Page 84 of A Rebel's Shot

He gained a hold, his fingers curling around a jutting rock, breath catching. Relief flooded through him, but almost immediately it crumbled away, the rock giving under the pressure of his weight.

He plummeted again.

His heart raced as he positioned himself instinctively for another hold. Complete fear took hold as he grabbed on to a nearby crag, praying that his strength would hold out. The impact rattled through him, but he anchored himself against the granite with an iron grip.

“Come on,” he gasped, forcing his body to find the strength topush up.

Bracing himself against the rock, he jammed his fingers into a crack that was barely wide enough to accommodate his hand, every nerve ending screaming as he dug in deep. It was a gamble; that narrow ledge at his feet felt precarious under his weight, but there was no choice.

If he let go now, he wouldn’t survive the fall.

A gust of wind whipped at his hair, howling through the crevices around him. The rush of air filled his ears, drowning out the sounds of the forest. All he could hear was the pounding of blood in his head, a relentless drumbeat urging him onward.

Tiikâan took a deep breath, focusing on slowing his racing heart. He had to think clearly, to plan his next move.

He could do this.

Adrenaline surged through him, sharpening his senses as he scanned the rocky face above.

The bear’s sudden roar echoed from high above, slicing through his resolve.

Merritt.

He couldn’t waste a moment, not even to rest. Clenching his jaw against the throbbing pain in his side, he pressed on, searching for the next handhold, the next place to anchor himself.

With each agonizing motion, he clawed upward, his fingers sliding over rough stone and gritty dirt. The past family rock climbing experiences surged to the forefront of his mind, like his dad guided him as he picked his path.

Blood coated his fingers, making the rock facefeel impossibly slick beneath his grip. Ignoring the stinging pain, he readjusted his hold, forcing himself to move toward the ridge.

As he climbed higher, the rope still harnessed to him tangled on an exposed root below, almost pulling him down with the weight of it. He cursed under his breath, yanking it free with a desperate tug that sent fresh waves of pain shooting through his side, but the action ignited his resolve anew.

By the time he reached the top, every muscle in his body burned, exhaustion threatening to drag him back down into the depths of despair.

But he wouldn’t let it.

With one final, determined effort, he pulled himself over the edge and rolled to safety. The sparse mountain grass was a welcome relief against his worn-out body, and for a moment, he lay on the earth, breathing heavily, letting the adrenaline ebb.

His body ached, but there was no time to rest. He took two deep breaths, willing the pain to subside, then scrambled to his feet, every fiber of his being urging him forward. As he pushed off the makeshift harness, he scanned the area.

The path Merritt had taken, combined with the bear’s tracks, left clear disturbances in the undergrowth. Branches had been snapped aside, leaves scattered like confetti.

He raced along the trail, heart thundering as he navigated the rugged terrain. Each second seemed to drag for minutes.

“Merritt!” he yelled, his voice echoing through the trees.

The surrounding forest swallowed the sound, reminding him how utterly alone they were out here, and it only spurred him to move faster. Every instinct screamed at him to find her.

To protect her.

He skidded to a halt at a fissure in the mountain, breaths ragged as he took in the sight before him. Blood mixed with the dirt at the edge of the crack. No sign of Merritt’s tracks remained, only the massive claw marks scored into the dirt and prints of the bear leading off into the thicket.

The fear settled heavy in his gut like a stone.

“NO!” Frantic rage bubbled up as he roared into the unyielding silence of the forest. “Merritt!”

Silence answered him, a suffocating void attempting to swallow him whole. He squeezed his eyes shut, fighting against the panic rising inside him.

He couldn’t lose her.

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