Caleb cocked a questioning eyebrow in my direction.
“This is student housing, all rented out during the fall term, but this time of year most of the houses stay empty. Not to mention, it’s Saturday night. Everyone who has a life is out partying.”
Caleb frowned. “Get the men to check it out just in case—do a quick search.” The dark-haired man nodded, then loped off in the direction of the others. Caleb cleared his throat, pulling my gaze back to him. He nodded toward the second man at his side, a tall blond-haired god. “Morgan Stills, this is Lance Brooks.”
“How did you know—”
Lance’s lopsided grin disarmed me immediately as he cut off my question. “Nice to finally meet you, Morgan. Sorry about the crazy night. We had hoped to find you first.”
Caleb motioned toward the pool of blood on the porch, which trailed down to the pavement in front of my house. “Get the men to clean that up and find some way to patch up Morgan’s window as well.”
Lance nodded. “They’re on it.”
I cringed, a sickening sense of unease filling my stomach. “They took his body?” I scanned the spot where I’d last seen Jimmy. The body was indeed gone. I trembled, replaying Jimmy’s gruesome death. “He died, right?” I swallowed the hard lump in my throat, determined not to cry in front of these men. “I mean, I know he died, no one could survive that kind of attack.”
“You’d be surprised.” Lance snorted. Caleb shot him an angry look, and Lance shrugged before adding, “Yes, the wolves killed him and then took the body. That’s what they do, Morgan. They’re animals, after all, and unfortunately your friend was their prey.”
Lance’s tone was so matter-of-fact I almost thought he was joking, but the truth of it was in the blood trail that led away from my house.
This was real. Jimmy was dead. I retched, covering my mouth as my stomach heaved.
Caleb reached out to me, but I took a step back, fighting the urge to vomit.
“They…they’re going to eat him? His body?” When no one answered, I retched again. “Oh god.
Lance’s face was drawn into a deep frown, his hand out to steady me. “Morgan, there’s a lot of information you need to know. Things you should have been told from the time you were a child.” He shook his head. “Once we explain it all to you things might be a little easier to accept.” He patted my shoulder. “I’m sorry about your friend.”
I nodded, still covering my mouth, my eyes darting from Lance to Caleb, and then to the sickening puddle that was all that remained of Jimmy. No matter how I’d felt about him, he didn’t deserve to die that way. No one deserved to die that way.
“It was my fault,” I whispered as tears prickled my eyes.
Caleb stepped closer to me, his expression one of pity. “It was bad timing. He shouldn’t have been here.”
I shook my head fiercely, dropping my hand to my side as I continued to stare at the bloody spot on the pavement. “No, that wolf wanted me.”
Caleb gently guided my chin until I was looking at him. “The wolves were after you, yes, but you had no control over what they would do. This is not your fault.”
Looking into his eyes was like staring into a still pool of the bluest water. There was no deception there—he believed what he was saying and I found myself relaxing under his gaze, my stomach calming and my heart slowing. His presence, his assurances did more than they should to ease my worries.
“This is not your fault, Morgan.” He brushed my arm, trailing down to my fingers, lingering there as if he were playing with the idea of holding my hand.
His touch, however subtle, sent a rush of comfort over me. I shook it off. Eyed him suspiciously. Who was this guy? How did he keep disarming me so easily?
He pulled away then spoke to Lance over his shoulder. “We leave now.”
“Yeah, but I’m driving. You haven’t slept in days—no way I’m getting in a truck with you behind the wheel.” Lance chuckled as he headed toward the large SUV parked in my driveway. “Morgan, girl, you’ve been a devil to get a hold of.”
“I thought you were hunting me.” I wasn’t about to apologize. Caleb had scared the crap out of me in a freaking terrifying situation. “Where’s the safest place for me to go? I mean, what if they come back?”
Caleb motioned toward the SUV. “You’re coming with us.”