Page 10 of Corbin
He ran a list of possibilities through his mind for how he could put this woman somewhere safe, but he knew nothing about this area. If he were back in Canada, where he’d escaped from Vlad, the Romanian, he could find six or seven safe hideouts on a moment’s notice.
If he were still in Canada, he’d also very likely be dead by now.
The trees thinned until he saw an open area he recognized. Hallelujah. He had to be around a hundred or so yards from the tree he had climbed down at the end of rappelling. Worst case, he’d rig her up with his climbing gear and pull her far enough off the ground to—
The vicious roar of a feral monster shook the woods at the same minute a massive black body crashed through the trees fifty yards behind Corbin.
Judith dug her nails into his back, lifted up from where she’d been bouncing against his back, and screamed.
Time had run out.
Corbin had no way to save this woman. How could he fail her when he had been the only one to reach that shack?
Judith’s heartbreaking cry and squirming around frantically threw him off balance. He locked his left arm tighter around her legs. “Hey. Calm down!”
“The bear ... I hear him ... He’s ...” She couldn’t talk past hyperventilating.
He sure as hell had no paper bag. “Shhh. Listen to me. I’ve got a plan.”
Her loud breathing turned into panicked panting. “Really? What is it?”
Corbin hadn’t actually lied. He had no time to think anything through and had to make up the details as he ran. “I’m taking you somewhere he can’t reach you.” That was his only plan as he ran all out to stay ahead of that monster. “Try to stay calm to help me so I can outrun him.”
Not a word followed. She drooped her body again like a noodle but clutched his sides. He bit down against a curse when her fingers dug into the still-bleeding side.
He used the sharp ache to stay focused on winning this foot race.
No roaring now, only the loud crashing of a massive bear tearing through the woods. The minute that bear reached the open space Corbin had passed through, he would close the distance between them even faster.
Ares asked,Got a real plan?
That’s the only one I have, Corbin admitted, hating that he might end up letting his wolf down when they couldn’t shift again in time for Ares to fight the bear. They had a difficult relationship, but he would never set them up to lose a battle.
Look behind, Ares warned.
Watching his steps, Corbin wrenched his neck to look back quickly.Ah hell!
That bear covered ground like a Kentucky Derby champion.
Panic crept into Corbin’s mind. He tried to shake it off and think strategically, but he could not ignore the heavy pounding. He zigzagged into a cluster of trees.
Nothing slowed that monster that plowed a path straight for them.
Ares shouted,Watch out!
Corbin looked up and saw the end coming at them fast. He caught a tree with his free arm, spun around in a circle, and stumbled to keep upright.
The bear broke free from the cluster of trees, not stopping. There would be no slowing down to stand and fight. That predator would be on Corbin instantly and rip him to pieces.
Ares shouted,What are you doing?
Corbin couldn’t answer, only act.
Judith lifted herself up and screamed. Corbin pulled her off his shoulder and down into his arms without looking at her. He slowed and turned. Walking backward, he kept the bear in view.
Six, maybe seven seconds, and it would all be over.
Pound, pound, pound of huge pads hitting the ground.
