"Hold," I warned, my fist closed in the air. "One minute."
Talon growled, tail twitching, barely able to contain his wolf's impulse to hunt its prey. Killian stood rigid, staring into the trees like he wanted to reject every instinct driving him to chase her, and yet he couldn't resist the pull. Ryker paced back and forth, a grin spread wide across his dimpled cheeks.
I looked at my watch just as the timer counted down to zero and buzzed. My fist opened. "Times up. Go."
They all exploded forward, even Killian, and I followed suit.
Chapter 9: Rowan
My breathing went shallow as my pulse climbed, the erratic thud of my heartbeat loud in my ears. Still, my stubborn wolf stayed tucked away, refusing to answer no matter how I called for her. I didn't understand why the smallest spike of volatile emotion could drag her forward, yet now, when I actually needed her, she was nowhere to be found.
At first, I ran without thinking, driven forward by pure adrenaline. I had no plan, only the instinct to move. Then I focused on my body and forced my breathing to slow, and something shifted.
My stride lengthened naturally, my feet striking lighter, cleaner. I wasn’t discovering something new. I was uncovering it. My body knew exactly what to do, moving with strength and coordination that had been buried deep, waiting for me to realize it was there.
Running was never a strength of mine before, but it seemed the shifter nature came with a bonus of sudden athleticism. Narrowing my vision and focusing my hearing, I tapped into my senses, listening for anything helpful. I could still hear the faint clicking of a timer somewhere far behind me, warning that the alphas were about to begin their pursuit. Itseemed my wolf wasn't planning to come to my defense, and I didn't intend to let them claim me, so I considered my options fast.
The first threat was Talon. His wolf was the strongest tracker. If he got my scent, the hunt would be over before it even started. I needed to lose him if I stood any chance at all.
My ears caught the faint sound of water, and I sprinted toward it. Wading through a stream might help mask my scent long enough to confuse him, and once I created enough distance, I could cross and continue on land. When the stream finally came into view, I exhaled a shaky breath of relief, wading into its depths as the frigid water collided and stole my breath.
"Shit! It is freezing!" I hissed through chattering teeth.
I stayed near the shallower bank to avoid going fully under and turning myself into a hypothermic popsicle, but I still needed to be deep enough for the current to help hide me. The water moved swiftly, but I trudged north, against its pull. Every step burned my legs with effort. Once I felt I had gone far enough to conceal my scent, I crossed to the other side at a shallow stretch and climbed out, sore muscles trembling.
As I stood on the bank, trying to catch my breath, I attempted shifting again, reaching for my wolf.
"Please help me," I begged her.
Nothing.
A growl built in my throat. "Seriously? You are just going to let them pin me to the forest floor and claim me in the dirt?"
Silence.
"Whatever, you horny bitch!" I muttered. I was beginning to think my wolf was secretly in league with Ryker, wanting to be caught.
The bank was steep, and I scrambled up, grabbing exposed tree roots to haul myself forward. Midway through the climb, I froze at the sound of a branch snapping in the distance. Heavy footsteps followed, striding toward me.
An alpha was closing in. Fast.
Thankfully, based on the pattern of footsteps, it wasn't Talon. Two feet hitting the ground in a steady rhythm meant someone still in human form. They were running quickly though, and headed straight for me.
Panic jolted through me as I considered my options. I couldn't outrun them. The alphas were all faster, stronger, and more experienced than I was. Darting forward, I zig-zagged between trees, searching for any advantage, escape, or way to outsmart whoever was hunting me down.
"Think, think, think! Where do I go?"
Like some divine intervention, I spotted a tree ahead with a massive broken branch and dense foliage. None of the other trees had branches low enough to reach, but this one did. The broken branch had cracked and now sagged toward the ground, still barely attached by a strip of bark, forming a natural ramp. Above it, another branch sat at just the right height to grab. If I climbed into the canopy, I could hide.
Sprinting past the tree first, I doubled back so my scent would not end at the trunk's base and give my location away. Then I climbed fast, scrambling up the angled branch. The footsteps were close now. Too close. I pressed myself flat against the trunk, pulling my knees to my chest and forcing my breathing silent as I tried to disappear into the leaves.
An alpha was almost on top of me.
I scented the air, trying to figure out who it was, and my stomach dropped.
Killian.
His earthy oakmoss scent nearly blended into the forest itself.
