Chasing His Kickass Luna Back novel Chapter 198

Karl

I need to breathe.

Before anyone notices, I decide to sneak out of Abby’s apartment and away from the clean-up party, feeling like I’ve got a storm cloud hanging over my head.

Kissing Abby was a bold move, a stupid one maybe, and now the walls in there are practically vibrating with tension. My wolf isn’t happy either; he’s restless, prowling around inside me as if he wants to burst out.

I step outside, welcoming the chill in the air. It feels good against my skin, like it might cool off the heat of the moment, give my alcohol-addled brain some clarity. The sounds of the city’s nightlife hum in the distance, a muffled backdrop to my jumbled thoughts.

“Dammit, Karl,” I mumble to myself, shoving my hands into my pockets as I walk around the building. The gravel crunches under my boots with each step, as if scolding me. “What were you thinking?”

But then, suddenly, my senses flare just as I’m turning the corner. There’s a scent—something close to the window where Abby’s apartment was torched. I stop, sniffing the air. It’s not smoke or any cleaning chemicals. It’s something else. Something familiar.

I can’t place it.

Just when I’m practically about to get on all fours and give the ground a good sniff—screw anyone who sees me—Chloe’s voice interrupts me.

“Karl? What are you doing out here? You look like a creeper.”

I jerk upright, meeting her gaze. “Just needed some fresh air. It’s kind of heavy in there, you know? Smells like smoke.”

Chloe crosses her arms, always too astute for her own good. “So you’re sniffing the air out here to clear your sinuses or something? Really?”

“Actually,” I say, “can you come here for a second?”

She arches an eyebrow but steps over, clearly intrigued. “Okay, what’s up?”