But when I try to move, my body doesn’t respond.My eyes grow heavier, and I shiver.I’m freezing, even though it’s a beautiful day.
Now I know why I never went hiking,I think bitterly.
The footsteps grow louder, and I turn my head to see a man running toward me.
Is he the one who shot me?
He doesn’t have a gun with him.
I try to stand and run, but my body doesn’t respond.He gets closer, and I gasp, sucking in a shuddery breath.
As he kneels at my side, I can’t help but marvel at how handsome he is.
A hysterical laugh bubbles up in my throat as my eyes drift shut.
Leave it to me to turn a relaxing activity into a life-or-death situation.
TWO
Christian
“Shit,”I grunt as I put pressure on the wound.
“Christian?”Abe calls as he breaks through the brush.
“Here.I’m safe.”
“What happened?”my best friend asks, dropping down next to me.“Shit.”
“Yeah.I thought this area was supposed to be closed,” I snap.
Abe grunts.“Me too.She must be a tourist.Maybe the sign at the base of the trail blew away or something.Hell, maybe they reopened it.The cult has been quiet for weeks.We were all hoping the threat was over.”
“Did you see the shooter?”I ask.
He shakes his head, looking pissed.“They were already gone.Headed east.I’ll call someone to pick up the trail.”
The two of us were out on our Midnight Haven patrol when we heard a gunshot and took off in this direction.I’m glad we were close, or no one might ever have stumbled upon the injured woman.
“Good.We need to move her.We need to get her back to the clinic.”
Abe frowns.“Will she make the trip?”
“She has to,” I say grimly.“Come on.”
I scoop her into my arms, and we take off, sprinting down the hiking trail toward town.Luckily, this is a short trail, and it only takes us a few minutes to reach the center of Night Grove Falls and my clinic.
My wolf growls at me, but I ignore him.I ignore everything except for saving this victim.
“Dr.McAdams?”Melanie, my nurse and receptionist, asks when Abe and I come barreling in.
“Clear the OR,” I bark.
Melanie takes off down the hallway.I’m right on her heels.Abe pushes open the door for me.I set her down on the table, then wash my hands.
“Claire, get prepped,” I say when my other nurse comes in.
“What do we have?”Melanie asks, tying my surgical gown as I scrub my hands.
