Free Red: Into the Dark by Sophie Stern Page B

upon an unlikely hunting crew, but it doesn’t matter now.
    She’s safe now.
    I keep trying to remind myself of that.
    Right now, I need to stay focused. I try not to worry too much about the pack or why they were sent to get Red. I don’t know if they planned to kill her or just break her before they brought her to the Alpha. It doesn’t matter, though. All that matters is that she’s safe now. I won’t let anything else happen to her.
    Part of me is horrified that I almost got there too late.
    Just a few more minutes and it would be all over.
    I won’t let myself think about that. Even though I don’t think anyone will see the wolves, I need to take care of disposal. Cleanup is never fun, but unfortunately, I’ve seen my fair share of bodies and I’ve learned what it takes to get them hidden away.
    It wouldn’t do to have someone come across half a dozen bodies in the middle of the forest, so I dispose of them. The task takes me over three hours. It’s not pleasant. It’s messy and gross and my clothes are ruined. I thought it would be easier to deal with while dressed, but I was wrong. I ditch the clothes, go for a swim, then head back to the cabin.
    Red should be awake. Hopefully she isn’t too freaked out or upset that I left her. I’ll explain everything, then she’ll understand. She has to.
    She seemed pretty happy that I saved her. Then again, I’d be happy if anyone came to my rescue from a horrible attack, too, no matter who my savior was. It doesn’t mean she’s crazy about me. It doesn’t mean she even likes me very much.
    When I step up to the cabin, I hesitate for just a moment. Am I ready for this? When I walk through that door, everything will be different. I won’t just be Wolfy, her friendly pet. I won’t be some animal who brings her dinner. No, I’ll be me: shifter and all. I’ll be Nash, the guy who saved her, but who is damaged. I’ve got baggage. I’ve got crap I carry with me. Will she be willing to deal with that? Will Red see the real me through the pain?
    There’s only one way to find out.
    I unlock the cabin door and step inside. My eyes quickly adjust to the dim lighting and I find Red sitting up in bed. She eyes me from her position. She’s guarded. Her back is to the wall and her quilt is pulled up to her neck.
    I try not to laugh at her. She looks pissed, but she’s so cute that she looks more like a feisty kitten than anything else.
    Instead of asking her if she’s okay, which I suspect will get a stuffed animal or pillow thrown at me, I take a seat in the rocking chair, lean back, and cross my legs at the ankles.
    Then I wait.
    I act like I have all the time in the world because to be honest, I kind of do. I don’t have any pressing career to run to or anyplace I have to be. The only thing I wanted to do was live a calm, happy life away from the pack.
    Even that seems to be impossible now.
    I know Jeffrey is after Red. She’s made that much clear enough, but to be honest, I kind of figured she was exaggerating. It would make sense for her to do so. She’s a sweet kid, but she has no idea how big the world is.
    What makes her so special that he’d want to destroy her?
    I wait patiently, but she just sits there stewing. Finally, just when I think I should give up and go for a run or something, she takes a deep breath and asks, “Aren’t you ever going to put any clothes on?”
    “Why would I? You’ve seen me naked before.”
    “Not like that!” She gasps, as if the idea of a naked man in her home is the worst thing she could possibly think of. I roll my eyes.
    “You know, if you want to be technical, little Red, I was here first. If you have a problem with my nudity, perhaps you should just get out,” I rise from the rocking chair, standing in the middle of the room, just staring at her. Then I jerk my thumb toward the door in one quick, harsh motion. Is it mean? Absolutely, but it gets a response. Oh, it definitely gets a response.
    She stands up and