Chapter 145
A howl pierced the night, followed by several answering calls.
Damn it! I cursed, reaching for the knife at my waist. “Henry, shift now. Take me to cover near the deep forest.”
“But you-” he started.
“Now!” I commanded. “Once we’re there, use the terrain to hide while I distract them. Trust me, I’m the Alpha’s sister. I know what I’m doing.”
Henry nodded, quickly stripping and shifting into his wolf forma lean animal with tawny fur. I climbed onto his back, and he burst through the truck’s doors.
The night air rushed past as Henry ran, his powerful legs carrying us through the darkening forest. I clung to his fur, my mind racing with frustration. Full moon was still three days away, making it impossible for me to shift.
At least they can’t track me by scent with my Alpha bloodline, I consoled myself, though my wolf whimpered nervously despite my outward confidence.
After thirty minutes of hard running, Henry stopped in a small clearing, allowing me to slide off his back. Following my instructions, he disappeared into the underbrush.
I barely had time to catch my breath before four wolves emerged from the trees opposite me. The largest one–a scarred gray wolf–shifted back to human form, standing naked and unashamed as he approached.
“Oh, look what we have here… a lost little she–wolf,” he said, his cruel smile revealing sharp canines.
“You’ve entered Dylan’s territory, pretty one.” He sniffed the air. “Your scent… it’s unusual.”
I stood my ground, hand on my knife. “What did you do to our
The man laughed, gesturing to blood splattered on the forest floor. “Considering the blood, I don’t think he’ll be driving anymore.”
“You killed him?” My voice shook with anger.
“Yes. Now, about this game?” he continued casually. “How about I give you a fifteen–minute head star Then I’ll enjoy hunting you down myself.”
“Go to hell with your game!” I spat, my eyes flashing with fury.
“Watch your tongue, little she–wolf,” his voice suddenly went cold.
Tglared at him defiantly. “Full moon is three days away, I can’t even shift, yet you want me to run from four of you. What kind of game is that?” I turned to the other wolves. “Are you really following orders from this coward?”
The leader’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “You’ve got spirit, haven’t you? Fine, fifteen minutes. Then I’m coming for you personally.”
He turned to his pack. “Stay here. She’s my prey.”
1/3
- 145.
I ran as fast as my human legs could carry me through the fores, pushing branches aside and leaping over fallen logs. Behind me, a triumphant howl signaled the hunt had begun.
He didn’t wait fifteen minutes I realized bitterly.
Darkness had fallen completely now, the forest illuminated only by slivers of moonlight filtering through the canopy. My lungs burned, and my legs ached, but I forced myself to keep moving, heart pounding wildly.
Another howl, much closer this time, sent icy terror through my veins.
My plan failed, desperation washed over me. I’d assumed the wolves would follow a predictable tracking pattern, giving Henry the opportunity to ambush them. But they’d split up instead.
My foot caught a root, and I went down hard. Pain shot through my ankle, but I scrambled back to my feet. Too late–a massive gray wolf burst through the undergrowth, teeth bared, yes gleaming with bloodlust.
I barely managed to dodge his first lunge, but his second caught my left arm, teeth tearing through flesh. White–hot pain exploded as blood soaked my sleeve.
Falling back, I spotted my silver knife glinting in the moonlight where it had fallen. I lunged for it, fingers closing around the hilt just as the wolf pounced again.
With all my strength, I drove the blade into his ribs. The wolf yelped, drawing back with the knife still embedded in his side. Blood matted his fur, but he wasn’t finished–he circled me, preparing for another attack.
Suddenly, a tawny blur shot from the trees. Henry! In wolf form, he clamped his jaws around the larger wolf’s throat. They rolled together in a snarling, snapping mass of fur and teeth.
I crawled forward, grabbed my knife from where it hung in the gray wolf’s flesh, and with the last of my strength, plunged it deep into his chest.
The wolf went limp, shifting back to human form in death.
“Henry…” I gasped, my vision starting to blur. “We… must… get away…”
“Don’t be scared, I’m right here,” Henry said anxiously. “Let’s go now.”
Warm blood flowed from the wound on my arm, my strength ebbing with each heartbeat. I had neve and for some reason, tears threatened to well up in my eyes.
such pain before,
But I held them back–I was the Alpha’s sister, and I couldn’t allow myself to cry. Henry shifted back to wolf form, carefully helping me onto his back.
In the distance, howls echoed as the other wolves realized their leader was dead.
“Keep going… west…” I instructed weakly. “We need… to find… the…”
