Chapter 57
He moved to get out, then paused, glancing around at the endless stretch of trees and empty road.
No diners, no gas stations-just wilderness.
And the runner?
Out of fuel, its engine cold as a winter stream.
I saw his hesitation and spoke up, my voice flat.
“My leg’s still mending, and you made it worse. I’m not going anywhere.”
Alpha Adrian didn’t argue.
“I’ll check the perimeter for a trading post or something. Stay in the runner.”
“Okay,” I mumbled, too drained to fight.
He climbed out, slamming the door shut-and I heard the lock click.
Through the window, I watched him pull out a weathered map. A small market, half an hour’s walk east. No name, no way to call. He’d have to go on foot.
He started trudging away, his shoulders hunched with frustration.
The second his figure vanished behind a stand of pines, I scrambled into action.
I clambered to the back, fumbling with the latches that flattened the rear seats, then slipped into the trunk.
My fingers found the emergency release. The lid popped open, and I tumbled out, wincing as my leg
throbbed.
Adrian had aggravated the wound, but I could walk. Not fast, not far, but enough.
I headed west, opposite the way he’d gone, keeping to the shadows of the trees.
Twenty minutes in, the pain flared-sharp, hot, like someone was twisting a knife in my calf.
If I pushed harder, the stitches might tear, leaving me stranded.
I glanced at the hillside nearby, its slope dotted with thick underbrush.
Hide here, maybe?
I’d been sending Cassie my location every few minutes, marking the runner’s spot, then my path.
She’d be close, I hoped.
I clambered up the slope, finding a gnarled oak with bushy roots to tuck myself behind. I pulled out my phone, and hit call.
“Thirty-five minutes,” Cassie said, her voice tight with worry.
“Stay put. Don’t move.”
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“I will,” I promised, hanging up.
I hugged my knees to my chest, staring up at the stars-bright, endless, mocking.
This was my life now: hiding in the dirt, running from the man who’d once sworn to protect me.
Ten minutes later, footsteps crunched in the leaves below.
My heart slammed into my ribs.
Cassie couldn’t be here yet.
Who? Adrian?
No.
Even if he’d guessed I’d run, how would he find me here, in this random patch of woods?
Then, like a lightning strike, I remembered-the wolf.
The one who’d called out from outside the runner.
Could it be him?
Had he lingered, watching me slip out of the trunk, tailing me this whole time?
Panic surged.
I ducked lower, scrambling deeper into the brush, too scared to flick on my phone’s flashlight. I stumbled through thorns and rocks, blind, heart pounding so loud.
The footsteps followed, closer now.
Horror spiraled in my head-dragged into the mountains, hurt, left for the coyotes, or worse, sold to some rival pack as a bargaining chip.
Should’ve stayed in the runner.
I pushed faster, ignoring the scream of pain in my leg.
A beam of light swept over me, and I thought I heard my name, but my ears were ringing, my pulse roaring.
“Help!”
I shrieked, bolting upright as a shadow reached for me.
I sprinted uphill, but suddenly something heavy wrapped around my waist-an arm, strong as iron, lifting me off my feet.
“Help! Murder!” I screamed, legs flailing, kicking blindly at the figure behind me.
“No one’s murdering you.”
The voice cut through the noise, rich and low, right by my ear.
I froze.
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<Chapter 57
I twisted, squinting into the dim light, and a pale, striking face emerged-high cheekbones, eyes dark as
storm clouds.
Confusion hit me like a punch.
A mountain lion? A rogue wolf?
“Y-y-you-” I stammered, panic melting into disbelief.
Alpha Gideon raised a brow.
“Scared out of your wits? Don’t recognize me?”
Hearing his voice again grounded me, and relief flooded in, hot enough to bring tears,
“What are you doing here?”
“Taking a walk,” he said, dry as dust.
“Sure,” I scoffed.
Why else would he be here, in the middle of nowhere, at this hour? To save me.
Alpha Gideon propped one long leg on the slope, setting me down on his thigh.
His hand shifted from my waist to my arm, steadying me.
“I called your name. Why run?”
“Ears were ringing,” I admitted, sitting there like a scolded cub.
“Running that fast, you’re not worried about tearing your wound?”
I hadn’t thought-until he said it. Now my leg burned, white-hot.
Oh no.
Alpha Gideon noticed my wince.
“Vivian, you’re not faking this to skip more work, are you?”
“No!” I protested, too loud.
“Then why leave a perfectly safe den to crash this… chaos?”
“Forget being my secretary. You’re gunning for my ancestor’s troublemaker crown with this stunts.”
“Sorry,” I mumbled, staring at my shoes.
“Look. You got hurt on pack business, so I’ll bail you out. One more time. Next time, you’re on your own.”
I nodded, fervent.
“Got it, got it. Alpha Gideon, you’re a saint. A hero, really. I’ll-uh-work twice as hard. Swear.”
He stared at me, like he was tempted to drop me right there.
Menu
Instead, he hoisted me onto his back, carrying me down the slope like a wolf giving a cub a lift.
I clung to his shoulders, unsure where to put my hands.
Wrapping them around his neck felt too close.
Hesitant, I rested them lightly on his shoulders-broad, solid, like he could carry the whole mountain.
At the bottom, a sleek black car waited by the road.
He set me in the passenger seat, circled around, and slid into the driver’s side. The engine purred to life.
I pulled out my phone, texting Cassie: Safe.
Heading back to Cloud Pack.
Cassie replied instantly, curious: Who saved you?
She’d been the only one I’d told I was in trouble.
Who else would come?
I hesitated.
I typed back: Alpha Gideon.
