Chapter 23 #3
While I get out of the car, Thane grabs a huge duffle bag out of the trunk.
“I hope you’re not planning to stuff my body in that,” I attempt to joke, though there’s a part of me wondering if that really is his intention.
Apparently, he doesn’t find my comment funny because he ignores me, pulling his shirt over his head. It takes longer than I’d like for me to pull my eyes from his chiseled abs that seem to glisten in the setting sun.
“It’ll be quicker for you to ride on my back,” he says, beginning to unbuckle his belt. “I’ll help you onto the trunk so that you can climb on.”
“Can you at least tell me what it is we’re doing out here?” I insist, motioning to the surrounding forest.
“You’ll find out soon enough. Now, come here.”
He puts both of his hands on my hips, lifting me onto the car with ease. When he starts taking off his pants, I look away until I feel him nuzzle my leg, telling me to get on. Although I’ve already ridden on his back, my palms are still clammy as I fist his black fur.
Thane turns around and picks the duffle bag up in his mouth before taking off into the woods.
While the trees blur around us, the glow of the setting sun quickly fades as night descends.
Thane keeps a steady pace, which allows me to sit up without fear of falling off.
Unlike the exhilarating run we had gone on the night of the garden party, this one feels natural. Like it’s something we do all the time.
I eventually loosen my grip just enough to feel the softness of his fur.
There’s something about him in his wolf form that makes me forget about all of the bad things he’s done to me.
He’s enormous, with teeth that could tear through a car tire, but there’s also a gentleness to him.
It’s like when he’s in his wolf, he’s free to drop the Alpha bullshit.
Unfortunately, this version of him is only temporary.
Once we get to where we’re going, he’ll turn back into the man who makes my skin crawl with hatred.
Who enjoys finding new ways to hurt me. Who looks at me like I’m the cause of every terrible thing the humans ever did.
That’s who Thane is, and it’s important I don’t forget it.
By the time he slows down, we must be at least fifteen miles from the car. The air is cold, but there’s a certain smell to it that makes me wonder if we’re close to the ocean.
Thane drops the bag from his mouth and lays down so that I can slide off.
The moment my feet hit the ground, I nearly collapse.
I cling to him for support, shaking out my legs, which have grown weak from having to clench his enormous frame.
He’s still lying on the ground when he shifts back, but I don’t miss a beat, turning around to avoid seeing his naked body, though I do have to admit it’s not a bad view.
I hear him unzip the duffle bag and pray that it’s a pair of pants he’s pulling out.
“You can turn around now.”
Phew. I was right.
It looks like he didn’t bother to pack a shirt, but I can’t say I’m too disappointed. Hatred for him aside, he has one hell of a body, and I’m only human after all.
“So, are you finally going to tell me what it is we’re doing out here?” I ask, motioning to the dark forest as he kneels down to zip the duffle bag.
He picks it up and tosses it at my feet.
“I’m letting you go.” Everything seems to still.
There’s no way I just heard him right. “There are clothes and some other things you might find useful in the bag. The vampires and wolves know not to harm you, so you’ll be safe out here.
Any of the abandoned homes are yours for the taking.
We’re close to where I found you, so you should be able to find your way from here. ”
“What? You’re just letting me go? After all that?” There are so many thoughts whirling around in my head, trying to make sense of this. If there’s a bigger plan at play, I can’t figure out what it is.
“Yes,” he says simply, like the idea of him setting me free isn’t a complete mind-fuck.
“Why?” Maybe I should just take the bag and run before he changes his mind, but I want answers.
“It doesn’t matter why. Just go.”
He turns on his heel and leaps into his wolf form while I just stand there, completely stunned, watching him disappear into the woods. It takes a long moment for me to finally break free of my frozen stupor and accept that this is really happening.
As I begin walking through the forest, trying to figure out where I am, my mind starts to race.
Maybe this is another one of his cruel punishments—fool me into thinking I’m free and safe from him, only to be captured and thrown into the dungeon a week from now.
Or maybe this is a game he’s playing. Letting me go so that he can hunt me down again.
There’s just no way he’s actually setting me free.
Not when this entire time he’s been hellbent on controlling me.
I doubt that whatever he’s up to will be revealed tonight, though. The best thing I can do is find one of my old hiding spots and settle in for the night. Tomorrow, I’ll make a plan.