She glanced at the other door that led into the store. She could lie back down and play along until they sent her on her way. It would mean she couldn’t return. Digger and Volti would know she’d fooled them then for sure.

She looked out the window again, watching the line of trees. No one else was around. She glanced at the log structure. It wasn’t too far away and thick trees covered most of the hill. She debated her options.

It would be stupid to make a dash for that lodge to find Lavos on her own. They’d mentioned delegates from other clans. She could guess what that meant. Werewolves from other packs had come to visit. The woods could literally be crawling with them. The memory of what Lavos looked like while shifted sent a chill down her spine.

Her other alternative would be to forget about trying to gain his help by meekly leaving town. But she’d come a long way. It was a hell of a choice.

The memory of those Vampires flashed in her mind. What if they did send out messages to other Vampire nests? Lavos said they loved to live in cities. She’d be safe if she avoided any large ones, probably.

“Damn,” she muttered.

What if Vampires and Werewolf packs talked to share information? They knew she was immune to mind control. Was there already some alert going out for her? Would everything that went bump in the night and day be after her ass? Paranoia could only go so far to keep her safe. She needed to know what she was up against if she wanted a chance at surviving. That meant she’d have to get answers.

She could kidnap a Werewolf and make him talk. She ditched that idea as soon as it formed. She wasn’t about to kill someone like Lavos, regardless of what they wanted to do to her. They were just trying to protect their secrets, unlike Vampires, who were bloodthirsty perverts who attacked women for no good reason. The two men in the store had just wanted to wipe her memory and send her on her way. Neither one had demanded she perform sexual acts on them.

Her last option would be to change her looks, ditch the RV and her car. That RV was her only protection though. Her dad had left her a lot of money. She could order another RV that wasn’t traceable, but it would take months to have all the special features added to it. Months she’d be sleeping in motels with cheap doors and easy access to her if something wanted in.

Fuck. She stared up at that lodge. She needed to talk to Lavos. She didn’t want to die. Digger was going to go play with her engine and he’d figure out fast that there wasn’t anything wrong with it. He’d come back and she’d have to leave town. Her only chance at finding Lavos would be gone.

She gripped the handle of the door but examined the frame first. There was no alarm hooked to it. It wasn’t even a sturdy security door. The town must not have much crime. She twisted the knob and it turned. She opened the door an inch.

“Damn,” she hissed. “This is stupid—but what choice do I have?”

She eased the door open and stepped outside. She froze momentarily, looking at the woods once more, not seeing any other people or hairy beasts. She pushed off the wall and ran for all she was worth to the line of trees.

Chapter Eleven

Jadee peeked out from behind a big tree trunk, staring at the building. No one lounged outside but she couldn’t exactly just stroll inside the double doors. Her heart pounded and she turned her head, looking down the hill she’d just climbed. The small town sat below. Her RV remained parked at the garage. Digger had lifted the hood up and stood on something to reach the engine. Volti hadn’t charged out of the store to search for her so far. At least she hadn’t seen him.

How easy would it be for them to track her?

They’re like dogs. Probably as simple as pie. She clenched her teeth.

A noise behind her made her startle and turn her head. The double doors opened and a few men stepped outside of the lodge. They weren’t Lavos but they looked badass. Were all the men in town muscular and large? It seemed that way, since all of Lavos’s pack she’d seen so far fit that exact description.

One of them jogged down the steps and headed into the woods behind the lodge. The other one withdrew his phone, dialed, and then held it up to his ear. His voice didn’t carry to her but he seemed to be amused by whoever he spoke to.

The guy strolled toward the side of the building, still talking on his phone. He disappeared around the corner.

Jadee looked down the hill. Digger had closed the hood on her RV and carried his toolbox inside his garage.

“Shit.” Time wasn’t on her side.

The doors opened behind her again. She knew the sound now. She peered around the tree trunk…

And relief flooded her as Lavos stepped out.

He talked to someone inside, his body turned sideways. She drank in his profile. He wore a nice T-shirt and faded jeans. He looked really good. He even wore the biker boots still.

Close the door so I can step out and you can see me, she thought his way. Come on. Stop talking so I can let you know I’m here.

He closed the door and took a few steps down the stairs. Jadee sucked in a deep breath and almost moved when the door opened again. A tall, beautiful dark-haired woman wearing a green formal dress exited.

“Wait!”

Lavos spun, giving Jadee his back. The woman stopped at the top of the stairs. Her mouth moved but Jadee had no idea what she said. She wished she could hear them. Lavos stayed at the bottom of the steps.

Jadee glanced down the hill. Digger had left his garage and walked toward the gas station. He would go in there and they’d know she had escaped.

Panic hit. They’d hunt for her.

She twisted her head, irritated that the woman and Lavos still yakked away as if they didn’t have a care in the world.

The woman gripped the railing of the stairs and gracefully made her way down each step. Jadee didn’t miss the way she seemed to be looking at Lavos as if he were a meat stick she wanted to eat. She proved Jadee’s theory by stopping one step up so her and Lavos were the same height. The bitch put her hands on the tops of his shoulders and leaned in. Her dress was so low cut her boobs almost spilled out.

Jealousy struck but Jadee pushed it back. She had bigger worries—like the fact that Digger was now inside the store and they’d probably noticed she wasn’t still inside that storage room.

She looked down in time to see the back door being thrown open and Volti rushing outside.

The jig is up. Damn. She watched Digger join Volti behind the store. The clerk crouched, bracing his hand on the ground. He was either sniffing it or looking for footprints. His head snapped up and he seemed to be staring right in her direction.