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I knew we were headed south, and my heart rate kicked up as the truck slowed, but we just turned onto another road, this one paved. Adrenaline surged through me as I managed to curl my hand into a fist. Just a little longer, I promised myself.

Seconds turned to minutes and I could feel my chest rise and fall, then I could bend my arms and legs. Power surged through me, energizing my muscles and I prepared to launch myself out of the truck. If I could reach the trees then I would be on familiar territory and there was no way they’d get the upper hand. Dense forest lined the road on either side, but we were going fast, too fast for me to jump without hurting myself. I needed to slow them down.

My fingers tingled as power pulsed through me, stronger than I’d ever felt, and I smiled as I spread my hand and the truck started to levitate. I released it and felt the jolt when the tires touched back down. The two idiots in the truck were yelling in panic, and the truck started to slow. My legs tensed, ready to spring out of the truck bed, when the truck swerved, brakes squealing and I was thrown against the cab, my head slamming against metal. Spots filled my eyes, but I couldn’t let the opportunity escape me.

A gunshot rang out as I scrambled over the side of the truck and I heard a howl cut off abruptly. I crouched behind the truck as the doors flew open, “What are you doing, Chuck?” The kid shouted, standing behind the door like he was scared of whatever they’d just shot.

“You see the size of this thing?” Chuck shouted, excitement filling his voice and I lowered myself until I could see under the truck and my eyes rounded at the sight of the massive wolf lying on the ground. It was hands down the biggest wolf I’d ever seen and my heart started to hammer as I glanced at the forest. I knew I could make it, but as Chuck started to drag the wolf toward the truck, I knew I couldn’t leave it.

“Luke, get over here and help me,” Chuck yelled, sounding entirely too happy. Luke edged away from the door, reluctantly going over to Chuck. “We’re gonna be rich. Two of ‘em. That’s gotta be a record.”

“Shit,” I muttered, slithering back over the truck side as they bent over the humongous wolf shifter. I wasn’t sure why it hadn’t shifted back into human form, but I also knew I couldn’t leave a defenseless wolf at their mercy. I laid back down, trying to remember how I’d been positioned, but it didn’t matter as they lowered the tailgate.

“Geez, this thing is a monster,” Chuck grunted. “Even dead, it’ll fetch a good price. Some dumb fool will want to stuff it.” They managed to shove the wolf all the way in and when it’s fur brushed against my skin I knew it wasn’t dead.

A howl pierced the night and a prickle went through me. Something was out there and it was not happy. The tailgate slammed shut and the men ran to get back into the truck. I stretched my hand out, touching the wolf, and sensed the life fading from him. I shook him gently, hissing, “Shift.” I knew a shift would save his life but when he didn’t respond I crawled over him. I couldn’t go around – he took up the entire truck bed.

Dark fur hid the wound and I ran my hand over his side until I touched wet fur and pulled my hand back to find blood coating my fingers. “Shit,” I muttered again, wishing Paige was here. “Why don’t you shift?” I grumbled under my breath. “It would save us both a lot of trouble.” He didn’t hear me or wouldn’t respond and I dug my fingers back into his fur until I found the hole in his side.

I breathed shallowly, the scent of blood making my stomach roll, and focused the power dancing through me. I’d never felt it this strong before and wondered if this was what it was like for Paige and Gran all the time. I tried to send the magic rolling through me into the wolf to no avail. “Oh come on, Paige does this all time,” I whispered as blood continued to ooze from him, slowing as he lost too much blood. Panic had my heart racing as I glanced at his head, but his eyes were closed. I closed my own eyes, breathing slowly as the magic inside of me coiled, pulsing so strong I was afraid it would kill me if I didn’t release it somehow.

Heat swelled under my palm as I held it to the wound and I tried to contain my excitement as I felt it working. “Come on, big boy,” I mumbled encouragingly as magic flowed into him, stitching together the gunshot wound until a bullet pressed against my hand as the wound closed completely. I curled my fingers around the bullet, glancing at his head hopefully, but his eyes remained shut even as his breathing steadied. “Okay,” I whispered to myself, nodding as the truck accelerated, the lights of a town glowing in the distance and I knew my window to escape was quickly disappearing.