Chapter 25 : The Beast

♦Lena*

Xander was gone in an instant. I screamed his name, but it was useless. Bethany had just enough time to catch the bolstered knife he’d thrown at her before he disappeared in a blur of ripped clothing and fur, his wolf bounding through the woods at an impossible speed.

I cursed loudly, catching up to Bethany in two quick strides as she reached the edge of the mist-covered clearing, her eyes wide with shock, and ten or.

“I can't shift." I ground out. making eye contact with her.

She nodded, her dark curls trembling around her ears as she swallowed back whatever exclamation was at the tip of her tongue. She handed me the knife without looking at me. her eyes focusing on the direction in which Xander and the beast had gone.

I didn't know which direction we were facing. I could still see the boundary wall behind us. but that was it. In front of us was a seemingly endless, dark forest.

‘•The farm is this way." she said shakily, pointing her finger through the trees. “We can go back-"

“We can't leave him out here!" I protested, gripping the hilt of the knife as I took it from its sheath, tossing the leather on the ground. “We're going after Xander."

I started walking to the edge of the clearing, glancing over my shoulder at Bethany. She gave me a quick, tight nod. then followed.

The woods were dense and completely dark. It was nearly impossible to see where we were going even with pale moonlight filtering through the canopy of trees. Leaves crunched beneath our feet as we followed the frantic trail of scratched dirt and broken, low-lying branches that were left behind when Xander tore after the beast. My heart was in my throat as we walked, eventually meeting up with the boundary wall again.

wall for only a mile

loose from the upper edge of the wall, which was nearly as tall as me. I could see scratch marks on the stone. Either the beast or Xander

breath away. I wasn't the most athletic, but I'd managed just fine. Bethany was up and over

to shift. Lena. I can't see their trail any longer. I can pick up their scent if I'm in

back my anxiety about being left out in the woods, alone. Bethany was right. I could

she began to take off her clothes. "I'm not a very big wolf though,

as a child, my fingers tangled in liis chestnut-colored fur. I felt a rush of tears well in the comers of my eyes. I wondered, briefly, if I'd ever see him again, and

by our dark reality. Bethany was standing in front of me in her wolf form, her eyes glowing amber in the faded moonlight. I had no way of communicating with her now. I'd have to trust

her niff with one hand while I gripped the knife with the other, and we

traveled through the forest for the last mile of dense trees and rotting, autumn foliage. I held on for dear life as she leaped over felled trees and tangles of thick brambles. She knew where she was going after a few minutes. I could tell. She no longer lifted her long snout to sniff the air. We were on their trail, and I knew it was just a matter of time before

forest. The hills rolled on and on

The stars were sharp and clear out here, and

single plant or bush as far as the eye could see. Xander lunged over the other side of the ridge and disappeared, and the space around us suddenly erupted into echoes of whatever battle was

to help it. Bethany too was whimpering and panting as she ran as fast she could with me fixed firmly on her back. I knew my weight was slowing her down,

reached the top of the ridge. Xander was pinned to the ground by another wolf, but it didn't look like any wolf I'd ever seen. Xander's teeth were white and reflecting in the moonlight as he snarled and snapped his jaws,

I hit the ground. The impact knocked the breath from my lungs. I realized I'd dropped the knife as I clenched my hands into fists, trying in vain

howling and snarling. Someone yelped, then screeched. I found my bearings just enough to roll to my side, looking down over

the hill I went, head over heels,

across my skin and tore my clothes as I tried everything in my power to stop, but it was useless. My feet went right over my head one last time before

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