Page 247 of Sorrow & Strangers

He stares down at me, panting. His fingers flex a little before he suddenly releases me. My knees hit the ground hard, tears blurring my vision. I gulp at the air, choking on my sobs.

“I’m sorry⁠—”

His cruel scoff cuts off my apology. “Why bother giving me your word? Why bother asking me to wait?”

I reach for him, wanting to beg him to listen to me, but he’s already gone, and I am alone in the forest again. A fork of lightning splits the sky, turning night to day for a split second. Thunder rocks the ground, the trees shivering in response as the heavens open and rain lashes down on me. My arm throbs, my throat feels hot and swollen, and I know I’m going to be bruised from his hand. From his grip. From his words. From his hatred.

I struggle to my feet, tears running down my cheeks to mingle with the rain. My steps are unsteady as I start toward the house and the safety of my family. My heart feels like it has been ripped from my chest, and I don’t even know if I deserved it.

I didn’t kiss Max back. I didn’t kiss him back, but if the situation were reversed, and he told me someone kissed him . . . My darkness stirs, rising threateningly at just the thought.

A loud howl has my head snapping up, and I look around, noticing the dark blurs moving through the forest. Reflexively, I look up, watching as the clouds roil and split, exposing the horrifying truth that tonight is a full moon. This is the night the shifters own the forest, and I should not be here.

A menacing snarl pushes me into a run as the forest vibrates with life, with danger, and it’s completely different from the threat the stranger poses. I bolt through the trees, realizing when I hear the snap of brush and sticks beneath heavy paws that I am completely surrounded. The stranger must not be watching. If he were, I know he would be here with me. He would protect me, wouldn’t he? But I might be as good as dead to him already.

A fresh spike of fear pierces me as I hear someone rushing toward me, but they are not the heavy pads of an animal. When I turn to face this new threat, I see Leo running toward me, ducking between the trees. Barely slowing, he grabs me, forcing me into a run again.

“Leo?” I ask breathlessly.

He doesn’t answer me, gliding through the forest so fast that I have to lean into my fae powers to keep up with him. I glance over my shoulder and see the flash of a red mane, only then realizing that he is running from his own pack.

Leo picks up his speed, urging me to go faster. He skids to a stop a few steps past a cave and backtracks to pull me into it. A visceral terror nearly freezes my muscles. While I’m almost certain this is not the cave where I was held captive, it’s similar enough that my body is rebelling against the memory. The smell, the feel of damp.

A roar echoes off the stone as the pack runs past the mouth of the cave, the sound reverberating through every crevice it can reach. Leo pants, both of us pressed against the craggy rock walls. When he’s sure they’ve passed, he turns a glare on me. “Why are you in shifter territory during a full moon? A full orange moon no less?” he whisper-shouts, his tone harsh.

“I-I didn’t realize.”

Leo gives me an incredulous look. “You’re one of the top students at ­Avalon,” he says, glancing cautiously at the mouth of the cave again.

“I was distracted.”

Leo gives me a dark look, and despite his slim, barely muscled form, he’s never looked more grown-up. “It should be safe in a moment. You need to get out of the forest. As soon as they’ve lost your scent, they’ll lose interest.”

“What about you?”

Leo looks away and checks outside again. “Let’s go.”

“Come with me. You can stay with us,” I say, taking his hand.

He glances at me over his shoulder. “It won’t work for me. I go through this every month.” Leo starts to run, pulling me along behind him again as we move into a sprint. We run hard for a solid five minutes before he slows to a stop. “Okay, here. Go right and run to the tree line and don’t look back,” he commands, his tone all alpha.

“Leo . . .”

“Go,” he snarls, the still dormant lion within him taking over his voice.

“Shit,” I curse, but follow his instructions. I leave the forest, but unfortunately, I can’t leave my broken heart behind in it.

Chapter One Hundred One

Summer

Iburst through the front door, slamming it behind me. Leaning against the solid wood, I lock it and slump against it. My throat feels swollen and tight. My arm is aching, and my legs are quivering from the fear-induced run, but the worst is how my heart feels fractured.

Alice comes through the kitchen door, stopping when she sees me. She still looks tired, but I think she’s slept a little.

“You’re home late,” she says, and I pull my hair over my shoulders to conceal the bruises that are no doubt blooming on my skin. She frowns and sniffs the air. “Why do you smell like shifter pee?”

“Don’t ask. I’m going to shower before I eat,” I say, shaking my head.