**Read Chapter 11 first**

I was sure the expression on my face was quite comical, but I didn't care as I stared down at the blue-eyed wolf, wondering why he was there.

"I know that's you. Don't try and trick me," I said quietly. I knew his scent well after our recent encounters.

The wolf's eyes shifted from me to the cabin I stood inside and I mentally sighed. I supposed it was only a matter of time before he put two and two together, but I was hoping it wouldn't be so soon.

"Stay here," I told him as I turned around and scrambled to find some clothes I thought would fit him. Once I was sure, I headed back to the window and handed them to him. "Shift."

For a brief second, I thought he was going to ignore me and take off, but he didn't. He accepted the articles of clothing, albeit a little reluctantly, and darted off behind a tree where I heard the cracks of his body beginning to change back. I went around and slipped out the front door while I waited for him to finish getting dressed. He reemerged not long after and for a second, I forgot about the gravity of the situation when I saw him in my clothes. My eyes lingered for longer than they should have, but I pulled myself together when I saw his expression.

"You're living here?" Cronan asked.

"Hello to you too," I greeted in an attempt to lighten the mood.

"Fen," he said my name in almost a scolding manner. The way he stressed it almost made me think he was worried. Almost.

"Yes, I am temporarily staying here," I finally relented and told him.

His face twisted up in a way I couldn't quite understand. "Why? This place is on its last legs and could fall down at any second."

"Maybe I like the broken things," I replied and stared at the cabin.

"Do you like the afterlife too? Because that's where you're headed if you keep staying here," My eyes shifted back to him and his arms crossed over his chest. I'd be lying if I said I didn't think about the last time I'd seen him shirtless. "Why not rent a place? I'm sure being a gamma left you plenty of money saved up."

"Money is nothing if you can't use it," I said before I could stop myself.

He frowned. "What are you talking about? Even if you're a rogue you should still have access to your accounts."

Access wasn't the issue. Realistically, I could access my accounts whenever I wanted to. The issue was Nolan. While Nixon may have already known I was in Oakwood and was willing to ignore my presence, I knew it wouldn't be the same with Nolan. There was a chance he already knew I was in the town, but I wasn't willing to give him a trail to follow in order to find me. Nixon might've acted like I didn't exist for Eli's sake, but Nolan had no problem throwing me in a cell—I was sure of it.

I wasn't going to say this to Cronan though, so instead, I told him, "I like the cabin. Sure, it may be old, but it has a cozy feel to it."

"It's falling apart," he said as if I were an idiot.

"You know, for someone who doesn't care about me, you seem worried," I noted and his mouth snapped shut.

A silence fell over us and his jaw clenched tightly, telling me that he was thinking of something. My eyes dropped to his hands which were balled tightly into fists and I mentally sighed. This wasn't what I wanted to happen.

I opened my mouth to say something to him but stopped once I caught a whiff of something in the distance. Or rather, someone.

"I—"

"Hush," I said quietly to Cronan and pulled him behind a tree with me before he could argue otherwise.

Moments later, the strange little man who lived in the houses nearby emerged with a flashlight in hand.

"Matteo?" Cronan whispered and I glanced at him briefly.

"Be quiet," I told him.

I watched as the man, Matteo, shined his flashlight first around my cabin and then through the windows. My canines dropped slightly at the human carelessly invading what my wolf considered my territory. I had half the mind to go and deal with him myself, but Cronan gripped my arm before I could. The sparks made us both jump slightly, but thankfully not enough to alert the man of our presence.

"I know I heard something," the man grumbled to himself and continued aimlessly shining his light.

"He'll stay here all night if he doesn't find anything," Cronan quietly told me.

That was a problem. If I wanted to sleep in the woods then I would've stayed at the Rogue's Den. I glanced around until I found a small rock, waited until his back was turned from us, and threw it in the opposite direction. The man's head snapped around when he heard it hit something and he wasted no time darting off into the distance.

We stayed behind the tree until we were sure he was gone. Only then did I release a breath I didn't know I'd been holding.

"We should be safe," I told Cronan who seemed to suddenly become keenly aware of just how close we were.

He quickly put some distance between us and glared off in the direction Matteo had run off to.

"I told Callie he was a problem," he muttered to himself. "Does he do that often?"

"No. That was the first time," I admitted. "You should go home."

He stared at me with a raised eyebrow. "And where will you go?"

"I'm staying here."

"Why are you in such a rush to die?" He scowled. "This place isn't safe and not to mention he'll be back once he realizes there's nothing over there."

"Tell me, what's the alternative then? Are you inviting me to spend the night again?"

His eyes said it all. There was no way in hell he was agreeing to that.

"Just..." he sighed and ran his hand through his dark hair. "Just come on. We'll talk when we aren't at risk of being caught at any second."

I wanted to argue that I wasn't leaving my cabin, but the expression on his face said it all. The two of us shifted into our wolves and I grabbed my clothes before we darted off through the woods. I didn't know where we were going and I hadn't bothered to ask so I was left to trust Cronan.

We stopped at a campground-like area and I thought back to the party in the woods we'd visited a while back. It was held here, but the place was empty this time. Cronan disappeared behind a tree and I heard him beginning to shift and followed suit.

I emerged fully dressed and he turned to me with a glare. I wasn't quite sure if it was directed at me specifically or the situation in general, but what I did know was that I didn't like being on the receiving end of it.

"An abandoned cabin. Really? You couldn't have picked anywhere else to stay?"

"It's not exactly like Oakwood has many free housing options," I defended and he rolled his eyes.

"Why are you even still in Oakwood, Fen?" He sighed. "Why?"

"You know why," I quietly responded. We both did even if he didn't want to talk about it. "The bond."

His body tensed and his jaw tightened. I didn't know what was going on in his head and for once, I didn't want to.

"You can't keep sleeping there," he said. I opened my mouth to object, but he stopped me. "Structural issues aside, now that Matteo thinks someone is there, he isn't going to back off. He can become quite obsessive until he finds whatever he's looking for."

I wasn't afraid of a small, human man but I didn't tell Cronan that.

"Are you suggesting I sleep in the woods?"

He scowled. "I'm suggesting that you break the bank and invest in an actual place to live."

"I told you—"

"It's not an option. I heard you the first time," he snapped.

"So what's the alternative?"

He fell quiet for a moment and I watched him. There was a tug in my chest at the sight of his frustration and worry. The urge to comfort him was there, but I held myself back.

"You...you can stay at my house for the night," he finally spoke. "But, for once in your life, I need you to do as I say."

I nodded and the two of us began the walk back to his place. It would have been faster to shift, but it was too risky when we were this close to town. Besides, I didn't mind the extra time. It gave me a chance to take in everything that had happened and was still happening.

When we reached his house, Cronan gestured for me to follow him to the back door where he unlocked it like a teenager sneaking in after a night out partying. I was going to ask him why until I caught the scent of another wolf...a scent that reminded me a lot of Eli.

"Come," his words were quiet and he led me through the kitchen and living room.

I tried to remain as quiet as possible while I followed him. He rounded the corner, turned down the same hall I'd seen him showering in the last time I was here, and opened a door before pushing me inside. His scent clung strongly to every surface—so much so that I had to take a moment to recollect myself.

"Why are you sneaking around in your own house?" I asked once the door closed.

"My brother's here."

"Your brother...?"

Then why did the house smell so much like Eli?

"That's what I said," he replied. "And I don't want him to see you, meaning you don't leave this room without permission."

"Understood," I said even though I was curious to see his brother.

"I'm serious, Fen," his eyes narrowed.

"I know. Thank you."

He seemed to relax for a moment, then moved toward the closet and pulled out a box of random items. He dug around until he found a bottle of...air freshener?

"What are you doing with that?"

"Covering your scent," he replied and stepped out of the room.

I heard the spray bottle and couldn't help but be surprised, and maybe even a little offended, by all the steps he was taking just to make sure his brother didn't know I was there.

Cronan returned and sat the spray bottle down. "You can sleep here for the night."

Though he didn't say it, I knew that meant I needed to be gone by the morning just like last time.

"Where are you going?" I questioned when he turned back toward the door.

"To sleep on the couch."

"No you aren't," I said before quickly adding, "I'm not taking your room, Cronan. Besides, won't that make your brother more suspicious in the morning?"

Maybe I was talking out of my ass a bit, but he didn't need to know that.

He seemed to consider my words and relented with a scowl on his face as he shut the door. "You're sleeping on the floor."

"You don't want to share a bed with me?" The playful words left my mouth before I could stop them.

Cronan side-eyed me. "When hell freezes over."

I shook my head at his response while he grabbed a few blankets from the closet, shoved them into my arms, and abruptly switched off the light.

"Go to sleep," he ordered and took off his shoes before climbing into bed.

"But—"

"Go to sleep."

"Cro—"

"Sleeping."

I frowned. I didn't completely remember the last time I'd spent the night, but was this what it was like?

I set up my blankets on the floor and laid down. "Goodnight, Cronan."

He didn't respond, but I knew he heard me. The blue eyes staring at me in the dark were all I needed to see.