Chapter 13
My heart feels like it’s in my throat as we make our way deeper into the forest. Tears race toward my hairline from the cold air smacking my face, but I don’t even care.
My only focus is on trying not to slide off the beast below me, who has yet to slow down.
I imagine this is what riding bareback would be like, only ten times worse.
His wolf form may be slightly taller than a horse, but his body is that of a bear, and my knuckles have gone white from gripping the tufts of his black fur.
He’s a complete beast, and now that I’m clinging to him, I realize just how much of a miracle it is that I’m still alive.
Thane takes a sharp turn up an inclined path, and I slowly try to readjust myself.
Even though he’s not moving as fast, his bounding leaps up the mountain are just as terrifying.
I cautiously inch myself closer to his neck and wrap my arms around it as far as I can reach.
As he continues climbing higher, I find myself wondering whether this is a path he often takes or if he’s just chosen the route that will scare me the most.
Thane releases a heart-stopping howl, sending a surge of adrenaline shooting through my veins.
For whatever reason, I get a strong urge to follow his howl with one of my own.
I sit up as much as I can without falling off and tilt my head to the night sky.
The moon isn’t full, but it’s bright enough to draw my attention through the canopy of trees, and I breathe in deeply, letting the scent of nature comfort me before releasing a high-pitched howl.
It’s strangely liberating, and electrifying energy courses through my body as I embrace the primal feeling.
The fear I felt is stripped away, replaced by an overwhelming sense of freedom.
It makes no sense, and yet it’s how I feel.
The forest levels out, and Thane picks up speed again.
This time, I don’t fight the fear. Instead, I allow it to transform into something more.
An escape.
An escape from the shackles of a wasted life. An escape from the nightmares that continue to haunt me. An escape from everyone and everything that has hurt me. I no longer feel like my life is hanging in the balance. I feel invincible. I feel alive.
Thane finally comes to a stop and crouches down so that I can slide off.
When my feet hit the ground, my legs feel like jelly.
I take a few wobbly steps away from him, knowing I must look like a newborn baby deer trying to walk for the first time.
Once I make it to a nearby tree, I fall to the ground laughing.
“Oh my god! That was—” I lean my head back against the trunk, trying to catch my breath. “That was the most fun I’ve ever had!”
I look at Thane, who is still in his wolf form, and stand back up.
As he inches closer, his enormous paws dig into the forest floor, leaving deep prints that let every animal in these woods know they aren’t safe.
I’m pressed up against the tree so hard that I can feel the bark embedding itself into my back.
Even in his wolf form, Thane towers over me.
He tilts his head down, and a huff from his snout sends the loose pieces of my hair flying back.
We stay like that for far too long. Both of us waiting for the other to make the next move.
My eyes dart to the right, and I consider shifting away from the tree, but when I look back at him, the desire to put distance between us fades away.
It feels like I’m a passenger in my own body as my hand raises to the side of his beastly face.
It hovers there for a moment as I draw in a shaky breath, wondering if his lethal jaw is going to bite my hand clean off.
When it doesn’t, I carefully move my hand closer until I feel the brush of his soft fur against my fingertips. I exhale a long breath, unsure if I should keep trying my luck, but then Thane leans his head into the palm of my hand, the gesture taking me by complete surprise.
“I think I like you better this way.”
He bares his teeth, but it feels more teasing than it does threatening. I trace my thumb over the top of the scar that runs down the middle of his eye, and he flinches at the touch.
“I have scars too. They’re just easier to hide.”
He blinks slowly like he’s surprised I would tell him something so personal, and I’m not even sure why I said it.
It’s not something I would share with anyone, let alone Thane.
But there’s something about the stillness of night and the way his wolf eyes are boring into me that makes me want to shed the armor I usually wear.
Time seems to stop, and for a moment, I no longer see a monster standing before me.
His gaze falls, and so does my hand as I step away.
No matter what I think of him in his wolf form, it doesn’t change the fact that he’s my tormentor.
The things he’s done to me can’t be undone by some thrilling run through the forest.
Thane must decide it’s time to head back, because he positions himself next to a boulder for me to use as a stepping stool to get onto his back.
I suppose I should be thankful he’s not leaving me out here to die, but I have an unsettling feeling that he’s playing me.
Why else would he bring me out here and lean into my touch?
The Thane I know would’ve used this opportunity to inflict more pain or humiliation.
Instead, I’ve actually enjoyed my time. So much so that I’m not even in a rush to get back.
It's a complete mind-fuck.
Even keeping his side of the bet with the shock collar doesn’t make much sense.
I had no way of knowing he killed that wolf, and even if I had, it’s not like I could’ve done anything to force him to uphold his end of the deal.
Maybe it’s some weird code of honor he lives by, but I doubt it.
He’s not the type. He’s the kind of person who relishes the idea that rules don’t apply to him.
My fingers lace through his thick fur as I position myself on his back once again. When he takes off, my upper body instantly jolts back, but the grip of my thighs keeps me in place this time as the icy wind wraps around me.
Before I know it, we’re breaking through the treeline.
All eyes are on us as Thane makes his way back to the edge of the garden, releasing a howl that the other wolves echo, even in their human forms. Kole stops next to us, and offers me his assistance, waiting a moment for me to steady before removing his hands from my waist.
Thane shifts back as the others cheer, but I keep my eyes on the crowd, knowing if I turn around, I’ll see more than I want to.
“Now, shall we show her how vampires have fun?” Thane’s words ignite a spark of excitement through the maze of leaders, making my chest tighten.
I’m just about to object when a strong force knocks into me like the undertow of a wave. A moment later, it feels like my soul is being snapped back into my body. The cheers from the crowd sound slightly distant, and when I look around, I understand why.
My stomach instantly hollows the second I look down and see my heels slipping off the edge of the roof. Thane’s grip on my arms tightens, but when I turn back to look at him, there’s not one part of me that feels safe in his grasp.
“Don’t do this,” I beg, shifting my weight onto the balls of my feet.
“What’s the matter? Not having fun anymore?”I try to reach for him, but he has my arms pinned to my sides.
“Please.” My voice cracks, and I’m not sure if it’s from the panic consuming me or the disgust I feel pleading to this monster.
“Make sure to scream on your way down,” he hisses, pure evil dancing across his face.
His words echo through my head, but I can barely hear them. I’m too engulfed by paralyzing fear as my body falls back toward the concrete that awaits me. The air in my lungs spews out of me in the form of an ear-piercing scream, drowning out the roars of the crowd.
It feels never-ending. Like I’m suspended between life and death, waiting for one to claim me.
“You can open your eyes now.”
The words still sound muffled, but when I peel my eyelids open, I’m met with Kole’s white irises.
I didn’t even feel him catch me, but the longer he holds me, the less his arms feel like a safety net and the more they feel like a snare.
I push away from him, twisting my body to free myself from his hold.
I hit the ground hard, and pain immediately shoots through my knees and wrists, but before I can even attempt to stand, all of the alcohol I ingested empties onto the concrete.
Between being pushed off the roof and tossing up what little contents had previously occupied my stomach, my head starts to spin along with the world around me.
I cling to one of the giant flowerpots, trying to get to my feet while the dizziness fights to pull me back down.
Kole continues to watch me struggle, looking all too pleased with an amused smile, while the leaders, still positioned at the bottom of the steps, laugh at the pathetic human pet trying to recover. I might actually mind if I didn’t feel so damn disoriented.
“Here, I got you.” Sienna wraps my arm around her neck and pulls me into her.
“Sorry, everyone. It looks like my pet has had a little too much fun tonight.” I hear Thane’s words, but I don’t bother looking back as Sienna and I make our way to the back door.
Instead, I use the last of my strength to keep myself upright. Once we make it up to my bedroom, Sienna doesn’t overstay her welcome. She starts a shower for me before slipping out with a quiet, “Goodnight.” She knows the last thing I would want right now is a pity party.