The Wolf Forsaken - Juliana Haygert Page 0,3

I got up and washed my hands with the water from a bottle. There was a stream nearby, but it was frozen at this time of the year, so I bought bottled water and kept it under several hides to keep it warm so it wouldn’t freeze too.

Silence fell once again when I lay down on one of the hides—my bed. I stared at the ceiling, the shadows from the small fire dancing against the rock. It was the middle of the day, but I didn’t care. I didn’t have anything better to do and I was fucking tired.

I closed my eyes.

And all I saw was blood.

Ripped throats, open guts, terrified faces. The screams filled my head.

Breathing hard, I sat up.

Nightmares assaulted me every fucking night, why wasn’t I used to them by now?

I looked around the cave. The fire had died out and only a few embers braved the cold. Groaning, I stood and went to the fire. I better start it again before I froze in my sleep.

My ears prickled and I halted mid-step.

Voices filtered in the distance, too far for human ears, but not for werewolves.

Then a scream.

I shook my head. Whatever was happening, whoever was in danger, was at least two miles out. It didn’t affect me.

A new scream chilled my bones.

What the fuck? Knowing I wouldn’t be able to go back to sleep, I grabbed my thick coat and marched into the snow.

3

Farrah

Whose idea had it been to avoid main roads and walk through the forest? The snow didn’t bother me, nor did the cold, but the distance, the damn time it took to cross the woods on foot was ridiculous.

I had been walking for over a day, making sure to cover my tracks so Daleigh, or anyone else couldn’t find me. But this was too much. I veered toward one of the less used highways, intend on hitchhiking, or even stealing—borrowing—a car so I could get to the nearest international airport faster.

My plan was to go to Europe. I doubted having an entire ocean among us would stop Prince Lark, or even Daleigh, from coming after me, but it should make it harder. I hoped.

The highway was more deserted than I expected. I reached it, halted beside it, and waited for a car to drive by. None came. Tired and starving, I continued walking along the road, hoping a car would show up soon, and be nice enough to take me in.

In five hours, three cars drove by, and the three of them ignored me completely.

I dragged my feet for another two hours, before giving up for the day. The sun was starting to go down, shining over the snow and lending it a goldish glow. I didn’t want to stop by the edge of the forest and sleep under a cold, wet tree. This time, I would rent a room at a roadside motel, even if only for a few hours, so I could eat, take a shower, and rest a little, before continuing my march toward freedom.

The sun continued moving slow, but the world around me darkened faster. Unnaturally.

Oh shit. I knew what that meant. Despite my exhaustion and my aching legs, I ran. Then I heard them, coming right behind me, making the world dark in their wake. I forgot about the road and jumped back among the trees.

I just hoped that with the snow all around me, I could boost my magic. I knew I couldn’t kill them, they were too powerful for me, but I could try to get away.

As fast as I could with my feet sinking into the fluffy snow, I weaved among the trees, going deeper into the forest.

Then they appeared in front of me.

I skidded to a stop, almost face-planting on the snow. My blood rushed in my ears, my heart beating fast. It was a trap. The ones chasing me purposefully brought me here, where I was now surrounded by them.

Six shadow fae.

Though I didn’t recognize them, I was sure they had been sent by Prince Lark. Which meant, they couldn’t hurt me. Well, they could, but they couldn’t kill me. Prince Lark wanted me alive.

I called on my magic, feeling it alive inside me and all around me, in the snow, the icicles on the branches, and the chilly air.

“Stay back!” I shouted, raising my hands.

One of them peeled his lips back, showing me his teeth in a mix of a wicked smile and a snarl.

Enough! I pushed my hands forward, bringing ice