I just have to find the arrow. Then, I’ll be free.
The giant sequoias and tall pines in my peripheral are a blur as I pass them. With my blood pumping through my veins and heart pounding through my chest, I scan my surroundings the best I can. I try to remember what kind of tree the arrow dropped near. They were evergreen, cone-bearing, elongated needles with green on top, white underneath.
Cone-bearing . . . Well over three hundred feet . . . Redwood! It’s Redwood!
I’ve never been as happy as I am now. Redwoods are distinct in scent. They have a stronger soil and wood aroma, but there’s a slight sweetness and mild spice to it. It’ll be easy to sniff them out. Redwoods typically intertwine their roots, so they can survive and thrive together, growing in groups. If I find one, I’ll find the whole grove. Which means I’ll find the arrow.
We’re looking for a Redwood tree. Help me sniff one out, I say to my wolf.
So just to be clear, wedon’twant him to catch us?My wolf asks.
I growl.
My wolf’s ears go back, and she cowers.Okay, okay. One Redwood coming up!
There’s a slight release and internal thrust forward as my wolf breaks through the inner workings of my mind to join me at the surface. It only takes her a few seconds to pinpoint a Redwood and change directions. Caleb said I had to be in my human form, and I am. He never said anything about using my wolf. I mean, c’mon, you can’t expect me to believe that he isn’t using his powers right now.
Although I am a little farther west than the arrow is, I still got myself this close.
The mixed aroma of spice and sweet, earthy soil grows stronger as I near. A minute later, I can see their massively thick, reddish-brown trunks that remind me of Caleb’s fur. Betweenthe trees, I spot the golden arrow sticking out of the ground at an upright angle with each fletching pointed in a cardinal direction.
I must’ve lost Caleb when I changed directions because I don’t hear his boots behind me anymore. I get why every movie character slows to savor impending victory, even as I’m screaming at them not to.
With no time to appreciate what is about to be my victory, I push every muscle in my body to work harder to make it. My lungs are on fire, but I’m almost there. I extend my hand to reach for the arrow and just as I’m about to grab it, I’m tackled from the side.
I don’t see, or evenhearhim coming—which frightens me even more. With the speed he had to be going to catch up to me, how could he manage to remain undetected?
I roll to my feet in a crouched position.
Caleb stands before the arrow and pulls it out of the ground. He grins.
Sorrow fills me as I process the heavy loss and say goodbye to my freedom.
***
Caleb is practically purring. His eyes flash gold as he says, “You know the deal. You’re mine.” He steps forward, bends down and hoists me over his shoulder. He treks back in the direction we came from.
Too exhausted to retaliate, I allow my feet to enjoy the break while I focus on the view to pass the time.
It’s unfair how perfectly perky his ass is, like a ripe peach. What captures my attention even more is the rope sticking out of his back pocket. I don’t want to know what it’s for.
“You never answered my question,” I say.
“What question?”
“Why didn’t you come after me before?”
“I did answer.”
My wolf wags her tail thinking back to his pet name for us.
“I want the real answer.” Silence lingers between us aside from the splash of his boots stepping through a puddle.
“I was busy deciding how I wanted to kill you.”
“And did you? Decide, I mean.”
“No, but if I had waited any longer, I might not have gotten the chance to. I got the sense that you want to be dead.”
