Page 88 of Wolf Targeted
“You’re still holding on to hope for some fairy-tale ending?” He barks a laugh. “I’m not the knight, Jara. I’m the fucking big bad wolf.”
“Is this what you want? You want to push me away? Fine. You can lie to yourself all you want, but you can’t lie to me.”
“That’s stupid. There’s no reason to push you away. No matter what, you belong to me, so I can do as I please.” He bends to glare back at me.
“Fuck you, Archer.”
I shove him away from me and shift into my wolf before he can see the tears pricking at the corners of my eyes.
He reaches for me mid-shift, but I dodge him easily. I just can’t be around him right now.
My clothes shred as I bolt away from him and through the little town. Several shouts ring in my ears as I pass pack members, but I ignore them.
I ignore everything but the ache in my chest and the need to run.
My wolf howls, the sound haunting and heartbreaking. We really shouldn’t be howling in case there are humans out here, but the bone-crushing ache in my chest demands it.
Several other howls answer mine in the distance, responding to their alpha female’s distress.
I race into the woods through the packed snow and shiver. Even with fur, it’s freezing out here.
Shit, this wasn’t my best idea, was it? But I can’t go back yet. I need to run. I need to get away from Archer for a while so I can breathe.
Where am I going to go, though? I can’t leave pack lands; other packs surround us on both sides. And I will never cross territories like I did before. Ever. That was a huge mistake.
My wolf growls at the idea of leaving the pack. We aren’t leaving, though, just getting space from Archer. He’s even worse now than before I fell.
Maybe if I make him think that I’m leaving, his attitude will change.
I race through the forest with no direction. The scent of pine and freshly fallen snow are the only things that reach my nose.
It’s peaceful out here, but as the sky darkens, I worry that I’ll be stuck out in the cold. At the same time, I don’t want to go back to the house yet and face Archer.
Snow drifts from the cloudy sky, and I shiver again. I need to find shelter. Maybe after a night in the forest, I’ll be ready to go back and face my mate.
I sniff the air, but I still don’t smell anything but the snow and trees. That could be a good thing or a bad thing. Is the snow masking other scents?
Could there be others out in the forest, and I don’t sense them?
A mountain looms ahead, and I cringe at how far I’ve traveled without even realizing it. Is Archer looking for me? It’s been hours since I took off.
The climb up the mountain is easier than I expect. My wolf’s dexterity and nimbleness make her a much better climber than me.
A howl in the distance has my wolf pricking her ears.
Is that Archer? Is he out looking for me? Why?
I’m not ready to see him yet. I nudge my wolf to keep going. She paws the ground, uncertain if she wants to go up the mountain or go after her mate.
Not yet. I need more time.
Finally, she trots up the mountain and away from Archer’s howl. It’s just too much.
I need space. That’s it.
Halfway up, a small cave is cut into the mountain. Is this a bad idea? What if there’s animals inside making it their home in the cold?
I sniff the entrance and wander around the nearby area, but again, I can’t smell anything. An icy breeze blows over me, a chill tracks down my spine, and the fur on my back stands on end..
