Free Deceived By the Others by Jess Haines Page B

me. I didn’t have my cell, so I had no idea what time it was, but I was guessing probably midmorning by the amount of sun peeking through the drab tan curtains of our new cabin.
    I burrowed under the covers and groaned as I thought about facing the day. More unwanted mystery and avoiding unknown monsters out to make my life miserable did not sound like a good time. Neither did finding out how much further the “rumors” about my being a “leech’s pet” had spread.
    Soon enough, hunger and a desire to find out what the heck had happened to Chaz were enough of a goad to get me to leave the bed. I didn’t bother to shower. Instead, I grabbed a T-shirt and jeans out of the lone bag to survive our little “visit” yesterday, the bag that held the scant remains of my wardrobe. I got dressed, slipped on my shoes and track jacket, and headed outside, shading my eyes with a hand as I scanned the surroundings.
    The sun was well over the horizon, the sky a flawless blue, not a single cloud to hint at rain or fog. Birds chirped merrily in the underbrush, and the air smelled clean and fresh. It was warmer than yesterday, but the grass and dirt paths were still damp and a bit muddy. If I still went out for a walk in the woods with Nick and Sean, I’d have to wear my hiking boots instead of sneakers. Fortunately, they’d survived the rampage.
    I took a deep breath, enjoying the crisp mountain air as I walked the longer trail up to the lodge. A couple sharing a cup of coffee on the step in front of their cabin waved and smiled as I passed. I could tell by the amount of hair visible on their arms and the backs of their hands, as well as the thick stubble on the guy’s face, that they were Weres. Maybe word about my ties to Royce hadn’t spread to the entire pack after all. I wasn’t sure who else was staying here, but I had seen people who weren’t part of the pack in the dining hall. It was good to know that some of the other people here didn’t have a problem with the Sunstrikers, because that would’ve made the rest of this trip positively intolerable.
    Feeling a little better, I continued with more of a spring in my step. There were some people making a ruckus in the game room, but the dining hall was practically deserted. Mrs. Cassidy was clearing away a few dishes from a table, but she gave me a friendly smile and a nod when she saw me take a seat by one of the windows.
    I wondered where everybody was. There was a skinny, geeky-looking guy munching on some toast as he read a paperback off by himself in the corner. Not part of the Sunstrikers, though I’d seen him in here with a couple other guys yesterday. There was another stranger reading a newspaper at the far end of the room. George and Daisy the bartender were sitting together, heads close, and I could see the light touches to each other’s hands and gentle smiles they were giving each other. They made an incongruous couple, what with his bulk and her diminutive stature, but they seemed happy. I couldn’t tell if the girl was human, but I was sure George was Were of some flavor or another. Judging by his size and the ponderous way he moved, somehow I didn’t think it was wolf. No, it was something else. Something bigger. Bear, maybe.
    Mrs. Cassidy came by a few minutes later, a mug and coffee pot in hand. “Your young man has his hands full with that poor boy who’s turning for the first time this month. He said you might come by looking for him.”
    I lifted a brow, cradling my hands around the mug for the warmth as she poured coffee for me. “Oh, is that where he is? All right.”
    “Mmhm. In the meantime, what can I get you? We’ve got some fresh-made blueberry pancakes.”
    “That sounds great, thanks.”
    “Okay, I’ll have that out to you in a jiffy. Don’t you worry about your boy, now. He’ll be along once the new blood’s settled down a bit.”
    I hadn’t been particularly worried, but her repeated reassurance made me wonder if I should