I had no idea how long I’d been running or exactly where I was as I slowed to a trot. This run hadn’t worked out the wayI hoped it would. No matter how far or long I ran through the woods, I still wanted to turn back and run straight into his arms.
Being so self-absorbed in my own thoughts and feelings meant I hadn’t noticed the wolf that had been following me. It wasn’t until I came to a halt near the lake that I even sensed his presence.
The fur on the back of my neck raised as my wolf surged.
She walked in a circle until she spotted him in the woods. He was crouched low, she crouched even lower and let out a guttural growl as he sprinted right toward me.
I refused to turn my back on him or give him the upper hand in any way. If he moved too far to my right, I compensated to follow, always keeping him in sight.
His scent wasn’t familiar to me, and I knew damn well it wasn’t my mate, and likely wasn’t one of his brothers either.
What did he want?
No sooner than that thought crossed my mind did he lunge forward. I was caught off guard and worse, I wasn’t paying attention while homed in on him.
He wasn’t alone.
The second wolf snuck up behind me and tried to mount me from behind.
Disgusted, I jerked and managed to throw him off.
When I growled, he backed off a bit, but now there were two of them and keeping them both in my sight was proving difficult.
I lifted my head and let out a distress howl. I just prayed someone heard it in time.
Monte
Chapter 21
“Zoey!” I screamed when I heard her howl.
Without hesitation I shifted on the spot, letting my clothes rip to shreds around me.
“What is it?” Remy asked.
“Zoey took off for a run to clear her head. I was just trying to distract him so she could get away, but that was clearly a distressed howl.”
“Oh shit. Go get the others. Zoey may be in trouble and if that’s the case, there’s no telling what he’ll do,” Remy said before shifting and following my lead.
It helped knowing he would be there by my side, because I really had no idea how I’d handle another threat to her either.
Hang in there, baby. I’m coming. Please be okay,I thought to myself.
She had to be okay, because I wasn’t sure I could live in a world without her.
A thousand thoughts flew through my mind.
Why hadn’t I bonded with her sooner?
Why did I have to go and scare her?
How the hell could she just run off all alone like this?
What if something bad was happening to her?
I tried to push away the most negative thoughts, but it wasn’t easy. She had to be okay, because if she wasn’t, I knew I never would be again.
She howled once more, and I stopped momentarily to throw up.
