Chapter 45

Ravi catches me by my wrist, yanking me back to him. I know that I should thrash and fight, but my fear of falling overwhelms me and the only thing I can do is cling onto him.

He releases a soft moan in my ear, and I realize that he’s butt-ass naked, and I can feel his body awaken as I unintentionally grind against him. As if things couldn’t get any worse.

“That’s a good girl. Don’t worry. I won’t let you fall. You can hold onto me as tightly as you’d like. I don’t mind.” Ravi presses his palm to the small of my back while grabbing onto the branch with his other hand, holding the two of us with just the strength of his one arm. I stare at his corded muscles, admiring his capability.

He lets go, and the world rushes around me. I can’t stop the scream that escapes my mouth. I expect for him to drop me or something—maybe stumble and land on top of me—but he lands on his feet with a thump, bending his knees and steadying himself in a crouch.

As if the sudden stopping of the world kicks me in to action, I swing my arm and punch him in the face. He mistakenly let his guard down, thinking that I was just going to suddenly comply. Now I have the chance to escape.

I will escape.

I jab my fist into his throat next, and then knee him in the balls, using the force to push me away from him. I stumble to my feet and command my body to move, my fight or flight instincts battling for control over my actions. I want to make him suffer, but I also want as much space as I can get between us. I limp for a couple steps until I manage to shove the pain away and pick up my pace. My body numbs and my skin cools but sweat prickles along my hairline and drips down my back. This is too much. If I stop, I might pass out. The only thing keeping me going is my need to survive and to get away.

“Dante!” I yell, sending my voice through the forest. I don’t try to be quiet anymore. Being quiet will slow me down. I need to hustle my ass before Ravi snatches me with his jowls again. I know that he’ll turn into a wolf to chase me.

Howls sound through the forest, a couple of them bouncing off the trees. I’m being surrounded. I know it. The other guys probably listen to Ravi’s calls, and they’ll trap me within their vicious circle.

“Sasha, don’t run. It’s taking everything in me not to chase you and pin you down. Be my good girl, and I’ll make you my princess. You’re only tormenting my deep-seated instincts as a lykoswulf now with your evasion. You don’t want to do that. It doesn’t help that some of my packmates are a bit pissed off at you right now. They’ll expect you to be put in your place.” Ravi speaks the words, and I realize they echo through my mind.

Oh no. Oh fucking no. This can’t be happening. He can’t have a mental link to me too. It was hard enough with Dante.

Where is he anyway?

A white wolf jumps in front of me and snarls, charging in my direction. I fail to stop fast enough, and I trip over the beast, screaming in pain as I land on my hurt arm.

Hooking my arms around the wolf, I roll over and force him with me. I don’t know if I catch Ravi off guard, but I manage to knock him away from me with my strength. But I’m too slow to get up. He comes at me again and latches his teeth to my shirt, tearing at the fabric.

He tries to bite the collar next, attempting to drag me away. I link my fingers to the sides of his furry head and keep the distance between his teeth and my clothing. I’m afraid he might bite me again just to teach me a lesson. I can barely handle the pain of the bites already.

His vibrant gray eyes sparkle, and he locks me in a gaze. It’s as if he tries to intimidate me with just his wolfish glare. I smack him on the snout hard enough to get him to shake his head. I kick my feet into his chest, sending him sprawling across the ground. He only stays down for another second, preparing to charge me.

He doesn’t make it.

A giant grey wolf launches through the air and crashes into the white wolf’s side. It’s Dante. He found me, and now fights on my behalf, facing Ravi.

I gasp for breath, craving relief from the stress and anxiety, but it does nothing for my nerves. I use the nearest tree to pull myself to my feet, my knees and legs aching, threatening to send me sprawling back to the dirt.

“Sasha,” Evan says, my name sounding so beautiful on his lips. I don’t think I’ve ever heard anything so amazing in my life.

“Hurry. Let me help you.”

Another wolf materializes behind him, and I open my mouth to scream. A figure slams down a huge branch, knocking it against the wolf’s head hard enough to send it to its belly. Breck stalks closer and joins Evan. I wish I could hug them. I wish I could stop the world and thank them for coming for me. But the fighting continues on behind me, and more wolves howl in the distance.

“Pick her up and carry her, doc. It’ll be faster. I’ll watch your back.” Breck swings his branch, hitting the dirty, tan-colored wolf again. I think it might be either Mike or Tedd. I can’t be certain.

Evan hooks his arms behind my knees and around my back and lifts me up, cradling me like a small child. I press my face against his taut chest, trying my best not to break down before we even make it to safety. I just hurt so badly. My adrenaline wears off, and agony consumes me.

“You’re going to be fine. I know you’re in pain, but we’ll get through this together.” Evan kisses the top of my head, trying to keep me together as I fall apart in his arms.

“I don’t think we will,” I say, my voice hitching. “I was bitten. I know something has changed. I don’t know what we’re going to do. Dante is acting weird now.”

“He was just surprised. We’ll be okay. You need to have faith,” Breck murmurs under his breath.

Faith? That’s the last thing I have. I’m hopeless.

The fight for survival has changed. The lack of rules does nothing for my sanity either. I wish I could manage to stay as calm as Evan and Breck, but all I feel is like I’m on the verge of dying.

“I can’t. You don’t understand. These men—they speak of bloodlines and strengthening their packs. It sounded like they intend to breed with me or something.” Tears burn my cheeks but the crisp air cools my body. “It’s so messed up. I can’t live like this. I refuse to.”

Evan stiffens, his hold on me tightening. “Are you sure? Dante mentioned that the packs get their strength from transforming humans. So few survive even a week here that only the strongest join the packs who bite them. They don’t breed to pass on or create strength.”

“Then Dante didn’t tell you everything.” I sigh with my words. “Because I know I didn’t imagine it.”

“Damn, doc. I don’t know about you, but I don’t know how much I trust Dante. He only said that some might find Sasha appealing because of her grandma and the fact that the odds are in her favor to change.” Breck keeps up his pace, cutting away greenery that gets in our way.

“He’s the lesser of two evils on the island. We need him.” Evan glowers with his words. “He’s helped us when he could’ve thrown us to the wolves already.”

“He could be playing us. He’s already managed to gain enough of our trust that we followed him here without much explanation and only that Sasha needed help. What if it’s his way of manipulating us? Manipulating Sasha? I mean, he’s already...” Breck snaps his mouth closed, not finishing his thought. Even without saying the words out loud, I know it’s my moment of passion with Dante he refers to. I was so caught up with him in the cave that I let my guard down. What if it was a mistake? Then again, what if it wasn’t. What if it was fate like he claims?

“You can say it, Breck. I fucked him.” My sharp tone surprises even me, and I try to shake away the negativity clinging to me at the thought. “I was stupid and gullible to think it was just some fun. It’s possible he used me.”

“But in hopes of knocking you up?” Evan rubs his lips together. “I’ll perform an unmedicated vasectomy if that is the case.”

“You can hold him down while I do it myself. Thank fucking God for my IUD.” I shudder, thinking about how messed up that would be if any of us are right about Dante.

I don’t want to assume the worst, but I’d be idiotic if I didn’t rebuild my protective wall around me to keep Dante out.

“Remind me never to piss you off,” Breck says, his breath gasping as he jogs, keeping pace with Evan. “And so you know... I don’t want kids, so you don’t have to worry about that kind of shit with me. I wrap up and pull the hell out when I can’t.”

My brows knit together, and I swing out my good arm and whack him in the back of the head. “I’ll still worry about it. Your wants might align with mine but it doesn’t prevent anything.”

A wolf barks, the loud noise enough to snap my mouth closed. Breck and Evan move in closer, no longer talking as we head... maybe toward the beach. I can’t be sure.

“No more talking,” Evan mutters, adjusting me. “They’re too close. I don’t know if Dante’s pack is even coming.”