Page 48 of What a Wolf's Heart Decides

He didn’t bother hiding his grin. “It’s possible a Rupert once stood in this very spot, watching the ancestors of the wild herd that still roams this valley.”

Excitement pumped through her. “The horses live here?” She twisted, struggling to see in every direction. “Where are they? Can we see them?”

He laughed, putting a hand on her arm to stop her from swinging around. “Easy. You’ll make yourself dizzy.”

“Sorry.” She couldn’t contain her smile. “I’ve never seen wild horses before.”

“The herd can be elusive. I was hoping—” He whipped his head toward the valley. Then he tensed, like he was listening to something.

“What is it? Do you hear them?” She clutched at his arm, more excitement bubbling in her chest.

“Hush.”

Wait. Did he just shush her? She opened her mouth, but then she heard it, too.

A . . . rumbling.

Tension rippled through him. His face paled, almost like he was afraid. He kept his gaze fixed on the green space between the mountains.

Watching for a stampede of horses?

She dropped her voice to a whisper. “Ben?”

He ignored her.

The rumbling grew louder. Gunshots cracked in the air.

She ducked down, her fingers digging into his skin as her heart burst into a gallop. “Ben—”

“Avalanche.”

“What?”

In one movement, he grabbed her arm and ran, pulling her with him.

Everything clicked into place in her brain. The rumbling wasn’t horses. And the gunshots weren’t gunshots.

No, some of that sparkling snow was coming down.

“Run,” Ben yelled, spurring her down the trail. Their boots pounded against the dirt, flinging up rocks.

Behind them, the rumbling became a roar. She started to look over her shoulder, but Ben tightened his grip on her arm.

“Don’t look back! Just run!”

She gasped, half sprinting and half stumbling as he pulled her down the incline.

The roar became a jet engine, the sound filling her ears and rattling the ground under her feet.

Faster, faster, faster. Was Ben saying it? Or maybe the chant came from her brain. Maybe it was both.

Wind whipped in her face as they hurtled ahead, hitting speeds no human could achieve.

Her side burned. Sweat streaked down her spine.

Ben lost his grip on her arm, then flung out his hand and grabbed her again.

She pitched forward, pulled off balance by his momentum.

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