Page 74 of Alpha Fate

When a disused building looms ahead, its skeletal frame a shadow against the night sky, I heave a sigh of relief. A sanctuary – or at least a place to lie low.

I duck inside, pressing my back against the cold wall as I slide down to the floor. My breath comes in ragged gasps, and I try to will my heartbeat back to normal.

The place reeks of decay and long-forgotten memories. Dust dances in the slanting beams of moonlight filtering through the broken windows. Every creak and groan of the settling structure sets my nerves on edge as I try to keep myself calm.

“I need to plan,” I whisper to myself. I can’t keep running without knowing where I’m going. What I’m doing. The emptiness around me offers no answers – only echoes of my own voice bouncing back at me.

I lean my head back against the wall, shutting my eyes as if the answers are written on the back of my eyelids. All I find there are images of Gage. The intensity of his stare. The way he makes my heart stutter.

My fingers trace over the belt of my backpack strapped tightly to me – it’s not much comfort; all I packed were a few items of clothing, a bottle of water, and a couple of apples.

“Apples. For a wolf.” I laugh bitterly at myself; the sound is hollow in the empty space.

Pull it together.

I’m better than this – I have to be better than this.

I force myself up and begin to pace the length of the room, trying to piece together fragments of memory that might point me home. But it’s like trying to assemble a puzzle with half the pieces missing.

Wildview could be anywhere. And here I am – Savannah Barr, supposedly strong-willed and smart – acting like a complete idiot.

I focus on my breathing – in and out – letting the rhythm soothe my frayed nerves.

A sound stops me dead in my tracks – a scuffle, something falling and hitting the ground outside. My breath catches in my throat as adrenaline surges anew. No way they found me already. No way.

Instinctively, I press myself against the wall beside what used to be a window, peering into the darkness outside. My mind races with possibilities: an animal disturbed by my entrance or a team from Steel Lakes, or… no, it couldn’t be one of Rack’s men. There’s no way he’d know how to find me. The doctor removed the tracker.

I’m safe here. I am!

The building groans, as if warning me of impending danger. My heart seems intent on bursting from my chest as each second drags on and on and on as I strain to pick out another sound in the silence.

Then he steps into view – the unmistakable figure of the man who stole me.

“No!” The word is a hoarse whisper torn from my lips.

Not again… I can’t go back there; I won’t survive it this time.

My body tenses, ready to run or fight – whichever option will keep me free a moment longer.

Even from this distance, I can see him scan the shadows like a predator hunting its prey.

I shrink back further into darkness.

Maybe he hasn’t seen me yet – maybe there’s still a chance—

I hold my breath, squeezing my eyes shut and praying silently, like I could will him away. There’s another scuff – close this time. Too close.

Oh, God…please! Please!

My nostrils flare as a scent hits me. It’s more terrifying than the sight of him was because it’s right on top of me. I gather myself to bolt just as hands close around my upper arms, and I’m lifted straight off the ground.

“No!” I scream, kicking out behind me, as a voice flutters the fine hair near my ear.

“Hello, pretty.”

Chapter 25

Gage

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