The rushing water roared in my ears as I ran, each step splashing cold droplets against my legs. My lungs burned, but I didn’t stop. Behind me, the sounds of battle faded, replaced by the relentless thundering of my heart.
I glanced over my shoulder, desperate for any sign of Logan or the others. The forest had swallowed them, leaving me alone in the dark with nothing but the river as my guide. Keep going, Audrey. Just keep going.
The riverbank narrowed, the trees pressing closer, their shadows twisting into eerie shapes. My wolf instincts itched to take over again, but I forced myself to stay human. Shifting now would drain the last of my energy. If another wolf attacked, I’d need every ounce of strength to survive.
Suddenly, a sharp snap echoed from the trees to my left. My heart froze. I skidded to a halt, scanning the shadows. The sound came again-a branch breaking underfoot.
“Logan?” I whispered, my voice trembling. “Mal? Liam?”
Silence. Then, the rustling of leaves. I took a step back, my bare feet sinking into the muddy bank. A low growl rumbled from the darkness, deep and menacing.
A wolf stepped out from the shadows, its silver coat glowing faintly in the moonlight. It wasn’t as large as the alpha, but the intelligence in its eyes sent a shiver down my spine. This wasn’t a rogue-it was part of the pack.
I raised my hands, trying to appear non-threatening. “I don’t want to fight,” I said, though my voice wavered. “Just let me go.”
The wolf tilted its head, almost as if it were considering my words. Then it lunged.
I barely had time to react. I threw myself to the side, rolling onto the muddy ground as its claws slashed the air where I’d been standing. Scrambling to my feet, I ran toward the river. If I could get into the water, I might have a chance to lose it.
The wolf was faster. It tackled me from behind, its weight knocking the breath from my lungs as we hit the ground. Its teeth snapped inches from my neck, and I threw up my arms, catching its jaws before they could sink into my skin.
“Get off!” I screamed, kicking and thrashing beneath its weight. My muscles burned as I fought to keep its teeth away from my throat. Its golden eyes bored into mine, filled with a terrifying mix of rage and determination.
This is it, I thought. This is how it ends.
Then, out of nowhere, a blur of motion slammed into the wolf, knocking it off me. I gasped, scrambling backward as a familiar figure landed between me and the wolf.
“Logan!” Relief flooded my chest as I recognized his wolf form. His dark fur bristled, and a low growl rumbled from his throat as he faced the silver wolf.
The silver wolf hesitated, its ears flattening as Logan bared his teeth. For a moment, I thought it might retreat. Then it lunged, and the two wolves collided in a flurry of teeth and claws.
I could only watch, frozen, as they fought. Logan was fast, his movements precise and powerful, but the silver wolf matched him blow for blow. Their snarls filled the air, each attack more vicious than the last.
“Logan, be careful!” I shouted, my voice hoarse.
The silver wolf lunged for Logan’s throat, but he twisted at the last second, sinking his teeth into its shoulder instead. The wolf yelped, pulling back, blood staining its silver fur. It growled once more, then turned and fled into the forest, its tail tucked between its legs.
Logan stood there, panting, his fur matted with dirt and blood. His glowing eyes met mine, and for a moment, neither of us spoke. Then, slowly, he shifted back into his human form.
“You okay?” he asked, his voice rough.
I nodded, my hands still trembling. “I-yeah. Thanks to you.”
He crouched beside me, his sharp eyes scanning my face and arms for injuries. “You’re lucky I caught up when I did,” he muttered. “That one wasn’t playing around.”
“Tell me about it,” I said, trying to smile. It didn’t quite reach my eyes.
Logan helped me to my feet, his grip steady despite his own exhaustion. “Come on. We need to keep moving.”
“What about Mal and Liam?” I asked, glancing back toward the forest. “What if they’re in trouble?”
“They can handle themselves,” Logan said firmly. “Right now, we need to get to safety. Once we’re out of the danger zone, we’ll find them.”
I wanted to argue, but the intensity in his gaze stopped me. He was right-staying here would only put us both at risk.
We followed the river downstream, our pace slower now but still cautious. Logan stayed close, his body tense as he scanned the shadows for any sign of danger. My own nerves were frayed, every sound setting my heart racing.
Finally, after what felt like hours, we reached a clearing. The river widened here, the trees pulling back to reveal a rocky shore. Logan stopped, his shoulders relaxing slightly as he surveyed the area.
“This’ll do,” he said. “We’ll rest here for a bit, but not too long.”
I sank onto a flat rock, my legs trembling with exhaustion. The adrenaline that had kept me going was fading fast, leaving me drained and shaky. Logan sat beside me, his expression unreadable as he stared at the water.
“Do you really think this is Warwick’s pack?” I asked softly, breaking the silence.
Logan’s jaw tightened. “I don’t know. But something about that alpha… it feels wrong. Like it’s more than just a wolf.”
I frowned, trying to make sense of his words. “What do you mean?”
Logan hesitated, his gaze flicking to mine. “I mean it felt human,” he said finally. “Not just in its movements or its tactics-it felt like it was… someone.”
His words sent a chill down my spine. A human alpha? That didn’t make sense. Wolves couldn’t lead packs unless they were bitten or born into it. And Warwick-he wasn’t either of those things.
“Logan,” I said carefully, “if you’re right about this, it changes everything. Packs don’t just follow humans. Not without a reason.”
“I know,” he said, his voice grim. “And that’s what scares me.”
The weight of his words settled over us like a heavy fog. The forest seemed quieter now, the distant howls fading into nothing. For the first time in hours, I allowed myself to breathe.
But deep down, I knew this wasn’t over. Whatever was happening, whatever connection Logan felt to the alpha-it was only the beginning.