Savage Silence (Her Savage Secret & Her Savage Bond)

Hidden behind a large tree, I listen to the steady rhythm of my heartbeat.

My brother, who is two years older than me, told me we’d be fine going out into the woods for a walk. At fourteen and sixteen, the last thing we should have done is go out for a walk in the woods at night, yet we did. Then, like always, when you’re doing something you shouldn’t do, things go wrong.

We got separated and the worst part is I don’t have my wolf yet. He’s not here to protect me either.

I hyperventilate, thinking we should have never come out here like this.

Though we are wolves, mountain lions don’t fear us and sometimes like to come too close to the pack’s territory, especially if they think we have recently killed something. They want our leftovers and will do almost anything to have them, including killing those who aren’t watching their backs.

Now, I listen to the sound of its footsteps nearby. It must have thought we were out hunting and followed us, then grew impatient because we didn’t hunt.

I can’t even call out for my brother to come help me because the big cat will hear me and I’ll probably get eaten before I’m rescued.

This is just great. I’m going to die before I even see my wolf. Oh, what if she looks like my mom’s with black fur? I want to live long enough to see her once.

I shut my eyes tightly, wondering how much longer it’s going to take until the mountain lion tires of this and leaves me alone. It’s been snooping around the area for a while and I thought it would have gotten bored by now. Apparently, I’m too interesting.

I suck in a breath, which turns out to be more like a shuddered gasp. Once I realize how loud the sound actually is, my eyes widen in fear. What if it hears me?

Suddenly, its massive paws land on a small patch of leaf-covered ground, crunching loudly. I hold my breath, hoping that it won’t turn my way. Then, in a moment of panic, I turn and run in the opposite direction.

Sadly, it sees me and starts coming after me. At this point, I throw all of what I have learned as a child out of my head and scream at the top of my lungs.

“Someone, help me!”

Between the thundering of its paws behind me and my loud screams, I can’t hear if someone answers me. I keep running, focusing on the path ahead, and hoping that I can find my brother or an adult who can help me.

They’ll know what to do.

As I keep running through the woods and thickets, my hope fades, and I know that I’m about to meet my end. I’ll never make it back to the center of the territory, which means I’m going to die at the tender age of fourteen.

I glance around and then dive into a thick part of the woods instead of staying on the path where I’m easily seen. My legs tremble as I leap over fallen logs and keep moving. The mountain lion screams behind me, sounding eerily like a woman. It scares me so badly that I turn and glance over my shoulder, only to see that cat right behind me.

“No, no, you’re not getting me tonight,” I say as I try to pick up speed.

The only problem with my plan is I barely run faster than a human while in my human form. Until my wolf is free, I won’t go as fast as others.