Page 98 of Crucible
A low, rumbling sound has the frozen hairs on my nape and arms rising as I look behind me for the source.
All I see is the snow falling so heavily that it creates a shimmering curtain of nearly solid white.
I know I’m not alone, though. I can hear pattering in the snow, and it’s coming from every direction. No matter which way I turn, I can’t pin it down. Whatever it is that’s stalking me, it’s not alone.
I can barely keep calm when I catch another glimpse of something faster and larger than a dog running past in my peripheral. I just keep walking, head down, arms wrapped around myself, hoping that this new threat is just curious and goes away now that I’m up and moving. They probably spotted me lying in the snow and couldn’t resist an easy meal in this storm.
“Tyler!” I call out again.
The only thing that answers back is a howl that expels all the air in my lungs. It’s so cold I can see my breath curling in the air in front of me.
I hear more pattering, and even though my muscles tense, I somehow know not to run. Maybe I have my short time in the cabin to thank. Each time I ran from Khalil, Seth, and Thorin, they pursued me like any beast of prey. They pinned me down, and they sank their teeth in—often literally. My running activated their need to chase, and there’s no reason to think it would be any different now.
So I keep walking with even, steady strides even though my heart is pounding and I’m terrified.
When I spot part of a branch lying in the snow, I risk stopping long enough to pick it up. It’s almost as tall as me and looks sturdy enough, so I keep my gaze on a swivel as I slowly pull the ice pick from my pocket. It’s not as big or sharp as the hunting knives the guys carry, but it’s better than nothing. Lucky me. Thorin must have forgotten this one when they hid all the weapons from me.
I start to chip away at the broken end with the six-inch spike and have just managed to make a point—though not a very sharp one—when I hear my name again.
“Aurelia!”
I gasp, and my head snaps in that direction. “Tyler?”
“Aurelia, where are you?”
“Tyler, I’m over here!”
I quicken my steps and don’t realize I’m running with my makeshift spear until I hear a snarl so vicious my steps slow abruptly until I’m standing still. A moment later, the storm seems to part, and something large and terrifying stalks from the snowy veil.
Black fur, four legs, sharp teeth, and glowing yellow eyes.
“Oh, shit.”
Wolves.
A single breath shudders out of me before I turn back the way I came. When I do, I see another wolf with white fur and blue eyes blocking the path. The wolf’s hackles raise the moment I turn, and it bares its teeth while folding its ears back.
Fear paralyzes me, so when I hear a snarl, my eyes are the only part of me that moves in the direction of the gray wolf closing in.
Teeth snapping draws my gaze to my right, to the final wolf with brown fur completing the kill circle.
My death will not be quick.
Cassie’s wasn’t.
I watched them tear her apart, and there was nothing I could do about it when I was armed with anaxe.All I have now is a branch and little more than a butter knife the wolves can pick their teeth with after they’re done with me.
I flinch when the white wolf bares its teeth. Remembering how one of the wolves that attacked Cassie came after me when I tried to save her, I grip the thick branch tighter. Its blue eyes seem to track the movement, and then it snarls again.
“Just fucking do it already,” I say through gritted teeth while holding its gaze.
I don’t expect the first attack to come from the side.
I barely pivot in time to raise my arms when the gray wolf tackles me to the ground. The branch I hold at its throat is the only thing keeping it from ripping out mine as it snaps and snarls at me from above. My teeth are bared, too, as I clench them in concentration and beg my muscles to hold.
The other wolves don’t immediately attack once I’m pinned like they did Cassie. They circle, barking and growling, but they don’t go for the easy kill. I have a feeling the alpha sent the smallest one in to test me.
The powdered snow under the gray wolf’s giant paws flies up from its claws as it scrapes the ground to get closer.
