The sweet scent of pine enveloped me as I went deeper into the woods, soothing me once I finally had a chance to slow down. The bristling under my skin calmed, quickly replaced by a warmth that reminded me of a hot flash more than anything else. Only it wasn’t a flash, and as I walked, it kept happening.
Flames danced across my skin, warding off the cool breeze blowing in from the east. If I walked against it, I’d reach the mountainside I’d slept under the night before. But if I go west…
I glanced in the other direction, at the deep woods I’d have to walk through if I ever hoped to reach the edge of pack territory.
There were no roads here, just a near-invisible path cut through the trees. That made me wonder how Ash got me here in the first place. They’d obviously pulled me into a car, but I’d never seen a vehicle of any kind within the boundary, which meant they must’ve ditched it somewhere else.
Somewhere close by.
If I could find the car and get it up and running, I wouldn’t have to worry about taking on my wolf form to reach the city at all.
My wolf didn’t agree, sharing its displeasure by slowly pulling at the back of my mind. If I thought I had it bad at the manor, driving a car with Ash and Fallen’s scents all over the place probably was
n’t a good idea.
“So much for that,” I said with a sigh, looking back the way I came.
Trees surrounded me, their branches barely letting in any light as birdsongs filled the air. It really was beautiful back here, and if there was one thing I wasn’t looking forward to once I reached the city, it was the noise. The traffic, the emergency vehicles, the screams of road rage… those were things I could do without, especially considering how sensitive my hearing had become.
My wolf may have been calm for the time being but that didn’t mean I wasn’t on high alert. Her thoughts were my own, and right now, the only thing she was interested in was the hunt.
“We’ll eat later,” I promised, grimacing when my stomach growled loud enough for the nearby wildlife to hear.
I probably should’ve grabbed something to eat on my way out, but it was too late now. As soon as I headed back, I knew I’d have to deal with my wolf’s upsets all over again.
So I kept walking.
The handful of berries I managed to find were more of a tease than anything else. They were also terribly out of season and extremely bitter. By the second handful, I got over my hunger and focused on the journey ahead.
Finding my way to the western edge of pack territory would take time, time I didn’t have according to my wolf. The longer I stayed inside the woods, the higher my chances of being seen by one of Ash’s scouts. No doubt Fallen had already gone back to my room to check on me. It was only a matter of time until she found me out here again.
Knowing that, I pressed on, walking faster than before.
The sky darkened, the air heavy with the promise of rain.
The handful of clothes I’d managed to put on before leaving the manor would do very little against a storm, and unless I could find shelter, I’d be stuck in the elements and vulnerable to any wolf that happened to walk by.
The fear of getting found, and more importantly, taken back to the manor, spurred me on. Running now, I followed my instincts, listening to my wolf the best I could as I made my way to the border of Ash’s territory.
With the help of my wolf, I reached a break in the trees a lot sooner than expected. More than that, I was finally starting to understand her. The tingling I’d felt at the back of my neck was her way of warning me or sharing displeasure, but when something swelled in my chest, it was because of her excitement and pride.
Using those feelings as a compass, we played a silent game of hot and cold until I finally saw the golden glow of city lights along the horizon.
There, on the edge of pack territory, I looked on. As much as I wanted to see Val, something held me back. It wasn’t my wolf because I could feel her tension in my chest. It was something else. Someone else.
It was as though someone took my hand and tugged on it, doing their best to pull me back. But that wasn’t right, was it?
Looking around, the only one out here was me. Considering the fact my wolf was ready to go, it wasn’t her, either.
So who was left? More importantly, where were they?
Scanning the tree line, the only thing I saw were the woven branches and needles of pine. There were no shadows moving within the forest and no sounds. No one followed me here, and as I turned my attention back to the city, I realized it was fear that took my hand. Fear held me back.
Val hadn’t seen me since the morning of my first shift. She had no idea where I was or that I was still alive. How was I supposed to tell her where I’d been when I continued to struggle with the truth?
I may have shifted with Ash’s help and gone on the best run of my life, but it felt more like a dream, like the kind that picks up as soon as you close your eyes.
It was a beautiful dream. It was also one I could ever share.