Page 14 of His Lost Mate

They moved in silence, the tension thick between them. Jonah’s mind raced, every fiber of his being screaming at him to stay focused, to keep ahead of their pursuers. But no matter how hard he tried, his thoughts kept circling back to Phoebe—the way her eyes flashed when she challenged him, the stubborn set of her jaw, the quiet strength she carried even when everything around her was falling apart.

She was unlike anyone he’d ever met. And she scared the shit out of him.

Jonah’s steps slowed as the trail ahead narrowed, his senses honing in on any sign of danger. Something wasn’t right. The faint sound of movement, too deliberate to belong to wildlife, reached his ears. He held up a hand to stop Phoebe, his gaze darting to the path ahead.

“What is it?” she whispered, stepping closer.

Jonah didn’t answer immediately, his attention focused on the shadows beyond the bend in the trail. The soft crunch of boots against stone and ice grew louder, and his heart tightened. They were here—too close.

“Off the trail,” he hissed, grabbing her arm. He pulled her toward a cluster of trees just as the faint outlines of their pursuers came into view.

Phoebe stumbled slightly, but Jonah caught her, spinning her around and pressing her back against a wide pine trunk. His body pinned hers in place as his hand covered her mouth. Shestiffened, her wide eyes locking onto his, as the tension between them crackled like lightning.

“Don’t move,” he breathed, his voice barely audible, his lips close to her ear.

Phoebe’s breath was hot against his palm as she nodded, her eyes flicking past him toward the figures now rounding the corner. Jonah turned his head slightly, his gaze tracking their movements. Two men, most likely heavily armed, moving with precision. They stopped at the spot where Phoebe had fallen earlier, scanning the area.

Jonah’s pulse thudded in his ears, his focus split between the danger in front of them and the woman pressed against him. His snow leopard roared at him to protect her, to eliminate the threat, but now wasn’t the time. Stealth was their only advantage.

The men exchanged a few muffled words before continuing down the trail, their boots scuffing against the dirt patches before sliding on the icy ones as they moved toward the slope where Phoebe had tumbled. Jonah waited, counting the seconds until the sound of their footsteps faded.

When he finally pulled his hand away, Phoebe exhaled shakily.

“No kidding,” Jonah muttered, stepping back but keeping his body angled protectively between her and the trail. “They’re tracking us too well. We need to move—fast.”

Phoebe nodded, her expression a mix of fear and determination. “Where? They’re heading toward where we were. If we double back, we’ll run into them.”

Jonah clenched his jaw, his mind racing. “Further in,” he said, gesturing to the dense forest on their left. “They’ll expect us to stick to the trails. We’ll cut through the wilderness.”

Phoebe hesitated, glancing at the thick underbrush. “Won’t that slow us down?”

Jonah nodded. “Yes, but it’ll slow them down even more,” Jonah said firmly, already moving. “Come on.”

She followed without argument, her movements quick despite the stiffness in her stride. Jonah kept them moving at a steady pace, his heightened senses attuned to every sound, every flicker of movement. The wilderness was dense here, the trees growing closer together, their branches twisting like claws.

Behind them, the faint sounds of their pursuers grew louder. They weren’t far—close enough to push Jonah’s adrenaline into overdrive.

“They’re catching up,” Phoebe said, her voice tight.

“I know,” Jonah replied, his tone clipped. He forced himself to stay calm, to think. They couldn’t keep running blindly, not with the risk of heading into unfamiliar terrain. But the alternative—letting the men close the distance—was worse.

Phoebe stumbled again, her foot catching on a root, and Jonah turned just in time to steady her. “Watch your step,” he said, his tone angrier than he intended.

“I’m trying,” she snapped, frustration flashing in her eyes. “I’m not used to running for my life in the middle of nowhere.”

Jonah sighed, his grip on her arm firm but not unkind. “You’re doing fine,” he said quietly. “Just keep moving.”

Her gaze softened slightly, and she nodded. They pushed forward, the forest closing in around them, each step taking them deeper into the wilderness.

Jonah’s mind churned as they moved. He had always been a loner, always relied on himself. Letting others in had never been an option, not after losing his father, not after learning how easily people could be taken away. But now, with Phoebe, things felt different. It wasn’t just about keeping her alive—it was much, much more.

The way she met danger head-on despite her fear. The fire in her eyes when she challenged him. The quiet strength thatmade her push forward even when her body wanted to give up. She wasn’t just someone he was protecting; she was someone he wanted to protect. She was his fated mate, and that terrified him more than the men hunting them.

He shook his head. This wasn’t the time for distractions, not when her life—and his—depended on staying focused. But no matter how hard he tried, the pull toward her was relentless, primal, and growing stronger with every moment they spent together.

“Jonah,” Phoebe said, her voice cutting through his thoughts.

He stopped, turning to her. “What?”

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