Alone, I ran until the sky turned the deepest shade of night, until my lungs contracted so violently I had to stop to catch my breath. I found shelter under a stone ledge. The rain fell so fiercely it curtained off the forest. Even with my heightened senses, I could barely see three feet in front of me. I didn’t care,though.
I lay down with my head in between my forepaws and watched the ruined world fall apart aroundme.
Again. . .
18
Imust’ve fallenasleep because the next thing I knew, something was prodding my ribs. I jerked awake and bounced onto my paws, spine snapping into alignment and teeth gnashing in a menacinggrowl.
A mountain of chocolate-brown fur stood inches from me.It’s me,Ness.
The flash of green around the wolf’s pin-sized pupils made my defensive stanceslacken.
August?
I still kept my distance, swinging my head toward the lip of the stone ledge that had shielded my fur from the rain. Although my underbelly and legs were caked in mud, I was no longer wet. The storm had quieted while I slept. The storm outside. The one inside still raged as Liam’s accusation slotted into my mind. I expected to see the black wolf materialize between the fence oftrunks.
What were you thinking, going off on your own likethat?
I didn’t bother answering August, but I did ask,Are youalone?
Yes.He wrung out his body, splattering mine with warmraindrops.
Even though I wanted to trust August, I couldn’t help but flick my ears around to pick up on every sound within a one-mile radius. I didn’t think I had it in me to trust anyone ever again. BesidesEvelyn.
Evelyn . . . She was expecting me.What time isit?
He tossed his head back, his slick brown fur rippling.What time is it? That’s what you’re concernedabout?
I narrowed my eyes.What else should I be concerned about? Has the pack voted for mydemise?
Your demise? What are you talkingabout?
What do you mean what am I talking about? You were there! Liam called me a traitor.My words blustered out of me in a single, heated breath.Just because I didn’t put my hand up yesterday doesn’t mean I would betray thepack!
Tears tracked down my muzzle, over my rubbery lips, glided between my sharp teeth. The darkness would hide them from August. Or maybe he saw them. What did I care? I might’ve been a wolf, but I was also a human. Underneath the pelt and mud, I possessed a heart, and it had been broken. And broken hearts bled tears. I shouldn’t be ashamed of them. What I should have been ashamed of was caring what others thought I had done. I knew I hadn’t sent that message, and that was all thatmattered.
Or all that should’vemattered.
Doyoubelieve me,August?
What do you think?He tried to approach me, but I backedup.
Yes orno?
Of course I believeyou.
He said this with so little hesitation that skepticism poked through my relief.Why?
Green eyes steady on mine, he said,Because I can feel you. If you’d done it, you wouldn’t have been racked by anguish. You would’ve been racked by guilt. I told Liam, but he’s a stubborn ass. He’ll come around,though.
I can’t believe I pledged myself to him. I wish I could take it back.There was so much I wished I could take back: the kisses, the caresses, the trust. Again, Ishuddered.
I suddenly wished I hadn’t stopped running, wished I’d crossed a state line or vanished into the Rockies. I could’ve stayed away from Boulder until I was eighteen, until I was free of this damnedplace.
I stared at the woodslongingly.
I felt August’s muzzle push against my neck.Don’t even think aboutleaving.
