Page 134 of Torin

“Hannah, I’ve spent twenty-four years building a reputation in this town. As far as everyone here is concerned, you’ve just escaped from the man who kidnapped you.”

He starts walking again, dragging me with him.

“Who do you think Whitmore’s going to believe?”

The Volvo is parked beside the house by the time we reach the drive.

Dr Whitmore climbs out carrying a battered leather bag. Relief spreads across his face when he sees me.

“Hannah. Thank goodness.”

I try to pull away from my father.

“Dr Whitmore, please. Tell him to let me go.”

“She’s had a difficult afternoon,” my father says.

“He brought me here against my will. I’m not going inside that house.”

Dr Whitmore looks between us.

A crack sounds from the woods behind us.

He turns.

Another follows, louder this time. Something large is moving through the trees. Branches snap. Undergrowth thrashes violently.

“What on earth is that?” Dr Whitmore murmurs.

Then an enormous grizzly bursts out of the trees. For one impossible second, all I see is apex predator.

Then I see his face. His eyes.

My heart pounds.

Torin.

He came for me.

My father takes a step forward, staring at the bear in disbelief. “Cade? What the fuck are you doing here?”

Torin keeps coming.

“I told you to stay on the mountain,” he yells, his face turning a dull red.

Dr Whitmore looks sharply at him.

“Cade. Shift.” My father’s voice hardens. “I said shift.”

Torin advances steadily towards us.

My father frowns.

His hand drops to his holster.

“Cade.”

Torin lowers his head.