Page 77 of B Negative

Sunny and I shared another look and shrugged before we blurred after them.

Running as a human sucks, right? Side stitches and muscle cramps and poor endurance. The human body has to be conditioned to do almost anything.

But a vampire body?

I could run for hours and not get tired. In fact, exerting myself gave me a hit of endorphins, sort of like a runner’s high.

At least, that’s what I’d imagine it was like. I’d never actually achieved one in my human life.

Running naked in the woods alongside a wolf pack?

Game changing.

Runner’s high times a thousand.

My bare soles crunched on leaves and twigs and rocks, but I was too focused on the rush to care. Sunny and I stayed neck and neck as we ducked under and around trees and bushes, hopping high over fallen limbs.

B ran off to catch up with the fastest of the pack, and while we could have kept that pace, Sunny and I headed up the rear with the younger wolves because if we went too fast, we wouldn’t catch the beauty of the run.

Wolf fur blowing in the wind, and the soft thud of paw pads on packed dirt. The scents of fresh earth and mingled with Jaxson’s pack, or the sun dappling in through the thick canopy of the woods.

Blur too fast, and I’d miss all of that.

It came to an end, and all too soon, we were back in the clearing. Wolves lay out on their sides, panting and enjoying the sun. Jaxson was at the center, sprawled out, huge paws atop another wolf.

A male wolf, from the looks of it.

“They won’t shift back for a while,” B said. “Something about cooling down is easier in that form. That’s what my buddy said, at least.”

“So, we should head back then?” Sunny asked.

“Probably a good idea,” B answered, and we headed toward the part of the forest with our clothes.

Dressed and back in Sunny’s car, this time not a two-seater, we drove in peaceful silence back toward Cypress City. Except the moment we approached the compound, I was overrun with the urge to see Julian.