Chapter 10:

POV: Carlie

Jake hung up on me. What is happening? Why did he sound so concerned?

I shook my head. I trust him. If he tells me that I need to get back he might know something I don't.

What would a human boy know that I don't? Maybe there is a storm coming in.

I kicked the carcass of the bear that I had drained. Maybe I could drink at least one more animal before I leave. My throat burned at the thought. It was not a desperate need. The flame burned hotter as I pushed the thought of drinking another animal away. I have blood syrup at home I will just mix it in with human food when I get home.

Turning I found a branch in a tree that was within my jumping range. Then I could climb the tree and figure out what direction my car is. I was so stupid by not watching the direction I was traveling. Every hunting trip with my family or Seth they would just magically know how to get back to the car.

Springing I jumped into the tree. I climbed silently feeling on edge. Hearing a rustling in the trees. I paused. Tuning into my gift I projected an image of the tree I was currently standing in without me standing there. I had to tune into all those training sessions with Seth.

_FLASHBACK_

"Okay Ren you need to practice projecting your gift to conceal yourself" Seth told me.

I was sitting on the meadow floor. Seth was walking in front of me like a drill sergeant. Pulling out my phone I took a video of him pacing and sent it to Claire.

"What are you doing?" Seth paused looking at my phone in my hand.

"Sent Claire a video of you pacing back and forth" I told him.

Seth jumped at me pinning me to the ground. Laughing I flipped him so he was now on his back on the ground.

"Why can you not see that whatever tries to attack me I will just fight?" I asked him

"Easy." He said flipping me so he was no on top again "I do not want to think of you in a fight. Also you have an amazing gift. Use it to get away from the fight then run home" Seth's voice lost its normal joking tone.

"Who do you think will come after me?" I asked my voice in a whisper. Seth looked away. I flipped him. Putting my hands on the side of his face. He sat up wrapping his arms around me now sitting on his lap.

"I fear that your moms best friend will choose to kill you." Seth told me. A shiver ran up my spine.

"What does he look like?" I asked.

"You will not see him in human form." Seth sounded sure. "His fur is a russet colour."

Seth hugged me and put me back down on the meadow floor. I projected my gift out projecting the spot I sat in to look like it did when I was not there.

"Perfect" Seth smilled. I loved it when he smiled.

_ FLASHFORWARD _

My heart slowed as I focused on projecting the tree I stood in to not show I was standing in it. I prayed that Seth and I practiced this enough to truly hide me. That is when I heard the familiar sound. Giant wolf paws slapping the earth as they got closer to my location. I was excited. Did Seth or Leah come and visit! I focused on keeping my illusion up. Even if it was a friend that does not mean I do not want to show off how good I have gotten at this.

That is when I saw it. The russet coloured wolf. My heart stopped. I leaned closer to the tree. Making sure my illusion was strong. My knees felt weak with fear. Everyone has always told me that if I ever saw the russet colour wolf I needed to come home. He was going to kill me.

The wolf sniffed the carcass it was following my scent. Fuck! My illusion only goes so far. I have not mastered hiding my scent. I hope the jump from the floor to the tree would cause some confusion. The wolf raised their head in my direction. Searching for me in the trees.

My heart dropped out of my chest. His eyes. The wolf has his eyes. I have a crush on the enemy. NO! I could tell by the confusion in his eyes that he did not see me.

He would not see that I was breaking my own heart. I refused to care for someone that caused my mom so much pain. I watched her cry at least once a year over this wolf that was now searching for me. I sat through bonfires with the wolf pack where they would mourn the loss of their brother. Sitting beside Billy's hospital bed when he had a lung infection, listening to his memories of his lost son.

I could not kill him. He will also not kill me.

He walked under the branch I stood on. I only had one opportunity. I needed to use all my power to blind him. So I could run away. I dropped my illusion taking a deep breath I focused all my gift in my hand. I had one shot to blind him all I needed to do was drop on his back and touch my hand to his head.

I let myself fall from the branch.