Page 89 of To Hunt A Wolf
He doesn’t want me.
The only person he’ll let Kari go for is Jadick.
And maybe Levi since he knows Levi will lead him to Jadick. That’s why he let me go after Levi in the first place. Torturing Dirk was only the prelude—a show of what will happen if I dare bring him my mate.
But… if I can make the exchange public—offer myself in front of the pack—I might have a shot at making it work. It’ll mean confessing to Crigger’s murder, which carries a death sentence. But I can’t think of another way. I meant what I said to Levi last night. He took my choices away. At least now, as bleak as the options are, I can choose my fate. Even if it means dying for that choice.
I spend what feels like hours lying here trying to think of something else.
In the end, there is only me.
My death for Kari’s life.
It’s horrific but it beats carrying the weight of her death on my shoulders for the rest of my life. I can’t bear it, and I know that because the deaths of the Jades we left behind already threaten to consume me.
I can’t take one more.
My mother’s snores offer more than enough noise to cover the shuffling sounds my clothes make as I dress and slip outside. She doesn’t stir as I move past her and into the night air. How that woman can sleep so heavily in her line of work is beyond me. But tonight, I’m glad for it.
I pause long enough to press a feather-light kiss to my mother’s cheek.
I love you.
I don’t dare speak the words aloud. It’ll have to be enough that I kept her safely out of the conflict. Even as I think it, though, I know the opposite will be true. She’ll be angrier that I did this without her than the fact that I did it at all.
Guards are stationed around the camp. I can’t see them, but I can sense them.
My wolf catches their scents easily enough on the wind, and I pick my way slowly through the camp to avoid their detection.
After what feels like forever, I leave the last of the Jades behind me.
Ahead, a narrow trail snakes its way through thick forest. The road would be faster. But it’s too risky.
I can take this until dawn.
By then, I’ll have enough of a head start to—
A figure looms before me.
“Going somewhere?”
I swallow a scream and lock eyes with Levi.
“Dammit,” I hiss. “You almost gave me a heart attack.”
“You’re the one sneaking around camp in the middle of the night. Shouldn’t I be the one scared?”
Tears burn my eyes at the sight of him. I had hoped to spare myself this particular goodbye. In fact, looking at him, I know I can’t bring myself to say it.
“I’m not stopping you,” I tell him. “Scream if you have to.”
Doing my best to seem unaffected, I start for the trail, but he falls into step beside me.
“I think I’ll just walk it off.”
“What are you doing?” I ask sharply.
“Coming with you. What the hell do you think?”
