55. Maya

55

Maya

My lungs burned, but I knew what was waiting for me if I stopped or dared to look back. I had no idea how long I'd been running. It didn't matter. I was going to burn out soon, and there was no chance I could fight off Champ. He had enough power to be an alpha of his own pack.

I finally came upon a stream. The water only came up to my knees, but it was enough. I turned and headed upstream, knowing that the water would hide my scent. Eventually, I would need to shift. I'd fight better as my wolf, but if he caught me mid-shift, I was dead.

There was no point in berating myself. I'd made a good plan. I could not have foreseen Champ. That my father had sent him to kill Emily and Gemma filled me with hatred. Bruce Callahan's days were numbered. He just didn't know it.

The water stung against my wounds, and it ran red with my blood. They weren't life-threatening wounds, but they were still bleeding. If I didn't shift soon, they would get infected.

I couldn't stay in the stream for long. My head start wouldn't last long, and the banks along the stream were too wide. He could break through the tree line any minute, and it wouldn't matter if I'd hidden my scent or not.

Taking a precious moment to cup my hand and drink some of the water, I pulled myself out on the other side and started running. I was heading up the mountain, with no idea if I was nearing another pack.

Rhyson. Tears blurred my vision as I ran. God, I'd promised him that I would be safe. That I'd keep our baby safe. Champ was never going to let it live. Never.

After some time, I crossed the stream again, hoping to confuse him, and took refuge behind a fallen tree. Closing my eyes, I called to my wolf. Called her to take over.

She didn't come.

She'd given me too much energy during the run, and now there was nothing left for the shift. I was left helpless as a human.

Gripping the bloody knife, I closed my eyes and tried to open my other senses. If I could sense him coming, then I could attack. I'd taken him by surprise before. I could do it again.

Cautiously glancing around, I saw a young oak tree that was tall enough that it would take some effort to reach the first branch, but then I could climb at least ten feet up.

I didn't hear or smell anything. Knowing I couldn't climb with a knife in my hand, I put in my pocket. I'd dropped the sheath after stabbing him, so it slid dangerously against my thigh. Then, praying that I was alone, I moved slowly to the tree.

The first branch was a little over six feet up. Crouching down, I called on my wolf to see if there was anything she could give me, and I jumped. My fingers barely grazed it.

Shit. Crouching, I tried again. I was so fucking tired. I didn't make any progress.

I know you can't hear me, I told her. But you know what we're trying to do. You're tired, but no one is coming to rescue us. We are going to lose our baby if we don't do this. Give me something. Please.

One last time. If I couldn't make it, then I'd run again.

Power coursed through me as I made the jump. I grabbed the branch and scrambled up. I wasn't a graceful climber, and it sure as hell wasn't quiet, but I made it high enough up the tree that I was hiding behind the dense leaves.

Thank you. Leaning back against the trunk, I closed my eyes and tried to get control of my heartbeat. When I could breathe a little easier, I slowly climbed along the branch and scanned the ground.

No Champ, but it was quiet. Too quiet. Like the birds knew there was a predator nearby. I couldn't see as far as I wanted to, but if I climbed much higher, I wouldn't be able to get the drop on Champ without injuring myself.

Carefully, I made my way back to the trunk and tried to ground myself. There would be no shifting up here. I had a feeling my wolf would not handle being in a tree well.

While I waited, my mind wandered. What was Rhyson doing now? It was mid-afternoon. Had he had lunch with his sister and his mate? Were he and Gemma making up for lost time?

My heart hurt. I tried to be happy for him. He was going to have the future that he deserved. He'd still want to be a father to his son. That was the kind of man he was. Our child would still be loved.

That was enough for me, but God it still hurt. I'd been so sure that Rhyson was my mate. I wasn't sure how I'd be able to raise my child with him, knowing that this gnawing pain in my chest would never go away.

Or maybe it would. Maybe in time, we'd heal.

We had to live first.

The wind blew through the trees, and his scent hit me hard. Champ.

He was fucking close.

Shaking, I leaned forward and braced both hands on the branch. I pulled out my knife, holding it in my mouth, and moved until I could get a clear path down. I'd have to time this just right.

Champ's wolf snarled as he moved, nose to the ground, and I was pleased to see the blood in his fur. He wasn't still bleeding, but I'd injured him some. That was something. Without my wolf, I'd have to injure him several times with the knife: something to incapacitate him, and then severing his jugular and maybe a knife to the heart just to be sure. Something he couldn't heal from.

If I wasn't fast enough, he'd snap my neck. Fuck. This was a suicide mission.

I didn't have a choice. Eventually, he'd find me in this tree, and I'd be a sitting duck. Either I took him out, or I would die with my child.

I would not accept death for either one of us.

Champ's head popped up, and I froze. He'd caught my scent. He should follow it to the base of the tree.

Come on, asshole.

I let memories slide through me. Every time he scarred me, marking me for his own entertainment. Every horrifying whisper about how I belonged to him. Every twinkle of glee in his eyes when I cried out from pain.

They fueled me.

He would never touch me again.

The motherfucker walked right under me, and I felt myself let go of everything as I released the branch. The world slowed and fell silent. I grabbed the knife from my mouth and whispered the words into the world that I so desperately wanted Rhyson to hear.

"I love you. I wish I'd told you. I wish I'd had one more night in your arms. One moment where I'd pushed everything away and felt only you. I'm sorry."

Maybe the wind would carry my words to him. Or maybe someone else would whisper them to him.

A scream ripped from my lips just as I landed on the gray wolf and plunged the dagger into his side. His wolf screamed in pain as he rolled, throwing me to the ground. Teeth sank into my arm, and I instinctively shoved him off me.

No. NO!

Crying out, I lunged forward, but it was too late. Champ had released me and moved.

The dagger was still embedded in his side.

I'd lost.

Rhyson. I'm so sorry.

Champ lunged.