The second howl ripped through the dark—louder, nastier. Three more answered, somewhere deep in the trees. Yeah, the whole damn forest felt alive with menace now.
"They're hunting in a pack," he hissed, grabbing her wrist so tight she almost yelped. "Move."
No time to breathe, no time to think—just running. Branches slapped at her face, snagged in her hair, but he barreled ahead, carving the way, never letting go. And behind them? Chaos. Snarls, something crashing through the brush, the thump of paws that sounded way too big for comfort.
Her lungs screamed for air. Whatever, she wasn't about to whine—his grip was the only thing keeping her from falling apart.
They stumbled into a skinny ravine, shadows swallowing them whole. He didn't hesitate, just yanked her to the rock wall and plastered himself in front of her. She could feel his heartbeat, wild and frantic, through the back of her jacket. His breath—hot, quick—tickled her ear.
"Don't move," he growled, voice all grit.
She swore her heart was banging loud enough for the rogues to home in on them. Cheek scraping against the harsh stone, she focused on anything but the panic bubbling up. His arm looped tight around her waist, anchoring her. Keeping her from flying apart.
The footsteps closed in. A shadow swept past—too damn close. She held her breath, praying her body wouldn't betray them with a gasp or a tremble. He pressed his palm to her stomach, gentle but desperate, like he could will her to calm down.
They didn't leave. One of the rogues snarled, sniffing, so close she could smell it too—wet fur, blood, hunger.
Her muscles locked up. He leaned in, his lips just brushing the curve of her ear. "Trust me," he whispered, and something about the way he said it knocked the fear right out of her.
Time stretched, every second dragging. Finally—finally—the rogues faded away, their noise swallowed by the woods.
And suddenly, she realized they were still pressed together. Like, really together. His heartbeat hammered against her spine. His hand stayed at her waist, shaking just a bit, even though his face was all stone-cold control.
She twisted around, barely, catching his gaze in the sliver of moonlight. His eyes—hell, there was wildfire in them.
Words jammed up in her throat. She wanted to say thanks, or maybe cuss him out, or… something else entirely.
The world held its breath with her.
Then, just her luck, another howl shattered the moment—snapping her back to reality.
He pulled away, jaw clenched. "We gotta go. They'll double back."
And that was it. Whatever almost happened between them? Gone. Swallowed by the night, leaving them both rattled—by the monsters out there, and maybe the ones inside, too.