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“They’re hunting us,” she says.
“Yes. That’s why we need to get out of here.”
“They’ll kill us, Rose.”
I sigh, turning back to her. “They’ll kill us no matter what we do. We have to at least try to escape.”
“I can’t.”
“What do you mean?”
“There’s nothing for me out there. No home to return to and no friends or family waiting for me. This is my future. But I don’t want it. I don’t want to be hunted.”
The howls are closing in, and I let out a curse. Now is not the time for Lyra to start panicking. Her eyes move from my face as tears stain her cheeks.
“Staying here isn’t a better choice,” I tell her. “Just because there’s no home for you doesn’t mean you can’t leave this hellhole behind. There’s no home for me either, but I don’t intend to become a wolf’s next meal.”
She shudders as the howls echo off the trees around us. Her eyes dark around the darkness that coats the trees. There’s nowhere else to go but up. Running will only alert the wolves to where we are. I don’t plan on making their hunt easy for them, but I need Lyra to pull herself together.
“I…I can’t,” she mumbles.
Another howl, this one too close to us. Closing my eyes, I suck in a breath.
24
Pierce
We stand outside the castle walls, ensuring that no foolish wolf gets it in their head to join the hunt. Or to go after the women on their own. There have been years where this has been an issue, or so I’m told. It only reminds me just how desperate the wolves are here. This kingdom has fallen on hard times that have left many without the hope of finding a mate. It has caused them to turn to desperate measures.
“I hate this,” Rykker whispers.
I’m not sure if he means the Choosing as a whole or standing by as the Grey Prince and his followers prepared to slaughter more human women. It didn’t really matter, I guess. I hated both, and I’m sure Rykker did as well.
“We are not to reveal anything,” Heath reminded us. “We play the part of loyal guard. Remember that.”
Just then, the trumpet sounds and the gates lifted several feet. We waited, letting the shadows cloak us. We were instructed to stay out of sight of the women. The prince feared that our presence, though necessary, would frighten them further. It was not our job to send them racing toward the trees in terror. The Grey Prince got a sick delight out of doing that himself.
Slowly, the women slip under the gate. My eyes catch on the bright red hair of the one woman. I don’t mean to track her progress, but I do. I’m unable to tear my eyes from her as she helps her friend before disappearing into the trees. Moments later, the first wolf flies past us. Bright silver with long strides, the prince leads the others to where the women have disappeared. Watching feels wrong. The women stand very little chance of making it out alive. And those that do face an even worse fate.
“Watching this makes me sick,” I grumble.
“It’s a small price to pay for gaining the prince’s trust,” Heath reminds me. “Be thankful that we are away from the trees.”
Howls and screams fill the air as the first wolves find the woman unfortunate enough to have not put enough distance between the castle and themselves. I shudder at the sound. Next to me, I feel Rykker stiffen. Heath lets out a sigh, his composure shaken as the cries morph into screams.
“I can’t just sit back and watch this unfold,” Rykker mutters.
He’s moving before I can reach him. In a fluid motion, he shifts from his human form to wolf. I let out a loud curse as I watch him crash toward the trees. Next to me, Heath lets out a sigh. Our eyes meet. For a moment, neither of us moves. Then we’re following Rykker. As I shift, I can’t help wondering if we’re chasing after Rykker to stop him or if we plan on joining him. Either way, we can’t let him step into the forest alone.
25
Rose
When I open my eyes, Lyra is gone.
A curse erupts from me as I turn, looking for her. But the darkness is too thick here. A scream rips through the air, followed by a triumphant howl. I fight the urge to close my eyes again. Somewhere out there, a wolf just caught one of the other women. I pray that it’s over quickly for her.
Then, I move. I can’t let Lyra get caught. There’s no way she was the one that screamed. It was too far away to be her. That’s the only reassurance I have as I move through the trees. Weaving between branches and towering trunks, I note that to my left, I can just make out flashes of silver fur. I’m not alone in the trees. The reminder is unpleasant as I force my steps to not falter. Howls further in the trees chase me as I try to find where Lyra disappeared to before they get to her.
