Page 77 of Forsaken Desire
Her shoe connected with my rib, the momentum rolling me into the water. Branches scratched my skin and I landed in icy water.
Then I was submerged. Water flooded my mouth, and I choked, swallowing.
So many memories shuffled through my brain. The ache was too much. My chest hurt.
My fingers grazed against something long—a branch. I grabbed onto it, but the current pulled me back to the surface. I broke through, gasping and spitting water. The river beat against my body, but I fought to keep hold of the branch.
The familiar image of my dad’s neck at an angle wouldn’t leave my head. She’d had him killed.She’dhad us run off the road. I’d never been the cause.
He should be alive. All he’d wanted was for us to move packs so I had an opportunity to go to school.
BecauseIwanted to move packs, he’d ended up dead.
My lip trembled. If I hadn’t begged for us to leave our last pack, we never would have ended up like this. The rushing river continued to beat against my body, and the burn in my arms was only getting worse.
Guilt, fear, and agony writhed through my gut.
And my mate . . . I had met him before. He’d rejected me. Lucian hadn’t wanted me, and he’d kissed her—let hertouchhim—in front of me to make it clear.
He’d rejected me . . .
Why was I fighting so hard? Everything was gone. Lucian was a lie.
I let go of the branch, and the rapids took me.
31
My Mercedes roared over the dirt path leading to my house. Panic stabbed through my veins. I couldn’t breathe or think without my mate. Why hadn’t she answered?
I’d broken countless laws, but I didn’t give a fuck. Josephine needed me. I skidded into the embankment and stomped on the brakes. Movement caught my eye from the river.
Cierra.
What was she doing with Josephine? Barely putting the car in park, I catapulted myself out of the door. I struggled to suck in breaths, but I forced my focus to the forefront. My mate was in danger.
“Josephine,” I roared. Birds exploded from the nearby trees, the flapping and caws filling the grounds.
I bolted through the line of trees, and a splash brought my attention to a familiar mass of hair bobbing in the rush of water taking her with it.
No!
I shifted, putting every ounce of strength I had into running. My paws pounded across the side of the embankment as I kept her within my sight. I hurried, surpassing her position in therapids. Once I shifted into my human form, I pounced into the icy water. Capturing the edge of a branch poking up through the water, I held on and swiped my arm to the side, grabbing onto the back of her wet shirt. She slapped against my chest, and I curved my arm around her stomach.
The rapids beat against us, and I angled myself to take the brunt of the force.
“Josephine,” I shouted, jostling her. She wasn’t reacting. No. No. No. I hoisted us onto the edge of the bank, pulling her drenched form against me. Her head flopped to the side as if boneless.
My hands trembled on her arms as I rested her on her back. I lowered and pressed my lips to hers, and I breathed for her. Lifting, I pumped my hands on her chest in rhythm.
“Wake up.” I continued giving her CPR. A million thoughts flashed across my mind. I did this to her—endangered her. “Josephine, please.”
I would never forgive myself. She would live, because there was no other choice. And if she didn’t, I would join her.
“Wake up.” I could hear myself begging and pleading. The unfamiliar tortured voice that belonged to me, like I floated outside of myself. She was everything. I couldn’t live without her. I dipped and pumped air into her lungs.
Her chest arched up, and she sputtered water, hacking and sucking in harsh breaths. She could have died. My heart had stopped beating.
Water dripped off my hair, and I curled my hand under the back of her neck, lifting her gently.
