The strike doesn’t fell the beast; it enrages him. Wild red eyes narrow, there’s another growl, and the wolf leaps on top of Maddox, knocking him to the ground. The beast gnashes with its teeth, swipes with its claws, catching Maddox’s forearm in its maw. His blade tumbles to the ground.
I have to do something.
I have to?—
I grab a loose rock, launching the stone at the wolf’s head before the monster can go for the kill, hitting the beast square between the eyes.
Its head slowly lifts, another growl tearing from its bleeding throat.
My heart roars as I swipe for another rock. Maddox takes advantage of the distraction, retrieving his blade and driving it home between the wolf’s ribs.
The beast swings back toward Maddox. I throw my rock, hitting its shoulder, but this time, the wolf pays me no heed. There’s a terrible ripping sound. A spray of blood. A scream.
My scream.
The wolf staggers to the side and collapses next to Maddox’s prone form.
Blood.So much blood.
And silence.
Too much silence.
“Maddox . . .”
I stumble off the path toward where he lies, my heart in my throat and tears burning my eyes.
Please let him be all right. Please . . .
His arm is torn open, and there are bite marks on his shoulder, but he is breathing and blinking up at me.Alive. For now.
My knees sink into the mud. “You’re alive . . .” It’s impossible to tell where the wolf’s blood ends and his begins. He needs water, and fast.
Maddox tries to sit up only to fall back once more. I do my best to help him upright, his weight no match for my weak arms. “Where’s your flask?”
“Empty.”
No. No. No. “Canteen?”
“Rucksack.”
He manages to sit long enough for me to dig around in the leather pack still hooked to his back. What remains of the water sloshes in the canteen. Heavens, it feels like there’s almost nothing left.
What are we going to do?
Unscrewing the lid, I lift the canteen toward Maddox’s pale lips. “You need to?—”
My words are cut off by a growl.
I whip toward the wolf Maddox felled, finding its carcass limp and lifeless in the mud. If it’s dead, then where did that sound come from?
Another low snarl lifts the hairs on my arms. The back of my neck.
Two wolves stalk from the bushes, one to the right and one to the left.
There’s no way out.
With blood dripping down his forearm, Maddox fumbles for his dagger.
