“Good job.”

“Thanks.” She smiled. “I’m still wearing two layers of socks but these have soles on the bottom.”

“Give me the extra clothes. I’m sealing them up in case the bag gets wet.”

She didn’t hesitate. “You think they’re coming after us right now? They’ll try to shoot you with a sedative, right?”

“Yes.” He closed the backpack and put it on, then lifted the shotgun. The shells for it went into the pockets of the sweats. “Stay on my ass and be quiet.”

“Aren’t you going to try on shoes? There’s a bunch of them up in the loft. I know none of the ones in the last cabin fit you but these ones look larger.” She glanced down at his bare feet.

“I don’t need them.”

She opened her mouth, probably to argue. He turned away fast. They needed to go.

He unbarred the door and opened it, inhaling. The only humans he scented was the one he’d sent away and Glenda. He stepped out, his gaze roaming the woods. No movement or odd sounds alerted him to intruders. The birds sang.

“What is it?” Glenda pressed up against his back, resting her hand just above his ass.

“Shush.”

He continued to listen, his gaze constantly roaming, before determining it was safe. “Let’s go.” He took off slow for her, at a light jog.

She shut the door behind her but followed close. They made it out of the clearing and into the thicker spread of trees. Veso relaxed. An attack would have happened as they left the cabin if the master’s human thralls had caught up to them.

He picked up the pace, heading in the direction of home. There was no way Glenda would make it forty miles in a day but now his people would be looking for them. He hoped they’d be found by his clan soon.

Chapter Thirteen

Glen fisted Veso’s shirt and thankfully, he stopped. She panted, wanting to just drop to her knees. “I need to rest.”

“Damn it.” He took off the backpack and turned to face her.

“As you love to point out, I’m merely human.”

“Sit.”

She took a seat on the grass in the shade but it wasn’t graceful by any means. Veso crouched next to her and opened the pack, handing her a bottled water. She remembered to sip it. Puking would only make her feel worse. Her sides hurt, the muscles from her ass to her ankles wanted to go on strike, and she was willing to believe once she removed the slipper booties she’d stolen from the cabin, her feet would be bloody stumps.

“We’re not moving fast enough.”

She studied him as she took another sip of water. “We’ve been running and power walking for at least two hours straight.”

“You had to pee and demanded a water break.”

“Sorry. Again, human here. I’m not super-scary dude with extras.”

He stopped peering around and held her gaze. “Is that how you see me?”

“It wasn’t meant as an insult. Really. I’m bitchy, Veso. Tired. Sweaty. Grumpy. I could go on but I won’t.”

“Do you want me to carry you for a while? You could wear the backpack and I could piggyback you.”

It was tempting but she shook her head. He might look as if the pace wasn’t wearing him down but she noticed the way his body remained tensed, his gaze constantly roaming. He also sniffed a lot. He expected them to be attacked at any second, and had since they’d left the cabin. Having her on his back might distract him. She didn’t want to have to fight for her life. It was bad enough running for it.

“I’m good. Just give me a few minutes.”

He pulled out a granola bar and handed it to her. “Eat.”

She was grateful that he was thinking about her needs. She took a bite of the dry bar and chewed. It helped her hunger. She finished it and handed him the wrapper. He stashed it inside the backpack, offered her another drink of water, and stood.

“I know,” she muttered, trying to gain the strength to get up to her feet. “Time to go.”

He held out his hand and pulled her up. “We’ll walk for a while but we must keep on the move.”

“Thanks.”

He gave a nod and took off, walking through the woods. She followed, limping behind. He glanced back and she tried to hide her soreness, forcing a smile. He went back to watching the woods around them, doing his sniffing routine.

She was slowing him down. He could shift and run. It was tempting to ask him to do that again but she didn’t. While her clothes were dry this time, it didn’t mean she wouldn’t get thigh burns again from riding him. The last thing they needed was a repeat of the night before. He’d want to heal her with his hot tongue and she’d end up getting fucked. Literally.

Her body instantly responded to the memory. Veso had an amazing body and he knew what to do with it. He’d gotten her off in record time. A spasm gripped her belly, an ache between her thighs just imagining him inside her again. He had a great cock. It had been super hard, thick, and wonderful.

He stopped in front of her so fast she slammed into his back.

He turned his head, staring down at her with narrowed eyes. His nostrils flared and a smile curved his lips. “I do have a nice ass.”

Could he smell her thinking about sex between them? It was possible. He had a nose that could pick up almost anything. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You’re getting wet.”

She purposely glanced up at the sky, then back at him. “It’s not raining. I thought we were in a hurry. You know, we have to keep moving, right?”

He faced forward and started walking again. “I’m going to bend you over in front of me when we’re safe and fuck you.”

“That’s not exactly motivating me to follow you,” she lied.

He snorted. “I’m going to have to teach you a lesson later. Lying to me isn’t acceptable. You smell like you want to be fucked.”

“Maybe it’s wishful thinking on your part. All I want is to lay down for a good hour and get off my feet.”

He shook his head. “You’re distracting yourself by thinking about sex. I understand. I do it when my body is tired too.”

Jealousy reared its ugly head. She wondered who he fantasized about. She hadn’t asked him too much about his dating life. He didn’t have a mate. That’s all she really knew as far as the women in his life went.