Page 35 of Shadow City: Silver Wolf

"Remember when I freaked out yesterday?" I gestured to the red light we'd been stopped at.

He nodded.

"Well, that's the diner those guys came out of." I was being ridiculous, but I couldn't hold it in. Flashes of only two days ago replayed in my head, and the attack in the bar hadn't helped. I didn't want to go in there. I almost felt frozen in place.

"I'll be right there with you." Killian took my hand and gently pulled me so I faced him. "I won't leave your side."

He meant for that to be comforting, but he couldn't make that kind of promise. I hated feeling so weak and pathetic, but my wolf pawed against my head.

"Hey." He cupped my cheek. "Breathe."

But I couldn't even when I tried. I had to get away and connect with my wolf. It was the only way to become calm. "I’ve gotta go. I'm sorry." I pulled away from Killian and threw open the door. "I have to get away. Please don’t follow me. I need a moment by myself. Just…get my ID please. I'll meet you back here in twenty."

"Dammit, Dove." Killian hissed as I slammed the door.

I'd apologize later, but the edges of my vision were starting to darken. I ran as fast as I could in the direction we’d come from toward the nearest woods. Maybe I'd regret it if I got caught, but I was about to lose myself.

My head swam as I pushed my legs to keep moving across the last road before the tree line. My eyes locked on my end destination.

A loud honk hit my ears, followed by squealing tires and the stench of burning rubber. I froze and faced the car as an older man stuck his head out and asked, "Are you okay, miss?"

I didn't have the luxury of responding, or I'd pass out before I could shift. Instead, I burst back into a run and continued on, thanking the gods that I hadn't gotten hit.

"Miss!" the guy yelled after me.

As soon as I’d run far enough into the woods to be out of sight from the road, I yanked my shirt from my body while kicking off my shoes and then pulled off the rest. I threw the clothes in one heaping pile so I could find them again easily. Then I called for my wolf.

She sprang forward with no hesitation, and I shifted faster than I ever had before. When I hit the ground on all fours, I ran deeper into the woods, needing to keep my wolf form hidden. I sniffed the air, making sure no one was close by.

Nothing smelled of other shifters or supernaturals.

Animals rustled around the woods, making my restlessness ease some. In this form, I could breathe, but the paranoia was still too damn close for comfort. I'd been packless for only a little over two days, and it was already beginning to take its toll.

I'd heard stories about how some wolves could go months before getting to this point, so why was I so different? The answer rang in my head—because I was an alpha with no pack to lead. It probably would have helped if I’d stayed under the moon longer last night, but with Griffin there, it hadn't been possible.

A rabbit jumped out from behind a tree, landing in my path, and my wolf grew excited. She wanted to be the predator and let our natural instincts take over. To lose our mind in the moment.

I chased the rabbit, the animal hopping off, running for its life. I didn't plan on eating it, just enjoyed the chase as nature intended.

The little sucker hopped faster than I expected, and my legs burned from the exercise. The paranoia receded as I lost myself in the task.

Minutes later, wings flapped, breaking my concentration. I skidded to a stop as I tried to figure out where the noise was coming from. I was used to worrying about creatures on the ground, not in the sky.

The thunder of large wings grew louder, and a familiar rose scent hit my nose. I looked up in time to see Rosemary descend between two trees, beautiful dark-feathered wings stretched out behind her back.

I wasn’t used to looking out for angels, seeing as I’d never met one before her. I had to get out of here. I spun and took off in the direction of my clothes. I should've paid more attention to staying hidden, but I’d been trying to get myself under control before being stuck in the coffee shop for hours.

Hoping to lose her, I ran back toward the road. But suddenly, something was standing right in my path. I skidded to a halt, weighing my options.

"Well, isn't this quite interesting," Rosemary said as she crossed her arms. “I thought I smelled a strange wolf below.”

No.

No one could know who I was.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

If I could have beatenmyself up for my carelessness, I would have. Iknewnot to shift, but I’d been losing my damn mind and had needed an outlet. By letting my wolf take control, I hadn't stayed focused on my surroundings as I should have. I was having fun chasing down a flipping rabbit.

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