AllFreeNovel
Share Us
At the noise, the wolf’s ears prick dog-like, and she glides past me. Pauses and looks back. Waits.
For me.
On shaky legs, I stand. My gut says to follow her, because the righteous wild of Montana has never let me down.
She goes right, and I follow, careful and deft on the trail. We rush through the woods, swift as wind. Now and then, the wolf glances back to watch me with dark eyes. She leads me through the forest, over loam and mulch and wet sand.
We head down a steep slope. The wolf weaves around a tree and comes to a stop in front of a massive, jagged wall of rock. It juts from the earth like a spire. In the center of it is a crack, barely wide enough to fit a person, but when I pass the mouth of the cave, I gasp.
Two wolf pups.
With a flick of her tail, the wolf disappears inside.
When I turn my head, I see the glittering bright lights of Runaway Ranch. Fifteen minutes away, if not less.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
Hope glows in my chest, and I move. Fast.
I never see him coming.
A fist lashes out and catches me in the face. The impact sends me to my knees, nearly jars my teeth loose. My head swims, stars blink in and out of my vision.
Aiden wraps his hand in my hair, yanks me to standing. “Get up, you fucking bitch.” Icy rage burns in his eyes.
The slash of the knife shines silver in the night.
“No!” I scream and twist in his grip.
Aiden drags me back against him. One arm wraps tightly around my neck, the other dips to press the knife against my stomach. “Welcome home, Dakota.”
A split second later, a growl cuts through the night. “Don’t fucking move.”
“Davis,” I whisper.
My heart races as a shadow moves in the woods. Davis comes into view. The barrel of his gun trails Aiden, but I can sense his hesitation. He can’t get a good shot. Ever the asshole, Aiden uses me as a human-shield.
“Put the knife down and let her go.”
“Don’t come any closer,” Aiden warns. “I’ll stab her. Right in the belly.”
I make a sound of panic as the knife rests against the curve of my stomach.
To anyone else, Davis looks emotionless, but I see the pain etched across his face. It’s killing him to point the gun at me.
It’s okay, I mouth.
That strong muscle in his jaw tics. He advances, leaving six feet between us. His finger hovers over the trigger.
A twig snaps in the woods.
Davis’s eyes flick to the left. Then he zeroes in on Aiden. The gun steadies.
“Do it,” he commands, his voice clear and cool.
“Hey, asshole.” Ford’s drawl cuts through the black night.
Something round and black whips through the air, barely missing my cheek.
