She took off before the words had left her lips. She was running, crashing through the undergrowth and clamoring over the boulders that ringed the valley.
She could hear Douglas screaming behind her, then, seconds later, the labored chase he was giving.
God, he was crazy. A true hunter he wasn’t. Didn’t he take the time to know his adversary? To pay attention to the fact that the men helping him were no more friends of his than Cabal was?
At least, that was what she prayed.
She ran through the forest, panting, her heart racing, remembering the last flight she had taken through here.
Where was Cabal? Patrick had warned her that Jonas was near when he posed the question about the pills. He had to have smelled something in that valley that assured him the director was there.
Where was Jonas at least?
She could hear the pursuit behind her, and knew that despite his halting steps in the valley, Douglas was determined. Determined enough that he was actually gaining on her.
“Cabal!” She screamed out his name now. He had to be close. He wouldn’t leave her here like this. He’d been here when Dog and his men had chased her. He had saved her then, he would save her now.
A sharp retort sounded behind her. Cassa screamed when a bullet shaved the tree next to her as she flew past it. Ducking, tears finally falling from her eyes, she cried out for Cabal again.
Snow was falling faster now, covering the ground beneath the trees and making it treacherous. She slipped, fell and rolled before scrambling to her feet once more. When she glanced behind her, wild terror seared into her brain at the sight of Douglas pausing and aiming the handgun he carried toward her.
She raced behind trees, barely escaping another bullet as she glimpsed the dark forms moving with Douglas. He wasn’t alone. Was that Brim or Mutt? Either of the two she felt she had a chance with.
Panting, sliding down the slick, mountainous slope, Cassa prayed for a miracle now. She couldn’t let herself be killed. God forbid she was actually unlucky enough to be caught.
Slipping again, she found herself facedown on the ground, fighting to find traction, to find her feet again. She was kicking off to sprint again when cruel hands gripped her arm.
Wild-eyed, she stared back at the Breed that gripped the heavy arm of her jacket. His eyes were black, his hair blond. Determination marked his features and filled her with terror.
The Coyotes weren’t good. None of them. Those at Haven were betraying the very vows they had made to protect the society as a whole. Proof was in this man, their leader, the mate she had watched take his vows just weeks before. Del-Rey Delgado.
“No!” She screamed out the rejection, fighting him, tearing free as the coat slipped from her shoulders and she raced down the mountain.
Another bullet clipped a branch overhead. Behind her, she could hear Douglas cursing, ordering. The mountain was alive with terror, running feet and shouted orders.
She wasn’t going to make it. Oh God. She wasn’t going to escape this. There was no way to get far enough ahead of them. No way to save herself.
“Enough!” A hard bicep wrapped around her waist as agony streaked through her from behind.
This was pain. This was the most horrendous pain she had ever known. Every place that the hard male body touched burned in agony as she kicked, shrieking in fear and fury as she was tossed to the ground.
Rolling to her knees, she fought to find her feet. Sliding against the snow and mud, she rose shakily, only to face Douglas.
A second later a hard strike against her face sent her back to the ground again as she heard a furious growl echo around her.
“Touch her again, Watts, and I’ll kill you myself,” Delgado warned him. “We didn’t sanction harming another Breed’s mate.”
“My wife!” Douglas screamed. The next second Cassa barely deflected a kick aimed to her ribs as she rolled out of reach. “She’s my wife. She’s not that dirty f**king Breed’s anything.”
“Don’t touch her again.” Brim moved between them.
Another shot was fired. Cassa glimpsed Brim flinching as she made it to her feet again and started running.
Down the mountain. She just had to make it down the mountain. Then to the road. Maybe they’d all kill each other behind her.
“You f**king bitch.”
Douglas tackled her from behind. They crashed to the forest floor as Cassa fought. She kicked, screamed. Her nails tore at his face, and for one incredible second she thought she’d actually be free.