Gone

Claire was gone. She had been right in front of him, close enough to touch. But now, she was gone.

Colin was both frozen and on fire. His mind ran faster than ever, but he could barely pick up his feet. He pressed his nose to the ground, both bathing in her scent and attempting to track it. But she had just disappeared out of thin air. High-pitched whines escaped his throat as he lifted his head, howling desperately into the sky.

 “Silence!” his father commanded him; now that Claire was gone, he had no need for false pretenses of kindness towards his son.

Colin’s ears pressed flat against his head as he bowed his head. Elias looked at the bloody wolf, who trembled with rage, and frowned for a moment. He turned back to Alpha Peter and said, “I cannot cross into her lands; the wards will kill me within a moment.”

Peter shook his head. “I will not risk my warriors for your hybrid,” he sneered, and Colin growled at his words.    &