Stone Crest: Rise of a Raven

13. Chapter 13

Chapter thirteen

Raven

I t was Sunday, and I lucked into the perfect weather for me to catch a few good shots before the sun set for my photography class. I had been scavenging a place to take some new photographs of the fall foliage. It was gorgeous. I remember visiting this area a few times over the years when we came to visit Gemma. I hadn’t been recently, and I’m only here now because of my impulse problems.

Hence the sleeping with a random guy on a motorcycle that I knew for a whole three minutes.

Stepping down off of a large rock, I move closer to the creek. The clear water runs over the pebbles, flowing down between the multitude of trees. It was breathtaking.

I lift my camera, snapping a shot of the water. The lighting is perfect. I glance at the screen then adjust my lens before taking another. I lower my camera, viewing the picture I just snapped of the tree line across the creek. My brows furrow as I zoom in.

“What the….” I squint.

I can see the figure, mid stride. Golden fur.

It’s a…. wolf.

Jerking my eyes up, my heart rate spikes as I survey the woods. Shit. I keep my eyes alert, taking a quick step away from the water. The rocky landscape has my ankle rolling, causing me to lose my balance. I yelp as I tumble backwards, my forearm sliding across the edge of a sharp rock. Pain seers through my skin and I wince when my head collides against the hard ground.

My camera clatters next to me, and I’d honestly rather get mauled by a wolf then break my two-thousand-dollar camera.

I gasp, clutching my arm as I roll to my side. Pushing to my feet, I lift my gaze, and I’m startled to see what’s barreling towards me. A very pissed off Locke.

“Raven.” His voice is reprimanding.

I blink my eyes. Why is he constantly showing up at random places?

His strides bring him closer, then he reaches a palm out to wrap it around my wrist. He checks my bleeding wound, then meets my eyes. “You might need stitches.” He steps closer. “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine.” I retrieve my arm. “What are you doing here? Are you following me?”

He narrows his eyes, the ones that look different than they did the first time I saw them.

“You’re the one trespassing.” He looks me over from head to toe. “Maybe it’s you who’s following me.”

“In your dreams," I mumble as I bend down to grab my camera. “What? You happen to own the public creek? Seems like a lot of coincidences involving you.”

“No, I don’t own the creek. But I do own the land on this side of it.”

I almost snort a laugh. Of course, I would pick the only land in Stone Crest owned by this grouch.

“My place is just over that cluster of trees.” He motions behind him. "I saw you trespassing on the game cameras."

“Well, sorry, I just wanted to take some pictures, then I saw….” I shake my head. “Yeah, I’ll just get out of your hair.” I step forward. “Limit our contact and all.”

“No,” he says firmly.

I open my mouth to tell him to kiss my ass when he steps forward and scoops me up into his arms. “We need to clean that wound so it doesn’t get infected.”

“I need my car,” I argue.

“Where is it?” He glances down at me.

My breath almost stalls. Dang, he’s gorgeous. This close.

“About two miles up the road.”

He grits his teeth. “You walked two miles in these woods alone?”

I shrug. “Yeah. It’s still daylight. I hike in places like this all the time.”

I feel him tense, before he recovers.

“We will discuss your irresponsible behavior later. Right now, I’m taking you to the house. No more discussion.”

I spent the next fifteen minutes in complete silence, brooding, while he carried me to his house, holding me close to his firm chest, completely ignoring me.