Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 38523 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 193(@200wpm)___ 154(@250wpm)___ 128(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38523 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 193(@200wpm)___ 154(@250wpm)___ 128(@300wpm)
I don’t want to give them any reason to send me away, or worse. I only want a chance to stay with them and learn more about them. And film them. But they don’t need to know about that.
Cautiously, I follow the prints in the damp dirt, pushing dried leaves and pesky sticks out of my way so I can be sure not to lose the trail of their casual strides. Just as I get to the edge of the tree line, the prints split with one wolf going right and the other going left. Initially, I feel a bit of relief. They wouldn’t split up if there was any kind of danger nearby.
Swallowing thickly, I stare at the tracks and look deeper into the woods where the set of tracks on the right leads. I’m vaguely familiar with the area. I studied the map that Jordan, the scout and owner of the land, gave me. My forehead pinches in confusion. There’s nothing but woods that way and then a cliff that drops to nothing. I look to the left and then drop my bag at my feet so I can take out the map. To the left is Shadow Falls, and no shifter would go that way. That area is claimed by a ruthless pack. I watched their offering. I was there and saw the women’s reaction to being taken. Chills flow down my spine at the memory. They’re the reason no one believes me about them only taking mates. I huff and loosen the hair tie to take down my hair, running my hand through my brunette locks as I study the map. I’m certain my hair is a mess, my worn jeans have dirt stains on my knees, and my sweatshirt is less than fresh after two days of hiking in it. I take a moment to slip it off, leaving me in my tank top. It’s warm enough that I can have a moment to feel the fresh air and maybe get some warmth from the sun on my skin. The sounds of nature pause, and it forces me to look up. It’s practically silent. No more birds chirping or critters rustling. My heart rate picks up, but I glance back down to the map, knowing exactly what I’ve done and what the risks are.
There’s a small stream and Dark Valley between here and Shadow Falls, but I can’t imagine why the wolves would split at this point.
My hand is still in my hair, I’m frozen with fear and my entire body shivers at the sound of a branch cracking beneath a heavy weight behind me. And then another. They’re casual steps, definitely getting closer and getting louder, more careless. The wolves. My breath comes in short pants and my eyes widen. Another noise to my right forces a small gasp of fear from me.
They split up to trap me.
I don’t turn around. I know better than to do that. I can handle this. I calm myself by breathing as slowly as possible and gently lowering my body to the ground. My heart only speeds up as the sounds get closer. I can do this. This is what I’ve wanted for so long. To come face to face with the werewolves.
Adrenaline spikes through my body making my heart race and beat chaotically. My hands are numb with fear. My instincts tell me to run, but I know better than to do that. I gently place my palms on the dirt and push them forward to lower my body into a bow even though I’m facing away from both of the wolves moving behind me. The smell of dirt and grass helps me relax slightly as the sounds of several heavy steps get louder and louder.
My shoulders and chest rise as I breathe heavily, struggling to remain calm. My eyes refuse to close, and I find myself staring toward the open field, where the only bit of light is illuminating the forest. I swallow thickly as both wolves move only feet from me. Their presence and dominance are an overwhelming physical force pressing against me. Regret passes through me as my anxiety rises. Everything in me wants to run as the fear of the unknown races through me, but I stay strong. I’m doing this for a righteous cause. I’m confident in my work. I hold on to the last bit of strength that I have and do my best to just breathe and wait for the werewolves to give me their consent to rise.
My body tenses and trembles on the cold, hard ground as I sense a large form on my left. The warm breath of the wolf sends a chill of goosebumps down my neck. His jaws are close to my neck; warning me, daring me. This is the test I knew they’d present to me. The knowledge that I was right in what their initial reaction would be makes me feel slightly at ease, even if his jaws are within an inch of my throat and large enough to rip into my flesh and end my life in an instant.