Page 32 of The Last Sanctuary

She was trapped inside a cage with two genetically modified wolves almost twice her weight. Each wolf was designed by nature and man to maim, to tear and destroy, to kill with impunity, endowed with a bite force of fifteen hundred pounds per square inch.

It took every ounce of self-control she possessed not to scream. She gritted her teeth against the panic, the adrenaline, the terror thrumming through her veins. Her muscles taut, she counted the eternal seconds.

Finally, the flashlight swept away.

The biker stumbled down the path away from the enclosure. The flashlight wavered wildly as he cursed and shouted for his friends. “I found her! She disappeared on me!”

“I think she’s over here by the otters!” another voice shouted back.

Raven didn’t have the time to sigh in relief.

The white wolf moved. She glided silently closer, her back low, hackles raised. Somehow, she was suddenly twenty feet away, then fifteen. Her ears twitched. She never took her gaze off Raven.

Raven dropped her gaze in submission. It seemed like the wolf stared at her forever. The other one was here, too. She felt him. Somehow, it was more frightening not to see him. Were they taking her measure? Did they see her as a potential threat? Or were they deciding which parts of her to eat first?

She knew the answer. Her organs. Her heart, lungs, stomach, and intestines. Alphas got the choicest bits. These two were the most alpha of any alpha wolves she’d ever seen.

Her stomach lurched. Somehow, she remained still, quiet, and submissive. She was no threat to them. Neither was she prey. Hopefully, they were smart enough to figure that out. Or else, they were about to tear out her warm, beating heart.

In an eye blink, the white wolf vanished. The black wolf, too. She could feel his presence, then she couldn’t. It was that fast. One second, they were there. The next, they faded silently into the darkness.

She peered into the gloom, her gaze sweeping from left to right and back again, straining to make out a familiar predatory shape in the shadows. She’d thought it couldn’t get worse, but it could. Not seeing them, not having any idea where they were, whether they were sneaking up on her right this second, preparing to pounce from any direction—this was worse.

Could she leave without being attacked? Had they grown tired of her and wandered off somewhere to sleep? Maybe she could rise quietly and sneak back to the gate.

But no. There was no sneaking. Not with wolves. They could detect her every movement by scent. They would know the second she stood.

If she made it to the fence, it was because they’d allowed it, as opposed to the other option: tearing her throat out.

It was worth a chance. Better than sitting here and waiting for death to come. Slowly, she rose from her crouch. The clouds drifted from the moon, and pale white moonlight spilled across the enclosure.

As she stood, something sharp jabbed into her thigh. Adrenaline shot through her. Images of gleaming claws and fangs flashed through her mind.

It wasn’t claws or fangs.

It was her whittling knife. It was still in her pocket. She hadn’t changed since yesterday, since she’d buried her dad.

Raven drew the knife from her pocket and flicked the three-inch blade open. It wasn’t much, but it was better than nothing.

On her feet, she took a single, cautious step. Dead leaves crackled beneath her boot.

Ahead of her, a low growl erupted from the bushes.

Raven froze.

The black wolf materialized out of the darkness.

She forgot how to breathe.

The wolf stood between two maple trees, less than ten feet away. He was stiff-legged, tail straight out behind him. He tilted his regal head, studying her with his intense amber eyes.

He growled again. His ears flattened.

Instinctively, she backed against the tree and lowered herself, so she was smaller than he was, less of a threat. She gripped the knife but kept it low and pressed against her thigh.

“Whoa now,” she said softly. “I’m not here to hurt you.”

As soon as she sat back down, making herself small, the wolf’s ears lifted. He gave her a piercing look, as if to say,Now, stay there.