Page 75 of The Wild Moon
Growling, I pushed onward, legs churning as tunnel vision narrowed the world around me to the path ahead. Getting to the top of the ridge was all that mattered! I had to get there. I had to show myself that I could do it. That no sissy wannabe-Alpha from my hometown was stronger than me.
I could choose myowndestiny. And it did not involve Johnathan.
The slope increased as I got nearer to the top, and I fell to all fours, moving in an ungainly climb that had my wolf cringing at its awkwardness. She could do so much better.
“No!” I cried as she surged forward unexpectedly, taking advantage of my mind being torn in half by the unknown call in front of me and the driving force of the Soulbond behind.
I reached the top of the ridge at the same moment she started to burst free. Resisting as hard as I could, I pushed forward. Another step.
“Dani!” Aaron called from behind me. “Dani, wait!”
I didn’t stop and went right over the top–and fell straight down the far side, the sheer face of it surprising me. Distracted as I fought off my wolf, there was no stopping us from going over.
We fell ten feet or more. My foot got caught on something as we went down, and I flipped over.
There was just enough time to scream before I smashed my face into a rock at the bottom.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
When I awoke, it was too late. The Wild Moon had arrived.
I was in my tent, with a bandage pressed to my forehead. Getting to my feet, I crawled out of my sleeping bag, searching for the exit.
“Whoa,” I mumbled as the world spun a bit.
My wolf howled inside me. She was on edge. I didn’t have long. I had to get away from Aaron and his team to ensure they remained safe.
Uncaring of what they might see, I tore my way from the tent. I was greeted by the sight of Aaron and his team shooting to their feet from where they sat around a campfire. Night was here, and above me, the full moon was almost in the sky. I had mere minutes, if that.
“Dani?” Aaron asked, holding out a hand to hold back his team.
I looked at him, then turned and started going the other way. I had to reach the bush. I pulled my shirt off as I went, uncaring of the scratches from the trees as I ducked past one.
A hand closed around my wrist, spinning me around.
“Dani,” Aaron said, staring at me, his eyes bright and blue, even in the dark.
I stared at my wrist. Holyfuck,that was hot. I yanked him in close, ready to kiss him, when something stopped me.
Overhead, the Wild Moon burst over the horizon, and the change came.
“Stay away from me,” I snarled inhumanly, shoving him away from me.
Aaron stumbled backward and fell, a look of shock on his face as I used more strength than perhaps I should have.
There was no time. I ran, tearing at the waistband of my pants and underwear, leaving them loose. My sports bra came over my head, nearly pulling fur with it as I started to change.
Somewhere behind me, I could hear Aaron barking commands, but I didn’t have the wherewithal to pay attention to whatever he was saying.
It wastime, and my wolf was pushing free with a vengeance. My body screamed with pain as she tore free, agony nearly causing us to blackout as we merged, the scream becoming a howl at the moon. We were one once more. Two minds melded.
From nearby, the howl was echoed by another wolf.
Run, we thought, bursting into a long lope that covered ground faster than any human could ever begin to keep up with. We went on and on, thankfully headed away from Aaron and the campfire. For whatever reason, we didn’t want to go back there.
Scents by the thousands entered our brain, instantly catalogued. We passed within a few dozen feet of a weak doe.No challenge.The droppings of a grizzly whose territory we’d entered warned us to stay alert. A mouse darted by ahead, too fast even for us. A rabbit burst from cover, heading the opposite direction, but we didn’t give chase to that. Something else was calling to us, even as an owl swooped by a hundred yards to the west of us, its scent brought to us by the gentle breeze.
Mate.
