Dire(52)

“Does that still count as staying around?”

“Yeah. Hunter’s going to expect it.”

“Ok, good.” I needed to run. My Dire side craved it.

***



“A campfire?” I asked incredulously. “Are you serious?” We’d only been gone an hour, and I hadn’t expected to find a fire when we returned, especially since the weather was so much warmer.

“What?” Denny seemed surprised by my reaction. “You’ve never had one before?”

“Of course I have, but we’re Dires. We eat meat raw. Why bother with it?”

“Why not?” He walked toward the fire pit that must have been left over from when the place was actually a camp. “It’s a way to bring everyone together.”

“I’m surprised I’m allowed then. Hunter usually wants to keep me apart. Besides, won’t the fire draw attention? Isn’t that what we’re trying to avoid?”

“But we’re going to be here awhile. He’s going to set the tone. Either you get used to being with the pack or you leave. And we’re a ways from civilization.”

“I don’t have the option to leave.”

“Sure you do.”

“I’d die.”

“So, that’s still an option.”

“Isn’t my brother the best?” Marni put a hand on my shoulder. She was all smiles. She and Chet hadn’t spent their time running.

“He’s growing on me.” He was. He was quiet in his Dire form. I appreciated that. Talking was fine sometimes but not when transformed, that’s when I wanted to be alone. “So what happens now? We don’t sing camp songs, do we?”

“You didn’t tell him yet?” Chet arrived looking equally as happy. At least he didn’t look ready to kill me anymore. It’s amazing what sex can do for a man. I pushed that thought away quickly. I couldn’t think about the last few times I’d had it. I was already missing Mary Anne like crazy.

“Tell me what?”

“About the charades.”

“Very funny.”

“Come on, man.” Chet patted my back. The sex must have been really good. “We’re going to eat, set up the new rules, and hang out. It’s not that hard to understand.”

“When’s Hunter going to get here?” I hadn’t seen him and Mary Anne since we first arrived.

“He went out for a run a while ago.”

“Where’s Mary Anne?” I was surprised he’d leave her alone.

“In her cabin I’d think.” Chet shrugged. “I haven’t seen her.”

I was so tempted to go find her and talk, but that wouldn’t help. I couldn’t act until the time was right. “Okay, just wondering.”

“I assure you Hunter didn’t leave her in harm’s way.” There was a sarcastic edge to Denny’s voice I didn’t completely understand.

“I figured that much.”

I turned as I heard a door open. My hearing was so much stronger now. Mary Anne walked out of the furthest cabin. She saw me and then looked down at the ground. I hated that. I hated that she was afraid to look at me.

She walked toward the fire and stopped a little ways from us.

“Hey.” Marni smiled.

“Hey.” Mary Anne didn’t make eye contact with her either. She really believed there was something between us.

“What have you been up to? Already bored out of your mind?” Chet asked her.

“Not any worse than I was.”

“At least it’s warmer here.” It was the first time we’d spoken since my change. Talking about the weather wasn’t the conversation I wanted to have with her, but it seemed safe enough.

She was startled by my comment. “Yeah. It’s definitely warmer.”

“And no more snow.”

She brushed some of her hair behind her ear. “That’s true. We can be outside more.”

She smiled. “I never thought I’d be discussing the weather with you again.”

“Yeah, well.” I shrugged. What else was there to say? Of course there were a million things I wanted to say, but I couldn’t say any of them.

“Have you seen Hunter?” Marni nodded to her. “I’m surprised the two of you have come up for air.”

And like that the spell was broken. Mary Anne’s smile faded and she was back to looking at the ground. “I haven’t seen him in hours,” she mumbled.

I glared at Marni. Was that necessary? She ignored me. “You’d know if you’d finally go through with the mating.”

“Whatever.” Mary Anne walked off back toward the cabins.

“What was that?” I scowled at Marni. “Did you have to upset her?”