Page 54 of The Patron Saint of Timber Hollow

"Not really. The boys, yes. I'm just an interloper," I joke, trying to ease the tension I feel in the air now.

"So you go where they go?" Angel bites, crossing her arms. My wolf cracks one golden eye open, peering at her from the depths of my soul.

"Um, no. Ichooseto hang with Jay on my days off, you know,because he's my boyfriend, and Saint and Dantehappento be there too since they also happen to live there." That's… not exactly the entire truth, but she doesn't need to know that.

"Right, you live with them all. Are you fucking all of them too?" Angel blurts, disgust written across her face.

I choke on laughter, practically doubling over with mirth, before I smirk and answer, "All of them? No."

Angel's face turns red, and she says, "You BITCH!"

"Alright! That's enough, Angel. What Artemis does on her time off and in her love life is none of your business," Ivy interjects, stepping between us.

Angel still looks disgusted and pissed off, but she just asks Ivy, "Am I good to go?"

"Yes. Enjoy your days off," Ivy answers, giving her a placating smile. Angel leaves with another look of disgust thrown my way over her shoulder.

When the door to Coyote Bills slams shut behind her, Ivy waits all of a few seconds before asking, "So, bynot all of them, you meant not Dante, but yes, you are fucking Jay and certain Mr Delacroix, aren't you?" The watery humor in Ivy's voice makes me burst with laughter.

I clear my throat, then answer, "Yes. Mr Delacroix and Mr Temple seem to work very nicely in tandem."

"Good for you, girl," Ivy laughs, then says, "You know that's what all that was about, right. She likes Saint."

"Yes, I know. I don't know what's happening between us three, but that doesn't mean it's any of Angel's business."

"You're right, it's not. But let's notantagonize the poor girl, okay?"

"Yeah, yeah.I wasn'ttryingto.She just wouldn't let it go."

"I know, I heard. I will talk to Angel about calling you a bitch, though. That's not cool."

"Eh, I'm not worried about it. Angel can call me a bitch if it makes her feel better," I shrug. I genuinely am not bothered by her….anymore.

"Are you sure?" Ivy asks, handing me my jacket.

"Yeah. Good night, Ivy. My car will be here for a bit; I need to run off some of this energy." I tell her, backing towards the door.

"Be safe, don't wander too far. Text me when you're back to your car," She implores, flipping down light switches on her way to the other side exit where the stairs to her apartment are.

"Yeah, yeah." I repeat, and she just barely sneaks a "Good night, Artemis," in before I close the door behind me, locking up with my set of keys.

Walking to the Stingray, I text Sam to tell her I'm sneaking in a solo run. I'm stupid, but not foolish enough to ghost everyone with Hunters in the area.

If I don't run, though, I'm going to say or do some dumb shit…well,dumbershit. I canfeelit.

The boys and I have done a few jaunts around town and through the edges of the forest, but it's not enough. I can't explain why this itch under my skin persists.

Ivy's sleek black Impala sits in its space beside my car. Lights above the bar illuminate her frosted windows, so I know she's made it to her loft.

Without another thought, I strip and leave my things in the Stingray.

The shift overtakes me alarmingly fast, my wolf rushing forward as the two halves of my soul collide. Bones cracking, rearranging, and reassembling all in a heartbeat. My wolven teeth in my jaw, fur rippling over my skin. Tail erupting from my spine.

And then it'sfreedom.Blessed freedom within the tall pines.

With my nose to the forest floor, my wolf and I explore the region around Coyote Bills, quickly locating the running trails around Sommerville. We stay hidden in the shadowy parts of the wood, easily slinking across the forest floor.

A sleeping forest is a quiet one.