I nod, stepping back. The man walks into the room and quickly shuts the door behind him, his eyes scanning over the apartment. His expression is passive, almost serenely calm. He’s wearing a black jacket and cargo pants, looking ready for action.
“What’s this about?” Mom says, her voice shuddering. “Why do you have to handle thisnow?”
“My name’s Liam, ma’am. I’m not sure how much your daughter told you. But the fact is, neither of you are safe.”
“Not... safe.” Mom looks at me, her eyes becoming even wider pits, with even more fear in them. “Not safe, Ruby? What’s happening here? I thought it was about the gym.”
“I’m sorry, Mom. I panicked and lied.” My voice cracks. “Something happened when I was out. A man tried to attack me. And somebody...somebody saved me, stopped him.”
I look at Liam into his calm face. “Was it Ramsey? Am I crazy?”
“You’re not crazy,” he says calmly. “What you saw, it was real. But I can’t comment further than that. It’s not my place.”
A shimmer moves through my body, pulsing as I think about his answer.
He didn’t sayno. He said he couldn’t tell me.
Is Ramsey the wolf?
It’s the only way it can make sense, these feelings inside of me, of making love with Ramsey and gently laying my head on the wolf’s heaving silver-furred shoulder. Theyhaveto be the same.
Making love...
A moment later, Master Pete’s in my head.
Only a slut thinks of sex, no matter what terms are used.
“Where is he?” I ask.
“Ramsey?”
“And the wolf,” I say, looking closely at Liam, seeing if he gives anything away.
“Thewolf?” Mom says.
I wince. I was too busy trying to feel Liam out. My mouth is doing funny things, and my thoughts are still too chaotic.
And now I’ve looked at Mom instead of Liam and lost my chance.
“Pack quickly,” Liam says, striding over to the window. “They’re out there.”
“Who’sout there?” Mom says.
“Hunters,” Liam says, his back turned. “That one was inexperienced. But there will be more. Men who know what they’re doing. We need to get you out of the city, both of you, to keep you safe.”
“To Ramsey?” I ask.
“Yes,” Liam says. “To Ramsey.”
“Ruby....”
I walk over to Mom, placing my hands on her shoulders. Her chest rises and falls quickly, sweat sliding down her forehead, her eyes twitching wider every few moments as though in time with her heartbeat.
“I’m keeping us safe,” I tell her. “I’m going to explain everything. Really. But I can’t, not right now.”
The wordhuntersbounces around my mind.
“Mom, I’m sorry...but we have to run again. Just like before. Just like the other times, except this time, we’re not alone. We have help.”