Page 65 of The Last Sanctuary

But now the dead man’s brother and his entire gang would soon be hunting her in earnest.

The weight of it struck her then. Unbearably heavy, like a thousand bricks pressed against her chest. Her loneliness threatened to overwhelm her. The impossibility of the task that lay before her.

Would she live to see another day? Was she about to lose everything that she loved?

She could still run. She still could.

She leaned over and vomited.

Shaking, she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.

A flash of silver streaked through the trees on her right. A twig cracked on her left. Adrenaline thrummed through her veins. Swiftly, she reached for the hunting rifle, unslinging it.

Ten yards away, a great white wolf stepped between two trees. A black wolf glided beside the white one, a shadow among shadows.

Raven released a tense breath. Relief flooded every cell of her body. Wetness blurred her eyes. She choked back the flood oftears that threatened to overwhelm her. This was no time to lose it.

“You came back for me,” she whispered. “You came back.”

Luna lurked at the tree line, but Shadow trotted right up to her. The black wolf brushed his powerful shoulder against hers, nearly knocking her off the log. She took several steadying breaths and glanced at Shadow.

His ears pricked. His tail swished slowly, expectantly.

She managed a grim smile. “You have no idea how happy I am to see you.”

Gradually, the mind-numbing terror faded. Her heart rate slowed. Now that the wolves were here, she felt immeasurably better.

She had never been afraid of the dark or of these woods. But tonight, surrounded by predators of all kinds, the last thing she wanted to be was alone.

Would the wolves stay with her? She almost didn’t dare to hope. She wasn’t sure she could bear the profound disappointment if they left her again. She felt stronger in their presence. Braver.

Raven unzipped one of the outside compartments of her pack and withdrew three strips of dried venison. She gnawed on a strip herself and tossed a piece to the wolves. Shadow sniffed at the venison, unconvinced that this strange object was food.

She took a swallow from her water bottle and wiped her mouth. “It’s good, I promise.”

Shadow licked it, gave a little whine, then gulped it down. Luna sniffed hers daintily and lifted her nose in disdain. Shadow happily ate her share.

A wave of dizziness washed over her. Her eyes were gritty. She could barely stand, she was so exhausted. The adrenaline from the fight was wearing off.

She was incredibly weary. Her eyes burned. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d slept. Not last night, and not the night before, either.

Luna and Shadow regarded her, their heads tilted, ears pricked as if asking,What now?

“Rest,” she said, climbing to her feet. “I need to get some rest. I don’t know yet what comes next, but I have to get some sleep. Can you stay here with me? Will you warn me if someone or something gets close?”

The wolves just looked at her.

“Well, good night then.”

Exhausted, she crawled into the lean-to on her hands and knees, dragging the pack and rifle behind her. Quickly, she swept handfuls of leaves over the ground and tossed aside several twigs and rocks. She was too tired to do much else.

Night sounds filled the air: crackling branches, the hoot of an owl, the raspy song of crickets and cicadas. With the pack as a pillow and the rifle clutched in both hands, she closed her eyes and tried not to dream of blood and death.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Alow growl woke Raven from a dead sleep.

Instantly wide awake, she tightened her grip on the rifle, staying still and quiet, ears straining. At first, she heard nothing. Blearily, she blinked to clear her vision. The predawn light was dim and gray, but she could make out the thick branches above her, the brown leaves beneath her, and the details of her backpack.