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What’s left of the body smashes onto the ground. The plane hits so hard it bounces, flinging dirt in the air along with broken branches. A few trees snap in half, and even though I’m on the edge of death, a sliver of guilt hits my chest for disturbing the forest.

My head smashes against the left-side window, a sharp pain spreading across my skull. Another branch punctures what’s left of the plane, slicing across my thigh to the other side of the skywagon, effectively locking me in place.

The plane smashes against the ground again, the force spinning the cabin to the right. Plants and trees are being uprooted, entire ecosystems being damaged due to the crash.

Blood lingers in my mouth. The taste of iron slips down my throat, reminding me of my injuries.

The side of a mountain comes into view, snow lingering like dust on a wooden dresser, undisturbed. It’s beautiful even in the face of death.

I make contact, smashing against the immovable rock. The force causes the remains of the cockpit to slide to the edge of a cliff. Blood drips down my face. Darkness creeps on the sides of my vision as I dangle off a mountain.

A shaky breath escapes me in a frozen cloud, the temperature colder on the mountain than down below. Actually, that’s good. That’s really good. I don’t know what all of my injuries are, but being cold will slow down the blood loss.

I just hope I don’t die in the process.

A sharp pain stretches across my abdomen. Every breath becomes harder to take. I rest my head against the cracked side window, needing to rest my eyes for just a second.

Only a second.

Then, I’ll figure a way out of this.

I stare out one last time at the vast mountain ranges and endless forest, the quiet wrapping around me, lulling me to sleep.

There’s no one else out here.

I’m all alone.

This time, I don’t think there’s a way out of this.

I check my watch, knowing the pilot should have been here by now. In my book, no word means no worries, but something about this feels different. My heart has a sudden heavy weight to it that sinks to my stomach, then twists, stealing my breath.

I gasp, leaning on the large fence posts I splurged on to keep big game out. I’ve had some issues with wolves coming in to kill my chickens, and that needs to come to a stop. My goal is to get all the surrounding fences replaced so they are higher, sturdier, and the materials thicker.

It won’t make the wolves stop hunting, but it will make them work harder.

This delivery has to happen in order for us to prepare for winter. Missing all these supplies would be a real problem for the ranch.

I slam my fist down on the rail, my temper getting the best of me. A burning sensation travels up my shoulder and down my back. It’s as if fire found the pathway to my nerve endings, the pain causing me to fall to my knees.

“Ah, fuck!” I roar, falling onto my hands.

My claws lengthen, piercing the material of my gloves and digging into the earth.

“Alaska!” Soren jumps off his horse, Bango Bucko, and sprints to me from across the field using his vampiric speed.

I can’t remember the last time I used any of my abilities. I couldn’t care less.

“What happened? What’s going on?” His hand lands on my shoulder ever so lightly, and I flinch away, the weight of his palm too much for me to handle.

“Nothing. I’m fine. I just need a minute to catch my breath.” I grab onto the fence and use it to pull myself to my knees, then lean against the rail.

“You don’t look so good. Need me to get some blood?”

Not even blood sounds good. The thought of drinking another person’s blood actually has acid creeping up my throat.

“No. I’m okay.”

“Alaska—”