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can’t trust Miles. He was a liar, a con
artist. It’s too dangerous unless we know the true side
effects.”
    “I know. I wanted to find that Astor guy he
mentioned. Grandma said he’s crazy. Some sort of mad scientist and
I should stay away. She wouldn’t say much else about him.”
    “Hmm.” Wes frowned, his gaze far away. “I
can ask Jack about him and see what I can find out.” He paused and
then added, “I’m on your side, you know. I can tell you think I’m
being bossy or ‘by the book’ or whatever, but I want you to know
that first and always, I am on your side.”
    “What about your responsibility? To Jack and
the rest of them?”
    “You come first,” he said, his tone firm and
final. “No more secrets, remember?”
    “I remember.”
    “Good. I’ll talk to Jack, see if I can get
any more information.” He caught my chin between his fingers and
thumb. The intensity of his gaze, the emotion behind it, caught me
off guard. “We’ll do this together, deal?”
    I shivered. “Deal.”
    I let out a breath. Some of the worry went
with it. Together. We’d figure this out together.

Chapter Five

     
    A few minutes later we made our way back to
the lake. We didn’t get far before the sound of raised voices and
footsteps reached us. Goosebumps spidered up my arms, across my
shoulders. I spotted Cambria first, her wet clothes pasted to her
skin. She was wringing out her hair and laughing at something Derek
said. Cord and Bailey were right behind them, shoving each other.
As they reached us, Cord reached over and locked her arm around
Bailey’s neck. She pulled his head down and rubbed her knuckles
over his scalp.
    “That’ll teach you to mess with a Hunter,”
she said.
    I stared. It always took me off guard that a
genuine smile could transform her features into something so
friendly and open. She was beautiful when she was being nice. She
released Bailey and met my eyes—and scowled. Derek broke off
whatever he was telling Cambria and looked up as we approached. Wes
cleared his throat, one brow arched upward. I wondered what sort of
thoughts he was picking up from them.
    “Oh, hey,” Cambria said to me.
    “Hey yourself,” I returned. “Feeling a
little cooler now?”
    She shrugged. “It’ll last until we leave the
cover of the woods. Then I’ll probably burst into flames.” Derek
threw Wes his shirt. He caught it in the air and draped it over his
shoulder. I took my shoes from Bailey and slipped them on.
    “You guys finished trying to drown each
other?” Wes said, clapping Bailey on the back as we fell into
step.
    “For now. You guys finished making out?”
Bailey shot back.
    “For now,” Wes echoed. Bailey rolled his
eyes.
    Again, goosebumps rose along my arms—this
time with a forceful tremor.
    I shuddered with the intensity of the
warning, and spun out from under Wes’s arm, searching the forest.
Had Fee come looking for us? No way would my goosebumps be this
strong from only her. Not even her and Jack.
    “You guys …” I began and then let it hang.
The others were already fanning out. I met Wes’s eyes and he nodded
once before glancing away again, toward the trees. I took another
step away. I knew what it meant. The moment we spotted anything
resembling a Werewolf, he, Derek, and Bailey would shift.
    My eyes scanned for movement. The goosebumps
intensified until the hairs on my arms and neck stood so straight
it stung. I caught a glimpse of movement; a spot of brown fur
darting among the trees.
    “Shit.” Cord’s curse came from my left
flank. She’d moved closer, a defensive tactic.
    “Agreed,” I said without turning. Whoever
this was, the fact that they hadn’t announced themselves yet
couldn’t be good. More fur, more movement. All of it bearing down
on us.
    “Baby Jesus, there must be two dozen of
them,” Cambria breathed from behind me. I glanced over. She was
scared but holding it together. Derek was nearby. His eyes met
mine, then flicked to Wes.
    “Come