Part 36 (2/2)

With a grimace, he stumbled toward the edge of the roof, then hung by his hands and let himself fall. He hit some bushes, scratching his legs and his a.s.s. Ignoring the sc.r.a.ped skin, he staggered away from the house.

A car door slammed.

”What the h.e.l.l?” somebody shouted.

Either the cops or the homeowner must have seen a naked man das.h.i.+ng for the woods. Maybe they thought the house had been invaded by a druggie and his dog.

Behind him he heard the beating of wings, then a man's voice rang out, his voice sharp and frightened.

”Get the h.e.l.l off me. Get off!”

And Logan knew the bird had attacked.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

LOGAN STOPPED SHORT and started to turn, until the bird came flapping toward him, squawking. Knowing that he was making them both a target, he doubled over, feeling like he had a bull's-eye on his a.s.s as he pounded toward the woods, gritting his teeth as stones dug into his feet.

He chanted as he ran. He'd never changed on the run. And he had never transformed from man to wolf to man and back again so many times in such a short period.

The process was always painful. But tonight his muscles and ligaments screamed in protest. Jaw clenched, he ignored the agony because he knew he couldn't outrun the cops if he remained in human form. And the next time the bird attacked, she could get shot.

Praying that they couldn't see him change in the darkness under the trees, he kept going, hitting the ground on all fours and stumbling before he got his footing again.

Somehow he kept running, and then there was another wolf keeping pace with him, a white wolf.

He stopped, dragging in air, fighting the pain in his side. Rinna came up beside him, nuzzling her muzzle against his face. He turned his head and licked her, wis.h.i.+ng he could talk.

He wanted to tell her how glad he was that she was there, and at the same time, he wanted to scream at her that she'd taken a d.a.m.n stupid chance by flying at the cops.

Probably it was better that he couldn't berate her, because he knew she was defending her mate-even if she didn't understand that yet.

After a few minutes rest he started moving again, not quite so fast, pacing himself. He was d.a.m.n glad he'd looked at the map earlier. When they came out on the road, he turned left, trotting along the shoulder until he came to a cross street.

He recognized the name and turned right, heading for the patch of woods where he'd left his tent.

Once Rinna left his side, and he wondered where she was going. She came back with a rabbit in her mouth, which she dropped at his feet.

He might have been embarra.s.sed to tear the animal apart in front of her. But he needed the nourishment. So he ate what she offered, then cleaned his mouth at a stream.

He had a good sense of direction. He only got turned around a few times.

Rinna stayed beside him, stopping when he had to rest, pressing her flank against his and waiting until he could travel again.

Finally he came out into the small clearing where he'd left the tent. To his vast relief, it was still there. He crawled inside and threw himself on the sleeping bag. When he thought he was strong enough to take the pain, he changed once more, gasping as he resumed his human form. After he could move, he pulled on jeans and a s.h.i.+rt before opening up the sleeping bag so Rinna would have some place to lie, if she dared to rest beside him.

She stuck her head inside the tent, and he saw that she had changed, too.

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