My plan was to keep to the water’s edge until I reached a safer point, but that’s not an option anymore. Knowing that I will never get another chance to escape if they catch me, I’m faced with an impossible choice: do I take the metaphorical and literal leap into the unknown or do I stop and return to the devil I know?
Actually, scratch that. It's not a hard decision at all.
I run faster than I ever have in my life. Right up until the moment I leap into the air and free fall towards the rushing white foam of the river below. By the time the warriors reach me, I will be gone. Whether I am safe is irrelevant at this point. Anything is better than going back to the monster who says he is my mate.
Even death.
I hit the water with a brutal, bone-jarring crash. Pain explodes in my right hind leg. I’m momentarily stunned by the combination of agonizing pain and the coldness of the water. The roar of the river swallows my cries.
Gritting my teeth, I let the current drag me under and away. Wolves cluster at the river’s edge, but none follow. But my mind remembers the severity of the situation and snaps me back to reality. The bag is gone. My leg is definitely broken. And I have no clothes or money.
Fuck. My. Life.
I look back and see wolves in the distance, but they aren’t following me. So, there’s that at least. Maybe they think I’m dead. I definitely could have died. As Alpha, Aidan will know I'm still alive but hopefully they haven't told him yet. They were probably trying to get me back to avoid punishment for themselves for letting me get away. Okay, this is good, I assure myself. I allow the current to take me away until I’m long past the point ofwhere they could see me. Shifting back into my human form, I bite my lip to stop myself from screaming at the pain radiating from my leg. I swim to the edge of the river and then I drag my aching body out of the water on the opposite bank.
Shivering, I collapse before I can even check my leg out. I’ve had a lot of injuries since I moved in with Aidan, and I can tell without even looking that this is bad. I take a few deep breaths before I let my eyes track downwards to take in the damage. My leg is sticking out at an obscene angle and, oh goddess, my bone is protruding through the skin. I can’t hold in the contents of my stomach any longer and wretch on to the ground. I have no idea what to do next. I can’t go into a human town like this. I won’t even be able to walk in my human form.
But I’ll deal with that tomorrow. Despite the pain. The fear. The unknown. My lips stretch into a small smile.
Because there actually is a tomorrow.
Chapter 3
Jackson
Six weeks later.
I can’t figure out what’s up with me today. I’ve had this weird, anticipatory sensation running up my spine since I woke up this morning. Like I’m going on the best trip of my life, but I don’t know where to or how I’ll get there. My wolf’s been yipping at me all day, restless, trying to push me toward something, but I can’t tell what. All I know is the energy thrumming through my veins is unbearable. I wasn’t supposed to be on patrol tonight—but I need to run this off before I climb the walls.
When I arrive at the first patrol outpost, my best friend, Ryan, is already there, arms crossed and rolling his eyes like the long-suffering Alpha he is. If only he wasn’t also such a colossal pain in my ass, too.
“You’ve been on patrol the past six nights, Jack,” he says while throwing a glare at me. I wince a little under the pressure of his alpha aura.
“I get it, man. I should take a break tonight, but I’m antsy. My wolf needs the run.”
“You’re always fucking antsy,” he mutters, running his hands through his messy hair. “How much longer will you keep punishing yourself? It wasn’t your fault.”
I glance away, jaw clenching, as the two nearby warriors busy themselves pretending not to listen but hearing our every word. I wish I could believe him when he tells me not to blame myself. Goddess, it would be so much easier to deal with the pain if it hadn’t been all my fault.
“I’m not punishing myself,” I snap. “I need the run. I might as well be useful while I’m at it.”
Ryan sighs, heavy and frustrated. He’s worried about me, but he doesn’t need to be. I’m fine. It’s been years. But I need everyone else to be fine too, and I can’t guarantee that if I’m sitting around. The last time I dropped the ball… well, I’m never going to do that again.
“You’ll be of no use to anyone if you burn yourself out.”
“I’m fine!” I snap again, pacing back and forth because I can’t stand still. This sensation is too intense to ignore. It’s pounding in my chest, rattling my bones. The need to get out into the woods is unbearable. “It’s been seven years, and I haven’t burned out yet. Are you pulling rank here, man? Are you saying I can’t go on patrol?”
“No, of course I’m not going to stop you going on patrol, I just think…” His mouth opens to say more, but I don’t give him a chance to finish his sentence.
“Okay then. I’m going.”
I let my wolf loose and shift on the spot, tearing my clothes to shreds. The brief pain of my bones cracking and reshaping is welcome—it slices through the anxious buzz clouding my mind. I’m sick of talking. I need to run, and I’m not waiting for Ryan to tell me otherwise.
The second my paws hit the forest floor, a flood of relief washes over me. The fresh air fills my lungs, invigorating me with a renewed sense of energy. I’m finally on the right path. This is exactly where I should be. The rustling leaves and gentle breeze speak to me, soothing the restlessness within me.
I take off, pushing myself to my limits as my paws pound the earth of the pack perimeter through the trees and around the bank of the lake. It’s as if my body is preparing for an imminent adventure, ready to embrace the unknown.
With each step on the forest floor, the tension in my muscles dissipates, replaced by a comforting warmth that spreads through my body. The joy of running in my wolf form is a balm for my racing thoughts, grounding me in the present moment.
