Colt POV2010 is fast as he follows Ryan’s trail. I watch as he darts over logs and runs the forest terrain like he has done it a million times. This kid is fast, cold-hearted and the perfect machine-just like they trained him to be.He stops and sniffs the air and I hear water running. I look at him, “2010, wait.” I begin but he runs through the trees as fast as he can, and I follow him. Ryan said there were traps in this forest- this could be one.Once 2010 breaks through the thick tree line, we are standing in front of the river but at the top, looking over the waterfalls that cascade to the bottom. He stops and looks at me. His face is pink, and I can hear his heart beating at a wild pace, he is so excited.“YEAHHH!” he screams into the falls. I smile at him, and he smiles back, “I have never felt so alive!” he screams again. The water roars near us and then I smell Ryan’s scent again. We both turn around to find him standing behind us. His plan was to trap us against the falls
Maddie POVI sigh as I pat Lila’s back, trying to reason with her, “Lila, he is a werewolf, and you are a human. Don’t you want to date a human boy?” I ask her. Lila huffs as she rolls over on the bed, sobbing tragically, “But Maddie, did you see his abs and how brave he is!? He is a leader and so hot.” She says, with snot dripping down her nose.I hold in my chuckle and shake my head, “Lila, I can’t choose Caleb. Something is stopping me. My wolf says it isn’t right. I won’t stand in your way, but we will eventually need to find Andy and we will be on the road and I am sure there will be lots of boys on our travels.”Lila looks up at me sniffling, “You won’t choose Caleb?”I shake my head again, “No. I think my wolf is pulling me toward my mate.”Lila gasps as she sits up, “You think your mate is close by!? How do we know?”I sigh, shrugging, “I don’t know. Maybe we can ask Caleb?”Lila laughs, “Didn’t he just offer to like mate with you and have babies? Do you think he’ll want to te
Colt POVI ring my clothes out and dry them next to the fire. I don’t want blood or the smell of blood on me at all. The bath I took in the river was refreshing and almost freeing, but I can’t get 2010’s voice out of my head, “If anyone killed me, I’m glad it was you.” His face is still flashing in my mind as he said those words.Tears fill my eyes as I think about everything that happened. When the knife plunged into his chest, and I felt his warm blood coat my hands- it made me sick. He was just a kid. Just like I was once. My family protected me until they left and then I was on my own, just like he was. That shouldn’t have been the way he was forced to grow up.2010 was forced to kill, maim, steal, and hurt his family group- just for fun. I truly do feel lucky that somehow, we had grace- even though it wasn’t much, it was a privilege no others got to have- a real family.We took care of each other when we were hurt, sick, or in trouble. We would sneak one another food if the punis
Maddie POVI stare at Caleb and wait for his reply. He has been silent for a few minutes now and I can tell he’s thinking. My heart is racing, and his mouth finally opens to speak, “Your mate is calling to you?” he repeats the last words I said- not very helpful.I nod, “Yes, I think so. I feel a pull, Caleb. Like it’s telling me he is near and not to give up hope.” Caleb places his hand on his chin, and he thinks over his next words, rocking back and forth on his feet.“When did you first feel this?” he asks me.“I think at the orphanage,” I admit. “My wolf began howling but I thought it was because they were torching it but now, I don’t think so…”Caleb sighs, “Maddie if that’s the case that means your mate was there.”My mouth opens in shock, “But the only ones there were the Lab people and...” I stop and Caleb nods, “Colt...”“If you felt a pull toward him then he is your mate.”“But why didn’t we know before?” I ask.Caleb smiles, “Werewolves can’t feel their mates until they are
Colt POV My entire body hurts so much, and I close my eyes as I hear voices, “He needs the morphine. Without it, he could die, and then you will have a harder time finding them. I am telling you, 1005 is the key.” I hear the big man grumble, “Fine, but no special treatment and no real food. Only the broth we talked about.” The nurse agrees and I hear the big man walk out of the room as she quickly walks toward me, injecting my IV with the morphine, “1005, this will help you feel better. I am also going to add the vitamins and protein powder to the broth. You aren’t going to be very hungry anyway, but you’ll need food. He’s refusing to give you a feeding tube. He wants you to know just how angry he is.” I nod but my throat hurts and she gives me a glass of water with a straw. I sip it, and look up at her, “Thank you,” I whisper. The morphine begins to kick in and I go in and out of consciousness all day. This nurse has worked here for a long time. In fact, I don’t remember a time s
Maddie POV“Are you insane? Why would you want to go looking for trouble? Maddie, you escaped the lab. Why would you want to track down Zobs? If the Zobs are from the lab, that means the people can’t be far behind. They could take you again.”I think over Caleb’s words, “Do you think there’s another lab nearby.” I ask, dumbfounded.“Where was the lab you came from?” he asks.I think, trying to remember, “I think North Carolina but I am not 100% sure. We are still in South Carolina, right?”Caleb nods and then sighs, “Maddie, there probably is another lab close by. There’s no way they sent them that far.”I nod, looking at the fence, “I want to know.”Caleb shakes his head, “It’s too dangerous. Now that we know a lab is behind this, is even more scary. You said that capture wolves like us for a breeding program. That probably means they even know about our pack being here. Ryan said they can recognize you with cameras. You shouldn’t be anywhere near the forest or outside world in human
Colt POVThe SUV travels down the road and I sigh as I look at the interior. The chain they placed around my neck isn’t too tight this time. Dr. Norm told them they couldn’t hurt me, and I am thankful for that but yet, I feel stupid. She was never a nurse and she played me the entire time.She was one of the geneticists that created my family group? How did I not know this before? She has been around since I was born but she is the big man’s wife?! That I would have NEVER guessed.I sigh, leaning against the back of the seat. We have been driving for hours and my surgery incision hurts. I close my eyes trying to sleep when the SUV finally stops. I hear the driver’s door open and close, and Z comes around to the back and opens the gate, “Do you need to potty?” he asks, holding as a leash as a joke.I nod, scooting closer to him and he unhooks my collar, “Good, now go and 1005, you’re bleeding. See 3111 and have them take a look.” I look down at my incision and sigh- it is indeed blee
Maddie POVCaleb and Lila follow Lucas and me to the gate. Lila has tears in her eyes as she pulls me into a tight embrace once more, “Maddie, you HAVE to come back. Humans don’t live in werewolf packs.” She teases with tears falling from her eyes. I giggle to hold back tears and smile at her, “I promise. We will be back in the morning.”I say this to put her mind and ease, but I don’t know what will truly happen. What I do know is Lila is safe with Caleb.Caleb shakes Lucas’s and then he turns his attention to me. I walk toward him, and he smiles, looking down at me, “Maddie, please be careful and look out for my Beta. When he sees Zobs, rage takes him over because they killed his mate. He doesn’t always think rationally.” He admits.I sigh, look at Lucas, and nod, “I promise, but you two have nothing to worry about. We will be back in the morning. Using the night as a cover is our best option.”Caleb nods in agreement and then pulls me into a hug. I am surprised but do not fight it