Branches clawed at my arms and face as I ran. My lungs burned, legs shaking so badly I thought they’d buckle with every step. Sweat stung my eyes, soaked my shirt, and plastered hair to my neck. I didn’t dare look back. I couldn’t stop. If I stopped, Kris’s scream would catch up to me, or worse…the thing inside him would.The village edge appeared through the trees like a promise. I burst into the clearing, gasping, stumbling, almost falling. As I entered through the entrance, faces turned to me. Whispers rippled. I didn’t care.Zane was already moving toward me, shirtless, heaving, skin streaked with dirt and drying blood from the gash on his forehead. His eyes were black, furious, searching every inch of me before he reached me.He didn’t speak. Just cupped my face with both hands and kissed me hard, tasting like salt and fear and relief. Then he scooped me up, one arm under my knees, the other around my back, holding me against his chest like I might disappear again.“You okay?”
Last Updated : 2026-02-19 Read more