Chapter 26 - Callie

I huddle beneath the canopy of trees, their branches stretching out like protective arms above me. As I walk, I gather fallen branches and dry leaves to fashion into a makeshift bed for the night. It's not much, but it's enough to shield me from the elements and provide some semblance of comfort in this unforgiving environment.

After Guy tried to get a hold of me, I managed to slip away. I know that his pack won't stop looking for me, so I've decided that the safest thing to do for everyone is for me to hide out here on my own. I don't have the luxury of modern camping gear, but I can adapt and make do with what nature provides. My survival depends on it.

I gather an armful of the materials I've collected and drop them on the ground in front of me. Laying them out, I start to construct a base for the night. It's not pretty, but it will keep me warm. I know how to build a fire, so that's taken care of.

As I lay the final log, my eyes sting with tears, and I squeeze them shut. How the hell did things come to this? Everything was perfect, and now I'm alone, forced to live like an animal.

My jaw clenches, and I swallow back the lump forming in my throat. No, I won't cry. I can't afford to. I have to stay strong, stay focused. If I break, everything will come crashing down, and I'll lose my will to go on.

I'm a fighter, and that's how I'll survive.

I lean back against the tree, using it for support. Justin is going to be beside himself, I know, but this is the only way. At least for now.

With a sigh, I run a hand over my face, and a sharp pain radiates from my neck. Frowning, I gently touch the tender area, and my fingertips come away crimson.

Crap.

That's what happens when you have a run-in with a psycho , a part of me remarks.

With a shake of my head, I push the dark thought aside. I'm fine, and I'm staying that way.

I hear a rustling in the bushes nearby, and my heart skips a beat. I know I can't stay hidden forever, but I wasn't expecting company so soon. Slowly, I rise to my feet, silently moving toward the source of the disturbance. I grip a stick in my hand, ready to defend myself, if necessary.

I hear a low growl, and my stomach lurches. Please, no. Not another animal.

To my relief, a human face emerges from the darkness, and my stomach drops. "Shawna?"

"Callie," Shawna spits out my name like it's poison. Her eyes flash in the dim light, and the way she looks at me makes me shudder. "We've been looking everywhere for you."

I keep my muscles tense, ready to flee at a moment's notice. "What do you want, Shawna?"

She takes a step closer, but her expression is unreadable. "You've got some nerve to ask me that."

I take a cautious step back. "Shawna, please, just listen to me—"

But she cuts me off with a sharp gesture. "Listen to you? After what you did to Guy?" Her eyes flash with anger, and I can see the pain lurking behind them.

"You know exactly what happened, Shawna. Guy attacked me, and Justin defended me. That's it."

Her eyes narrow, disbelief evident in her expression. "Defended you? Is that what you call it? Look at what happened to Guy, Callie. He's scarred for life because of you and that wolf."

"Guy's scars are his own doing. He attacked me, Shawna. Justin warned him, and Guy refused to back down. Justin had no choice."

Shawna's fists clench at her sides. "You're going to stand there and say that to me after everything we've been through? We were your pack, Shawna. Your family."

I take a step closer, my voice pleading. "Shawna, please. You know me. You know I would never intentionally hurt anyone."

She wavers for a moment, uncertainty flickering in her eyes. "I don't know what to believe anymore, Callie. The only thing I do is that you abandoned us. Abandoned your duty. Guy was perfectly within his rights to hold you accountable for that."

"Shawna..." My voice cracks. My friend, my best friend, is standing right in front of me, but I can't recognize her. She's too far gone.

I hear Shawna's words pierce through the darkness like a blade, each one cutting deeper than the last. "You should have stayed away, Callie," she sneers, her voice dripping with venom. "You brought this on yourself, and now everyone you care about is going to pay the price."

What the hell is she talking about?

"What do you mean?" I demand, trying to keep the panic out of my voice. "What's happening?"

Shawna's lips curl into a cruel smile. "Evan's ordered our pack to take care of business," she says, her tone dripping with malice. "They're going after Ram, and there's nothing you can do to stop it."

My heart sinks like a stone in my chest, and a wave of guilt crashes over me. Ram, Justin, the Stardust Hollow Pack—they're all in danger because of me. I never wanted any of this. I never wanted to drag them into my mess. But here we are, and it's all my fault.

She's right. I should have stayed away, far away from the people I care about. I should've found a way to get out of that cabin and lead Evan and his pack away from Stardust Hollow.

"I have to go," I say, my voice barely a whisper. "I have to warn them."

Shawna's laughter echoes through the trees, mocking and cruel. "And what do you think you can do, Callie? You're alone out here. Helpless."

But I refuse to let her words deter me. I may be alone, but I'm not helpless. I'll do whatever it takes to protect the people I care about, even if it means risking my own life.

I turn to leave, but Shawna lunges forward with surprising speed, her fingers clawing at my arm. Instinct takes over, and I twist away, narrowly avoiding her grasp. But Shawna is relentless, fueled by anger and hurt.

I stumble backward, and the stick I was holding onto slips from my hand as Shawna closes the distance between us. With a primal scream, Shawna launches herself at me. I duck and weave, narrowly avoiding her attacks as I try to keep my footing on the uneven forest floor. I don't want to hurt her, but Shawna's blows rain down on me like a storm, leaving me with no choice.

She knocks me to the ground, and the impact knocks the wind out of me. Before I can recover, her nails dig into my arms, and a surge of adrenaline fuels me. I kick out, knocking her off me, and I roll out of her reach.

I stand, and our eyes meet. Hers are black with rage, and her chest rises and falls as she struggles to catch her breath.

"Why are you doing this?" I plead, tears stinging my eyes. "We were friends once. Best friends."

Her voice is cold and detached, her words devoid of emotion. "Not anymore, Callie. Not since you betrayed us. Everyone in this pack, everyone in this town, will pay the price for what you've done."

My heart breaks for my dear friend, and the devastation on her face sends a wave of pain coursing through me. She's lost control, and the person who stood in front of me, the woman who used to be my best friend, is no longer there.

When she comes at me again, I fight back with everything I have. There's no stopping her, no reasoning with her, nothing. It's obvious that she's consumed by hatred, by a twisted sense of vengeance.

She lands a punch across my face, and I can taste the bitter iron of blood in my mouth and I feel my cheekbone throbbing. She throws another punch, and I dodge, deflecting the blow. Her strength is remarkable, but her movements are sloppy, and I manage to land a few solid hits in return. I could shift right now and end this; her wolf is no match for mine, but I don't want to hurt her. I just want to get away and get to Justin and his men to warn them.

"Stop it, Shawna," I plead, dodging her assault. "This is not you. This isn't who we are."

She lunges for me, and the momentum carries her forward. She trips over a branch lying on the ground and careens straight toward me. Her head smashes into my shoulder, the weight of her body knocking me off-balance.

With a shriek, we both tumble to the ground in a heap. I can hear her labored breathing, and she groans, clutching her head. I make a break for it, sprinting through the trees, branches whipping against my skin. Behind me, I can hear Shawna's enraged cries, but I don't dare to look back. I have to keep moving until I reach safety.

As I run, my mind races with thoughts of Evan and his wolves. I know I'm no match for them, not alone. I've seen what they're capable of. If Shawna is right and they've already gotten to Ram and the others, the battle is already half-lost.

"Damn it," I hiss, forcing my tired legs to keep moving.

Hiding in the woods isn't going to solve anything. I need to confront this head-on and face the main source of the problem: Dante. He's the one pulling the strings, orchestrating this whole mess. I haven't seen him yet, but I know he's in town somewhere, lurking in the shadows like the coward he is.

I can't let him get away with this. I can't let him destroy everything I care about. It's time to stop running and start fighting back.

With a determined set to my jaw, I change direction, veering off the path and deeper into the heart of the forest. I have to find Dante and put an end to this once and for all.

Where would Dante be hiding? What would he do next? I have to think like him, anticipate his next move before he makes it. And I suspect that I know him well enough to do just that.