To Live Among Wolves (Legends of Arcadia Book 1)

Chapter 42

We slid to a stop in front of the bank I remembered all too well. This time the storm unleashed its torrents of rain without remorse. Rain pelted my skin, causing my limbs to shake without restraint.

The rushing water drowned the sandy shore of the river, seeping past its normal banks.

Aubrey’s nose nuzzled my hand. “Calm down.”

“I am calm,” I lied.

“I can hear your heartbeat, Eden.” She sniffed. “I can tell that you’re lying. And I can tell that you’re freaking out.”

“Way to help calm my nerves,” I grumbled, rubbing my arms.

Her shoulder blades moved in a wolfish shrug. “There’s not much I can say to make this any easier on you.”

I nodded without conviction, stumbling when I dismounted from Ransom’s back. My feet landed in the freezing cold mountain water. I stepped back onto the bank.

Elder Macon sniffed the air as the Guardians appeared from the shadows.

“What do we do now?” I asked, turning to Ransom. He had the most detailed plan out of all of us.

“Now?”He flung the water off his coat despite being in the middle of the storm. “We wait. There’s nothing else to do.”

“That’s not entirely true.” Elder Macon stretched. “We could alert him to our presence. He might not be expecting any sort of action.”

“Shall I then?” Ransom turned to the Guardians.

They bowed their heads in response before melting into the shadows.

A chill ran down me, and I realized how cold I was. My bare feet grew numb on the stony bank of the river.

Throwing his head back, eyes closed and facing the sky, Ransom let out a mournful bellow. It cut through the rumbles of thunder, the pounding of rain, and rushing of river.

I turned in a slow circle, watching the shadows. Would he approach from our bank or the other? Would he be in human form or in wolf form? Would he come at all?

After several long moments of silence, I turned to the Elder, opening my mouth to ask what we should do next. But my words were cut off by a louder and deeper howl from across the river, sending chills through my spirit.

He’s here.