The world blurred past us. The trees became blurred sticks as we wove in


    between. Bushes became wider obstacles that we jumped over. The animals, the birds, they knew something was happening, and they stayed quiet and out of the way.


    Megan passed the borders of the packnds, she weaved between the border patrols that were following their routes, and others that were just out for friendly hunts. We finally slowed to a stop to catch our breath and to figure out where to go. She looked around. Nix receding back beside me and copsing.


    Are you okay? I hurried to her side.


    Yeah. She huffed and sagged against me. I pushed too hard, that''s all.


    I cuddled her to my side, holding her up as she caught her breath, and I realized the sun had set. How long did it take us to run


    here?


    Nix huffed out a breath. Not long. Around two hours. Why?


    Why is the sun setting? I looked around and the woods were definitely darker.


    Megan looked up, and we saw it. She checked the sun, but there was nothing wrong. The trees were just growing darker. The air is thicker. That doesn''t seem good.


    Go. I called and Megan started running again. I pushed forward this time.


    Amy, I don''t know where to go.


    It''s okay, Megan. I''m here. I felt a tug ahead of us and to the right. I pushed her that way. We will follow the tugs.


    Okay. She pushed harder and soon we were rushing through the trees again.


    Nix called to us. Hurry! Something is happening.


    We kept running, but I felt a push to slow, so I pulled Megan back. Slow down. Get low.


    Megan dropped to her stomach, and together we barely breathed as she crept through the brush to get close enough to whatever


    was happening.


    There were voices, and Megan stilled for a second. I pulled magic around us to deaden our noise and we crept closer. "What do


    you mean the kids aren''t ready to harvest?" Vince''s voice was livid. He stomped around the clearing just ahead. "You fucking said


    they would be ready by today. You fucking checked the whelpst week personally." There was a smack and a small yelp.


    "I''m sorry Vince. She was ready. I swear it, but somehow, they have all grown stronger. Their wolves should have been dead


    already and their souls ready to harvest, but their wolves are all still alive. I don''t understand." That voice made Megan''s ears


    twitch.


    You have to be fucking kidding me. Inch closer, Megan, I need to see to be sure. I needed to see who was in the clearing. My heard


    Chocter 387


    was thudding in my chest.


    +15 Bonus


    "Verity, I''m about this close to tipping off your fucking head. You said we could harvest today and I''m already at the end of my fucking rope." Vince growled.


    "Dad, calm down." Brandon cut in. "What the hell is the point of being this annoyed, so you have to wait another week? You''ve already waited fucking years." Megan inches closer.


    Please, goddess. My words were soft and to myself, but Nix caught them.


    Why are you praying? Her voice was soft, to not distract Megan, who was still inching closer.


    I looked at her and released a breath. I don''t know. I have this pit in my stomach and I''m terrified that someone in that clearing is going to break my heart.


    She looked at me and then back out to the world. You think Rowan is there, don''t you?


    I sighed. Yeah, yeah I do.


    Megan pushed out just enough of her face from the bush to get a clear view of the clearing. Verity was standing over a child, while


    Vince and Brandon circled her. But there was no Rowan. I sighed in relief.


    See, he''s not here. Nix rubbed against my side, calming me. You worry too much. She chuckled. But theughter died as Rick came


    from behind a tree. His smile was cruel, and his eyes were dead.


    Morgan and Rick wereughing. They entered the clearing and Vince whirled on them. "What fucking took you so long? We have


    been waiting."


    "You haven''t fucking waited for anything a day in your life, Vin. You already had your witch try to drain the kid, didn''t you?" Rickughed as he looked down at the pup. But there was zero emotion on his face.


    "You''re right." Morgan chuckled. "And give me a break that fucking whore left me," He groaned. "I was so fucking close...you are so lucky, Rick. You got yours pregnant right off the hop. Mine waited. I was so close and then Shannon fucking ruined it for me."


    Brandonughed. "You ruined it for yourself. And I''m hanging on by a thread. Do you know how pissed Amy is?" He dropped his head back. "Do you know I almost had her mated and pregnant within two months, and then your daughter had to open her


    fucking mouth?"