Feeling emotional, I nodded my head as I stayed in her room while she left carrying her bag. The door opened.
"Is there someone with you?"
I held my breath as Michael waited for an answer.
"No," Claire lied without hesitation. "I had a human visitor just before you guys arrived."
I continued to hold my breath as I waited for their response. My scent was all over the house but it could have confused them with the old mixed with the new.
"Okay. Do you have everything you need?" Sean asked. I felt relief they hadn't taken it further.
"Yes," she replied with a tinge of sadness in her voice. I released the breath I had been holding.
I stood fixed to the same spot for far longer than it took for Claire and the two werewolves to be a safe distance away.
My heart had slowed down to its usual rate but it didn't stop the loneliness that was invading me. For the last year I had been used to being on my own. Even when I had joined Victor's pack, which had later been inherited by his daughter, Keri, I had only made a few acquaintances, preferring to keep to myself. The last couple of weeks of staying with Claire had given me companionship I missed. Yes, I had made friends but not true friends - the ones who knew your deepest darkest secrets.
It was easier that way. The fewer people who got close to me, the fewer people who could discover my dangerous secret.
Alone, I allowed myself the weakness of wallowing in my loneliness for a few minutes. I thought about my parents and what they had sacrificed to keep me safe.
When I felt how unfair my life was with the hand I had been dealt, I remembered my parents had given their lives to keep me and my secret safe. I owed it to them not to give in and give myself over to my fate but instead to keep on going.
Allowing myself to exhale my emotions, I began to figure out what my next move was. I peered out into dark forest that for the first time looked foreboding and dangerous. I couldn't leave now. I would have to wait for first light. Besides, it would give me a chance to get some sleep and pack before I headed out, onto the unknown path that lay ahead of me.
Thoughts of the murdered rogues plagued my mind but I refused to give in to the fear of it. If it won, I would be unable to leave the safety of the cottage. I nearly laughed hysterically when I realized even inside the small shelter I wasn't safe.
Stepping away from the window, I hurried in the darkness to the room I had been using for my stay. Not wanting to switch a light on inside the cottage, fearing it would draw attention, I sat down on the bed with enough moonlight to be able to survey my room.
For now I would concentrate on what I needed to do so there would be no space for the unwanted thoughts of a killer out there.
In my mind I was planning what I needed to pack: clothes, food and my vials of wolfsbane. Even though my destination was still unknown, I had to leave first thing in the morning and get as far away from here as possible.
At the thought of Kyle, I pictured him in my mind. He was devastatingly handsome and effortlessly charismatic. Just the thought of him was enough to make my body respond with a fluttering feeling in the pit of my stomach. I had always wanted to be able to reach out and touch him, raking my hand through his dark hair as he gazed down at me with his gray eyes that sometimes looked silvery. He wouldn't understand my actions.
I slid under the covers and pulled them up to my chin. My eyes were still trained on the window, my ears straining to pick up any unusual sounds that would signal immediate danger. But there was nothing except for the noise of insects that eased me into sleep.
CHAPTER THREE
Kyle
I struggled to catch up on my sleep. I was too worried about Crystal to be able to relax to get much rest. Before the sun was up I decided to get up. Rubbing my eyes I stood up and walked through to the bathroom. I flipped the switch and flooded the room with light.
Yesterday I had gone over our plans to tighten up security around the compound. I had also discussed plans with Uncle Nate and James.
My thoughts went to Claire. She had been brought safely back to the compound. I made a point of reminding myself to check on her at some point during the day to make sure she was settled in.
While I showered, my mind ran over possible reasons for the murders and who the culprit was but with each and every scenario there were doubts. It was like trying to complete a puzzle with two sets of puzzle pieces mixed together. There was more going on here than I knew about.
I got dressed and left my room, striding to the meeting room so I could look over the maps again. To keep everyone safe, including Crystal, I needed to figure out who was behind the killings.
It didn't surprise me when I descended the stairs and could see the light was on in the study. The familiar face of my Uncle Nate looked up from the map as I entered the study. He was sitting behind the desk with a cup of steaming coffee in his hand.
"And?" I asked, hoping he had figured out something, but he shook his head.
My eyes went to the map of our territory and the surrounding ones. I leaned my hands against the table, peering over the map. For each murdered werewolf there was a red pin in the exact location. I stared at the pins hoping to see a clearer picture but I saw nothing.
"I'm worried about her," I said, telling him my biggest fear out loud. I felt his eyes on me.
