Bitterroot, the Complete Volume by Heather Hildenbrand

Author:Heather Hildenbrand
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: ya paranormal love stories paranormal public vampire and werewolf battle vampire romantic love triangle young adult shifter romance coming of age paranormal series preteen chapter books
Publisher: Heather Hildenbrand

Chapter Seven

Regan

Charlie’s words wouldn’t stop replaying in my head, even as a wolf. I get that he isn’t easy to please, but why do you try so hard?

They were like a bad song on repeat. I ran harder, trying to drown them out. A few minutes later, my wolf picked up a familiar scent. The rest of the pack was about half a mile west. I adjusted my path and pace accordingly. I wasn’t quite ready to catch up yet.

Stupid long-lost half-sister. She didn’t know anything about it. She’d been here five minutes and thought she knew the score. Please.

Charlie didn’t know what it was like, being the only daughter, the future alpha of the pack. My mother hadn’t made it difficult to win her favor either. Despite that, she and I had been close. One of the reasons everything felt so empty with her gone. But there was still always the pressure of being good enough, measuring up. And the demands, physically and mentally. You had to be better. Run faster, hunt bigger, patrol more.

Which is why I’d chosen to run with my pack despite my win on today’s hunt, and Charlie hadn’t. It was also why I had no choice when it came time for the competition. Shopping trips and shared DNA aside, I had to fight her. I had to put her down. I just hoped I could do it without killing her.

I concentrated on the huff-huff of my own labored breathing and made a wide arc. Despite my late start, my anger had fueled me and I was coming in from a wide loop—directly in first place on the pack run. That, at least, cheered me a little.

I’d just begun to clear my head when I sensed company approaching. Warm puffs of air ruffled my fur as Carter veered in from a side path and fell into step beside me. His shoulders bunched and rippled powerfully as he propelled himself forward. Flying noiselessly over the ground, he shot me a curious look.

I ignored it and pushed faster. He kept pace without a word. I was glad for the silence. And, even though I wouldn’t admit it aloud, the company.

About a mile out, I slowed and let the others pass by on purpose. Carter did the same, never straying from my left side. My wolf got a certain satisfaction out of watching the flanks of my pack as their paws covered the miles. It felt good to be a part of something, a part of them.

Carter and I were the last to arrive at the clearing. Most of the others were already gone but Bevin waited, shifted and sweaty.

“Where’s Charlie?” she demanded. I could tell by her smug look she already knew the answer.

“She went home,” I said.

“Good,” Lane muttered.

Bevin snorted. A few of the others rolled their eyes; at either Bevin’s comment or Charlie’s whereabouts, I wasn’t sure which. “Of course she did. Did she even take down that deer or did the poor thing trip and fall over Charlie’s awkwardness?”

My temper flared.

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