“Do you know what, Cage, when I first met you, I actually thought we could be friends, but I can see now that’s never going to happen, not with the way you are acting. If you must know, yes, I have being seeing someone, but I’m not telling you who he is.” Katalina squared her shoulders, her gaze daring him to shout.
His clenched fist snatched at her shirt, dragging her forward so he was inches from her face. “You’ll tell me now, Kat. Who is he? Is he from this pack?”
Arne was barking loudly but Cage didn’t even seem to notice him. Kat attempted to push her fear aside, despite her pounding heart, but she couldn’t help the small tremble as she whispered her answer, “N-no, he’s Dark Sh-shadow.”
The front door opened.
“Cage!” Jackson growled, his tone pure alpha.
Cage had no choice but to release Katalina, but it did nothing to dull the fury raging through his veins.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Jackson shouted, dragging Cage away from Katalina.
Katalina ran her hand through her hair and straightened her clothes. She wrapped the blanket back around her, half-covering her face, and she drew Bass’s scent into her lungs, wrapping him around her.
“She’s seeing someone from Dark Shadow. His scent is all over the pack woods!” Cage yelled, dragging himself from Jackson’s grip.
Jackson glanced between Cage and Katalina. “Kat?”
Katalina simply nodded.
“Are you insane? Dark Shadow want you dead.”
“Not all of them,” she answered quietly.
“Katalina, they cannot be trusted! You are not to see him again!”
Katalina’s temper snapped. She stood up straight staring Jackson right in the eyes, not caring in the slightest that he was an alpha, and demanded respect.
“You have no idea whether he can be trusted or not! From what I know, since arriving here, he’s far more trustworthy than any of you! You have no right to tell me what to do, Jackson!”
“I’m your father.”
“You don’t know the first thing about being a father,” Katalina scoffed.
“I’m the alpha.”
Having enough, Katalina stormed past them and headed back inside, Arne on her heels.
“Not my alpha!” she shouted as she went up the stairs.
Katalina slammed the door to the bedroom, which was feeling more like a prison by the minute. She wished she was with Bass. Things were better when he was near. She heard shouting downstairs, but had given up caring what they had to say. Pulling the blanket around her, she crawled into bed, while Arne curled up on the floor, his eyes ever watchful.
“Don’t worry, boy. We just have to get through the full moon, and then we are outta here!”
*****
The full moon arrived. Katalina paced her room feeling restless and trapped, wanting nothing more than to get out of the house. She’d not left the bedroom since the previous night and no one had come to her after the argument.
The door slammed downstairs, making Katalina pause and listen.
“I’ve picked up his scent all over the woods, right up to the house. Jack ran the perimeter. He’s been coming across territory lines near the ridge, but I couldn’t find him. He’s either left or very good at hiding.”
“Damn it! She’ll be most vulnerable tonight. Everyone who is of age to fight needs to be out there now looking for him!” Jackson ordered.
Katalina’s stomach gave a lurch. She hoped Bass could reach her without being caught.
“But what about Katalina; she’ll change soon?” Cage asked.
“Well, she’ll just have to change in the house!”
“What? You can’t be serious? It’s hard enough the first time without being trapped in a room.
“Do you have a better idea?” Jackson snapped.
“We’re not even sure he is out there anymore. I only picked up one scent and it wasn’t fresh. If we all go out and protect her, she can change in the open and run with the pack. She’ll be protected and it will make the transition easier.”
“No, absolutely not. It’s too dangerous. Now, get out there, Cage. You’re one of our best fighters and the best tracker in the pack.”
“I’m not leaving her. She needs someone to help her change.”
I don’t want you anywhere near me, after the way you acted before. She hoped to God Jackson sent him away.
“Out, now, Cage! That’s a direct order. You can help her by killing whoever is out there.”
“Jackson, he does have a point. Someone needs to be with the girl; someone she trusts,” Karen added.
“Well, they’re not exactly friends after what he did last night. TOBY!”