Page 14 of Betrayed By the Alpha Wolf

Just as I swallowed, Grayson pulled his leg free and then launched himself toward the forest entrance.

Looks like the competition is on to phase two.

Chapter 6 - Grayson

Thick pine branches slashed across my skin as I ran through the trees. The burn stinging all over was nothing compared to the ache blistering through my calf. Choal had gotten his claws into me through my jeans, and I was slowly oozing red, which worsened with each step.

But I couldn’t stop.

I hadn’t truly expected the guy to leave me alone, but I’d allowed myself to hold out hope. That was clearly the wrong move, and now, facing off against whatever lay ahead of me would be so much worse.

Cutting hard to the right, I dodged through a series of crisscrossing ropes that trapped the area up to my left. It was a close call, and then I was quickly flailing all over again to avoid the snare that nearly blended into the forest floor.

Pain tore through my calf as I zigged to the right again and took the next cordoned-off area of the maze. It felt like I was doubling back on myself again, but I couldn’t tell if that was a bad thing. It became much more difficult to decide if your path was the correct one because the labyrinth required finding the grounds once again.

Up ahead, a small pond glimmered in the cloudy midday sunlight. I was dying of thirst, but I knew better than to trust it. Instead, I zoomed past, keeping my senses open for any sign of Choal or the exit.

Creak.

I stopped in my tracks, whipping my head to the left to pinpoint the source of the sound. It was definitely a branch ortree groaning, and as I peered into the shadowy section beneath a large bush, something moved.

Freezing, I crouched lower, pulling all the tension up in my legs and ready to dart in whatever direction I needed to. As I sucked in a deep breath, the wind shifted, and I was downwind from whatever stood before me.

Oh, shit.

I recognized the smell, and I’d already been here for too long, now. Just as I launched myself forward toward a tree, intent on climbing it, the sound of crunching leaves and twigs roared behind me. Before I could reach the trunk, I was knocked to the ground, the short animal shoving through my legs and getting me off balance.

A boar.

Another chuffing sound hit on my right.

Correction. Two boars. Fantastic.

They eyed me, huffing bursts of warm breath into the chilly forest air. Regret gnawed at my guts. I should have shifted the moment I got into the forest, but I hadn’t wanted to stop and waste time doing so. Bad idea in retrospect.

The boar at my left charged, and I was just able to duck out of the way, rolling across the leaves and trying to get myself closer to the tree. If I could climb it, I’d have a few moments to plan what to do next.

But the other boar was heading right for me, and I had to quickly change course, pushing up from the ground and rushing toward the pond. I knew it wouldn’t help me. Boars could actually swim very well, but I was running out of options.

Feeling them right behind me, I dove into the water, hoping that the bottom wasn’t a mere two feet down. Luckily, Ididn’t hit silt as I jumped in, and I kicked forward, getting more distance between me and the boars.

When I surfaced, the thump of paws hitting the ground echoed from the path up ahead. Choal had found his way here, but he’d shifted, and the boars weren’t fast enough to keep up with him.

They were distracted for a moment, however, and that would have to do.

Letting myself sink, I pulled on my wolf, eager for the bastard to take form quickly. He resisted, and my eyes flew open in the dirty water.

What are you doing?

I pulled hard, getting only a bit closer to shifting. He was fighting it so much, and the pain of trying to force this shift hit me like a semi-truck. Why on earth was he resisting me like this? He never had before. It was like my wolf was—

Then, his anger hit me. In this space between my forms, floating there between the seconds, I could sense my wolf’s rage like nothing else. He was furious, frenzied, so close to the damn edge that he was ready to both shift and never let me come back into my human shape and unwilling to help me when I needed it.

And it was all because of Kenzie.

I could immediately tell that my wolf’s wrath was all thanks to what I’d done to Kenzie. The reignited mate connection was funneling into him, and even though I’d rejected her, the claim was still there. My wolf wanted me to seize it—badly enough that he was willing to risk both of us to see it done.

Goddamn it. All right, already. I’ll work on it. But she’s mad.

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