Page 104 of Cursed: Ride or Die
“Do you know where he was heading?”
“A small town about twenty miles from here.” Noah remembered Slade’s phone calls, making a hotel reservation.
Mac gave a curt nod. “That’s about four hours for a wolf at a lope.”
“Faster if I run.”
“Don’t wear yourself out. Save your strength for when you need it.”
Good advice. Noah needed to find Slade. Had Slade intended to leave him behind? Or had he been afraid to ask Noah to leave his new home?
What about the curse? Slade said he could only break the curse if he loved and lost, so would Noah be in the way of Slade finally being free?
Noah’s head hurt, the possibilities rolling around his mind with sharp points. He would never know if he didn’t ask. Yes, he could get someone to help him call. In the truck with the music blasting, Slade might not hear the ring. Besides, some conversations were meant to take place face to face.
Surely he’d pick up Slade’s scent easily in a small town.
Noah should get there in less than four hours.
He re-entered the house and found the charm, the one he’d seen so often hanging from Slade’s neck. Slade’s pendant. He’d left his pendant for Noah.
Noah held the silver ornament in the palm of his hand, imagining he could still feel the lingering heat from Slade’s body. Thank gods the books got something else wrong: werewolves could handle silver.
Then he spotted the painting. How had Slade managed this in secret?
The image showed Noah sleeping, in both his forms. Peaceful, at ease. Like he’d been whenever safe in Slade’s arms. He carefully stroked the canvas with his fingertips, tracing Slade’s signature at the bottom, along with the initials MW.My wolf.Every brushstroke seemed a caress to Noah’s skin. Slade had abandoned painting on canvas years ago. He’d restarted for Noah.
Slade said, “I love you,” with actions better than words ever could.
“Wherever you go, let us know. We’ll send your things.” Aunt Debra hugged Noah, holding him close and humming lightly under her breath. She didn’t appear inclined to let go.
“Ya reckon you ought to let him go sometime today?” Mac asked after several moments.
Debra pulled away, swiping at her shimmering eyes with the back of her hand. “Please keep in touch.”
Noah gave his aunt another hug. “I will.”
He stared longingly at the helmet. A wolf darting through the woods in a motorcycle helmet might draw attention. “I’ll ask Slade to call, let you know what happens.” Calling. A shiver of fear snaked up Noah’s spine. Cell phones. Internet. If he joined Slade in the human world, he’d have to learn to use technology.
Suddenly, he gained a new respect for Paul, who’d thrust himself into the human world for love. Wasn’t Noah doing the same?
Mac took Debra’s place for a hug. “Don’t be afraid. I know you’ve always been told to avoid humans. Sooner or later, we’ll have to embrace them if we don’t want to die out as a people.”
After one more quick hug, Mac stepped back. Several of the pack had gathered outside the cottage to wish him well. With practiced motions, Noah stripped out of his clothes, lay on his side on the floor, and willed the shift. The process took the blink of an eye to go from man to standing on four paws.
Mac opened the door. Side by side, they padded down the steps. “I’d go part of the way with you if I could.” He rubbed a hand over Noah’s head.
Noah chuffed in reply. Four wolves in human form stood nearby, and roughly a dozen wolves in fur. Too many wolves running together would draw attention—and likely stray hunters. The pack had lasted too long to make stupid moves now.
He’d spent the morning memorizing the route. He could follow the stream most of the way, then cross a highway at sundown and continue, entering the town at night. He set off, an older wolf leading, other wolves grouped around. Uncle Ed? They hadn’t spoken since Ed accused Noah’s mother of betraying the pack.
His mother. She’d name Noah “Andrew.” She must have loved her brother, and Andrew seemed genuinely repentant of his role in wolf deaths. One day, he might even earn the name “Uncle.” Especially now that the man agreed to take Noah’s place in creating a truce with the wolves as head of the Prichard family—a family Noah currently wanted no part of.
He ran faster than the lope Mac suggested. If he arrived too early, he’d simply find a place to hide until dark.
In ones and twos, the wolves dropped away, leaving Noah and Ed. At the edge of their territory, Ed chuffed, falling back. Apology accepted.
Noah’s heart raced. Now, to find his man. One way or another, his life would never be the same.
