Chapter 207

Chris

I leaped through the forest on four keen legs, my eyes pricked at the landscape ahead. Every tree stood stark against the dimming sky, every rock and twig and leaf in profound contrast from the dark pine duff littering the forest floor.

The world was so much more vibrant in my wolf form—every scent sharper, every sound clearer. I could hear the rustle of leaves in the breeze, the scurrying of small animals in the underbrush, and the distant call of a bird high in the trees.

It was moments like this that I had come to appreciate more and more as of late—moments like this, as I raced through the forest, that answered the age-old question that had been plaguing me for years: why had I begun racing cars? Why had I found myself to be so profoundly addicted to that sensation of speed, of the wind in my hair?

This was why. I wasn’t just an adrenaline junkie; it was my primal instinct to run, to push myself faster and faster.

My nose twitched as I picked up the scent of a rabbit; I could hear its soft scrabbling as it rooted through the underbrush in search of something green to eat. Perfect for dinner.

I changed direction, following the trail with single-minded focus. As I ran, I couldn’t help but think of Ava. I wished she could experience this feeling, this profound connection to our wolf nature. She should have been racing alongside me, my mate.

I made a mental note to work with her more on shifting when we returned home. Assuming the blight hadn’t eaten through everything that we knew in Moonstone.

The rabbit’s scent grew stronger, and I slowed my pace, creeping forward on silent paws. The forest floor was soft beneath my feet, the damp leaves and moss muffling any sound. I moved carefully, each step calculated to avoid snapping twigs or rustling leaves.

There it was, nibbling on some wildflowers, completely unaware of my presence. Its fluffy ears twitched, alert for danger, but it hadn’t noticed me yet. I crouched low, my muscles tensed, ready to spring.

Then, in one swift motion, I pounced. The rabbit tried to dart away, its powerful hind legs propelling it forward, but I was faster. With a quick snap of my jaws, it was over before the rabbit even made a sound.

The taste of blood filled my mouth, awakening a primal part of me. This was what it meant to be a wolf—to hunt, to provide. I felt a deep sense of satisfaction, knowing I could bring this back to Ava. But I needed more.

Holding the rabbit gently in my mouth, I considered my next move. One rabbit wouldn’t be enough for both of us, not after a whole day of hiking up a mountain. I needed to find something else. Maybe a deer, if I was lucky. I set off again, this time moving more slowly, all senses alert for any sign of larger prey.

As I continued my hunt, a new scent caught my attention. Smoke. A campfire.

Curious, I moved toward the source, still carrying my rabbit. As I got closer, I could hear voices. Probably just some campers, I thought. Best to keep my distance.

I crept closer, staying low and hidden in the thick underbrush so as not to startle them. The scent of the campfire smoke grew stronger, mixed with the smell of cooking food and the sharp tang of alcohol.

From my vantage point, I could see a small clearing with a group of people gathered around a fire. I paused, cocking my head to the side. Maybe they were friendly; maybe they’d join Ava and me at the checkpoint cabin.

But before I shifted back, I froze, pricking my ears. They seemed to be in the middle of a heated discussion.

“We need to be patient, you fools,” one man was saying, his voice low but forceful. “Olivia knows what she’s doing. Don’t question her.”

My ears perked up at the mention of Olivia’s name. What were the chances? It had to be a coincidence, but still.

Another person, a woman with short blonde hair, spoke up. “But how long do we have to wait? We’ve been out here for weeks. The others are getting restless.”

“As long as it takes,” the first man replied firmly, running a hand through his graying hair. “Olivia is close to reaching her goal. We just need to wait for further instruction, and then we’ll make our way to Moonstone.”

Moonstone. The name felt like an alarm bell in my ears, and it was all I could do to not leap out of the underbrush and gut them all right now. If these people were working for Olivia, then… What were they doing out here?

I inched closer, straining to hear more. The rabbit in my mouth was all but forgotten as I focused my attention on their conversation. The underbrush was thick here, providing good cover, but also making it difficult to move without making noise.

“I just don’t see why we can’t move forward with the plan on our own,” a third person grumbled, a stocky man with a beard. “We have everything we need. The longer we wait, the more chances something could go wrong.”

“Because Olivia said to wait,” the first man snapped, his patience clearly wearing thin. “And we follow Olivia’s orders. Unless you’d like to explain to her why you disobeyed?”

The grumbler fell silent at that, his face paling slightly at the implied threat.

I was so focused on their conversation that I didn’t notice a twig beneath my paw until it snapped loudly. The sound seemed to echo through the quiet forest. I froze, hoping against hope that they hadn’t heard.

But luck wasn’t on my side. Suddenly, all eyes in the clearing were on me. For a moment, nobody moved. Then, chaos erupted.

“There!” someone shouted, pointing directly at me. “Run!”

The group scattered, grabbing bags and equipment as they fled. Without thinking, I dropped the rabbit and gave chase. I couldn’t let them all get away, not when they might have valuable information about Olivia’s plans.

My instincts took over as I pursued them through the forest, my powerful legs pushing me faster and faster. I could hear their panicked breathing, smell their fear, but there were too many.

Finally, I decided to zero in on one man who seemed to be moving slower than the others. With a burst of speed, I caught up to him, my jaws snapping at his heels. He stumbled, trying desperately to get away, but I was relentless.

With one last lunge, I caught him, knocking him to the ground. He cursed and struggled beneath me, his hands scrabbling at the forest floor, trying to crawl away. But I held him firm, my weight pinning him down.

In a flash, I shifted back to my human form, quickly grabbing the man’s arms and pinning them behind his back. It was only then, as the adrenaline began to fade away, that I got a good look at his face.

My eyes widened in recognition. The blood rushed in my ears as memories flooded back. I knew this man. I had seen him before, back in Moonstone.

“Hey,” I growled, leaning in close. “I know you…”