Broken Nightmare

Chapter 25

  Blake and Junto's stumbled into Claire's room, their faces grave with a message. They glanced between Spencer and I questionably before breaking their news to us. "There is someone in the forest."

Spencer got up and followed them from Claire's room. I squeezed her hand before I followed them out. Another one? Didn't we just fight someone, like, five minutes ago?

We met Nathan, Stephan, and Hyene, who had started arguing. I didn't hear all the sides of the argument, so I stood and scooted closer to find out what was going on. When I just closed in, they had just reached a conclusion. Of course. Just my luck. I joined their circle and Stephan glanced at me before shooting his gaze back at Nathan. "Watch her." He demanded.

Nathan nodded and headed towards me. He didn't meet my eyes, just grumbled, "Come on," and kept walking. Confused, I came to his side and followed.

Once we were away from the group, Nathan told me what was going on. "We've found someone in the forest. We don't know who they are yet and don't want to take any chances."

"Who's staying with Claire?"

"You really think she's the best choice right now?"

Nathan frowned. "She may not like you, but she has to respect the Shifters in the pack. If she hurts Claire, she can possibly be put to death."

I nodded, content with that answer. Well, a little more comforted.

He handed me some sweats and a gray T-shirt and I turned around. "Jules," he said and I heard his clothes ripping. I waited a second before I felt something cold and wet and turned around to find myself facing a familiar black wolf. I took his clothes and put them on his back.

He glanced expectantly at me before I gave him an explanation, "I don't want to ride this time. I can run."

This was one of the times I was grateful he couldn't talk. He snorted, giving me a stern look. I matched his glare best I can, and he eventually looked away from our stare down.

What had happened in the few minutes I was upstairs? Wasn't he just comforting me? On my side?

He started towards the woods and I followed, keeping up pretty well. I knew he was slowing his pace for me, but I was still pleased to be able to keep up. Shortly after starting, being the little Ms. Graceful I was, tripped on a tree root. My body went flying in front of my feet and my weight overtook my balance. I stumbled long enough to find the body of another tree and balance myself. Glancing up from my pitiful state, I found Nathan's dark eyes rolling at me. I shot him what I hoped was a nasty look and regained my own balance.

Nathan had snapped his head away from me and I knew Shifters were communicating telepathically. I asked Hyene if it was possible after Nathan's sarcastic remark later, and she confirmed it for me. He headed off to the left and I followed pitifully behind—tripping on my own shoes. I was good at running, but I didn't have much practice of it in the dense woods.

"Let me go!" I heard a familiar cry from the sheet of trees. Nathan slowed and stood protectively in front of me as we narrowed on the noise. I could feel the anxiety rise from him as we got closer. I wasn't worried. I felt at peace just from the cry I heard. Because if what I heard was real, there was no reason for me to be scared.

We came close enough to see blurs and I couldn't wait anymore by going at Nathan's excruciatingly slow pace. Without warning, I jumped in front of Nathan and dashed towards the commotion. I heard Nathan sprinting after me, so I picked up my pace, knowing I'd probably just get caught and in trouble by him—once again finding myself going slow.