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She’s prey, but better.

Chapter 5

Astra

The giant white wolf stalks me through the forest. His presence behind me is unmistakable. I splash across a stream and try not to let panic override my senses. Getting lost would do me no good, and I’ve only got a grip on the geography if I focus. At present, though, most of my focus is on not tripping.

I mean—what the hell?

He could catch me at any time, but he doesn’t. I keep seeing flashes of his white coat through the trees, just in my periphery. He’s either stoking my fear or enjoying playing with his food.

My bracelet with the new concealment charm is gone, ripped away. Blood runs down my neck from the wound the shadow-version of the wolf gave me, aggravated by him… licking it. I shudder. The thought is so gross.

I didn’t register touching his wolf. Didn’t want to feel his fur or his teeth, because I was sure I was going to die anyway.

In fact, I’m pretty sure I’m going to die now.

Nightmares flash before my eyes. Witches being slaughtered in front of me.

Stop that.

I scour the ground for anything I can use as a weapon. Anything sharp…

I slow to snatch a rock and keep moving, darting through the trees. We’re approaching a full moon. It’s been more than a week since the attack and the new moon that let demons enter our world. This moon is gaining strength—as are the wolves.

Is his pack close by?

Is he herding me toward them, for them to rip me apart? The awful things wolves will do to witches, just for existing…

He howls, and my chest tightens. There isn’t another howl, though. No answering call. So maybe he’s on my own. My odds of surviving one wolf are better than me against an entire pack, right?

Keep moving, Astra.

My mother is alive. I focus on that, first and foremost.

Wait.

Fuck.

He wants to break the curse. Help him and he’ll help you—or something like that. I wrote it down, but the paper is lodged in my bag, which I stowed near the edge of town. I didn’t want the wolf to have access to the stones or my possessions…

But my mother seemed so confident when she told me. And here I am. North, alone. Being stalked by a wolf who has already broken my skin once.

Oh God.

I skid to a halt.

Am I going to turn into a wolf?

No. I doubt wolf shifter bites work like that. He wasn’t even a real wolf when he bit me… But his teeth certainly felt real enough.

“Done running?”

The Winter Wolf, in his human form, strides out of the trees. He’s completely naked. Scars and tattoos decorate his torso. My eyes trail lower, then snap back up to his face. His dark hair is shorter than I’d expect for a wolf. A few pieces fall across his forehead. And, unfortunately, he’s handsome. That’s probably the least of my concerns at the moment, right? My gaze drops again, and my face burns at the size of his… erm. Package.

Who am I? One look at this guy, who is probably going to rip me to pieces, and I’m about to drool. It’s not like I haven’t seen a guy naked before. Right? Well, that guy was normal. Human. And he definitely didn’t have an eight-pack. Or tattoos. Or muscles. Or⁠—

For God’s sake, stop.