Page 74 of Wolf Heart

Dex’s steps are heavy and I can hear his breathing.

I stop and push my back against a tree. I was going to go to my mom and now I didn’t know what to do. My heart stops. I can't breathe. My whole body trembles and my head spins.

“I’m sorry,” Dex says. “You don’t know what it’s been like for us. We've lost everyone we knew and-and this was the only thing that can bring them back. Wouldn't you have done the same in our place?"

I close my eyes. The fear is back, the fear that I won’t be able to do this.

I was stupid to think that I could leave my pack and find my mom. It’s not like the witches are going to welcome me with open arms.

I'm a prize, a bargaining chip. They'll try to figure out what makes me different from all the others. Then they'll probably kill me.

Why had I thought I could depend on anyone but myself?

I take a step away from both Aspen and Dex.

“We can’t let you go, Juniper,” Dex says, his hands fist at his sides like he's ready for a fight.

“It’s too dangerous,” Aspen adds.

“You’re not my pack." I straighten my shoulders, ignoring the gnawing hole in the pit of my stomach. "I don’t have to listen to either of you."

"Juniper, please." Aspen holds out his hands. "We made the deal before we even met you. Before we—"

“Stop," I say, my voice choked. "Don't act like you care when all of this was a ruse."

“You think we wouldn’t have stayed with you if we had a choice?” Dex asks like I'm an idiot.

All I can do is look at them with my heart twisting in my chest. "Do you have a choice?"

“No.” Aspen’s answer is honest.

“I can’t do this anymore,” I whisper. “I don’t want to do this anymore.” I let the tears fall and run a hand over my face.

“We'll do whatever you ask us to do,” Aspen says softly, lowering his head.

“I don’t want you to do anything,” I say before I run into the woods. Branches scratch my legs and arms, but I don't stop.

Their heavy footsteps are behind me.

"Juniper, wait," Aspen shouts.

I keep running, even when my feet start to burn and my lungs feel like they’re on fire. I have to get away.

The idea of these guys being with me just to hand me over to the witches makes me sick. I can’t be a pawn for someone else’s cure.

I need to get away from them and find my mom. I have to prove she's still alive.

“Juniper,” Dex calls out.

No. I shake my head and keep pushing. I have to prove that I'm worth a fucking damn and not as a piss toy or sacrifice.

Both Aspen and Dex continue to chase me, but they're hanging back away like they think I'll run out of steam.

Never gonna happen.

I'm not going to wait for them or anyone. It's been too long already. My mom is out there... somewhere. I'm going to find her and I don't need any of them.

I've made it this far on my own.

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