“They weren’t wolves.”
When Luca thought about it, those things had only been wolflike, the same way they were doglike. “Then what were they?”
“I…” The man scrubbed his face. There was just enough light to accent the tension in his features. “I’m not sure.”
Luca pressed his palm against his right eye for a moment. “Is there anything you do know?”
“I know you’re not safe. I know they want you. And I know they won’t stop until they have you.”
“And how do you know all that but not what they are?”
“Your brother told me.”
“Koda.” Luca made it a statement.
“Yes.”
“He told you.”
“Yes.”
“Koda died five years ago.”
The man nodded then shook his head.
“Then where is he?” Luca wasn’t sure why he asked because it could only be a lie.
The man rubbed his face. “Gone.”
“Gone?”
“He died.” His voice trembled. “I’m sorry that’s all I know it’s—”
“Stop the truck.”
“No.”
“Stop the damn truck.”
The man didn’t.
Luca yanked the door release. The wind tried to shove it closed again. Luca leaned into it. Tires screamed, jerking Luca forward. The truck swerved as it skidded onto the shoulder, pulling Luca out. He fell from the passenger seat, still holding on to the door. Gravel scraped the bottom of his tennis shoes.
Before the truck completely stopped, Luca bolted down the embankment.
“Luca!”
Wind gusts turned briars into bladed whips, dragging stinging lines down Luca’s arms and across his cheeks. A blast of sideways rain blanketed him in liquid winter. Lightning cracked the sky. Thunder hammered the air. Luca shoved his way through the bushes, the trees. Branches clacked together, and bits of limbs fell with the rain.
A flash outlined the woods in white before dropping the world back into darkness. Thick leaves shifted underfoot on a bed of mud. Luca tipped, but his shoulder caught a sapling, and he regained his footing.
The sky lit up again.
The stranger stood right in front of Luca. He flung himself back, but before he could fall, a strong grip seized Luca around his waist. “Leave me the fuck alone.” Luca kicked.
“I can’t do that. I’m sorry.”
“The hell you can’t. Take the truck and leave.”