*Kyra*I wander in a circle around the perimeter of the camp, my eyes open and ears on high alert, looking for trouble. More like asking for trouble. What I really need to do right now is punch something, well, someone. I could see it in Hayes’ face, the way he watches me with a smug look when I talk about trackers and what we do.He is looking down on me, remembering me from when we were kids and assuming I never changed. Which is hilarious considering that when I look back at eighteen-year-old me, she seems so immature and far away. I was a warrior, but I had no motivation to push myself. That changed when I had a broken heart to protect and nowhere else to go.It’s strange how we find strength after being broken. A true test of character is going from having everything to having nothing and trying to find a way back up again. Strength is feeling betrayed by others, so you have to learn to trust yourself. I learned that from Tyler. So everyday I grew stronger, a new drive to be the best, for myself and everyday Tyler showed up and he trained me. He waited for me to find myself before pushing the mate bond. And it was his patience and persistence that made me accept him.A soft owl hoot from above brings me back to where I’m at, making me shake my head of the past thoughts. I duck under a low branch before a shiver runs up my spine and I realize I’m not alone. A stick snaps to my right, on the other side of the tree where I stand and I press myself against the dry bark.There were no signs of dragons in the area. No heat or dying foliage, but then again, I hadn’t seen that around when I was attacked last time, either. I peek around, searching into the darkness for someone, when a soft shadow is cast across the tree from the moon peeking through the branches. Instinct kicks in and I sprint toward the source, carefully placing my feet in spots that have no sticks of dried leaves. It feels like I slam into a brick wall from behind before it gives way and falls forward. The figure grunts, throwing its hands out to stop itself before landing on all fours.I twist as I fly over their head, my arms scooping up and under their armpits locking onto them. As I fall over them, their body rises up into the air, slipping from my grip. I growl in annoyance as I roll over to my stomach, forcing myself up, but I’m not fast enough as a body slams into my chest, throwing me backward.Pain laces up my side as I grit my teeth, refusing to give them the satisfaction of knowing they found a weakness on me. My claws come out, as I grip on and dig my nails into the warm body I feel through the shirt. They lift their head and cry out in shock and pain. The blood in my face drains and I retract my claws, letting go as they roll over me, straddling my body.”Damn it!” Marcos grumbles, his face close to mine. “Kyra stop! It’s Marcos!””Why didn’t you say anything earlier?” I hiss at him as he glares at me.”I was a little busy being tackled,” he grumbles.He doesn’t move from his spot, clearly worried I might try to attack him again. My body relaxes under him, my arms falling to the side of my head with his grip on my wrists. There is no denying the position we are in looks and feels intimate, more so than when Hayes gave him the black eye he is currently sporting.”You snuck up on me while I was on watch.” I retort and tilt my head to the side.A smile breaks over his perfect face and I feel a fluttering in my stomach. No man has ever been this close to me, in this type of position, but Tyler.Suddenly my cheeks flush pink and I find myself looking away, hating that my body misses this type of warmth and the weight of a man above me. It’s not all sexual, but more the nostalgia of what would happen and with whom when I was usually like this. “I wasn’t trying to sneak up on you.” He mutters, his eyes falling to my lips as my mouth goes dry.Marcos is undeniably attractive, hell I’d venture to say he looks angelic. His face is perfectly symmetrical with a tan that makes me think he spends all his days at the beach. And his dark hair and light-colored eyes make him all the more alluring. But this spark with him, this feeling in my gut, is a memory of what Tyler could do to me.Marcos is easily trouble for me. He is the kind man I could be with and has no sadness over him also being with someone else, because I would almost expect it from him. But my heart is not in the place for such things, not when it is confused and thinking it belongs to Hayes again. sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ Fɪndηovᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.”Are you going to just lay on top of me or are you going to help me up and tell me why you came out here?” I ask, meeting his eyes.I watch the way his face shifts from almost a sensual haze to reality and his eyes grow wide before he releases my wrists and jumps up. He reaches out, offering me a hand as he tugs me back up and I dust myself off.”Sorry,” He says, rubbing the back of his head. “I kind of got carried away.””Why are you out here, Marcos?” I ask him.He frowns.”I was just checking on you.” He offers as an explanation and I scoff, a disbelieving smile tugging at the corner of my lips.”I am fine.” I tell him truthfully.”It didn’t seem like it when I walked up. And then when Nisha filled me in…””None of you have faith in my abilities, and it’s annoying. But truth be told, I’m not here to impress anyone or prove myself. I am here to get the job done, and I will.” I shrug.Marcos exhales heavily, walking over to me before plopping down on the ground and leaning up against a tree.”Trackers make most of us feel useless.” He says with a sigh.”How is that?” I ask him.”We are warriors, and we are hunting someone we have never gotten close enough to even scent. Do you have any idea how upsetting that is? It’s like hunting fucking bigfoot. Half the time I wonder if this Ezrah guy actually exists or if Alpha Merikh imagined this scenario up.” He admits.I can see the guilt in his eyes the second he says the words. He squeezes them closed and exhales.”Alpha Merikh is not the kind to make things up.” I say and he nods.”No, I know that it’s just…” He pauses and then he leans forward. “Hayes is his brother, his beta, and he hates Alpha now. He can barely stand to be in the room with him. How are we supposed to trust one while trusting the other?” I hear a gentle shifting of leaves behind us and I look back, seeing nothing, smelling nothing before rising and taking two steps in the direction. Marcos comes up to my side his hand on my back as Hean forward and squint my eyes,“Isearching for anything.I can feel eyes on me, as if there is a weight pinning me in place, but it doesn’t feel threatening. Instead, it feels almost safe, like for once I’m not afraid of what is behind me.”Do you see anything?” Marcos whispers, and I shake my head.”No, it’s just an animal.” I mutter before I turn, Marcos’ hand staying where it was as my body moves and I look down, finding the warmth of his palm on my stomach. He yanks it back and clears his throat. apologize.” He offers me a sincere look.”It’s fine.” I say nervously, creating a space between us. “You can head back and go to sleep, Marcos.””Are you sure you are going to be okay?” He asks.I frown at him. “Why is it you guys don’t fawn over Nisha, but with me, you all assume I am weak and in need of constant check ups?”He blinks at me, his mouth falling open before he snaps it shut and gives me a tight smile.”To be honest, my concern is out of guilt.””Ah, you drugged me so you feel responsible.” I say, and he gives me a grin.”Guilty. Though I will also admit I am attracted to you.”My eyes widen, completely taken aback. Of all the things to say, on a mission like this, that is not something I expected from anyone.”Uh, well. Thank you, I guess?” I offer, crossing my arms over my chest, my cheeks blushing red.”I know that there is something going on between you and Hayes, but-“”Woah! There is nothing going on between me and Hayes.” I snort. “We used to be best friends, that is it.”He looks at me skeptically.”As the guy sporting this sexy black eye, I can assure you that is not it. Hayes doesn’t blow up like that. Hell, the Hayes he has been since you entered the picture is not the same one we knew before.” I tilt my head, unsure if I should feel flattered or offended.”How was he before?” I ask, my voice a little squeaky.”Well, I never knew the pre-war Hayes. Not well enough to say I knew him. But Hayes, before you came, was…well he was robotic. He had one mode, fight.””Seems like he is still in that mode.” I scoff, and Marcos shakes his head.”No, trust me. This one is different,” he mutters.I say nothing, honestly unsure of what to say now that Hayes is in my thoughts, confusing me and angering me all without being around. Marcos stands awkwardly for a moment before he huffs out a sigh. “Well, if you are sure you are okay out here, I will head back then.” He says.I can tell he wants to stay, maybe because he wants to be around me or maybe because he still feels I am not up to the task, but what I want is to be left alone.”See you in the morning.” I say, giving him a tight smile.”Actually… Do you mind if I just sit with you for a little longer?” He asks. I narrow my eyes.”Why?” I ask him and he chuckles.”It’s completely innocent, I promise. I just find it peaceful being around you. Or maybe it’s being around someone new. I promise I won’t talk.” He says, tossing his hands up.”Fine.” I roll my eyes. “But if you make a sound, I’m sending you back.”He makes a movement over his mouth like he is zipping his lips up and I smile at the cute little action. Then I look out into the distance and I swear I can see a figure watchingus and my heart lurches when lrealize just how similar the shape is to Tyler’s. I squeeze my eyes shut tight, and rub them, looking at the same blank spot where a body inhabited milliseconds earlier. Either I am going crazy or we are being followed, and I am not sure which one it is yet.
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