Shifter Crown: Valley of Truth and Denial (The Shifter Crown Series Book 1), Page 2

  He shrugs lazily. It’s smooth, confident, and hot. It’s also familiar, but not in a good way.

  With sudden clarity, I realize why I thought I recognized him. I’ve seen guys like him before. Lots of them. Lots of times. They all look the same to me now. After bearing witness to Vienna’s many mistakes, I swore that I would never fall victim to the spells they weave.

  The stranger danger siren wails louder. More urgent.

  I retreat a step, and add, “You know you’re good.”

  Luca glances down at the distance growing between us, and his jaw glides from side to side. “Going somewhere?”

  “Where I should have been all along,” I tell him. Then I turn my back on possibly the hottest guy I have ever laid eyes on, and I walk away.

  “Want some company?” he calls out to me.

  I stop and turn with narrowed eyes.

  He closes some of the distance between us. “Surely there’s a café or . . . something around here. Somewhere we can go and—”

  “Talk?” I smirk. “Do you know how many times I’ve heard that line? Is there a special class guys like you take to learn how to trick girls like me into believing you are genuine? I must admit, though, I almost believed you.”

  He squints at me. “I’m not genuine?”

  I cross my arms over my chest. It’s a defensive move. Plus, they always like to ogle the goods when they can, and no one is getting a look at mine. What little this baggy sweatshirt permits.

  “Let me make sure I got this right.” Luca steps closer with a frown. “Because I talk to a girl who caught my attention, flirt a little, and make her laugh, I automatically get labeled as an asshole?”

  I shrug. “Most guys are.”

  “Wow.” His eyes widen. “That is . . . a little sexist, to be honest.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Don’t lump me in the same class as every loser that has ever burned you.” He takes another big step. “That’s not fair. You don’t even know me.”

  “That’s the point. Why would I go off alone with someone I don’t know? Why would you expect me to?”

  “I don’t expect anything,” he corrects me. “I asked you a question. You don’t know me, and that’s precisely the issue I’m trying to amend.” He flashes a grin. “Have a coffee with me.”

  “Is that a request or a demand?”

  He shakes his head, and murmurs, “Always been a feisty one.”

  My arms fall to my sides. “What did you say?”

  “You’re feisty,” he repeats louder with a grin. “I like that.”

  “I call it smart,” I fire back. “And if you are smart, you’ll throw that charm you’ve obviously worked hard at perfecting at someone it will work on.”

  His eyes widen. “What—”

  “It’s not going to work on me,” I add decisively. “You’ve got the wrong girl.”

  I turn and walk away. Again. It may be the dumbest thing, on a long list of dumb things, I’ve done this evening, but I prefer to think it’s the smartest. Guys like him destroy girls like me, and I don’t need that in my life. Not now. Not ever.

  No guy is going to drag me down, no matter how gorgeous he is. Besides, the dumb girl in the movies always goes for the charming guy.

  I am not that girl.

  I am the survivor.

  Chapter 2

  I scan the crowd for Vienna as I walk toward my car where it is parked in the shadowy space between the bonfire and wide-open wilderness. When I don’t see her, I pull out my phone to text her. I’ve made up my mind. I am going home, but I won’t abandon her without a ride off the mountain. I hit SEND as I weave around the trees and trucks with big wheels in search of my trusty little sedan.

  That is my first mistake.

  Distraction can get someone killed up here. Myself included.

  A twig snaps somewhere close, and my head whips up at the sound. One hand automatically reaches for the bear spray tucked away in my bag. With the other hand, I activate the flashlight on my phone and shine it toward the trees. Nothing lurks there—human or beast—but a spattering of goosebumps crawl across my skin. Finger on the nozzle, I turn in a slow circle to confirm that no one has followed me. At least, not that I can see.

  I spot the rear bumper of my car on the other side of a big green truck accessorized with rust. I must have passed it when my head was buried in the phone. Stupid, stupid, stupid. I roll my eyes at my own carelessness and start around the tetanus-infested biohazard with fast and urgent steps.

  A scream cuts the cold night air, stopping me. My feet are anchored to the ground when another scream joins the first one. Then another. Shouts and shrieks and other sounds of chaos erupt from the direction of the bonfire.

  The yellow-orange glow of the blaze filters through the trees, enabling me to see the silhouettes of my classmates scrambling and running across the clearing. More screams. More cries of terror. Someone yells, “Wolves!”

  Vienna. I take two automatic steps toward the clearing before I realize I am no good to her, or anyone, without a weapon. Depending on the number of wolves, I would be no good even with a weapon.

  I have nothing. Not on me, nor in my car.

  My car. I fish the keys out of my pocket and hurry toward it.

  As I round the green truck, a pair of eyes materializes out of the darkness in front of me. The black wolf they belong to stands between me and my car door. A growl vibrates low in its chest as it takes a menacing step toward me.

  I am sure to maintain eye contact as I retreat slowly.

  Do not run. Do not show fear.

  I know all the tips for surviving the wild. It doesn’t make them any easier to follow when face-to-face with one of mother nature’s most efficient killing machines.

  My body stiffens as the icy hand of fear grips me. While my legs flinch from the instinct to run, I force my feet to inch backward slowly. Carefully. One step after another.

  My eyes are fixed on the wolf in front of me when another wolf appears to my right. The two angle toward me, working together to force me away from my car and the bonfire.

  Classmates run for their vehicles all around me. Engines turn over. Headlights blink on, illuminating the woods that surround me. I stand in the middle of it all with two black wolves staring me down like I’m their next meal. No one stops to think, “Oh, maybe we should help Savannah before we drive away.”

  Fortunately, not everyone has left me here to be eaten alive. The ugly green truck hasn’t gone anywhere, and I hug it like it’s my only lifeline. Until it betrays me.

  My hip scrapes against a rusted, ragged edge in the rear panel and I wince from the unexpected pain. Too late, I realize my mistake.

  One wolf lunges, forcing me to turn my back on the duo. I scamper up the side of the truck, using the bumper as a step, and launch myself over the tailgate. One foot gets snared by a sharp claw, and I half fall-half somersault onto my back in a pile of old beer cans and greasy tools. I suck cool mountain air into my lungs as I crawl backward on my elbows, away from the scratching at the tailgate.

  Thanks to the big tires, the truck is elevated higher off the ground than most trucks. Still not high enough. The wolves can, and will, follow.

  I automatically reach for my bag, and the can of spray that is my only defense, but they’re both gone. I have nothing.

  I push aside pieces of scrap metal as I scoot back in search of anything that can be used as a weapon. When my back collides with the cab of the truck, I pull myself to a stand.

  Claws dig into the side of the truck with an ear-splitting screeching noise. A howl comes from the left; a growl from the right. They have me surrounded.

  I grab a long, metal pipe and swing it at the rear window. A small section of glass shatters, and I quickly clear myself a larger path. Behind me, the growls grow louder. Closer. The truck sways from the weight of one or both wolves climbing into the truck bed behind me.

  I push through the opening in the window without looking back.
I shred my arm on a piece of glass as I fall onto the seat. Just my luck. As if the wolves haven’t already targeted me as easy prey. Nothing like the scent of blood in the air to really get them riled up.

  The growls grow closer over my shoulder as I sit up and search the ignition for keys.

  No luck.

  I open the visor—nothing there either.

  “Shit. Shit. Shit.” I smack my hand on the steering wheel. I leave behind a red handprint from the blood streaming down my arm.

  I crouch down to search under the seat for keys when a loud, metal-crushing thud tears a scream out of me. The truck rocks back and forth as I lift my head to peek over the steering wheel. I find a massive silver wolf with glacier blue eyes peering through the windshield at me, and I gulp.

  That’s three wolves fighting over my soon-to-be-dead body now, and this one is enormous. It’s bigger than the other two combined. Death will come quickly in the jaws of this one.

  The silver wolf bounds over the roof, and lands in the bed of the truck with another metal-crunching bang. The vehicle lurches violently, and my teeth snap down on my tongue. Tears immediately spring into my eyes. My hand trembles as I lift it to my face to dab at my mouth.

  I focus on the irrelevant because I can’t bring myself to look behind me. I don’t want to see the wolf’s massive snout push through the broken window. I don’t want to know when its razor-sharp teeth are going to sink into my flesh and rip me from the cab.

  I want it to be over quickly.

  A low growl comes from behind me. The vibration nearly sends my body into convulsions as it pulses over me.

  I press my forehead to the steering wheel with a whimper. I am helpless, hopeless, and completely at its mercy.

  The truck pitches again, and I brace myself for searing pain.

  It never comes.

  Over the roar of my heartbeat drumming in my ears, I hear a snarl. It’s farther away than I expect, and my head snaps up. I spot the animals in the side mirror’s reflection, but I can’t believe what I see.

  I spin around to watch as the black wolves and the giant silver wolf tear into each other. It’s no contest, really. Even two-on-one, the silver wolf is poised to win this fight. From what I know about wolves, I suspect he is the alpha keeping his pack in line.

  Or staking claim on the juicy, raw steak crippled by fear a few yards away.

  I resume my frantic search for keys as the crescendo of snarls and growls reaches a peak outside. A wolf whimpers. Then silence.

  I glance in the mirror to find one black wolf lying motionless on the ground, the silver wolf standing over it. The second black wolf tucks its tail between its legs and lowers its head in a clear sign of submission. Its wary eyes dart between the dominant silver wolf and two late arrivals now approaching from the edge of the woods.

  They prowl forward with hunched shoulders and come to a stand on either side of the silver wolf. They’re smaller than the massive wolf in the center and less impressive with their matching bronze-colored coats, but just as terrifying with their fangs bared.

  I hold my breath as the four creatures growl at each other, with the hope that, amidst all the chaos, they have forgotten about me. By some miracle, my wish comes true. The black wolf turns and runs into the woods. The other three wolves follow with a chorus of howls.

  I turn my attention to the blood dripping from my fingertips, and I know my reprieve is temporary. Even if the wolves have momentarily forgotten about me, the scent of blood in the air will surely bring them back.

  I keep one wary eye on the mirror as I search the cab for something to wrap around my wound. When I find nothing, I glance out the window beside me. Then I turn to look out all of the windows. I take a long, hard look, holding my breath as I listen for any indication that the wolves are near.

  Glancing toward the bonfire, I see that more classmates remain in the clearing than I initially thought. Amid my ordeal, a few cars have even returned. No one knows that I’m slowly bleeding to death in this truck.

  I search for my cellphone, but I can’t find it. It’s not on the seat, nor the floorboard. It’s likely lying on the ground alongside my bag and bear spray. All worthless to me now.

  “I don’t want to do this,” I groan to myself in the eerie silence.

  But I know I have to. I have to get help.

  With a shaky hand, I pull the door handle up and push the door open. I climb out of the truck and stand on wobbly legs to listen.

  I hear laughter in the distance and start to wonder if I imagined the whole thing. Then I glance at my shredded arm and the blood dripping to the ground beneath me. That much is definitely real. Imaginary wolves or not, I am still in trouble.

  My head spins as I stumble forward, toward the clearing and the bonfire where I hope someone will help me. With any luck, I will find Vienna.

  The sharp sound of a twig snapping brings me to a sudden stop. It’s like déjà vu, only worse. This time, I know exactly what is stalking me.

  The earth tilts and spins beneath me as I turn around and come face-to-face with the silver-furred, blue-eyed wolf. It doesn’t move and neither do I.

  Only the ground moves. It rises up to collide with my cheek. A ragged breath rushes out of me from the impact. Grass tickles my nose and dirt finds its way into my mouth as I stare down the narrow black tunnel that surrounds me. I extend one hand, reaching for the truck door despite knowing it’s too far away.

  A massive silver paw with long, black claws steps toward me, into my line of sight. My eyes flutter shut as the tunnel constricts around me, and I am thankful that I won’t feel what I know is about to happen.

  I jerk awake. Voices surround me and drift down to where I am lying on the ground. Not growls, as I expect. Voices.

  I blink away the foggy curtain covering my eyes to find Luca crouched over me. He shouts over his shoulder at someone I can’t see.

  His shoulder is bare. My gaze travels down to see that his whole chest is bare. The shirt he was wearing earlier is currently wrapped around the gash in my arm. It’s black so I can’t see the blood that saturates it, but I suspect it is a lot if the amount of wet stickiness I feel against my skin is any indication.

  Another man steps into view, behind Luca. His dark eyes peer down at me and his lips move, but I hear nothing above the ringing in my ears. I part my lips to say something, but only manage to groan.

  Luca’s fierce gaze collides with mine. My mouth instinctively snaps shut. His features soften as he shushes me with a soothing whisper. Then he glances above me and nods.

  A bright white light flashes and the darkness takes me again.

  My eyelids are heavy when I peel them open again. I stare up at the roof of my car. I know it’s mine thanks to the rip in the back, right corner. And the smell. I would recognize the scent of my car anywhere—the unique blend of motor oil and orange blossom air freshener.

  I am sprawled across the backseat, and a man I don’t know is driving. Another man sits in the passenger seat. All I see of them is the backs of their heads, but I’m confident that I do not know either of them.

  The lumpy pillow under my head moves, and I shift my gaze. I find a familiar face, but it only confuses me more.

  “You’re sure you got everyone?” Luca’s voice is hushed, nearly a whisper.

  “Sure I’m sure,” another deep voice answers. “No one will know how bad it was.”

  The man in the passenger seat turns his head to the side at the same moment a car passes from the other direction. In the brief beam of light, I realize I recognize him. He is the same man I saw with Luca a few moments ago—assuming I didn’t dream that part.

  The throbbing in my arm certainly feels real. Luca’s legs beneath my head feel real. Everything else feels like a nightmare.

  “Any idea yet who they were?” the driver asks.

  “Working on it.” The one in the passenger seat hits a phone screen, illuminating his face in soft light.

  “I’m going to fin
d out,” Luca grits and glares at the back of the driver’s head. “Try and stop me again, and it will be you that I tear to shreds.”

  I shudder at the malice in his tone, but no one else reacts. Clearly, death threats are an everyday occurrence for them.

  Who are these guys? Obviously not a group of friends on a simple camping trip.

  The man with the phone suddenly turns around and glances down at me. “It’s not working. She’s going to remember most of this.”

  “How many times has her head been messed with?” the driver asks.

  “A few times,” Luca mutters, glancing down at me with a frown. Bright light fills the inside of the car and I barely hear the whispered words that follow. “I’m sorry, Sav.”

  My head hits something soft and I groan as the black curtain peels away once again. I recognize the comfort of my own bed and sink into it with a sigh. A shadow moves above me and a face materializes out of the darkness. His eyes blaze a fierce blue, illuminated by the moonlight shining through my window.

  Luca.

  “Shh, Sav.” He brushes the hair out of my face. “You’re going to be okay now.”

  I open my mouth, but nothing comes out. No amount of saliva can moisten my throat and mouth enough for me to speak.

  “Don’t,” Luca whispers. “I’ll be back. It won’t be like the last time. I promise.”

  My brows furrow in confusion. I may be hurt and delirious, but that’s not the reason he isn’t making any sense. It’s the words he is saying. They are confusing. I try to tell him that, but a wave of dizziness washes over me. It pulls me under, and I have no choice but to close my eyes.

  His voice drifts to me out of the darkness. “Remember, Sav. I need you to remember . . .”

  Chapter 3

  I wake to the lyrics of Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off” blaring from my phone and toss an arm onto the bedside table to silence it before the whole house wakes. We all know that Jill needs her “beauty sleep”—her excuse for not leaving her room until noon every day—and the last thing I need, with this monstrous headache, is to listen to her whining.