Page 38 of Wild Fated

“What kind of question is that?”Lana growled, and her fear spiked. I was already moving. The voice in the light hadn’t said a damn thing about me doing the challenge with her.

I skidded to a stop in front of the stones. Or the lack thereof. The only ones that were left were the wrong ones. I had no idea what would happen if I tried to step on them, which meant I had to find another way.

I scanned the side of the cavern wall, tracing the jagged edges with my eyes, calculating. There were outcroppings—barely—but enough to get a handhold if I was careful. Or stupid.

I charged forward and crouched down, running my hand over the rock face. There wasn't time to second guess it.

"Destin, what are you?—"

Without giving myself more time to think, I swung one leg over the side of the stone and reached for a handhold on the cliff wall. My fingers scraped against rough stone, finding just enough purchase. The moment my weight shifted from solid ground to the vertical rock face, my wolf snarled—half excited, half warning.

We fall, we die. No do-overs.

I gritted my teeth, pulling myself against the wall.

“What the hell, Destin!” Anger flared in Lana, and it was a welcome break from the fear. Good. Be pissed. It only added fuel to the adrenaline coursing through me.

Every inch was a fight. My fingers scraped against the stone, rubbed raw as I clung to the cracks and ridges. My boots scrabbled against the rough surface, and I shoved my toes into any crevice I could find.

One misstep and I’d be nothing but a wolf-shaped smear at the bottom of the abyss. I found a decent handhold just above me. The stone cut into my palm, but pain was better than falling. One hand over the other. One step at a time. The sound of my breath echoed back to me, loud and ragged in the cavern. I had no idea how much time had passed by the time I nearly pulled level with her. It couldn't have been long because the stone under her feet was still solid.

"You're going to get yourself killed!" she called out, her eyes wide.

"And you're not?" I hissed back. I glanced up. The wall stretched on endlessly above, but I wasn’t aiming for the top. Just far enough to launch myself onto the stone where Lana stood. Easy. Totally doable.

I edged along the narrow ledge, muscles tight, breath measured. My heart pounded a wild rhythm in my chest—part adrenaline, part the wolf’s maddening excitement. He always loved a gamble, especially the kind where death was on the table.

A rock slipped loose under my weight and tumbled into the abyss. My stomach flipped, and I dug in harder. I stole a glance toward Lana. She was still perched on that single stone—too far for a human to reach. But I wasn’t just human.

My breathing quickened as I tensed.You ready for this?I asked my wolf. He gave me nothing but a hungry growl in response. Good enough.

My muscles tensed and my lungs locked in my chest. It had to be precise—no room for error. My wolf surged under my skin, eager to take control. He liked this. The thrill, the danger, the sheer insanity of it.

Just like I had in that cell, I let him take over. Without another thought, I kicked off the wall, every muscle in my body snapping into action. I launched myself through the air, the wind rushing past my ears, my heart hammering wildly in my chest. The stone loomed closer—too far, too close, all at once.

Lana gasped. My hands hit the edge of the stone, fingers digging deep into the jagged surface. My feet swung wildly over the void below, and for a split second, I hung there, suspended above nothing.

She swore under her breath as she crouched to steady herself against my landing. With a low growl, I hauled myself up.

Lana stumbled back as I landed beside her, panting, heart racing like I’d just outrun the apocalypse.

"Made it.” I grinned as I tried to catch my breath.

"Made what exactly?" she snapped, but there was relief in her voice, too. “Now there’s two of us to fall?”

I closed my eyes, feeling for that current. Thankfully, since I’d already located it once, it was easier to find under the tumult.There.To our left. “Move. Now.”

A retort started on Lana’s lips, but I pulled her forward, and it fizzled. The stone lit up under our feet, and I coughed with relief. No more damn riddles and questions. We were doing this my way.

Chapter

Seventeen

Lana

Destin was in front of me, his movements sure and deliberate.How was he doing this?Every time a stone crumbled behind us, my heart skipped a beat, the abyss waiting below like it wanted to swallow us whole.

He glanced back, his eyes locking with mine for a brief moment. “This place—it works on energy.”

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