CHAPTER TWELVE
After the whole lying to Dayne's face thing, I hang back as all the others trudge back in the house.
That's when I catch sight of Luka disappearing into the forest with an empty duffle bag.
Spotting an opportunity to get some questions answered that I don't dare ask Dayne, I cast one last glance at the house where all the rest of the pack-Dayne included-have disappeared inside after their run and sprint after Luka.
I remember Regan and Jenna telling me there were cabins in the woods. And since he has a bag, I put two and two together and figure Luka must be on his way to Savannah's cabin to grab something for her.
It's about time I find out who the hell Savannah is, and why a model who has an agent and modeling jobs in Paris is living in a cabin in the woods.
Although I left not long after Luka, by the time I follow him down a well-trodden path into the thick forest, somehow I've already lost him.
Since I have the benefit of my shifter nose to track him, I'm soon off again after a quick peek behind me to make sure Dayne hasn't noticed I haven't followed him back in the house.
But when I spot the light in his office has come on and a figure sat at the desk, I figure if there's any time to go looking for answers, the time is now.
For several minutes I follow Luka's recent scent, enjoying the quiet of the forest at night, and even though it's nearly pitch black, my shifter sight makes seeing through the darkness no problem.
Finally, after nearly ten minutes of walking, I can just make out the hint of a cabin ahead of me when I hear a branch snapping behind me.
My heart lurches and I whip around as my eyes probe the darkness.
I frown in confusion when I realize the only scent I'm picking up is mine and Luka's.
How could Luka have circled behind me when I've been following his scent, and it's been leading me in a pretty much straight line?
"Luka?" I call out, trying to see where he could be hiding.
He could have shifted, and since he seemed like a playful wolf, maybe he's playing some kind of game with.
I grin. "Just because I don't shift, doesn't mean I'm not fast enough to chase you."
Then I glimpse dark fur, the briefest hint of a wolf hiding behind the trees, and as if he spots me, he turns and takes off.
For a second I do nothing. Just stand there. And then it hits me.
That wasn't Luka.
I don't know how I know, but I'd bet my life on it.
And then I take off after him, not stopping to think about what I'm doing.
I sprint through the forest, dodging branches, leaping over fallen trees, careful not to trip and go down.
I don't know why, but there's something about this wolf that has my human side half-terrified, and my wolf ready to tear him apart. I have to know why.
And I have to know why I'm not catching even the hint of its scent.
But then, in the sudden silence, I realize I've lost him in my mad dash and I have no idea how to even begin tracking a wolf I can't smell.
If I changed, my wolf could track him.
The idea of me shifting is so dangerous, I don't know why I would even consider it.
Yet, even though I know it, I'm reaching for the hem of my shirt.
I can't say why but it's important I find this wolf, and it's not like I'm even near anyone, so I could shift, and once I've sniffed him out, then shift back and no one would even know.
I just have to hope I can control my wolf enough she goes after this wolf instead of rushing back to the house and going for Savannah.
A hand lands on my shoulder and I shriek.
"Hey, it's okay. It's me… it's Luka."
Once I'm no longer in danger of having a heart attack, I stop my half-run and turn to find it is indeed Luka whose gaze shifts from me, to where the wolf disappeared.
"Uh, sorry. I wasn't expecting anyone to surprise me from behind," I say, feeling my face heat with embarrassment.
"I didn't mean to scare you. What are you doing here?" Once again he gazes into the forest and I hesitate about what to tell him.
If I tell him I think I saw a wolf, he's going to do one of two things:
Either he'll march us both back to the house, in which case my opportunity to find out anything about Savannah goes out the window.
Or, he'll order me back to the house and go after the wolf, which also means my questions go unanswered.
It may have just been a wild wolf, and it wasn't like I picked up any kind of scent at all.
I may have just been seeing things. God knows I can't be entirely sane with a half-crazed wolf bursting to get free inside me.
"Nothing."
Luka turns to me with a raised eyebrow.
"Okay, so I was following you. I got lost."
It's clear he doesn't believe me, but he doesn't call me out on it. "Following me, huh? And why would you be doing that?"
My eyes go to the bag in his hand. "I wanted to see where you were going. Regan said there were cabins in the woods, and I wanted to see them."
After one last lingering glance at where I think the wolf, or whatever it was I was chasing disappeared, Luka turns and heads back through the woods.
I follow.
"It's late, and you should be back in the house. I'm sure Dayne won't-"
"It's not that late, and I like being in the forest," I interrupt since I can see where this is heading. He's gearing up to send me back.
He glances over at me, and I can see it's on the tip of his tongue to send me back, only I widen my eyes and try to look pitiful. "Please, Luka? Five minutes to see a cabin and I promise I'll go back to the house."
He wavers.
"And I'll go right up to bed. Promise." I cross a finger over my heart for added benefit. "Pinkie swear."
His lips curve in a reluctant grin. "What are you, five?"
I punch his arm. Not hard, but still send him bumping into a tree. "Shut up."
"Do that again, and I'll toss you over my shoulder and carry you back," he says, rubbing at his arm as if it hurt.
Since he's saying it with a grin on his face, I know he isn't being serious. "You won't because you're not a neanderthal like Dayne," I say, straight-faced.
Luka splutters with laughter. "You better not let him hear you calling him that."
He casts a glance over his shoulder and an expression of horror crosses his face. And for a second I nearly believe that Dayne is behind us.
"Don't be silly. Anyway, who's cabin is this?" I ask as we emerge through the forest and into a small clearing where a small, one-story log cabin stands.
It's very fairytale-esque and I can't help be a little jealous of how cute it is.
"Savannah's."
"Oh, that's nice."
Even though I feel him glancing over at me, I don't turn to meet his gaze since my attempt at playing it cool has completely failed.
Given Savannah's scent permeates the area, I should know without asking that the cabin belongs to her.
And if my nose wasn't working, the fact my wolf is snarling her displeasure would confirm who the cabin belonged to.
"I'm grabbing some things for her," Luka says when I offer nothing else.
Then I remember the strange wolf she supposedly saw at her cabin, and I pause. Surely what I saw in the forest couldn't have been the same wolf? Could it?
No. Just a coincidence. Or a normal wolf.
It was probably just one of the pack returning from the run. Maybe one of them got separated or something.
"Yeah, things like what?" I ask as I follow Luka inside the unlocked cabin.
I couldn't care less, but I can't just jump right into Dayne and Savannah's history first. I have to ease into it.
"Clothes, books, that kind of thing."
Yes, it's extremely judgemental of me that the first thought that pops into my head is that she reads? A model?
I try to shake off my bitchiness where she's concerned, but it's hard. Especially with my wolf loudly snarling in my head giving me a headache.
While I'm wrestling my wolf back into her cage, I wander away from Luka and take a few minutes to explore Savannah's open-plan cabin.
It's not as feminine as I was expecting. I was thinking she'd have filled her home with clothes, jewelry, and shoes. Lots and lots of shoes.
But it's simple, rustic, and cozy.
"Why does she live in a cabin in the woods?" I make my way over to the couch and pick up a framed photograph of the pack.
Dayne is smiling as he stands with an arm thrown around her shoulder and she's grinning up at him.
I grind my teeth and gently return the framed picture to the table.
At Luka's pause, I glance over and find him grabbing a random selection of books, which he then tosses in the bag.
"Luka?" I ask, in case he didn't hear me.
"She prefers the cabin to the main house," he says.
Which means she must have lived in the main house at one point, I gather.
"But why? Did something happen?" I meander over to Savannah's bed, trying to pick up Dayne's scent.
"You should ask-" Luka stops so suddenly that I turn.
"Ask her?"
He shakes his head. "Probably don't ask Savannah. Or Dayne. Definitely don't ask him."
It's such a strange thing for him to say that I tilt my head as I examine him.
So the reason for her to be living in the cabin has something to do with Dayne.
"Did they have a bad breakup or something?"
Luka's usually warm eyes dim, and sadness settles there. "No. No, nothing like that."
"So they never dated then?"
It's Luka's turn to study me curiously. "What makes you think they had?"
I take a moment to think about what he's asking me. I think about the clothes in Dayne's room that smell of her, and how close she and Dayne seem.
Then there's that picture of them grinning at each other. Looking for all the world like they're a couple.
How could I not think something was going on between them?
Yet Luka is looking at me like I'm crazy for even thinking it.
"Well, because-" Luka's phone rings and he gives me an apologetic smile before reaching for it.
I try to hide my snarl of frustration.
Before Luka has a chance of even opening his mouth, the cold fury I hear on the other line obliterates any chance of me finding out anything about Savannah.
"Is she with you?" It's Dayne and he is pissed.
More than pissed. And that's putting it mildly. A killing rage would be how I'd describe his voice.
"Yes, we'll-" Luka shoves more books in the bag without looking.
"If she's not back here in the next five minutes, she doesn't want to know what I'll do to her."
Luka's eyes land on me, and I catch pity stirring in the half a second I'm looking at him. And then I'm moving.
If I sprint, I might just make it back to the house in five minutes. Barely.
I don't wait for Luka. I shove open the door to the cabin and take off.
By some strange miracle, although I'm a sweaty, flustered mess by the time I get to the house, I make it before Dayne can come and get me.
He's leaning against the side of the house, still with his phone pressed against his ear.
But he's not looking at me. His wolf is in his eyes, and he's staring at something behind me.
As I rush up the porch stairs, I peek behind me and find Luka was in close pursuit, still with his phone against his ear.
Without saying a word or acknowledging me, Dayne straightens from the side of the wall and wrenches the door open.
Since it's clear what he wants, I walk inside and head upstairs to shower and get ready for bed.