Page 48 of Nanny for the Wolf Daddy

Thoughts about how amazing it would feel to finally be out pushed through her brain. Her lungs would fill with fresh air. She had that to look forward to.

Time seemed to be fighting her. The more she climbed, the harder it became. Her legs wobbled wildly, and the cliff kept growing with each step she took.

After an eternity, she made it to the opening. She glanced out, seeing the moon was high, and she was so close. She could almost taste the freedom. The wind blew on her face, and she had never felt so happy in her life.

She crawled on her hands and knees into the small exit. She refused to get stuck like before. This cave wasn’t going to keep her hostage. She inched herself out, tugging hard on every inch of flesh that got stuck.

She kicked her legs and clawed her way out until her entire body popped free. She landed hard on the ground, and the air was knocked out of her. She lay there for a second, trying to simply breathe. She wiped her forehead and pulled herself up. She’d escaped Archie and the mountain.

She leaned on her knees and took in the surroundings. The trees grew high, reaching for the sky. She took in a huge breath of free air, and her lungs thanked her. She smiled and laughed, proud of herself.

“I’m out. I’m free! I’m finally free!” she cheered for herself for a moment.

She stretched, letting in the night breeze ruffle her hair. She winced as her side hurt, and she turned to examine it.

A bruise was forming on her hip with a deep slash over it. It wasn’t terrible, but she would want to clean it before it became infected.

She looked around, finding the river that flowed out from the side of the cave. She bent down and sank her hands into it, scrubbing her scraped fingers and her broken nails free of dirt.

She wiped at her wound, cleaning it the best she could. She winced as the pain shot up her side. She frowned, knowing it would probably leave a scar.

She then took a few sips of water. She just needed to get her mouth a little damp before she focused on her next steps.

After she wet her mouth, she looked around and tried to think of what to do next.

THIRTY-THREE

NOX

He kept moving forward, trying to remain calm. They looked in every pathway they had followed. There wasn’t a scent of Kelli anywhere. His stomach churned with acid. Every time they had to head back and retrace their steps, he felt he was failing Kelli.

“We’ll head deeper,” he said, glaring into the cave. He knew she was still here, still in the cave. He could only hope she wasn’t hurt. He’d never forgive himself if she were.

They headed farther into the depths, then his entire body froze. He caught her scent. It was weak, but there. He turned, glancing down another corridor. She turned here. “She went this way.”

“She was alone,” someone said, and he nodded in agreement. Relief flowed through him, raising his hope. They scooted along the corridor, sticking close together and trying to follow her scent. It was weak, like she’d not been there for a while, which meant she was moving fast.

He caught the scent of her, but it was stronger and tangy. He didn’t like it. They came to a narrow opening, and he scowled as the smell became overpowering.

One of the others grimaced, shaking his head as they stepped back. “Blood.”

He stared at the opening and found a rocky tip stained red.

She was bleeding. He didn’t like that. He sniffed the rock, knowing full well they weren’t getting through this passage.

It was too narrow, and he had no idea how Kelli even fit through it herself. He could see her foot marks and scratches on the rock like it’d been hit. They would have to backtrack and hopefully find another corridor that led there. His heart twisted.

He hated this. Having to go back and search for another way. He had no idea how long that could take, and they had already spent so much time.

Blood meant she was still alive, and he knew she was still breathing.

He looked at the rock once more, hoping she wasn’t injured greatly. He could only hope it was a small scrape.

“We should find another way around,” he said, looking back at the others. Everyone nodded, remaining silent.

So, they retraced their steps through the cave until they reached the entrance. Nevel and Elise gave him sad looks, but he tried not to look at them. He was growing frustrated, and he didn’t want to take his anger out on them. They’d been through enough as it was.

They surveyed the land, and he tried to map out where other exits could be. There was the river, and then every corridor seemed to have its own little opening. It could take them days, and he didn’t have that kind of time. Kelli needed him now. He was sure of that much.

---