Chapter 24

The Wolf Within ***Jane***

After a quick lunch, Kota begs me for a game of hide and seek, arguing his case by giving me a pair of cute puppy eyes.

The little boy grins triumphantly when I give in, and he asks permission from Aurora for Rio to join us.We walk around the pack for a little while until we find a quiet little patch of trees for us to play in undisturbed.

Kota and Rio take off, leaving me in the middle of a clearing to count out loud.

“O-one…Two…Th-Three…F-F-Four…” I grow embarrassed as I stumble through the numbers and begin to count quietly to myself until I reach twenty.

“He-Here I c-come Kota!” I call out, my eyes scanning the trees for any signs of the boy.

I sniff the air, catching his scent lingering in the wind.