Page 1 of Hunting Savage
Prologue
Aurora never thoughtdisaster would strike the day before her eighteenth birthday, especially not for her and her family.They were freaking invincible.
She sat in the back of her dad’s Tahoe with her seven-year-old sister, Starla.Although they were ten years apart, many who saw them together assumed they weren’t related because of how different they appeared.Where she had pin-straight, black hair and bright blue eyes, her sister Starla had blonde hair and brown eyes, which stood out in stark contrast against her pale skin, while each bore aspects of their parents in different ways.
Her mother leaned across the console toward her father.The long curtain of her dark hair obscured her face as she kissed his cheek.Aurora shook her head at their display of affection.
“Mommy kissed Daddy.That’s eleven,” Starla chirped.
“Are you keeping count, Biddy Bee?”their dad asked.
Starla scrunched up her nose.“I’m not a bee, daddy.”She glared at the front of the SUV rather than the iPad in her lap until their father lifted his hand in surrender.
Aurora returned to listening to her playlist, nodding along to Uptown Funk by Bruno Mars.At the same time, they drove away from all she knew.Her friends.Her school.Her everything.
The last six hours, they’d only stopped to get gas, grab snacks, and go to the bathroom at several roadside places.She wasn’t a complainer, truly.But, Aurora wanted them to tell her where they were heading and why they hadn’t told her before pulling her out of class with no explanation.Thankfully, she had her cell phone and backpack, and her mom had packed a suitcase for her and Starla.Not that she knew what clothes were inside or if she’d included her favorite outfits.
She let out a sigh and stared out the front windshield.Her eyes widened in horror as her dad cursed.To the right, the guardrail that should have been there was gone—washed away—and part of the highway was missing as well.
A loud crack followed by a boom filled the air as a bright light flashed.Rain pelted the windshield, making it hard for her to see the road.
“Dad,” she whispered.
“Hold tight,” he said.The deep timbre of his voice held a note of warning and strength.
Aurora tucked her phone into her pocket as Starla whimpered.She reached for her younger sister’s hand, wanting to reassure her everything would be okay.The feel of the big vehicle sliding on the road made her yelp, which she quickly stifled, biting her lip to stay silent.
Her mother glanced back at Starla and then at Aurora, her expression filled with concern and fear.It was the fear that scared Aurora the most—one second, the day had been cloudy and gloomy.Normal for upper Washington State this time of year.There’d been no sign of a storm on the radar when they’d set out, and then all of a sudden, they were driving into something terrifying.
The water next to the road seemed to have come alive.The waves crashed onto the sides, searching for victims to claim.They were looking for Aurora and her family.
Stop it,she yelled inside her head.If she stared hard enough, she could see their lifeless forms lying on the surface.
She shook her head, dispelling the images.Her hand squeezed Starla’s tighter, making her sister give a little cry of alarm.
“Sorry, sorry,” she mumbled, releasing her grip slightly.
The engine's rumble grew lower as their dad slowed, dodging debris on the road.Why didn’t he stop and turn around?
“Ivan, maybe we should stop and go back,” her mother said.
The sound of leather squeaking filled the Tahoe.Aurora didn’t have to see it to get the fact that he was gripping the steering wheel with his immense strength.His voice was always gentle, even when angry.
“Gemma, look behind us, baby.I can’t go back even if I wanted to.”
Aurora lifted up to look over the backseat and gasped at the sight as her eyes widened.It was as if a hurricane had hit them, bringing down several trees and blocking the path.
“Aurora, stay seated, sweetheart.”Her mother glanced backward, giving them both a smile.“No matter what happens, as long as we’re together, we’ll be fine.”
Starla shoved her iPad into her backpack, which sat between them.Her dark eyes were wide and filled with fright.Aurora reached for her little hand again, giving her a reassuring squeeze.Nobody spoke as their dad drove at a snail’s pace.
Lightning illuminated the sky.Thunder boomed, shaking their vehicle.
Aurora turned at the deafening sound of a crash behind them, but before she could get a good look, both her dad and mom yelled at the same time.Her father jerked the wheel of the Tahoe, swerving perilously close to the crumbling side of the cliff edge.There was a moment of panic as their vehicle lifted and slammed back to the ground.The sound of her mother’s scream went silent.A large object separated the front of the car from her and Starla.
The haunting melody of metal scraping against asphalt, mingling with the sound of glass shattering and water splashing against the rocky cliffs, filled her ears.A coppery scent filled the air as she tried to wipe the moisture off her face.Her fingers came away sticky.She looked at her hands, horrified to see so much blood covering them.
Aurora sucked in a breath, stifling the urge to scream out of fear she’d scare Starla.The reminder of her little sister had her looking to the side.She gasped at the sight of Starla with blood running from her nose, slumped against the shattered glass.
