Seven

I veered Ice off the road into the forest. I was going to take another path since the previous one had been blocked.

I rode wildly and rough—branches lashed my face and tore at my clothes. "Hang on, girl... just a little more," I whispered to my bike.

Then, a loud howl filled the night. It was from the head guard Maxwell, and it was damn filled with bloodlust.

My body trembled at the sound.

"That's the howl of war," I muttered bitterly. "They want me dead now."

It seems they were done playing and having fun. Now that I was getting away, they were making the last chase to end my life.

These weren't just guards following orders. I recognized the three of them in their wolf forms.

Marcus—he'd taught me to ride Ice.

Daniel—he used to sneak me extra dessert when I was a kid.

Peter—he'd called me "little alpha" and ruffled my hair just last week.

And now they were hunting me like an animal.

How long had they hated me? Had any of it been real?

I pressed harder, leaning into Ice, becoming one with the machine. "Father may think I'm weak... but I'll prove them wrong!"

Death will not have me tonight!!!!!

Tears blurred my sight. A wolf lunged from the side, missed, and smashed headfirst into a tree. The crack of impact echoed through the forest.

"Serves you right!" I shouted back, a wild edge to my voice.

But then I saw it.

The other side of the cliff I was looking for.

My heart dropped into my stomach.

"No, no, no... it's too far. I can't make it."

Ice skidded on the rocky path. Pebbles scattered over the edge, and I heard them fall... and fall... and fall... before splashing into water far, far below.

The wolves were closing in. I could hear their panting, smell their bloodlust mixing with my own blood.

Twenty feet to the edge. Fifteen. Ten.

I had hesitated the last time, and it had cost me terribly.

I looked at the cliff, at the dark water below, and then back at the wolves behind me—their jaws snapping, their eyes hungry as they closed in on me.

"Ice," I whispered, "if this is the end... thank you for the ride."

I smiled—actually smiled—for the first time since the altar.

"Fuck it." The grin on my face was half-mad, half-defiant. "Let's see if you bastards will follow me on my suicide attempt."

I twisted the throttle all the way and flew.

For one perfect, terrible second, I was airborne.

The wind screamed in my ears. The wolves' howls faded behind me. Ice's engine roared beneath me like a heartbeat.

I felt... free.

Then I hit the hard surface of the water that rushed up to meet me. I barely had time to suck in a breath before impact.

The water hit like concrete.

Every bone in my body rattled. The cold was instant and absolute, stealing what little air I had left. It felt like being punched by a giant fist made of ice.

Ice—my bike—was torn from my grip by the current. I watched her headlight spiral down into the darkness, my only companion disappearing into the deep.

"No!" I tried to scream, but water filled my mouth.

The current seized me and dragged me under.

My lungs burned. My vision went dark at the edges.

Swim. I had to swim.

But which way was up?

My hand hit something solid—a rock. I used it to push and kicked with legs that barely responded. My jacket was pulling me down, but I couldn't get it off. My fingers were too numb, too clumsy.

I'm going to die here, I thought distantly. After everything, I'm going to drown.

No.

The thought came sharp and fierce, cutting through the panic like a blade.

NO.

It wasn't my voice. It was... something else. Something inside me that refused to quit.

Something that felt like... teeth and claws and fury.

Just what the hell was this feeling?

Inside me, I was bursting with rage, and that rage gave me the strength I was desperately searching for.

But I just knew this wasn't coming from me.

It wasn't me.

So just what the hell was it... wait, unless it's what I'm thinking of.

Bloody hell!!! It can't be.