Gradually, I felt the motorcycle lose speed sometime later as it bumped over the tree roots and stray branches, and Gage came to a complete stop before I could gather myself together enough to talk. I don’t know how long he’d driven for, but it didn’t feel like it had been long enough. Luckily, there hadn’t been anything indicating we were being followed, so I’d been able to get a better hold over my emotions during the rough ride through the forest. Even so, I felt wrung out, ready to collapse onto the first passably soft surface I came across, but Gage swiftly thwarted my plans when he dropped the next bombshell on me. Peering back at me from over his shoulder as he dismounted, he gave me a sympathetic look as he said ruefully, “I know it has been a long day already, Zoe, but we’re not done moving yet.” Schooling my features, I got off the bike as he started digging through our supplies. I stood back, unsure what was going on, but I couldn’t help darting my eyes around nervously

Glass and rubble littered the cracked streets that we followed deeper into what I was guessing used to be the heart of this city, and I found it difficult to believe we would find anything of value in the wasteland extending out before us, but Gage apparently thought different. “I know it’s not anything to look at, but I’m positive there’s plenty to find in the east section of town. I haven’t cleared that area, and the looting wasn’t bad over there from what I remember when I was out this way last.” “How do you know so much about all this? You always know where we should go for safety or supplies. I couldn’t even make it twenty-four hours without running into trouble, and the bulk of your community stays holed up in that old silver mine, terrified of the big, bad wolves roving free now.” “Trust me, Zoe. I only semi know what I’m doing, and even then, it’s because someone helped me once upon a time. Consider it me paying it forward if you need to justify my actions to yourself, but I

Everything went smoothly for the next couple of days, and we were able to gather another load of supplies to transport to the drop off point together. The roundtrip hadn’t taken any extra time this go around, and there were no signs of the wolves, my protector or the other more perilous ones otherwise, as the days elapsed. Gage practically refused to let me out of his sight the whole time, but I couldn’t say I was unhappy about his overprotectiveness given what had happened. Added, I appreciated the training sessions he’d insisted on in between scavenging, and I was beginning to grow accustomed to the katana, even if I did prefer a different weapon. I couldn’t resist keeping an eye out for the massive black wolf, both in town and as we traveled, but I kept my increasing fascination to myself, not understanding how I could be so enamored with someone I’d never met. Gage and I were loading up the last of the provisions onto his motorcycle now, and I knew I was dragging my feet as th

With my vision blurred, I stumbled through the door and into the room I’d been sharing with Gage. It didn’t feel like home to me, but I’d at least felt safe here for a while with Gage by my side. I was a little sad to be leaving it, but that was nothing compared to the battle I was waging in my mind over having to leave Mira and those other girls behind with what I knew they were enduring on a daily basis. The salty liquid wouldn’t stop flowing from my sore eyes, but I was able to breathe deeply through the worst of my emotional pain. Part of me wanted to ask Mira to come with us, but I was aware there was no way she could handle any type of trek through the woods, and that thought led to me freaking out about the fact that I had no clue where we were going to go. Sure, Gage had several well-stocked hideaways, but none of them were suitable for long term accommodations. Not to mention, the overall safety of them was thrown into question with how the first shelter had been ransacked

“Gage!” I shouted, sprinting straight into his arms the second he came into view. He enveloped me protectively, holding me tight against his body as the moment extended. Then, without releasing me fully, he leaned back slightly, saying, “Hey, honey. I’m happy to see you missed me too. It looked like you had some company while I was gone though.” Flying high with Gage’s return, I found it difficult to let go of him entirely, electing to keep one of his large hands in mine as I directed us towards where I’d dropped my daggers. He released his bulging pack on the ground, devoting his full attention to me. “Yeah, you could say that I suppose. The black wolf visited me a few times, but it’s not like we hung out or anything. It was almost like he was checking up on me.” I finished in a thoughtful tone, beginning to comprehend how strange the wolf’s presence here had been. Expanding, I put a pin in my current train of thought, showing Gage the weapons and telling him how the wolf had also