The forest seemed endless as we raced through it, our breaths coming out in sharp, quick bursts. The growls of the pack grew closer with every second, the sound of their paws pounding against the earth making my heart race even faster. I could feel the alpha’s presence behind us-its energy was suffocating, a constant reminder that it was gaining on us.
“Logan, they’re catching up!” I shouted, pushing my legs to move faster.
“Just keep running!” he barked back, his voice filled with urgency. “We’re almost there!”
Almost where? I wanted to ask, but there was no time. I focused on dodging low branches and leaping over roots, my wolf instincts kicking in to guide me. Every muscle in my body burned, but I couldn’t stop-not now, not when survival was the only option.
Ahead, I saw a break in the trees. The moonlight spilled through, highlighting a steep cliffside. My chest tightened as realization dawned.
“Logan! It’s a cliff!” I yelled, panic creeping into my voice.
“I see it!” he called back. “We’ll climb. They won’t follow us up there.”
Climb? My paws weren’t exactly built for that, but I didn’t have a better plan. The pack was too close, and the alpha’s growl sent a chill down my spine. We didn’t have a choice.
Reaching the cliff, Logan shifted back into his human form in one smooth motion. His hands gripped the rocks as he started climbing, his strength and speed as a werewolf making it look easy.
“Shift, Audrey!” he shouted, glancing down at me.
I hesitated for a second, my wolf instincts screaming at me to stay on all fours, but I forced myself to shift back. My human body felt weaker, slower, but I pushed the fear aside and grabbed onto the rock. My fingers slipped against the cold, jagged surface, but I tightened my grip, pulling myself up inch by inch.
Below us, the pack reached the base of the cliff. Their snarls echoed up to us, and I risked a glance down. The alpha stood still, its golden eyes locked on me, its body tense like it was deciding whether to jump or wait.
“Hurry, Audrey!” Logan called from above. He was already several feet higher, his movements quick and determined.
I gritted my teeth and climbed faster, my hands scraping against the rough stone. My arms ached, and my legs trembled with the effort, but I didn’t stop. The alpha let out a low, rumbling growl that sent shivers through me. It was waiting for us to make a mistake.
Logan reached the top first, pulling himself up with one final push. He turned back, leaning over the edge and extending his hand. “Come on! You’re almost there!”
I reached for his hand just as a loud snarl erupted from below. One of the wolves leaped up, snapping its jaws inches from my foot. I gasped, scrambling to climb higher. Logan grabbed my arm, pulling me up with a strength that left me breathless.
We collapsed at the top, both of us panting hard. I turned to look over the edge. The pack circled below, snarling and growling, but none of them tried to climb. The alpha stood back, its golden eyes glowing in the dark, watching us with a cold, calculating gaze.
“Do you think they’ll give up?” I asked, my voice shaky.
Logan shook his head, his expression grim. “Not a chance. But they won’t follow us up here. For now, we’re safe.”
“For now,” I repeated, staring down at the wolves below. The alpha didn’t move, its eyes never leaving mine. Something told me this wasn’t over.
I turned to Logan, still catching my breath. The adrenaline in my veins was finally starting to fade, leaving me shaky and exhausted. But one question burned in my mind.
“Who are they anyway?” I asked, my voice sharp. “Which pack is this?”
Logan stayed silent for a moment, his gaze locked on the wolves below. The alpha had stopped pacing but still stood there, staring up at us with those piercing golden eyes. The rest of the pack circled restlessly, their growls soft but menacing.
“Logan?” I pressed, my tone firmer this time. “What pack is this?”
He finally looked at me, his expression grim. “Warwick.”
The name hit me like a slap. I blinked, not sure I’d heard him right. “Warwick?” I repeated, disbelief and anger creeping into my voice. “You can’t be serious. Logan, Warwick is dead.”
“I know what I said,” he replied, his tone defensive.
“And he wasn’t even a wolf!” I snapped, my frustration bubbling over. “We saw their alpha, Logan. And Warwick was killed my a wolf according to Mal You can’t seriously think he’s involved in this.”
Logan’s jaw tightened, his gaze fixed on the alpha below. “I know what Mal said. But you didn’t feel what I felt back there. That alpha’s presence-there’s something about it. Something familiar.”
“You’re grasping at straws,” I snapped. “We weren’t even there when Warwick died! Mal was. And he’s the one who told us it was a rogue wolf. Are you saying Mal lied?”
“No,” Logan said, his tone clipped. “I’m saying we don’t have the full picture.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Warwick had already suffered enough, and now Logan was dragging his name into this mess? My voice shook as I spoke. “Warwick is gone, Logan. He’s dead. And he’s not coming back.
“And he’s not coming back,” I repeated firmly, my voice trembling with frustration. “So stop dragging his name into this. Let him rest.”
Logan’s shoulders tensed, and he exhaled sharply, his gaze flicking to me. “I’m not trying to dishonor his memory, Audrey. But you didn’t feel what I felt out there. That alpha-it’s not just any wolf. There’s a connection, something I can’t explain.”
“Something you don’t want to explain,” I shot back. “Because it makes no sense! Maybe it is another Warwick you talking of, cause it can’t be my Warwick.”
Before Logan could say anything, a familiar voice called out from behind us.
“Hey! Guys!”
I turned sharply to see Mal and Liam sprinting toward us from the tree line, their faces etched with urgency. Relief flooded me, momentarily pushing aside the tension between Logan and me. They must’ve heard the commotion and tracked us here.
“Are you two okay?” Mal asked, his voice breathless as he skidded to a stop near the cliff’s edge. He peered down at the pack below, his expression darkening. “Damn. That’s not just any pack.”