Page 70 of Wolf Hunted (Rejected Moons 1)

The one in front, who I take to be the leader, holds up his hand to stop the one who spoke. “If they make proper tribute,” he says, “we’ll let them go.”

“Tribute?” I repeat. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I don’tcarewhat you’re talking about,” Milo growls. “We’re not giving them anything, Emlyn. Let’s go.”

“Emlyn,” the lead Moon Caster repeats.

I wish Milo hadn’t said my name. I hate hearing this monster say it. It feels like he has power over me, even though I know that can’t be. It’s just a name. Milo grew up with Moon Casters. He wouldn’t have given them my name if there was anything they could do with it.

“Will you make tribute?” the leader asks.

“No,” Milo says. “Come on, Emlyn. We’re leaving.”

But I can’t move. It’s as if my feet have been cemented to the ground—no, worse than that. It’s as if all my muscles have locked in place. I can’t evenblink.

And I can’t call out a warning to Milo.

“Emlyn?” he says.

I’m shrieking inside. Whatever they’re doing to me, they’re going to do it to him, and then we won’t even be able to run. We’ll just be stuck standing here while they kill us—

Milo lets out a cry and flings his hand up, palm outward.

Immediately, I can move again. But my movements are slow. It feels as if I’m underwater, as if my body is struggling against resistance.

“Run!” Milo yells.

I’m trying.

The words don’t find their way to my mouth. I feel half asleep.

He grabs me and throws me over his shoulder. He holds me there with one arm behind my knees, and I see that his other arm is still outstretched. It looks to me like he’s warding off the Moon Casters.

His pace is slow as he runs, and I think they could probably catch us if they wanted to, but they’re not chasing us. They’re just laughing.

And one of them calls out from behind us— “Hybrids are an abomination, you know! You’re even worse than wolves! We’re going to kill you all!”

Chapter 45

MILO

Gasping,IlowerEmlynto the ground. I kneel beside her and scoop up a handful of water from the creek we’ve stopped at. “Here,” I say, holding it up to her lips. “Drink.”

She does.

Just the fact that she’s understanding and following instructions helps me calm down a bit. I brace my hands on her shoulders and wait until she looks me in the eye.

“I’m all right,” she says. “I’m fine, Milo.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah,” she says. She shakes her head a little. “What was that? It was like my brain shut down.”

I hesitate. She’s so distrustful of what we are already. Still, though, she has a right to know.

“It was moon magic,” I say.

She stares at me. “Seriously?”

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