Page 32 of The Alpha's Crimson Vow

“Alex…” I murmur, my voice barely audible over the low hum of our engine. My eyes are locked on the jeep now, wide and unblinking.

I feel Alex glance over but he doesn’t get a chance to say anything. Not before it happens.

The jeep veers slightly to the side, creating just enough space between us to build momentum. Then, in one violent, gut-wrenching motion, it swerves hard.

Alex reacts in an instant. His hands grip the wheel, yanking it hard. The tires screech, the car swerves, and the jeep misses us by inches—barely.

“What the hell was that?” I yell, my voice cracking.

He doesn’t answer. His jaw clenches, his eyes darting to the rearview mirror. Without a word, his foot slams the gas, and we lurch forward. The engine growls as we tear down the road, leaving the jeep behind—or so I think.

My pulse pounds in my ears.Was it a mistake? A close call? Some reckless driver who wasn’t paying attention?

I get my answer seconds later.

The jeep roars to life behind us, closing the gap fast. Too fast. My stomach twists into knots as it gains on us, headlights blazing like a predator locked onto its prey.

And then— bam.

It hits us. Metal crunches, the car jolts violently, and I nearly hit the dashboard. My heart leaps into my throat.

“Alex—”

“Hold on!” His voice cuts through the chaos as he presses the pedal to the floor, but it’s no use. We’re not outrunning them.

The jeep barrels forward, its engine snarling, until it pulls up alongside us. My chest tightens, every nerve in my body screaming.

It veers sharply—too sharp.

Bang.

The impact is deafening. Metal slams against metal, and the force of the collision sends our car lurching sideways. My window shatters in an explosion of glass, sharp shards flying past my face. Alex grips the wheel tightly, but it’s no use. Thecar skids out of control, tires screeching against the asphalt, and before I can even process what’s happening, we’re off the road.

We’re spinning.

The world blurs into a dizzying kaleidoscope of green and brown as the car careens down a steep slope, crashing through the dense underbrush of the woods. The sound is overwhelming—branches snapping, the crunch of metal against dirt, the dull roar of gravity dragging us further and further down.

“Oh my God! Oh my God!” I scream, the words tumbling out without thought, my voice barely audible over the chaos.

The car jolts violently as it hits a rock, flipping onto its side. My stomach flips along with it, the seatbelt digging into my chest as I’m thrown forward.

We’re still moving. Spinning. Falling.

I’m going to die.

This is how it ends.

And then, to my horror, I see a tree branch jutting outward, sharp and unforgiving, pointed directly at me as the car tumbles violently down.

I squeeze my eyes shut, bracing for the inevitable, my heart pounding like a drum in my ears.

And everything stops.

Nothingness takes over.

Chapter Ten

Katherine

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