We reached an uneasy truce in the days that followed. Gunnar hadn’t sensed the Pack getting close. He kept his word and patrolled near the lake each night. Vera’s anger cooled, but didn’t ease. While he patrolled outside, Vera kept watch each night at the mouth of the cave. On the third night, her exhaustion won out and she fell asleep leaning against the cave wall. I couldn’t make her trust him, but I could at least keep them separated for now.

I went to her, testing to see how deeply she slept. I put a hand on her shoulder. She grumbled, but didn’t wake. With Gunnar out of sight, this was as close as I would get to getting Melanie alone. I left Vera’s side and went back into the cavern.

Melanie was waiting for me in the shadows. Caroline had fallen asleep. If things were calmer around here, that would have been cause for great alarm. It still was, but there was nothing I could do about Caroline’s health right this second.

Melanie moved the lantern in front of her and gave me a weak smile. “She asleep?”

“For now,” I answered. “Gunnar’s down at the lake again. We’ll know it if he senses anything.” Melanie and Vera couldn’t be more opposite. Vera was fire and fury. Melanie was cool and sweet. Where one was weak, the other strong. I sat beside Melanie and reached for her hand. “She loves you beyond reason, Mel. And she’s scared to death.”

“That makes two of us.” Melanie’s thick lashes fluttered. She drew in a breath and the courage to ask the question I knew she had. “Jett…”

I put up a hand. “I know what it looks like.”

“Do you?”

“Gunnar’s...different. Do you see that?”

Melanie’s gaze traveled to a far-off point. She did this often. I knew it cost her to remember the horrors that happened to her not so very long ago. “He may be different, but what I see is what he wants. Oh, Jett. I’ve seen that look before. When my wolf...God...even now I can’t stop myself from saying that. Even though it’s revolting to me. He wasn’t mine. But, there was another girl at Birch Haven. She didn’t escape with us. Her name was Doreen. She was a shifter’s daughter, but her father came from somewhere in Canada. She said real Alphas don’t force markings on women. She said there are supposed to be fated mates and that’s what her parents were. I think it mattered to her that I understood this marking of mine wasn’t...normal.”

Fated mates. The phrase thundered through me like a pulse. Fated mates. It held dark mystery and fueled my desire. Fated. Mates.

“You think Gunnar thinks I’m his?”

Melanie smiled. “I think only you know the answer to that. And I’m not here to lecture you. I just want you to be careful. This mark...whether I was fated for my wolf or not...it’s a bond I don’t know how to break. I can feel him sometimes, in here.” She put a hand flat between her breasts and the other to her temple. “When he’s close, it’s like his heartbeat is my heartbeat. I haven’t felt it in a very long time. Vera hopes that means he’s dead. But, Jett, he isn’t. Don’t tell Vera I said it, but it’s true. And I’m not saying Gunnar isn’t one of the good guys. I’m just saying have a care with it.”

I hugged her. “I love you, Mel. You know that. I’d die before I did anything that would betray you or the others. Vera knows that too. She’s just blinded by fear when it comes to you. I understand that.”

“So do I,” she whispered. A shadow darkened the cavern as Vera came back. She was awake but bleary-eyed. I let go of Melanie and straightened.

“You’ve got next watch,” she said to Melanie. “We’re going to need some firewood.”

“It’s been three days,” I said. “The danger has passed. If the Pack had any idea we were here, they’d have shown themselves.”

“I think you’re kidding yourself if you think you know why the Pack does anything. You ask me, they’re waiting for something.”

“For what?” It was Melanie who asked.

“Hell if I know,” Vera said. “Reinforcements? Another full moon? You said you shot that guard back at the prison camp. Maybe they pulled the bullet out of him and figured out what’s in it. Maybe they’re working out a countermeasure. I just know the longer that wolf is down there, the riskier it is for us.”

I wanted to argue with her. She made some sense though, as much as I hated to admit it. Sitting tight was only going to work so long as a survival strategy.

“Anyway,” she said. “I’ll run down and get some firewood. I feel like swinging an ax anyway.”

“I’ll go,” I said. “You stay with Mel and Caro.”

Vera shrugged. She was going to argue with me. I could see it in her eyes. But Melanie gave her a look and she backed down. “Suit yourself.”

It was the closest I knew I’d get to a peace accord with Vera for now. If we both kept busy working for the good of the group, we’d be fine today.

I can’t deny I hoped I’d find Gunnar right away. But, he must have gone deeper into the woods. I took our one machete and hacked away at some branches big enough for kindling. We couldn’t risk a big fire, but we’d need something to boil the spring water. If Gunnar’s instincts were right, we’d be underground for at least a few more days.

I don’t know how much time passed, but I lost myself in the rhythm of chopping and gathering new wood. Hours at least. The sun hung low in the sky and sweat poured off my back.

Humming caught my ear and made my skin prick. I knew instantly that Gunnar was nearby. He had stayed away for most of the last three days, letting the others get used to him being here. At least, that’s what I told myself. The simple truth was, I think he was just as unsettled around me as I was him. Melanie’s words tore through me. His heartbeat became my own.

I set my bundle of wood down and followed the sound. I didn’t think I could sneak up on him, but Gunnar was in a clearing, his back turned toward me. He paced, crunching dry leaves beneath his bare feet. Sweat poured down his strong back and he held his hands on either side of his head.

“Can’t. Won’t. Get out!” he murmured. My pulse jumped as I realized with growing horror he wasn’t talking to himself. Not exactly.

Gunnar thumped the side of his head. “Get out! I won’t do it!”

He paced. His shoulders bunched and his skin went from tan to gray and back again. He seemed caught in mid-shift. Terror gripped me as I realized whatever was happening, he wasn’t fully in control.

I crouched down so he couldn’t see me when he turned. He froze and I froze with him. He stared straight at me but through me, as his silver wolf eyes faded to red.