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Chapter 17
“Is that my shoe?”I pointed to a boot sitting on its side right near the river’s bank. Please let it be. Already rocks and twigs had stabbed at myfeet.
Oryn released a knowing growl and leaped forward in his wolf form, his black fur fluttering in the breeze. He launched out of the forest and targeted theriver.
Dagen sniffed the air, his gray head pivoting right, then tookoff.
Nero edged in front of me, his white pelt soft against my legs, and he grumbled, pointing his chin toward a dead log where I could sitdown.
“You read my mind.” I hobbled over and crashed onto the wooden seat. Crossing my legs, I rubbed my sole and plucked out a pebble pressed into myheel.
Nero sat next to me, his tongue hanging out as he studied our surroundings. I scratched his head, which twitched beneath mytouch.
“Doubt you ever get cold in winter with that white fur. It’sbeautiful.”
He twisted to face me, making a protestingsound.
“Oh, right! You have a handsome, manly coat.” I smirked tomyself.
With the crunch of twigs, he jumped to his feet, and I spotted Oryn and Dagen trotting closer, each with a shoe in their mouths. They dropped them in front of me, and Iclapped.
“I can’t tell you how amazing you guys are, otherwise, one of you would have to carryme.”
Oryn hopped closer, his head high, as if showing me his back was strong andready.
I reached over and fluffed his fur. “You’re thesweetest.”
Nero wriggled himself between Oryn and me, making a yelping sound, offeringhimself.
“Ha, you two are funny.” My gaze lifted to Dagen, who sat there, studying me, his ears pointy. So I pulled on my boots, my toes exposed from the rip across the leather on one foot. Teeth marks dotted the next one. But the soles were intact, and standing up, I swore I floated onair.
“I can now run a marathon.” Up close to Dagen, I leaned over and hugged him, his warmth leeching onto me. “Thank you.” Then I stood, and we started offagain.
Oryn led the march, as this was his territory and he had earlier insisted we take a longer path to avoid cliffs and wolves. Nero walked at my side, and Dagen behind, meaning no one could sneak up onus.
We hurried past dozens of pines, trampling over bushes. Foliage and broken branches littered the forest floor. We moved fast, the morning sun piercing the canopy overhead, warming myshoulders.
The deeper and farther we traveled, the more my gut clenched. What would I find back home? The priestess parked outside my shop, ready to arrest me? Or apprehend all of us? Would Santos be okay? What if townsfolk saw me with three naked men sneaking through thewoods?
Yep, because as if getting one star on the Customer Approval Plank wasn’t bad enough, what would I getnow?
Chased out of Terra withpitchforks?
My breaths sped up, and I hugged my stomach. Surely not. But thenwhat?
A bird screeched, and a flock of crows crossed theskies.
By some miracle we’d had a smooth passage and now the sun reached high noon without a single encounter with wolves. Oryn’s suggested route worked like a charm as we now crossed an open field. Yellow flowers littered the meadow, and the grasses tickled my knees. Warmth beat on my back andshoulders.
Nero and Oryn leaped farther ahead of me like racehorses, pouncing and tumbling into one another. Something tinged deep in my chest. A sensation that my life was where it shouldbe.
Dagen strode alongside me. Now and then I scuffed his fur. He rewarded me with gorgeous big eyes, staring my way, unblinking.Mesmerizing.
Woods surrounded us once we’d reached a middle point in the open meadow, branches swayed, and the breeze picked up, bringing with it achill.
When a howl echoed behind us, I spun around, my hands clasped to mychest.
Half a dozen wolves burst out from the forest, fanning out andcharging.
