Page 2 of The Kill

I finally understand. The decision has been made for me.

Standing, shaking from the freezing cold seeping into my bones, I squeeze my eyes shut and shout as loud as my chattering teeth will allow. “Stop! Stop it, right now!”

Both wolves stop immediately, chests heaving and panting, staring in disbelief as I wade toward them through the stream.

“Mandy, what are you doing here?” Raiden rushes forward to help me from the water, but I ignore her hand, gaze fixed firmly on Tyson as I climb inelegantly over the slippery rocks and onto the mucky bank. Transfixed, I can’t stop staring at him.

“Mandy, don’t,” Raiden warns, but I continue to walk toward him, his glowing eyes pulling me in. “He’s dangerous.”

Tyson growls at her when she reaches for me, and her footsteps falter, but she continues trying to keep me back.

“Not to me,” I whisper.

Taking in his injuries and fighting the need to tend to them, I turn to Blake nod firmly. “I’ll go with him. If it saves the pack and stops you two from killing each other, I’ll go.”

Tyson’s massive wolf comes closer to me and sits, bowing his head. He knows what I am. That’s why he wants me, wants Blake to hand me over.

“Mandy? Do you know him?” Blake has shifted back to his human form. “What’s going on?”

When Blake edges closer, Tyson positions himself protectively in front of me, his hackles raised. He might be different, but the wolf inside him is still the same one that fought for me all those years ago.

“We’ve met before,” I say wryly. “Once. When he killed my mate.”

2

MANDY

Seventeen years ago…

Just keep running.

Ignoring the burn in my chest and how my lungs scream, I pump my legs even harder, knowing that if I stop, I won’t be able to get moving again.

And he’ll catch me.

Brambles tear at my clothes and thorns scratch my face, but I barely feel it, adrenaline and pure terror drive me on. Fear pushes me to put even more distance between myself and the pack I’ve just fled. Only when I’m certain they’re not hot on my trail will I restI.

I duck and weave through dense thicket, hoping Lee and his enforcers will be too big to squeeze through, and the shallow stream that’s been calling to me finally appears. My dry, parched throat begs me to pause for a drink. Scanning the forest, I slow to a trot and plant my paws in the sticky mud, ready to take off again if I need to.

Keeping my eyes fixed on the shadows looming all around me, shifting and swaying in the wind, I lower my head to the cool water and quench my thirst. Nervousness slides along my spine like ice, making my overheated and overworked body shiver. I twist, looking behind me, this way and that, checking for glowing eyes watching me from the darkness. The silence is deafening; the quiet is so complete it’s claustrophobic. The moon is blanketed by heavy clouds, not even a shard of light slips through to illuminate my path.

Or to help me spot any stealthy wolves stalking me from the depths of the woods.

Lifting my gaze to the treetops, I beg the moon goddess to cut me some slack. Instead, a light pitter patter slowly becomes a loud din. I almost laugh as drops comes down heavier and heavier, the drops hitting the leaves and falling to the forest floor.

Just perfect.

Trying to stay positive even as my fur grows damp, I watch the soil quickly becomes slick with water. At least this rain shower will wash away some of my scent trail. Taking the deluge as a sign that this night is not going to get any easier, I force my weak body to keep going. I wade into the freezing water, following its path downstream, stumbling over large rocks and protruding tree roots in my exhausted state.

But I know I can’t stop. My mate is pursuing me. His anger feels like a living thing, breathing down my neck. All snapping teeth and sharp claws.

For longer than I thought possible, I push on but trip over an unseen dip with a clumsy step, I curse and limp over to the water’s edge. There will be no escape with a broken leg. I need to rest.

Slinking away from the river, I crawl into the undergrowth, finding a hollowed-out tree trunk and squeeze myself inside. Once I’ve curled up, I drag some fallen branches across the entrance in a feeble attempt to disguise my hiding place. Not that those will really help if Lee gets this close. An alpha wolf like him will detect my scent easily.

A few scrawny branches won’t offer any protection against a determined, extremely angry shifter.

Sliding my bruised muzzle under my front paws, I press my back against the inside of the trunk and close my eyes. Anxiety claws at my gut, urging me to stay alert; but my tired, battered body wins over, telling me I need to sleep and heal. Just for a little while.

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