Alpha Kade's Regret

ene'

avier than the last. My shoulder throbbed where one of the rogues had clawed me and exhaustion weighed me down lik

jagged entrance was hidden behind overgrown vines and moss-c

think it's saf

tay on alert,

h the distant trickle of water. The cave was small, just large enough to house me comfortably, and it appeared abandoned. I ca

emed

bed, then pulled a thin blanket from my bag to cover myself. The exhaustion from the day's events finally caught up

lene," Lyra mu

whispered back, my ey

y eyes flew open. The cave was pitch black, the only light coming from the f

bear staring dire

h the pungent scent of musk and earth. My heart po

yra said sharp

side and shifted. My bones cracked and reshaped. I could feel fur sprouting along my

ssive head turning toward me.

is its cave,"

the side, darting toward the entrance of the cave. My paws scraped agains

Jus

with effort. The bear was right behind me, its heavy footsteps shaking th

g up!" I gasp

c! You can

fallen logs. My mind raced with desperation. I didn'

ed over my shoulder and saw it gaining on me, it

eart

aw it-a

elow me, a jagged ravine stretched endlessly into darkness. I

e to go," I whi

ht," she rep

me. It roared again and lifted a paw to strike.

ing crack echoed t

erking as blood sprayed from its chest. It stagger

s the world seemed

ged from the

rling from the barrel. His silver eyes gleamed in th

. My mind was a jumbled mess o

mon said, his voice

rembling with adrenaline. "What are you doing he

the shotgun. "Saving

our help," I snappe

ou needed it. You would've been

ue, but the words wouldn

find me?" I asked,

ted casually, as if it were the

ha

ss," he said,

in caves, running into bears. Someone had t

a babysitter

u need protection. And whether you like it or

something I couldn't quite name-twisting in my c

on softened. "Maybe not. But I know what it's like to be alone out h

s caught me off guard, leaving me unsu

" I muttered, though even I

hair. "You keep saying that, but all I ha

argue, but he held

don't have to trust me. But at least let m

y no. But the weight of the day's events pressed dow

ser, his silver eyes piercing into mine.

ound of the wind rustling through the trees. I felt

mouth to reply, a low grow

ression hardening as he

ispered, my voic

raised the shotgun again, hi

r this time. Whatever was o

d as I stepped

he said, his voice

n't a

t a glimpse of movement in the sha

red, my voice sha

is focus locked on w

e, its eyes glowing in the darkness.

somethi