Page 138 of Her Wolf

Cora fell back a step, ice flashing over her skin.

Closure.

Her shoulder struck the side of the door, and she twisted away. Lady was behind her, staring up at her with godlike patience. She ran headlong into the creature, tripping over the pitbull’s stout body. Lady yelped, jumping to the side as if wondering what she’d done to deserve a knee to her ribs.

Cora scrambled up, a scream bubbling in her throat, but she was so terrified in that moment that she couldn’t let out anything but a low whine.

She struck the wall, caught off balance by her collision with the dog, and pushed away again.

No footsteps came after her. No yell for her to stop.

She ran all the way out of the beach house. Down the steps. Over the soft sand that sucked at her feet like wet concrete.

The ocean splashed up around her ankles. Her calves. Her thighs.

A wave tugged at her clothes, and then dragged at her, toppling her. Spluttering, she fought her way free from the water. She spun back, staring at the white beach house. From here, she could see the circumference of Zachary’s tiny island. It was long and thin, perhaps a mile by three.

A shadow moved in the beach house’s front entrance. Then a spark of light.

Zachary, lighting a cigarette. Leaning against the door jamb and staring out at her.

Watching.

Waiting.

Because there was nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide.

She’d have to kill him if she wanted to survive. And, even if she did, it would mean she’d be all alone on this scrap of land.

No—not alone.

She’d have Lady.

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