“Other shifters. For when you go home.”
“I… I don’t have a home.”
He lifts a brow. “Home’s a tricky concept, isn’t it?” I don’t know what it is about this male, but he’s not what I expected. It’s like he knows what I’ve been through and yet he doesn’t blame me.
“You and I have a lot in common, Angel. Maybe one day I’ll explain it to you. For now, we have to get out of here. Can you shift?”
“I want to leave, but I’m not sure how far I’ll get.”
“Do you trust me?”
When I don’t answer, he grips my chin and angles my head until I’m looking into his eyes. “Do you trust me,” he repeats.
“Papa told me never to question an alpha, to never say no.”
“I’m no alpha.”
“I guess that means I go with Mama’s advice. She said never say yes—not without first asking questions.”
Garrett chuckles, a heart-warming sound that makes my wolf purr. It’s the first I’ve heard from her in months.
“Tell your wolf I won’t let anyone touch either of you again. We need her. We have to move. Now.”
It’s been so long, but the instinct of how to shift is as engrained in me as breathing. Despite Mama’s advice, I don’t question him. Instead, I have a little chat with my wolf—more like I plead with her and tell her to trust Garrett.
Bones and muscles shift. It’s slow as fuck, but I’m shifting… the first time in so damn long. I never realized how painful it is to feel every bone break, reshape, reposition itself, pulling muscles, tendons, and skin along. Only when my fur emerges does the pain cease. But I can shift, and that’s all that matters.
My wolf and I are finally free…
CHAPTER SEVEN
GARRETT
Ifucking hate how slowly Angel moves, her wolf’s every step stiff and pained. The path I chose through the woods isn’t easy, but the humans can’t follow.
With the snow coming down hard, I’m not sure how long she’ll be able to keep going. Part of me questions if I should have stolen the human’s truck. At least up front, she would have stayed warm. But the very idea of her having to breathe in their stench longer than she already has unnerved me. And there’s the all-too-real likelihood that they’d be able to track their vehicle.
The more time I spend with Angel, the more protective I become of her. I’ve never formed such a strong connection with another shifter, not even Marla. Not this fast. I wonder if it’s because Angel’s so vulnerable.
My wolf snorts, his condescension as painful as one of his bites. He thinks I’m underestimating her, that she’s stronger than she appears. She is. After all, she survived the WSSO, for—and I’m guessing based on the age and severity of her wounds—months. Very few shifters can say that.
If I could carry her out of these mountains, I would, but the snow’s getting deeper and the temperature is dropping. Without the proper clothing, she wouldn’t survive in human form. Hell, I’m not sure she’ll survive even in wolf form.
This time my wolf bites me outright. I’m recognizing a pattern with him. He doesn’t tolerate my negative thinking.
I glance back at Angel, concerned by the distance building between us. She’s following my lead, without complaint or hesitation, as if she trusts me. Like Marla trusted me.
I wish she wouldn’t. That will only get her killed.
Angel’s wolf falters in the snow, goes down headfirst, and struggles to rise. I leap to her side and wedge my snout under her belly, lifting her upright. She holds the stance despite her shaking legs.
She needs to rest, but we need to keep moving, putting distance between us and WSSO Facility #23, a place I will be returning towithmy pack mates. Assuming Damien doesn’t skin my hide for disobeying him.
With a nudge from my snout, I guide Angel under the canopy of thick branches where the falling snow won’t reach her. She can rest while I scout for shelter to wait out the storm.
Angel’s wolf lumbers off and settles beneath the pine. Damn, but her wolf’s a beauty, light silver fur that nearly blends with the pure white snow falling around her. Intense blue eyes follow me, as if they’ll never turn away. That makes my wolf want to howl. Me too. And I would, if we weren’t still too close to the humans.
Instead of letting my wolf race off to seek shelter, I force him to stay with Angel if only for a minute. I rest my wolf’s head atop hers, exposing my throat. It’s a small gesture, but she’ll understand that nothing will keep me from returning for her.
