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The weather was changing, and the tents we had put up for shelter wouldn’t be sufficient. The wind blew, whipping my hair into my face and sending a cold chill down my spine. The temperatures were already dropping low at night.
The dew and moisture in the air suggested rain was coming. I rubbed my arms, hoping to get back inside before that started. It was cold enough without getting sopping wet.
The setting sun cast an orange glow in the sky. Most everyone was inside and getting ready for the night. The patrols were out, searching, waiting, and making sure that none of Alpha Dane’s men were here.
I couldn’t see our enforcers, but with everything at stake, I knew that the guards were out. They were watching, and I hoped they were being vigilant.
I didn’t slow my jog until I was in the safety of the trees. The leaves crunched beneath my feet, painting the forest floor in beautiful yellows and oranges.
Most of the trees still had their leaves, and they rustled in the slight breeze. I continued until I found the log that my brothers and I used to use as a starting and ending point when we did our laps for racing.
I sat down on it and stared ahead at the well-worn path. Darrin and I had met here every morning to go for a race.
I missed those days. I missed him more. Tears pricked my eyes, and I stood, swiping them away with the back of my hand.
I kicked off my shoes first, undressed quickly, and then folded my clothes into a nice pile before dropping to my hands and knees.
I pictured my wolf simmering beneath the surface, and then she came out. My bones snapped and realigned in a pleasure pain. My hair changed, shortening on my head and turning to the soft white of my wolf.
Once I was fully shifted, I shook out my rear and then rocked back into a stretch. Mom was right. Of course she was. When wasn’t she right? I needed this.
I crouched and then sprang forward, darting through the woods like when I would race with Darrin. I zipped along the path at breakneck speed.
It reminded me of the short race Lincoln and I had had at his house. Maybe one day soon we could find our own trail and make a new path that we could run together.
I could almost see it now: Lincoln, Sawyer, and me, all running alongside our own special path on the property. I ran faster and imagined my mates behind me, just barely able to keep up. I would be faster, of course. I always was when racing my brothers. And I’d beat Lincoln the one time we’d raced.
I was so caught up in my daydream that I didn’t notice that I wasn’t alone until a blur of white and gray crossed my path. The wolf dove at me from the brush, snarling and hackles raised.
My feet slid across the dewy ground as I stopped just before the wolf clipped me. His tail whipped me in the face, making my eyes sting and water.
Growling, the wolf lunged at me again.
Four
Sloane
I darted to the right, rose up on my back legs, and launched myself at the wolf.
I landed on his back, and my momentum pushed him and made him stumble. He fell to his side while I sank my teeth into his shoulder blade.
He rolled, somehow got his feet under me, and shoved, sending me flying off him. I tumbled through the leaves, and my back hip hit one of the trees. I yelped in pain and wiggled as I tried to right myself.
The wolf didn’t give me a chance to recover. He pounced and landed on me. I ducked, rolled onto my belly, and tried to push to my feet. It was no use, though. He was bigger and stronger.
I twisted, arching my back and sinking my canines into his leg. He howled as blood flooded my mouth.
My pulse quickened. My hackles rose as he shoved me into the tree. My chest screamed as my breath whooshed out of my lungs, making them wheeze in protest.
He reared his head into the side of my face. I bit the inside of my lip hard enough that blood pooled in my mouth. I whimpered. My vision darkened, and pain exploded in my skull.
I blinked, fighting to stay conscious.
Sawyer… He was trying to reach out to me. I tugged at the imaginary rope that linked us together.
The wolf pulled away, and I drew in a painful breath. My reprieve was short. The wolf attacked again, driving his head and shoulders right into my ribs.
I gasped as I fought against the darkness that threatened to pull me under.
