Page 47 of The Dire Legacy

That kiss will be forever burned into me, long after the scar has faded on my leg.

Sweet. Salty. So full of want it leaves me hollow.

I’m glad I got to touch her. Even if it was just once.

These bloodstained gloves have done nothing for me. They haven’t shielded her from pain. If anything, they made it worse. A thin buffer for me to deflect her with. But, it didn’t protect me from feeling as if my soul was being torn from my body to try and follow her through the trees.

She chose me, over and over. Just to have me hold her at bay.

It’s what I’ve done my entire life. Stood aside. Waited on the outskirts. Let everyone else go first so I could regulate the distance.

Angie pushed through. Look what happened.

I lost control. Need overwhelmed me.

But, with Hope, I kept it. I maintained the distance that shattered us.

I’m never wearing these damned things again. It’s satisfying cutting them into narrow leather strips and spreading them on the wet ground.

The next person I touch will either live, or die.

A high pitched noise makes my ears perk. What was that?

Turning my head, I hear it again.

Shit. A scream.

It came from the direction she ran.

No!

My leg is still nearly useless, but it doesn’t stop me from dragging myself up the rough tree.

Again, another cry. Long and wailing.

Hope.

The ember of pain in my shin explodes into a live current of fire pulsing up through my knee with every step.

Each hurried footfall is an agony ignored as my heart races.

Why is she making that sound? Is it humans? Other wolves?

Panic fuels me faster when I can’t hear her.

Choking back her name, I don’t want to call out in case I need to surprise whoever is attacking her.

They’d hear my grunting like a rutting bull with each landing of my wounded foot.

How far has it been? A mile? Ten? All I know, my leg is almost numb, it hurts so bad. Stars battle to take over my vision.

Where is she?

Panting, I struggle to hold a breath long enough to listen. My own heartbeat makes it almost impossible.

A whimper.

It’s faint, and to the right.

---