CHAPTER THREE
April
I wanted to run back to Claude.
My bones ached as I darted from the hospital, using the cover of night to shield my wolf form and carry me into the swamp. Running was easy. Finding shelter was hard.
But I had to take cover. I had to make sure that my survival was ensured. Locating Maria would be my next step seeing as she was the one who told me where to drive. She had gotten me out of the Remington compound—that dreadful prison—and that had led me to the intersection where my car collided with a handful of others.
Panting, I paused near a body of water, scenting the air carefully. Maybe she’s in on it. I blinked as I studied my reflection in the water, icy blue eyes glaring back at me. Or maybe they had my phone tapped. Who fucking knows?
After a few more sniffs, I lapped at the water, drinking my fill so I could carry on. I hadn’t fully recovered from my injuries, especially with that Wolfsbane in my system. The plant had significantly slowed my progress, but I was able to do enough with that tonic Claude had given me.
I want to go back to him.
I shook my head, spraying water droplets in every direction. When I paused to listen to the world around me, I considered why my wolf so urgently wished to return. Was it because he was gigantic? Built like a tank?
Was it his eyes? His comforting hands? His strong grip on my body as he prevented my head from slapping the tile floor?
Or maybe it was because I was lonely. It had been ages since I had done anything remotely intimate with anyone that hadn’t been forced or coerced. My poor body bore the marks of such abuse, every inch of me covered in burns, scrapes, cuts, and bruises.
Sure, wolves healed quickly, but some marks couldn’t be healed. Especially marks made on the heart.
I lowered my head toward the ground and sniffed, locating a path that had little to no human—or shifter—scent on it. Darting between the trees and following the clear way ahead led me to a set of abandoned buildings. I sniffed along the cement and located precisely who I wanted: Maria.
My best friend came into view minutes later, her worried gaze falling on me as she gasped and extended her arms. I lunged into her open embrace, my wolf excited to have comfort. And I was excited, too. This journey was long and arduous.
“Where the hell have you been?” she whispered heatedly. “I’ve been so worried sick over you.”
I nudged my wet nose into her palm, licking her wrist a few times to let her know I was fine. I didn’t want to shift yet. More healing needed to be done.
After a sigh, she stood up and pointed to a red door. “I’ve been waiting for you here at Landon’s. He’s running that underground operation I told you about. Remember?”
I nodded.
“Anyway, he’s smuggling a bunch of shifters out by the end of the week. There are about five in there right now. You’ll be joining them.”
My maw dropped open in something of a smile. I was forever grateful for my best friend getting me away from Adam. That alpha had been a pest since I met him.
And the thorn in my side. And my prison. He made sure to remind me every day.
Once more memories came to the surface, I lowered my head, whimpering as I huffed, blowing spirals of dirt around my snout. A warm hand joined my neck. It was Maria again, providing that love and comfort I desperately needed.
But could I trust her?
Hell, she had brought me this far. Why wouldn’t I trust her?
“Come on,” she whispered. “We have clothes for you.”
I wandered after her into the abandoned warehouse that was lit by electric camping lamps. Like she had mentioned, five shifters were inside: two children and three adults.
I sniffed the air. There was another adult around, male, but he wasn’t visible. I assumed that was Landon. I hoped to meet him soon enough. I wanted to know the man who my best friend wouldn’t shut the hell up about.
“There’s a privacy screen so you can shift,” she said while pointing to the other side of the expansive room. “There’s clothes over there.”
I trotted to the corner and shifted as soon as I was behind the screen. With a satisfied groan, I slumped on the ground, my human muscles twitching as warmth spread through my limbs. It took me a minute to lift my head.
Running meant no rest. No rest meant my body remained in a constant state of pain. I mean, I was used to such an existence, but this was far more persistent with little cool-down times in between sprints.
Good thing I had practice with cardio.
A flash of light washed over my vision, causing me to whimper. Hot hands grabbed my shoulders and a stinging pain bloomed in my side. A husky chuckle echoed in my ear followed by the words, “This piggy went to market…”
I gasped as I shot up from the ground. Clothes sat within reach on a nearby chair. I snatched the jeans and t-shirt, yanking them quickly on without even bothering to find underwear. Who cared about underwear when my biggest concern was getting to safety?
After I got dressed, I tugged my knees to my chest and buried my face in my hands. Silent sobs wracked my body as I tried to contain the horror that had surfaced in my mind. All those memories, all that pain...it was relentless.
I just wanted it to be over.
“Are you okay?”
The meek voice took me by surprise, causing me to lift my head. I focused on the little girl standing near the edge of the divider, her tiny hand resting on the edge of it. She looked so familiar, but I couldn’t place where I had seen her before, if ever.
Maybe she just had one of those faces.
“Hi,” I whispered while wiping my tears. “What’s your name?”
“Destiny.”
I smiled at the little bear she clutched in her arms. “And your friend?”
“Terrance.”
“Hi, Terrance.”
She waved his tattered arm, a small smile on her lips. “I heard you crying.”
“Yeah, I…” I trailed off, not sure how old she was—or how much she would be able to handle hearing. If she was running away from something like me, then she probably needed more hope than anything. “I was.”
“Why?”
I stood up and shrugged, studying her mop of reddish-brown hair tied back in a long braid. Her green eyes glowed brightly, tiny nostrils flaring curiously as I drew close to her.
I knelt forward and settled my gaze with hers. “Well, sometimes grown-ups just...feel bad.”
“You were feeling bad?”