Night had fallen a good half-hour before, and for the past 15 minutes Jackson had been on high alert. A wolf pack had been on their tails. From the subtle crack of a twig being trodden in half to the lingering smell on the wind, he’d had no doubt of what was out there. Pushing a hand into the small of Ki’s back and practically throwing her through the open cabin door, he whirled to close it quickly. Stumbling, she turned, nostrils flaring. “How dare you—” Her grumble was cut short as a wolf call rang out from just behind the door. Startled, she gasped, flattening a hand on her chest as her eyes widened. “Relax. They can’t get inside.” Shifting past her, he made his way through the dark to the table he knew was on the other side of the room. The cabin was small, and he found his arm brushing past Ki’s. She yanked it back instantly. It brought a slight smile to the corners of his mouth. As he fumbled over the table, his hand clutched the matches and the oil lamp. Pushing his fingers down the sticky glass, he struck a match on the chipped wood and finally lit the oil.
