Page 20

“ A rek…Arek…” I call out as we traipse through the woods.

The guys dressed me up in the warmest clothing they could find before hauling me out here. Trudging through the high snow is taking a toll on me and I am tiring quickly. We have been out here for three hours.

Walking through the woods isn’t so bad, except we have heard gunshots echo through the hills the entire time we have been out here. I am on pins and needles, hoping and praying to any deity that wants to listen, that he is safe.

The guys had the idea that some of them should shift, hoping to communicate with Arek’s bear, but with the threat of hunters, it was too risky.

“Arek…” I yell again, cupping my hands around my mouth, trying to project it farther.

It’s getting dark, making it treacherous to continue. As we turn around, heading back to the den, noise comes from our right, halting us in place. The guys surround me, protecting me from the unknown. My chest swells with hope as a large brown bear clears the tree line.

I take a step forward, but Gunnar and Declan put their arms out, halting my progress.

“We need to make sure it’s Arek,” Declan cautions.

The bear rears up on its hind legs, letting out a roar loud enough to rupture your eardrums, before it begins charging toward us.

“He’s so fucking dramatic,” Gunnar mutters.

“It’s him?” I ask expectantly.

Before anyone can answer, a loud bang sounds, immediately followed by Arek collapsing in the snow, as blood paints the snow red.

“Nooooooo!”

Declan and Daegyn, grab me, picking me up as we run at full speed back toward the den. Meanwhile, Gunnar, Hayder, and Jathen go to Arek’s aid.

“Turn back!” I yell, pounding on Declan’s back. He has me tossed over his shoulder, one arm wrapped around my legs, just above my knee.

“We can’t,” Daegyn says, continuously looking back to see if we are being followed.

“I need to know,” I bellow, as tears stream down my face, well up since I’m upside down.

“They will let us know, Darby,” Daegyn informs me, sadness leaching into his voice.

The area where we left Arek lying, bleeding in the snow, is too far away to see now. Declan moves me to Daegyn as he takes off ahead of us.

“Where is he going?” I cry.

“He’s going to update the family and let Tavan know we are bringing Arek in with a bullet wound,” Daegyn answers.

“So he is okay?” I question expectantly.

“I don’t know.”

Tired of the round and round non-answers Daegyn and his twin keep giving me, I give up, slumping against him, the fight draining out of me.