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The inside of her cabin was dim, the embers in the hearth barely glowing. She was sitting on her cot, running a whetstone over the edge of a long, vicious-looking blade when I stepped inside.

Kendra barely glanced up. “Thought I’d see you before you ran off to do something stupid.”

I sighed, kicking the door shut behind me. “I’m following them.”

She finally looked at me, a knowing expression drawing her brows up. “You do realize Silas is going to lose his shit when he finds out, right?”

I shrugged, trying to look unconcerned. “He’ll forgive me.”

Kendra snorted. “Yeah, he will. Eventually…”

I ignored the way my stomach lurched at the insinuation in her tone. I definitely wasn’t thinking about the way his voice had gone all deep and dark when he had threatened to punish me if I didn’t listen. I certainly wasn’t thinking about how much trouble I was going to be in when he found out I’d followed him anyway.

So instead, I lifted my chin. “I can handle myself.”

Kendra studied me for a long moment, then sighed. “Fine.” She stood, stepping over to the small wooden table where her weapons lay. “At least take this, then.”

She picked up a knife and turned it over in her hands before passing it to me.

I blinked. The blade was beautiful—sleek and curved, with a blackened steel edge and a hilt wrapped in dark leather. It was balanced, light enough to be quick, but sturdy enough to kill.

I met her gaze. “Kendra…”

She shook her head. “Just be careful, okay?”

I swallowed hard, nodding. “I will.”

I turned, slipping back out into the cold, my boots silent on the packed earth as I moved toward the edge of camp. As I neared the tree line, a shadow moved.

I froze.

“Going somewhere?”

I cursed under my breath.

Jax.

He stepped out from behind one of the supply crates, arms crossed over his chest, his eyes sparkling with way too much amusement.

I exhaled through my nose. “Why are you here?”

Jax grinned. “Keeping an eye on you. Alpha’s orders.”

Of course, Silas had assigned a babysitter.

I forced a smile. “You don’t have to do that. I was just going for a walk.”

Jax raised an eyebrow. “Uh-huh. And I’m supposed to believe you just happen to be taking a leisurely walk with a pack full of supplies and a knife strapped to your thigh?”

Shit.

I huffed, tilting my head. “You could just let me go, you know.”

Jax smirked. “And have Silas rip my throat out? No, thanks.”

I frowned.

Because now? Now I had a real problem, and I had to figure out a way to fix it.