Page 20 of The Red Moon

A helplessness I’ve never experienced settles low in my rib cage. Viktor readies his large arm, claws extended. This next shot will be something Nik won’t come back from, and despite every muscle in my body begging me to, I can’t bring myself to turn away from it.

“We have to run before he sees us!” Veronica shouts.

Run. Run? The word sparks something in me. A memory hidden behind loft visits, claws and teeth. “Next time, don’t run,” Nik had said. It stirred the animal inside of him, and I’m willing to bet Viktor isn’t controlled enough to refuse such a chase. Especially when his brother’s pet is the prey.

I turn toward Veronica and grab her by the arms. “Go. Get to the fence and get out of here.”

Her face loses slack, confusion arching each brow. “But—but what about you?”

A smirk teases my lips. “I’m going to give you a head start.”

She wastes no time, fleeing to the left like Sergei instructed until her blond hair is lost to the darkness of the property. A powerful roar erupts from Viktor, ready to inflict a final, fatal blow to the man who has saved me again and again. Now it’s my turn to save him.

“Viktor!”

The gigantic creature pauses mid swipe and shifts toward me, both ears perked. Its eyes are dark enough to reflect the fires on the compound, but there’s recognition in them, too. He’s still in there somewhere. And I have no doubt, even as a werewolf, he thinks he’s pulling all the strings.

“You wanted him to watch, right? Watch when you ripped me apart?” I say with venom and take the first step off the porch.

The monster glances at a mutilated Nikolai shifting back to his human form, and it’s obvious there’s two minds at war with one another on what their one body will do next. It’s when the ungodly creature diverts its full attention to me that I release a breath. Good.

“You’re the alpha right? Prove it!” My legs are still sore from my confinement, ill-prepared to best such an animal on foot, but I don’t have another choice. I give the beast a snide grin. “Come and get me.”

I dash away from the front doors of the Vostik mansion, not daring to look back. Not that I need to. Not when the ground shakes and nearly breaks my stride.

Bullets split the air behind me, a distinct whistle that’s impossible to ignore. Dimitri’s shooting at him, but what’s more concerning is how the sound gets closer and closer to my position. I choke down as much air as I can, sprinting at a faster pace. Wolves long for the chase, and unfortunately for me, I have the worst fucking one on my tail. I don’t care how strong Viktor is. How fast he can run. If he wants to kill me, fine. But I won’t make it easy for him.

A thicket of trees comes into view, as does the silhouette of Veronica disappearing in the wilderness. I pick up the pace, praying the maze of trees will make it difficult for Viktor’s current form to maneuver. It’s my only shot. The only chance I have at escaping this nightmare unscathed.

The ground trembles more viciously now.

Each growl sends a trail of goose bumps down my exhausted arms and legs. He’s right behind me, gnashing those large teeth at the air in desperation. Viktor’s not in control anymore. Not fully, at least. The animal instincts have taken over, driving this mindless beast forward with an insatiable hunger. And I was counting on it.

I have a plan. It’s bold. Stupid. Suicidal might be the best word for it, but it’s all I’ve got. Static fills my ears until ragged heartbeats are the only sound the world around me has to offer.

A deafening roar unleashes from him. He’s closing in for the kill, and I’ll be damned if I give him the chance.

This is it.

I dive to the left, missing the first tree of the forest by inches, and tumble enough times to lose count. My arms and legs earn scratches and scrapes but remain untouched by Viktor’s claws. Viktor isn’t as lucky. The monster crashes into the tree like an eighteen-wheeler, sternum absorbing most of the impact.

Dragging my hands in the dirt, I inch backward, bringing myself away from the open areas he’d be able to reach. The victory is short lived, though. Viktor rights himself with impressive ease and turns his sights in my direction, snarling more violently now.

He tries to lunge at me, even extends his disgusting arm forward. There’s only one problem. The trees are too close together for his massive body to squeeze through. This only enrages him further as the trees hold him in place exactly as I hoped they would. He doesn’t relent. Viktor thrashes his long arms, claws finding nothing but the air a few feet in front of me.

I can’t help but smile at the wolf flailing and shoving itself forward unsuccessfully.

“What’s wrong, Viktor?” I say between labored breaths. “Can’t get past a few trees?”

He slashes at the air, fighting against the trees like a new kill. Orange leaves rain down from the heavens with each forceful thrust. Viktor roars again and again, frustrated huffs escaping his long and bloody snout. It won’t be long before he finds a way to get to me. I need to leave while I can.

The monster’s roars at my back lose their threatening edge, and eventually, the noise silences altogether. He won’t give up. No, Viktor isn’t the type to let anyone, let alone me, get the better of him. He’s still out there, stalking the trees for an area big enough to fit through, if I had to guess. I only pray by the time he does, I’ll be miles away from this fucking compound.

Grabbing a handful of dirt, I rub it along my face and neck, ignoring the pine needles digging into my skin. A small sacrifice. There’s no way Viktor doesn’t have my scent, and if he’s going to track me, this might make it difficult. I strip off my sweater, letting the winter temperature ease the fires under my skin. Rolling it as tight as I can, I toss the bloodstained ball into the surrounding darkness, listening as it lands out of sight. Another handful of dirt, this time applied to my arms like lotion. If Nik found me on a crowded LA street off my scent alone, it’s safe to assume Viktor’s nose will be just as keen.

I push forward, earning new scratches while searching for the fence, though I’m having a hard fucking time finding it.

“Natalia …”