Another howl.
Still distant, but absolutely a howl. Pressing my heels into Amis’ sides, I steer her in the direction of the sound. “Go Amis.” I press my heel harder until we’re flying through the trees. Wet branches whip against my cheeks, spilling dewdrops into my hair and soaking my clothes.
But I won't stop.
More and more howls echo through the darkening forest, and it isn’t until I’m closer do I contemplate that the howls may not belong to Ruse or Alaric. They could very well belong to another pack of wolves.
And I have just ridden myself directly to them.
My stomach sloshes with nerves as Amis presses forward. I crane my ear again, chest tightening.
Silence.
The wind picks up, pulling my hood back and stinging my ears and cheeks.
Come on. Please be you, Alaric.
At the edge of the clearing, I halt Amis. I hop down and don’t bother tying her off. If we’ve stumbled upon a wolf den, she’ll need to be able to defend herself. My boots skid to a stop in the underbelly of the forest as another sound vibrates off the trees.
Not a howl this time, but canine no doubt.
A few more yips, and I’m running toward it, leaving all concern behind me.
Yip, yip, yipgoes the sound and I’m running and running, until I’m falling straight down a hill. Sliding, unable to catch myself against the slippery leaves, I dig my fingers into the earth to slow my fall, lungs stinging as I attempt to catch my breath. The yipping has ceased and before I look down, the hair on the back of my neck raises. Swallowing my fear and cursing my stupidity, I brace myself as I slip further onto the other side of the hill and closer to what lies at the bottom.
A wolf’s den.
Shite.
Landing directly on my arse, I throw my hands to my back, reaching for my bow, the feathered ends of my arrows giving me a false sense of confidence when I’m stopped short by a rather large, wet tongue lapping against my cheek. Opening my eyes, one at a time, I burst into a fit of laughter as Alaric stands above me, his massive gray and white frame looming in the waning sunlight.
“Thank the Mother,” I say through a laugh, ignoring the fact that it very easily could have not been Alaric I ran into tonight. Standing, I brush off the dirt and leaves from my pants before reaching up to give the wolf a scratch behind the ears. “Where have you been, mate?”
He nuzzles my hand, and a rush of emotions hits me all at once.
If he’s this far from Valebridge, does that mean he’s giving up trying to get to Elora? My stomach drops, wishing desperately I had her gift and could speak to him the way she does. His amber eyes meet mine, and within them, I can see all the things he wants to say but can’t.
He’s never going to give up.
Just as I will never give up.
So why are you here?
He whines before licking my cheek again.
“I miss her too.” His coat is thick and smooth under my hand and when a low grumble sounds from behind Alaric, my heart warms. I know that grumble. Have heard it many times.
“Ruse!” I want to run to her, but I know better than that.
Her emerald eyes narrow, but she makes no effort to move. Another grumbling nose vibrates up her throat and at that, Alaric moves past me and toward the den. Dark and deep, it’s quite large but also quite discreet. Branches and leaves adorn thetop and bottom. The opening is only large enough for the bodies of the massive wolves to move in and out of, not an inch more.
Alaric disappears, and I brave a glance at Ruse to my right. She hasn’t moved. Sitting perfectly still, her eyes trained on me.
Swallowing thickly, I count the minutes before Alaric returns and try my best to ignore the narrowed gaze of the massive wolf next to me. As I’m about to give up and make my way back to Amis, a yip sounds from inside the den. The same noise that I heard just before tumbling down the hill.
It couldn't be.
Could it?
