I cursed, realising the thoughts running through the hunter’s mind. A frenzied wolf carting a screaming, injured woman into the woods? They’d slaughter him in the belief they were saving me. Yet again, I had no choice but to surrender my bid for liberation. If I didn’t, Pablo would become nothing but a trophy for the hunters.
I shouted the wolf’s name. He snarled in answer, tugging my torn shoulder with more determination.
‘Pablo. Stop!’
Another arrow struck. This time so close the vibrations wafted my hair. My heart thundered as the hunter closed in. He wouldn’t miss a third time.
‘Pablo!’ Damn this stubborn wolf. He’d get us both killed in a minute. Even if, Evella bless us, we made it to the devastatingly close tree line, I couldn’t walk. This ended. Now.
I cried his name against the creak of an arrow being drawn. For a few seconds, he continued dragging me. I twisted, shoving him to the ground. The arrow landed where Pablo’s head had been only a heartbeat earlier.
I spun around, cursing the damned spots. A hazy hooded figure strode towards us. He reached a lean arm back towards his quiver.
‘Twat,’ I hissed.
I heaved myself up to block Pablo. I couldn’t hide all of his huge body, but unless the hunter wanted us both dead, he’d never chance giving his arrow flight.
Or at least I hoped he wouldn’t.
Fighting the fierce pain in my ankle, I wrenched myself onto my knees, spreading my arms wide. A low growl spread through the wolf, but I locked my gaze on the hunter.
‘Stay, Pab. For the love of Evella, stay.’
He snorted across my neck.
‘Move.’ The hunter’s panicked voice crackled across the frigid space. ‘Creep to me, slowly. No sudden movements.’ He stopped twenty paces away, an arrow nocked, as I rose up, biting my bottom lip as pain bit like a wildfire.
‘I can save you,’ he shouted. ‘Don’t make any sudden?—’
‘It’s you who’ll need saving if you harm one hair on his hide, you prick,’ I screamed. ‘He’s harmless.’
The hooded figure cocked his head. The shadow of a square jaw peeked out as the bow drooped a fraction. ‘It’s…it’s a wolf!’
Pablo tensed, and I swore, willing him to heed my plea to remain still. Beyond the hunter, a tentative calm spread on the roadside as the diafol expelled a final pitiful grunt. Enfys, blessed by Evella, would be healing the wounded. All I could do now was keep the wolf safe.
The figure took a step forward but Pablo rose, snapping his jaws.
‘He won’t hurt me, you witless cretin,’ I hissed through the pain. ‘But he’ll happily sink his teeth into your neck if you come any closer.’
‘But…’ Gods. Why couldn’t this man understand? ‘He was dragging you into the woods. I saw it.’
I barely heard him over Pablo’s growling.
‘He was helping me.’
‘By dragging you screaming into the woods?’ He lifted the arrow again as I clenched my fists. By Vyrus, had this man been sent to test me?
‘Yes. Now drop your damn weapon.’ Pablo moved to my side, and I fisted a handful of his fur. The spots dissipated. I kept my gaze on the hunter, still unable to make out his expression through the haze.
Pablo snapped, and the hunter raised his weapon. ‘I don’t trust it. Come to me. I’ll get you back to the carriage. I’ll keep you safe.’
‘Fuck,’ I groaned as my shoulders sank. ‘Do you need to clean your ears? I told you I’m fine. He’s harmless. He’s?—’
‘It’s a fucking wolf!’ he cried, urgency flooding his tone. ‘Please. I’m begging you. Get away from it.’
The man held out a gloved hand, beckoning me forward. Gripping the wolf, I glared at the shadow where his face would be. From the snarls erupting behind me, I knew full well what would happen if I accepted the hunter’s hand.
As though he heard my thoughts, Pablo howled.
