Page 42 of Alpha Chained
Shift!
I focus on the thought and glare at him until something seems to ease in him. He knows what I’m trying to get him to do.
“I don’t know if I can find my wolf with silver in my system.” He shakes his head. When I growl again, there’s an edge of ferocity to it – I’m going to freaking bite him if he doesn’t at least try.
“Okay, okay!” He wipes his face with a bloodstained hand. It leaves a trail of red down his skin, which begins to flake away as fur starts to sprout.
I watch with a mixture of awe and anxiety as Riot begins the agonizing shift to his wolf form. Muscles ripple beneath his skin as bones stretch and reshape. His face contorts with each crunch and snap as his body rearranges itself. His skin is gray from the pain.
And then he stops…panting, contorted into a monstrous form – half-wolf, half-man. I paw at him again.
Don’t stop now!
The silver must be searing through his veins like acid, making every movement torturous. Yet he grits his teeth and pushes through. Finally, a massive black wolf stands before me, panting heavily. His haunting silver eyes lock onto mine, filled with a wildness that sends a shiver down my spine.
Without hesitation, I throw back my head and unleash a triumphant howl that echoes across the mountains.
To my surprise, a chorus of howls answers back from the valleys and peaks around us. For a fleeting moment, I allow myself to revel in the glorious feeling of freedom calling to us from the wilderness.
We can do this. We can!
Riot dips his head, and together, we turn toward the narrow trail snaking down the mountainside. Our path to escape is treacherous, but we have no choice but to press onward. With a surge of renewed vigor, I break into a lope, Riot keeping pace beside me despite dragging his leg.
The icy wind whips through my fur as we hurtle down the slope. Loose scree scatters with each pounding step, but we don’t falter. The only thing driving me now is the burning need to put as much distance as possible between us and that nightmarish place. I can taste freedom on the crisp air. It’s so tantalizingly close. But still so far.
I dart a worried glance over my shoulder at Riot loping beside me. His strides are labored, his silver eyes dulled. His gait is hampered by a pronounced limp.
God, he must be in so much pain!
My heart clenches at the sight of his suffering. The warrior who endured so much torment is being brought down by Parker’s cruelty once again. It seems so fucking unfair! Rage flares within me, burning hotter with every ragged pant that escapes Riot’s powerful jaws.
We can’t stop.
Not yet. Not until we’ve put enough distance between us and that place to ensure our safety. I press on, leading the way down the treacherous mountain trail as it winds toward the valley below.
The freezing wind whips mercilessly, but our thick fur coats insulate us from the biting chill. Still, I can’t help but shiver as we finally reach the bottom and emerge into a large parking area. We slow to a trot, surveying our new surroundings warily.
This must be where the Enclave staff leave their vehicles before making the final trek up the mountain, I realize. A few lonely cars sit scattered across the cracked asphalt, their dusty windshields an indication of how infrequently this place sees use.
I pause, turning to face Riot as he limps up beside me. His tongue lolls from his mouth, chest heaving with each agonized breath. Guilt stabs at me for having pushed him so hard, but I knew there was no other choice.
Shifting back to my human form, I kneel beside him and gently run my fingers through his thick, ebony fur. “Rest here for a bit,” I murmur, pressing my forehead against his. “You’ve been so strong, but I can see you’re struggling.”
Riot meets my gaze steadily, a glimmer of gratitude flickering in the metallic depths. He knows as well as I that in his current condition, poisoned by the silver, he won’t be able to travel much farther like this.
I need to do something…
With my hands on my hips, I look around the desolate parking area, realizing our only hope of escape lies in stealing one of these vehicles. The thought makes my stomach churn – I’ve never broken the law in my life. But after everything Parker and his goons have put me through, the rules no longer apply.
Riot whines softly, drawing my attention back to him. His dense fur is matted, and his sides heave with exertion. The bullet wound in his hind leg oozes a sickly trail of blackened blood, the silver toxin almost visibly spreading through his veins.
We don’t have much time.
Giving his head a reassuring stroke, I move off and begin checking each car, praying one will be unlocked. The first two are secure, but the third – an ancient, rust-eaten pickup truck – yields when I tug on the handle. I peer inside, relieved to find the keys dangling from the ignition.
“Riot,” I call out in a hushed voice. “Over here, I found our ride.”
With a pained groan, he hauls himself up and limps over, his injured leg dragging uselessly behind him. Gathering himself must sap the last of his strength, but he leaps up into the back of the truck, immediately collapsing in a trembling heap. I hate the fact that he’s exposed to the elements, but there’s no way he’ll fit into the cab in his wolf form.