I wake up on the shore. I don't know exactly where I am, but there is blood. So much blood. And it's everywhere."Ryan?" I say , but he doesn't answer."Ryan," I repeat, more urgency this time."Ryan!" I scream, but once again, I am met with nothing but silence.I force myself to sit up. To look around. There's no sign of Ryan.I stumble over to the water. I want to look for him, but I'm so exhausted. I'm no good to anyone like this. Maybe if I rest, I'll feel like I can go on. Right now, it all just feels to heavy.I lie down in the sand--to tired to even make it to a tree or find cover. The moment my head hits the ground, I am asleep. I don't know how long I am out, but I think it must be hours. I try to sit up, but it's a struggle.I am in so much pain. All I want to do is lay down--to give up.But I can't. I have to find Ryan. I walk to the water and look for footprints.I can barely walk at this point.My leg is aching and swollen.I'm covered in blood and sweat, bu
"Where is she?" they ask.They want to know about Rachel. About where she's gone. They don't know her name, but I know that's who they mean.The truth is, I don't know where she is. But even if I did, I wouldn't tell them. I would never betray her-- my true mate.I refuse to answer their questions."Tell us!" they say. "You reek of her!"They know I am her mate. I can see it on their faces. So they should not be surprised by my refusal."If you do not tell us, we will kill you," they insist. And I believe them.They're looking at me like prey.They're going to feast on my flesh and tear me apart.I will do everything I can not to let them. To get home safe to her. But how can I fight the whole pack?There's dozens of them, and I am tied up.They surround me.There's no way for me to escape.I can feel my heart pumping; there's fear in my veins.I don't want to die, but I will--happily-- if it means Rachel gets to live."Where is she?" The Alpha asks again. "Where is the
I see our Alpha walking towards me and I know it can't be good."Rachel," he says. "I need to talk to you."My heart falls. Those are the words I've dreaded the most.I can't stand the sight of Lance, our Alpha. He knows this. And I think he enjoys it.But I've heard he's looking for a mate, and I've prayed every night he doesn't turn to me.That would be a nightmare.Everyone knows how cruel he is."Rachel," he says, "the time has come for me to choose a mate."Oh no, I think. Please, no. Don't choose me."I've decided," he says, "to choose a member of my pack."Yes, thank god, I think. He's not going to pick me."And," he continues, "I have decided I want you."I feel the world shake beneath me. I feel my vision swim. I feel my lips tremble."No," I say, my voice a whisper."You will not refuse me," he says. "You will do as I say.""No," I say, louder this time. "You can't make me.""You will do as I say," he says, his voice rising."No!" I scream. "I won't be your m
"Sheila!" I call out. "Stop right there."Sheila turns and glares at me, smirking."Well, well," she says slowly, "look at who we have here. If it isn't the Alpha's new mate."She smiles, and in this moment, I hate her more than I have ever hated anyone."But, look at the bright side," she says. "At least you'll get to spend your last few days with him.""My last few days"? I ask, confused. "What is that supposed to mean?""You'll see," she says, and I am filled with the overwhelming desire to knock that smirk right off her face.I narrow my eyes."You were behind this whole thing, weren't you?" I ask. "You arranged all of this just so that you could steal Ben.""That was part of it.""You're pathetic," I say. "He doesn't love you. He's never going to love you.""Maybe," she says, undaunted. "We'll see.""Why?" I ask. "Why are you doing this?""Easy," she says. "I'm doing it because you stole him from me.""I didn't steal him," I say. "I love him.""That doesn't really m
In reality, it's only been an hour or so since I left Ben, but it feels like a lifetime.I want nothing more than to lay down and sleep, to let the grief wash over me. But I know I can't. I know I'm not safe.The pack will be coming for me, if they're not already. Once Sheila tells them her lies, they won't stop. In their eyes, I am a traitor now. I have betrayed them, and that betrayal must be avenged. I need a plan if I'm going to have any hope of getting out of this alive. I need help.I have heard of a Rogue named Parker. He left the pack years ago and never came back. He knows how to escape. How to survive on his own.If I can find him, maybe I can survive, too.Unfortunately, it is not going to be easy to find Parker. He is a wolf. He doesn't live in the city. He lives on the outskirts. He has no phone, doesn't go to the store. He probably knows nothing of the outside world. But, he's the only one who can help me.I start my search near the border. I hope that he's nearby
I jump, startled, ready to fight.And then, I hear Parker's voice. "It's alright," he says. I stare at him, stunned."They're gone," he says. "For now."He shifts from a wolf back into a man. I stare at him, tears running down my cheeks."I thought you were dead," I say.He laughs. "It would take far more than that to take me out."He turns to me. "But this isn't the end of it. They'll send more. We're not safe here. Not now. We have to go."He walks inside and begins gathering supplies. He quickly gathers as much food as he can and throws it in a bag. Then he grabs his bow and arrows, pours some oil over a pile of wood, and sets it alight."We'll burn the place," he says. "They won't be able to track us if we destroy all of our scent."I nod, impressed."We'll have to run," he says. "But we aren't going to stick to the woods. We're going to run on the ground. Hopefully, that will throw them off our trail.""Alright," I say.He smiles. I can tell he's trying to be comfort
Parker’s POVShe is in trouble. I know that. I want to save her. I know that, too."Parker," she screams as the wolves advance around her. "Parker, please! Help me!"I want to help. I need to. But I don't know how.The wolves are too strong. They are too many.What do I tell her to do? She is standing. She wants to run, but I know that will only make things worse.I need to save her. I need a plan.And just then, it hits me. I know exactly what to do.I look to the skies, and I begin to chant."Knotty, knotty, knotty," I say, over and over.The wolves all stop. They gather all around us. They look to the skies, confused."Knotty, knotty, knotty," I continue to chant.They begin to chant with me. This is not what they want to be doing. But they are unable to stop themselves."Knotty, knotty, knotty," they repeat in unison.I look over to her. She is silent. She is confused. She is scared."Knotty, knotty, knotty," I continue to chant.
My heart races as the wolves get closer. I need to escape, but they have me surrounded. There is no way out.I scan the woods for Parker, but he is nowhere to be found. "Parker," I yell. "Parker, help!"I call out his name, but I know he can't hear me. There is too much howling. My voice can't get to him now.And he can't get to me.There is nowhere to run.I look at the wolves. They are baring their teeth and growling. With every pounding beat of my heart, they are getting closer.And then, suddenly, they stop.They do not move towards me. They do not move away. They are frozen.And that is when I feel a hand on my shoulder."Run" a voice behind me says.I turn to find Parker standing beside me. He came back for me."You came back," I say, tears of gratitude filling my eyes."Run," he says again, but my feet are frozen. I know he cannot hold them off for long. I know I need to leave. But I can't."Run!" he commands. And I want to. But I know what will happen to him if
"Where is she?" they ask.They want to know about Rachel. About where she's gone. They don't know her name, but I know that's who they mean.The truth is, I don't know where she is. But even if I did, I wouldn't tell them. I would never betray her-- my true mate.I refuse to answer their questions."Tell us!" they say. "You reek of her!"They know I am her mate. I can see it on their faces. So they should not be surprised by my refusal."If you do not tell us, we will kill you," they insist. And I believe them.They're looking at me like prey.They're going to feast on my flesh and tear me apart.I will do everything I can not to let them. To get home safe to her. But how can I fight the whole pack?There's dozens of them, and I am tied up.They surround me.There's no way for me to escape.I can feel my heart pumping; there's fear in my veins.I don't want to die, but I will--happily-- if it means Rachel gets to live."Where is she?" The Alpha asks again. "Where is the
I wake up on the shore. I don't know exactly where I am, but there is blood. So much blood. And it's everywhere."Ryan?" I say , but he doesn't answer."Ryan," I repeat, more urgency this time."Ryan!" I scream, but once again, I am met with nothing but silence.I force myself to sit up. To look around. There's no sign of Ryan.I stumble over to the water. I want to look for him, but I'm so exhausted. I'm no good to anyone like this. Maybe if I rest, I'll feel like I can go on. Right now, it all just feels to heavy.I lie down in the sand--to tired to even make it to a tree or find cover. The moment my head hits the ground, I am asleep. I don't know how long I am out, but I think it must be hours. I try to sit up, but it's a struggle.I am in so much pain. All I want to do is lay down--to give up.But I can't. I have to find Ryan. I walk to the water and look for footprints.I can barely walk at this point.My leg is aching and swollen.I'm covered in blood and sweat, bu
We have no choice but to try and cross the raging river. We don't have time to turn back.The wolf howls again, and I am terrified. I cannot handle another attack."I'm scared, Ryan," I say."I won't let anything happen to you," he says. "I pomise." It's a promise he can't realistically make. I know that.But it makes me feel better anyway."Don't leave me," I say. He grabs my hand and smiles."I won't," he says, and just for a moment, I feel like I can breathe again."You don't have to be afraid, Rachel," he says. "I will always come for you. Always."He brushes the hair from my eyes, and my cheek burns at the closeness of his hand. I long for him to kiss me. But now is hardly the time. We run along the shore until we find a good place to make the crossing.Ryan pulls down some tree branches and fashions a makeshift raft. I stand in awe of how clever he is-- how good he is at taking care of me. He helps me into the raft and then climbs in himself. He wraps his arms ar
Ryan's POVI roll over and see her lying there. Rachel. My true mate. And my heart swells.I want to go to her. To take her in my arms and tell her how I feel. But I can't. Not after everything I've done.Not after everything I've lost.So, instead, I make her breakfast.I scramble some eggs. I'm a terrible cook, but I'm not about to let that stop me."Here," I say, as I kneel down beside her."Thanks," she says as she sits up. She takes the eggs from me, but she doesn't eat."Did you sleep okay?" I ask.She nods, but I can tell she's lying. Her eyes are heavy. She's been awake all night, thinking, and I know it's about me. About my secret.I can tell by the way she looks at me.I want to tell her everything. It's so hard to look at her pleading eyes and not answer.But she'd never look at me that way again if she knew who I really was. If she knew I was a mercenary, if she knew about all the terrible things in my past, she could never love me. Never.And that-- I couldn't
We set up camp deep in the woods. Ryan lights a fire."Are you hungry?" he asks.I nod."I'll go get you something" he says, and he disappears into the darkness.I try to follow him with my eyes, but I can't. I'm too tired. Each breath I take is harder than the last, and there's a sharp pain in my shoulder, like a knife, or a pin, or a needle-- anything except a wolf's teeth.I am distracted by the sound of Ryan crashing through the brush. He comes back with a small animal, with a large tail and sharp horns. I watch as he cleans it.I watch the way the sweat glistens on his skin--the way his muscles bulge as he works.He catches my gaze."Are you alright?" he asks.I nod. There are so many things I want to ask him, but I don't know where to start. Finally, I settle on why."Why did you do it-- save me like that?" I ask. "I thought you were going to give me to Lance.""I don't know," he says. "But I couldn't do it. Not once I saw the way he looked at you." He looks down a
Running feels impossible, but somehow I manage. Fear is a powerful motivator.I take off, sprinting as fast as my legs will take me. I keep looking back at him. I want to make sure he's safe. I want to make sure that he's with me. We sprint through the trees, silently, completely focused. Every time I look at him, I feel overcome with relief. Suddenly, everything seems so simple. All I need is him.We run for what seems like ages. I am wounded and weak, and with every step it gets harder to breathe.I feel like I am going to throw up, or pass out, or both, but I know I can't let that happen. I have to stay strong; I have to keep running.Because Lance and his pack are still right behind us.*We come across a stable in the woods just as my legs are about to give out. Ryan approaches a horse. I can tell right away that he's good with them.He grabs the reigns and pulls it out of the stable. "Can you get on?" He asks.I nod. He offers me his hand, and I let out a smal
Everything hurts and walking is a struggle. I want to lay down. I want to rest more than I have ever wanted anything in my whole life.And I want Ryan to hold me while I do. And I want to not want Ryan to hold me. I try to shake the thought out of my head. I don't want to think about him. It's distracting, and not in a good way.So, instead, I focus on walking-- on forcing myself to put one foot in front of the other.I don't ask him where we're going. I don't have to. I know he hasn't changed his mind, though I don't understand how that's possible. I don't understand how Ryan could know what I know and still take me to Lance. I don't understand how he could do this to me.I am his one, true mate. I know it. And I know he knows it too.But he's not saying anything. He's not even looking at me. He's just walking, and being silent, and that's what hurts the most.He seems upset. And I don't know what I'm supposed to do about it. There's nothing for me to say. There's nothing fo
Ryan's POVI lean against the tree and stare at her. I am filled with questions.Why did she come back for me?Why did she save me?I kept her in a cage. I was going to collect a bounty on her-- to sell her to a man she despises.But she risked her life to save me, and I don't understand it. Her eyes meet mine and I see the intensity of them, but I don't know what it means.She's afraid. But I'm not sure if it's of me or something else.She's looking at me as if she knows me. But I know I don't know her. I don't know anything about her.I don't know why she's here or what she's doing.And then, one thing becomes clear to me-- I don't care. I don't care about her name or her past. None of that matters now. I don't care about anything other than her. I want us to be together. To be happy forever.This is what I want, and I don't understand why.I look at her again, closer this time, and see she's hurt. She's pale and her eyes are closed. I can smell her blood, an
"Don't try to run," he says as I take my first step forward. "It was easy to overpower you, even when you were at your strongest. It would take nothing for me to do it now."I nod. I know he's right.We walk in silence for a while, and then he turns to me. "I'm Ryan," he says."Rachel," I reply.It's strange to think I've been with him all this time and am just now learning his name.It's quiet for a while, but then he starts talking again. "I know what you're thinking," he says. "I know you're wondering where I'm taking you, and if I'm taking you somewhere to kill you. "Maybe," I say."I'm not. Going to kill you, I mean.""Well, that's something." I say.We walk a while longer, and I decide to try and get more information one last time."What are you going to do with me?" I ask. "It's my life we're talking about. I have a right to know."I'm taking you to Lance."My stomach sinks. That's what I was afraid he would say."Why?" I ask, even though I'm sure I know the answer