“LIA’S GONE,” HUNTER said, stepping out of the woods moments later. His timing was suspicious and I should have grabbed the thick branch lying just within arm’s reach, then threatened the uber-alpha until he left my wounded pack mate alone.
But, instead, I found myself springing to my feet and running toward his strength. Hunter was as n***d as I was, probably having shifted only moments earlier, and he didn’t seem to know what to do with the body slamming up against his own. After an agonizing pause, though, his muscular arms rose to wrap around me.
His hug was tentative at first. But then his embrace tightened as I clung to his shoulder blades, fighting back tears.
“Dead?” I asked with a gulp when I finally felt capable of opening my mouth without keening.
I stumbled as Hunter thrust
