Alexandra's POV
Ethan's words were like a sucker punch. I was winded. Seriously? That was all I could think.
Something that should have never woken up. What was that all about?
The river was still roaring nearby, and the night air felt damp and heavy. It smelled like dirt, but also something else—something gross and musty. Like old gym socks.
I turned to Ethan, my heart going a mile a minute. You knew about that thing, right?
He ran a hand through his sopping hair, his jaw tight like he was chewing rocks. I had a bad feeling, he said.
'You had a bad feeling'! I whispered, trying not to shout. And you still brought me out here? Was he kidding me?
His eyes flashed. I didn't think it would come after *you*, he said.
Oh, that's supposed to make me feel better? I threw my hands up in the air. I almost got offed, Ethan!
You weren't going to die, he said quietly with all his certainty.
I laughed, but it sounded nasty, even to my own ears. You don't know that. I felt like I was talking to a brick wall.
Yes, I do. He put his fingers on my wrist, and it felt weirdly good and steadying at the same time. I wouldn't have let it happen.
Something in his voice gave me the heebie-jeebies. There was a tone in his voice that I didn't trust.
I took a step back away from him and his confident words. You should have told me about the thing, I said.
Ethan sighed and looked back at the cliff. It doesn't matter now. What matters is that it saw us. Next time, it won't just watch. He sounded so ominous, it gave me a bad taste in my mouth.
Next time? My voice shook. You think there's going to be a next time? Seriously, was he for real?
He looked at me, his eyes dark, like the midnight sea. There's always a next time.
A howl echoed through the woods, and my blood turned to ice water immediately. I knew it wasn't just some dog—I mean, some wolf. This was something else, and he knew it, too.
Ethan grabbed my hand. We gotta go, he told me.
I should have pulled away and told him to get lost; I don't know why I didn't. But the way he was holding on, like he needed me to hold on just as much; as if he would fall down if I let go...
I didn't let go because I was too scared.
The woods were quiet, too quiet, which was even scarier. Even the breeze wasn't moving. I felt like something was watching us, because it was. It was the kind of quiet you get before a storm.
Ethan stayed close, looking around, his body tight, almost like a guitar string wound way too tightly. He was a predator himself, but even he was freaked. It made me even jumpier.
Where are we going? I asked, hating how weak my voice sounded.
Somewhere safe, he said.
I almost laughed. What's your idea of safe? I asked.
He glanced at me, his face hard to read. Somewhere it won't follow. I didn't like that answer at all.
And where is that, exactly?
Before he could say anything, a branch snapped close by, as if someone tripped over it.
We froze solid.
A shadow flitted between the trees; too fast, like a snake. My heart jumped into my throat. Whatever it was, it wasn't alone, and it sure as hell wasn't friendly.
Ethan squeezed my hand. Run! he yelled.
So we ran through the brush and trees.
Branches slapped at my arms as we crashed through the woods. The ground was uneven, and it was hard to breathe. But I didn't stop, and neither did Ethan. I was a terrible runner, something I always knew would get me killed in a situation like this.
I heard something heavy smash into some trees behind us. It was getting closer fast. This was a bad movie; that was real life.
I chanced a look back, and I immediately wanted to take it back. Wish undone.
A huge, nasty thing with glowing red eyes was running toward us. Its shape was changing like smoke running up the side of a building. It was all wrong, unnatural, and hungry.
And it wasn't what we saw at the cliff at all. Not even close.
This was much, much nastier.
Ethan yanked me to the right; my ankles almost turned. The trees blurred by. But I could feel it quickly catching up. This was not going to end well.
Too stinking fast. We weren't going to make it.
Ethan mumbled a curse under his breath; he was holding my hand and squeezing it way too hard. We should—
Something ran into us from the side. It sent us both crying.
The world went sideways, and I may have blacked out for a split second.
And then nothing.
I woke up in pain.
Sharp, stabbing pain was everywhere. Ow, I said.
My head was killing me, and my whole body felt like a truck had run over me; then backed up and ran over me again. I was going to be sore for days.
I blinked, trying to see straight through my blurred vision. The first thing I saw was a firelight. The second was Adrian Wolfe, and he was not camping material.
He was crouched next to me, and his golden eyes were watching me with this sick smile I didn't like.
Well, well, he said, his voice smooth with a nasty edge. Look who's awake.
I tried to sit up, but I hurt too much. Where... where am I? I asked.
Adrian smirked. Somewhere safe, he replied.
That was a lie.
I could feel it in my bones; it was in every nerve ending in my body.
My stomach turned. Ethan—
Gone, Adrian said. It was as if he was smacking his lips. For now.
I gasped, short of breath. What do you mean, gone? Why was it so darn hard to breathe?
Adrian leaned closer, touching my jaw with his fingers. Let's just say... you belong to me now.
Ice shot down my spine, and I almost threw up.
No.
No freaking way.
I pushed his hand away, trying not to totally freak out. I don't belong to anyone, I said.
Adrian chuckled, a low, nasty sound that resonated through my whole chest. Oh, honey, you haven't seen anything yet, he promised me.
His smile was almost all teeth, and that's never a good sign.
You think so, I said, trying to sound brave even though I was anything but. Let's fight about it.