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scrunched up at his suggestion in obvious disapproval of his offer, but on her the expression was fairly endearing. Still, he waited with feigned patience for her reply, knowing he wouldn’t likely be waiting long.
    “You can’t just break into my apartment,” she finally replied, an undertone of exasperation lacing her voice. “Besides, what if there’re police there?” The last was added with a shrug, as if she didn’t really expect anyone to be waiting for her, and he was reminded of her earlier comment about her job.
    But this wasn’t the time for retrospection and long conversations. “If I can’t get in, I can’t get in,” he said plainly. “But no one’s going to be too concerned about animal tracks in your backyard.” Confused, certainly, but not overly concerned. This was Nevada, after all.
    “I don’t even have a backyard,” Joella muttered on a sigh. “Just a small square of concrete. Fine, okay, you win this one.” She immediately locked her intelligent brown eyes with his and added, “Today.”
    Luka allowed a portion of his grin to show and leaned close, inhaling her scent before whispering, “ Deal.” He could hear the approaching clicking of stone-filed nails on rock, indicating that his hunting party was gathering. It was time to go.
     
    Traveling was easier with four legs, but hunting in a city was safer with two. For that reason the hunting party was stuck carrying small bags on their backs when they ran. It was the best way to transport their clothes. Once they were all dressed, Luka had everyone meet up at the mouth of the alley nearest to Char’s last known location. They would all need as fresh a scent trail as possible. Luka’s gaze lingered, as he was sure everyone’s had, on the smeared chalk outline in the middle of the alleyway. The alley itself was roped off with standard issue caution tape and offensively bright orange cones, but none of that obstructed the scents in the air.
    Justin’s scent was long-gone, replaced and overpowered by the stomach-turning stench of overcooked meat mixed with burned flesh. They would never even know if Justin had been trailing Char or if the witch had found him.
    Luka frowned and continued walking, slowly enough to take in one more deep drag. Char’s and Joella’s scents were stronger, as was his own, but not by much. Too many people had combed through the space in the past few hours. Add to that the fact that Char had likely escaped by riding a single burning ember on a breeze, and finding the bastard was going to be hard. But it had always been hard. Still, he had an idea of where to start. Char was sure to be targeting Joella . With a little luck, he’d already paid a visit to her apartment.
    ****
    “Are you my babysitter?” Joella asked as she approached the woman currently staring up at the clouds. As near as she could tell, the other woman looked just a little older than herself, in her mid-thirties at the latest. She was a bit shorter, notably thinner, and had long, dark brown hair. In all honesty, Joella couldn’t be sure she’d ever even learned the woman’s name. Luka wasn’t overly good at introductions.
    With a grin, the woman straightened and shrugged. “I wouldn’t call it babysitting,” she replied. “Alpha just wants me to help make sure the camp stays safe. Including you.”
    Well, when she said it that way it actually made some sense.
    Holding out her hand, Joella said, “ Joella . I wasn’t properly introduced.”
    “Emily.” Her grip was secure, but non-threatening, and Joella found herself inclined to like her. “Did you get enough to eat this morning?”
    Smiling, Joella perched against a boulder and said, “I did, thank you. Do you mind if I ask … that is, I’m just kind of curious….” How did one go about asking these sorts of questions, anyway?
    “You’ve got questions?” Emily invited, climbing onto the rock behind her and crossing her legs. “Fire away.”
    Joella opened her mouth,