Page 66 of The Patron Saint of Timber Hollow

"Artemis, that's not going to happen. You'll be safe here," Jay scoffs, and my wolf growls, the sound echoing in my skull.

"If you don't let me come, I'll just end up going out alone," I blurt, re-crossing my arms.

"Will youpleasestay put, Artemis? You're the one they're going to be after!" Jay's voice rises at the end, his eyes flashing.

I scoff, rolling my eyes. "They'll never see me. They'll nevercatchme."

Jay's eyes darken, his voice lowering to practically a growl. "You can't run faster than a bullet."

"Maybe I can, I haven't ever tried!" I fire back, and Jay opens his mouth, stepping towards me before Saint charges between us, pressing a hand to Jay's chest.

"Okay, guys, we canallagree we're worried about each other,right?" Saint asks, glancing between us.

Jay and I mumble our agreement, glaring daggers at each other. Saint looks pleased.

"Amazing. So, if we areallconcerned about our safety, we should stick together,right?" Saint presses with a sly smile on his face.

Immediately, I shout, "That's what I've been saying this whole f-" I don't get to finish the sentence because Saint claps his handover my mouth, so the rest comes out as a muffled garble. He shoots me a cheeky grin when I fall silent.

Saint clears his throat before saying, "Jay? Can't you agree you'll be at least a little less worried about her if she's within your sight?" While he's speaking, I take the opportunity to lick the inside of his hand, trying to get him to remove it.

Saint barely reacts, other than a slight warble in his voice when my tongue touches his palm.

Sighing through my nose, I give up. Jay's eyes darken, but he nods in agreement only once.

Saint grins, his entire face transforming with the expression. He'sbeautiful.

And then Saint takes his hand off my face and says, "Alright then. Kiss and make-up or whatever," Before striding towards the back patio doors. I give him the finger as he walks away, and Saint just winks in return.

Jay looks at me softly before taking a few steps toward me and presses our foreheads together, blue-green eyes boring down into the depths of my soul. We stay like that for a few breaths, simply staring at each other.

"Just…. listen to your instincts, please," Jay asks quietly, "Don't worry about us. We can take care of ourselves. You just worry about not being seen."

I gulp but nod. I have no intention of leaving Jay and Saint behind if shit hits the fan. Jay's eyes dart back and forth, examining my expression. For a second, I think he will call me out on the white lie before he nods, too.

"If Ethan knows it's you, that we're shifters, he's going to try to goad you into doing something stupid," I whisper, smoothing my palms over his shoulders.

"It's a good thing I have you to keep me smart, then, isn't it Gorgeous?" Jay says softly, pressing a kiss to my forehead.

"Always."

I find him deep in the dark places of the Hollow, near the gorge. His scent.

Ethan is within these trees. But he is alone.

We've been tracking him for the past few minutes, staying downwind and in the shadows. Jay and Saint flank me, Jay's silver coat more liable to draw the eye than mine.

Ethan White strides through the forest armed with only a pistol clutched in one hand. I've never seen his clothes, the black cargo pants, or the big black coat. He's not exactly stealthy, but he's not making much noise, either. He seems to be looking for something or perhapssomeone.

When he trudges along the path that I know leads to the clearing, I drop back, letting Jay take the lead.

My Alpha bumps along my side as he steps forward, nuzzling me lightly. A nudge to the side is clear enough communication. Flank him. Keep to the shadows.

Saint follows me, staying between me and Ethan the whole way. While we do that, Jay slinks into the darkness after Ethan, circling around to cut him off at the clearing.

Mere minutes later, Saint and I creep along the snowy forest floor, careful not to make too much noise. Or at least less than Ethan.

Jay steps out from behind a tree just as Ethan reaches the thinning tree line, the opening of the clearing.