Chapter 38 Wolf
Wolf
The lodge went quiet after the plan was set.
Not the calm kind of quiet —
the waiting kind.
Havoc took position outside.
Trigger posted at the back approach.
Saint jammed signals and began constructing a digital maze designed to look sloppy, vulnerable.
Deliberate mistakes.
Bait.
Sheriff Tate left just before midnight to coordinate deputies who could be trusted. The rest of the world thought Nora Carver was sedated in a hospital room two counties away.
She wasn’t.
She stood at the window of the lodge, arms wrapped around herself, staring out at the dark tree line like it might stare back.
I crossed the room slowly, not wanting to startle her.
“You don’t have to do this,” I said quietly. “We can change the plan.”
She shook her head. “No. I don’t want to run anymore.”
That stopped me.
She turned to face me then — not afraid, not shaking — resolved.
“They tried turn me into something once,” she said. “Without asking. Without caring what it would cost.”
My chest tightened.
“I don’t let them decide what happens to me again.”
I stepped closer. “Nora—”
“I trust you,” she said, cutting me off. “That’s why I’m doing this.”
It was the single most dangerous thing she could have said to me.
Because I knew exactly what trust cost.
Saint’s voice drifted from the corner. “Wolf. I’m ready when you are.”
I nodded once — then looked back at Nora.
“Stay here,” I said. “Just for a minute.”
She nodded. “I’ll be right here.”
I crossed to Saint’s workstation.
“What’ve you got?” I asked.
Saint tapped a few keys. “An old secure channel Keller used years ago. Obsolete by today’s standards, but he’d never abandon it completely. Men like that don’t like unknown variables.”
Trigger smirked. “He’ll check it eventually.”
“No,” I said. “He’s already watching it.”
Saint glanced up. “You’re sure?”
“I am,” I replied. “He’s been waiting for us to blink.”
Saint leaned back. “What do you want to send?”
I thought of Nora.
Standing tall.
Refusing to be small.
“Send him this,” I said.
Saint’s fingers hovered. “Message content?”
I didn’t hesitate.
YOU LOST CONTROL.
SHE IS NOT YOUR ASSET.
COME AND TRY TO PROVE OTHERWISE.
Trigger let out a low whistle. “That’s stepping directly on his throat.”
“That’s the point,” I said.
Saint transmitted the message.
The screen blinked once.
Then went dark.
Saint frowned. “He received it.”
Trigger stiffened. “How can you tell?”
“Because,” Saint said quietly, “he opened it immediately.”
Nora
I felt it.
Not fear.
Not panic.
A shift.
Like something had just noticed me again.
Wolf returned to my side, his presence grounding, solid.
“Message sent,” he said.
I swallowed. “What did you say?”
His eyes searched mine — honest, raw. “The truth.”
A strange calm washed over me. “Then he’ll come.”
“Yes,” Wolf said. “But not how he wants.”
I nodded. “Good.”
I was surprised even by myself.
He studied me. “You’re steadier.”
“I’m done being hunted,” I replied. “If they come for me again, it’s not because I’m weak.”
I stepped closer to him.
“It’s because I'm worth the risk.”
Something broke in Wolf’s expression.
Before he could stop himself — before either of us could — he reached for me.
His hands framed my face, warm, rough, reverent.
“Nora,” he murmured, forehead resting against mine, “when this is over…”
“When,” I echoed.
He exhaled slowly. “I don’t know how to exist where you’re not part of my life.”
My chest tightened. “Good. Because I don’t want to either.”
For a moment, the war faded.
No Keller.
No hunters.
No shadows in the trees.
Just us.
Wolf leaned in — slow, deliberate — giving me time.
I didn’t pull away.
His lips brushed my temple… my cheek… barely grazing the corner of my mouth.
Promise.
Not possession.
Not yet.
Trigger cleared his throat loudly from the back door. “Uh. Hate to ruin the vibe, but…”
Wolf straightened immediately.
Saint’s laptop chimed.
Then chimed again.
Then began pinging relentlessly.
Saint stood. “I’m getting thermal anomalies.”
Havoc’s voice crackled through the radio. “Movement at the tree line. Two figures. Maybe three.”
My heart thudded — but didn’t break.
Wolf’s hand tightened around mine.
“Game time,” he said.
Saint stared at the screen, eyes wide. “Wolf… Keller just responded.”
A chill skated down my spine.
“What did he say?” I asked.
Saint swallowed.
YOU WERE NEVER SUPPOSED TO REMEMBER.
brING HER BACK — OR WE WILL COME COLLECT WHAT IS OURS.
Wolf’s jaw hardened.
I lifted my chin.
“No,” I said clearly. “You won’t.”
Wolf looked at me — pride, fury, and love tangling into something fierce.
“They’ve crossed the final line,” he said.
Trigger cocked his weapon. “Then we end this.”
Havoc’s voice came through calm and ready. “Targets approaching perimeter.”
I squeezed Wolf’s hand.
“Whatever happens,” I whispered, “thank you for not giving up on me.”
He squeezed back.
“I never will.”
Outside, the forest shifted.
The hunters were coming.
And this time?
They were walking into a trap.