Page 74 of Come for Me
At the snap of another twig in my hand, she whips toward my direction. I toss the same twig to the other side, and it lands in bushes, startling her as rustling leaves echo through the forest. She looks in the direction of the twig and stops walking.
Her eyes widen when she sees my golden eyes glowing in the dark. I let out a growl, a warning to my delicious prey not to run from her predator. Her flight kicks in anyway, and she takes off.
Chapter Twenty-One
Alaina
Idon’t have time to shift before my feet decide to flee, and suddenly, I’m barefoot, running through these unfamiliar woods. Attempting to shield my face with my arms as I run through brush, I duck under branches, swinging myself around trees. My limbs are stinging and my lungs are on fire, but I don’t care.
I’m not dying out here, especially not like this.
I saw glowing golden eyes, but I couldn’t register who they could belong to, my head reeling from fear and adrenaline. I don’t even know what’s chasing me, but I can hear it, and it’s gaining on me. Footsteps pound against the ground, and they’re getting closer, just waiting for me to slip.
The creature seems to know my every move. No matter how many times I duck at the last minute, change, or fake the direction I’m going, it’s still there on my tail.
I’m going to die.
My only chance is to know what I’m dealing with and fight.
I look up at the stars and pray to the Moon Goddess that this isn’t Her plan for me. To die, naked, alone, and afraid.
I don’t think of my next move, allowing my instincts to take over. Without thinking, I veer off the path and cry out as I throw myself into the bushes beside me. Before I know it, I’m tumbling down a slope. Falling, I pick up speed as I’m rolling over twigs, rocks, and leaves. I reach the bottom of the small hill, landing in more piles of leaves, branches, and debris.
I spring to my feet when a loud thud hits the ground. Backing away until a large stone is at my back, I recognize the beast in front of me. The smell of my blood and all beings of nature clouded me from seeing it before. But as I stare at him now, he’s unmistakable.
Dax.
Like the dark predator he is, a beast in its natural habitat, he stands, licking his lips, leering at his prey. Specks of dirt cover his face, his once-white shirt, and his arms. The look he has is the same he gets when he hunts for food, like he just caught prey he’s ready to devour. A look he’s given me many times before.
Before he told me to leave.
His eyes flash from bright gold to normal as his broad, muscular shoulders heave with every loud inhale and exhale.
Why did he come for me?
Even now, as he’s hunting me, he looks devilishly sexy. And after everything, the thrill and fear of being stalked, chased, and cornered, arousal forms between my legs.
Dax can smell it and shows no shame as he breathes me in. His chest rises and eyes close as he sniffs my embarrassment. He exhales, his eyes, now bright gold, open and land on me. He growls and takes a step closer.
Doubt stops the fantasy as my hurtful thoughts invade me.This is just his possessive nature, the effects of the mate bond. He’s just giving into his desires, a momentary lapse in judgment. Later, he’ll throw me out. He doesn’t really want me. The Dax that told me to leave is the real him.
Confusion whirls around me as I try to make sense of the events. The broken parts in me want to have misinterpreted the events that occurred, but I have to protect my heart from what he said. He truly did want me to go. Until I know for certain, he’s not getting anywhere near me.
“Dax, please, don’t.” I put my arm out.
He doesn’t listen and continues his pursuit.
“Dax, stop!” My wolf surfaces, causing my eyes to flash as I stand my ground.
Confusion etches his face, and he stops, seemingly wondering why I would stop him, as if he’s never said anything hurtful to me. His fake innocence enrages me.
“You told me to leave,” I yell through breaths.
“I told you to run.”
His voice is gruff, just as out of breath as I am. He’s gotten faster. I have a feeling he was toying with me before, that he could have caught up to me if he wanted to. But he let his sick hunt pursue.
“Same thing.”
