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 or so." Bethany whispered,

broken loose from the upper edge of the wall, which was nearly as tall as me. I could see scratch marks on the

pulled myself up and over with an effort that took my breath away. I wasn't the most athletic, but I'd managed just fine. Bethany

I can't see their trail any longer. I can

woods, alone. Bethany was right.

on my back." she added as she began to take off her clothes. "I'm not

had a sudden memory of my father taking me on long rides through the countryside in Valoria as a child, my fingers tangled in liis chestnut-colored fur. I felt a rush of tears well in the

wolf form, her eyes glowing amber in the faded moonlight.

back, holding onto her niff with one hand while I gripped the knife

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

on in front of

down on me and tightening itself around me in a terrifying embrace. The stars were sharp and clear out here, and several bunted an eerie red color above

him atop a long, steep ridge that towered over the rest of the hills. There were no trees in sight, not a 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

screamed, unable to help it. Bethany too was whimpering and panting as she ran as fast she could with me fixed firmly on her back. I

wolf I'd ever seen. Xander's teeth were white and reflecting in the moonlight as he snarled and snapped his jaws, latching himself on liis opponent's leg. which caused the other

the breath from my lungs. I realized I'd dropped the knife as I clenched my hands into fists, trying

screeched. I found my bearings just enough to roll to my

went, head

was useless. My feet went right over my head one last time before I came to a stop only a few yards from where Xander and Bethany were battling for their

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