I wander through the woods, unsure where I'm going.It's colder than it has been in days--cold enough that I can see my breath.I wish it would snow. If it snowed, it would be beautiful.I would be able to hear the flakes of snow hitting the ground and see the light from the street lamps reflecting off of them.Back home, when it snowed, I would curl up by the fire and watch it, feeling warm and safe. I want nothing more than to be back there now.But I'm not.I'm out here, and I'm lost, and I have no idea what to do.Not without Parker.As I walk, I come across the edge of a cliff, and I look down into the water below.Nothing feels real or tangible.I keep thinking about seeing Lance kill Parker.It's like I'm still there.I don't want to have to relive that again.I don't want to see Parker die.I don't want to be here alone, but I am. And it's dark and it's cold, and if I'm going to survive, I have to make a plan."What would Parker do?" I ask myself."First, you ne

"Don't try to run," he says as I take my first step forward. "It was easy to overpower you, even when you were at your strongest. It would take nothing for me to do it now."I nod. I know he's right.We walk in silence for a while, and then he turns to me. "I'm Ryan," he says."Rachel," I reply.It's strange to think I've been with him all this time and am just now learning his name.It's quiet for a while, but then he starts talking again. "I know what you're thinking," he says. "I know you're wondering where I'm taking you, and if I'm taking you somewhere to kill you. "Maybe," I say."I'm not. Going to kill you, I mean.""Well, that's something." I say.We walk a while longer, and I decide to try and get more information one last time."What are you going to do with me?" I ask. "It's my life we're talking about. I have a right to know."I'm taking you to Lance."My stomach sinks. That's what I was afraid he would say."Why?" I ask, even though I'm sure I know the answer

Everything hurts and walking is a struggle. I want to lay down. I want to rest more than I have ever wanted anything in my whole life.And I want Ryan to hold me while I do. And I want to not want Ryan to hold me. I try to shake the thought out of my head. I don't want to think about him. It's distracting, and not in a good way.So, instead, I focus on walking-- on forcing myself to put one foot in front of the other.I don't ask him where we're going. I don't have to. I know he hasn't changed his mind, though I don't understand how that's possible. I don't understand how Ryan could know what I know and still take me to Lance. I don't understand how he could do this to me.I am his one, true mate. I know it. And I know he knows it too.But he's not saying anything. He's not even looking at me. He's just walking, and being silent, and that's what hurts the most.He seems upset. And I don't know what I'm supposed to do about it. There's nothing for me to say. There's nothing fo

We set up camp deep in the woods. Ryan lights a fire."Are you hungry?" he asks.I nod."I'll go get you something" he says, and he disappears into the darkness.I try to follow him with my eyes, but I can't. I'm too tired. Each breath I take is harder than the last, and there's a sharp pain in my shoulder, like a knife, or a pin, or a needle-- anything except a wolf's teeth.I am distracted by the sound of Ryan crashing through the brush. He comes back with a small animal, with a large tail and sharp horns. I watch as he cleans it.I watch the way the sweat glistens on his skin--the way his muscles bulge as he works.He catches my gaze."Are you alright?" he asks.I nod. There are so many things I want to ask him, but I don't know where to start. Finally, I settle on why."Why did you do it-- save me like that?" I ask. "I thought you were going to give me to Lance.""I don't know," he says. "But I couldn't do it. Not once I saw the way he looked at you." He looks down a

We have no choice but to try and cross the raging river. We don't have time to turn back.The wolf howls again, and I am terrified. I cannot handle another attack."I'm scared, Ryan," I say."I won't let anything happen to you," he says. "I pomise." It's a promise he can't realistically make. I know that.But it makes me feel better anyway."Don't leave me," I say. He grabs my hand and smiles."I won't," he says, and just for a moment, I feel like I can breathe again."You don't have to be afraid, Rachel," he says. "I will always come for you. Always."He brushes the hair from my eyes, and my cheek burns at the closeness of his hand. I long for him to kiss me. But now is hardly the time. We run along the shore until we find a good place to make the crossing.Ryan pulls down some tree branches and fashions a makeshift raft. I stand in awe of how clever he is-- how good he is at taking care of me. He helps me into the raft and then climbs in himself. He wraps his arms ar