Page 61 of The Untamed

My pain is covered in shame like the wetness of the forest—saturating every part of it, even down to the buried roots. There’s no hiding from it.

I’m being banished.

Robbed of happiness and love.

I’ll come back ruined.

IfI ever come back.

Arumble, loud enough to make the windows rattle in the big house, tugs me from my ultimate boredom of folding laundry. I abandon the pile of towels to rush out the door. There are people everywhere—just not my favorite people.

Ronan and Ryder and Dad are still gone.

The deep, grumbly sounds are vibrations from music and an engine. Someone’s coming.

Racing across our yard, I steer clear of Mya, though we both manage to flash each other the bitchiest glares we can muster. The guy on guard duty is frowning my way but hasn’t left the safety of the closed gate. I rush past him, flinging myself out of the protection of our home and into the wilderness beyond it. Ignoring the man who calls after me, I hoof it to the edge of the fence and onto the road to wait, hands on my hips as I squint at the road.

The vibrations and rhythmic beat of bass grow closer and closer until a metal beast rounds the bend. I recognize the obnoxious truck—all shiny chrome, sleek black paint, and tires every bit as tall as me.

Wild.

Wild Knox, my betrothed.

Not really, but if our parents had it their way, we’d have fallen in love the second we laid eyes on each other.

Love is the furthest thing from either of our minds.

Yet, I still wait eagerly for his annoying ass to arrive. I need normalcy, and with Wild, I can guarantee he’ll be his usual antagonistic self, which for once is welcomed.

Anything to stop thinking about our visitors and the drama they’ve brought with them.

I wait in the middle of the dirt road, nearly overgrown with brush, as Wild’s truck becomes clearer in the distance. The engine roars as he speeds up. I know he can see me, which is why we’re now engaged in a game of chicken.

Me against his massive metal beast.

Standing my ground, I lift one hand from my hip, thrusting it into the air in front of me to wave my middle finger at him. It’s my usual welcoming gesture whenever I see him. He responds by gassing it, no doubt taunting me to move.

At this point, I’d almost be thankful for him to put me out of my misery.

Flatten me like a pancake.

He’d get his ass whipped so bad by both our dads.

I remain rooted in place, not wavering despite the speed at which he’s approaching. My heart leaps into my throat and it takes everything in me not to move. The truck grows larger and louder with each passing second.

And then he’s yards away, laying on the horn.

Asshole.

At the last second, he jerks the wheel to the left and slams on the brakes. Air swishes past me, sending my hair flinging in my face. I swear I felt his side mirror graze over the material of my shirt covering my arm. Whirling around, I follow to where he’s skidded to a stop, truck parked crooked and taking up the road.

The passenger door opens and some guy around my age climbs out. He’s tall with shaggy blond hair and is wearing sunglasses.

“Holy shit,” he says in greeting. “You almost got killed. You do know this idiot is driving and no one is safe on the roads, especially not hot chicks running through the woods.”

I narrow my eyes. “I wasn’t running through the woods. I was standing on my property. Who are you again? Don’t tell me you’re actually friends with that fucker.”

He snorts, offering me his hand. “That fucker is my best friend. I’m Chet.”

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