Chapter 11
“Tell me.” His voice was rough with frustration, punctuated by the endless howls behind us. Each sound seemed closer, as if the pack were inching toward us with every passing second
Shadow Sand–such a beautiful night, tainted by blood and sin.
I gripped the wheel tighter, my gaze locking on a faintly glowing lake up ahead. A wild,
reckless plan formed in my mind. If I could speed acros
the lake fast enough, the ice might break just after I crossed, leaving the pursuers stranded. But I knew it was a gamble; the ice could just as easily give way beneath me, leaving me helpless.
What to say? Something about Ethan… His name had flashed in my mind first, maybe because we’d just mentioned him. Half–jokingly, I replied, “Nothing serious. Tell him QT’s donuts suck, no offense.”
A pause hung over the radio as if he were taken aback by my humor in the middle of all
this chaos.
I laughed softly, though the sound felt brittle. But I didn’t have long to dwell. The car skidded over the frozen lake, the wheels slipping slightly as the ice groaned beneath me, I knew I couldn’t risk staying in the vehicle much longer. As soon as the car slowed, I made a split–second decision and flung open the door, shifting into my wolf form in one fluid motion. I hit the frozen ground running, my paws pounding against the ice.
My breath misted in the frigid air, thick and white, each exhale like the panting of a beast. My instincts kicked in, primal and fierce, guiding me through the landscape with raw, precision. I let them take over, trusting the power of my wolf form to navigate the frozen
sand.
But it seemed fate–or the moon goddess–wasn’t on my side tonight. Just as I veered around a sharp bend, a massive beta lunged at me from behind.
A snarl ripped from my throat as we collided, teeth and claws tearing into each other. The taste of iron flooded my mouth, and every instinct in me screamed to fight, to survive. But despite all the combat training I’d received, this wolf was massive, its strength
overpowering mine. The brutal sound of our struggle echoed into the night, a symphony of
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Chapter 11
snarls and growls,
Through the haze of pain, I heard my name crackling through the radio, desperate.
“Claire-!”
My vision blurred as I tumbled into a shallow sand pit, struggling to stay conscious. The agony in my leg was unbearable, radiating up my spine like fire. I tried to hang on, but darkness pulled me under, and everything went silent.
When I finally woke, I was in a hospital room. Soft afternoon light seeped through the window, casting a warm glow over the white walls. A digital clock on the nightstand read
two in the afternoon.
My teammates were gathered around me, their faces painted with concern that quickly shifted to relief as they realized I was awake. Zoe squeezed my hand, her expression a mix of worry and joy. As the initial tension broke, I started recounting the details of my daring escape, even cracking a smile as I recalled the radio message I’d left about QT’s donuts.
The room buzzed with laughter and camaraderie, a lightness settling over us like a balm.
Then a knock sounded at the door.
Zoe walked over to open it, her eyes widening in surprise. “Mr. Henry! You’re still here–thank you so much for watching over us.”
The figure stepped into the room, and my heart gave a strange lurch. His presence was commanding, his tall frame casting a shadow that seemed to fill the entire room.
“Miss Claire is awake?” His voice was low, steady, carrying an undertone of authority. It was a voice I recognized, the one that had guided me through the night on the radio.
(4)
