to kill you.”
He paused. I heard him groan behind me. There was a soft slap of flesh on flesh, and when I turned, I found him with his palm over his face.
“I shouldn’t have said that.”
I laughed, because what else could I do when my Alpha wanted me dead? “You’re one of the few who can say that honestly.”