Eira had better stamina that the average human, naturally. All her kind did. That didn’t mean they could run forever though.

Damn.

She stopped to catch her breath.

That’s when she heard it.

It wasn’t what she’d call footsteps. No, not exactly.

And then she knew.

She whirled around and heaved a heavy breath, half-sigh and half-pant from exertion.

Dammit.

The wolf ambled up next to her.

“Stop following me.” She glared at the massive creature with its glowing eyes. “Go away.”

She didn’t know his exact link to the berserkers, but she knew there was a connection, that much he’d confessed to.

The wolf studied her; his eyes had a human sentient quality to them.

Of course, they do, stupid. He’s human.

She studied him back. She’d never met a shifter in person.

“How bad does it hurt to shift?” It had to hurt, didn’t it?

The wolf cocked his head, as though thinking of her question.

So, he did understand her when he was in his wolf body.

“Stop following me. Stop or I’ll hurt you.” She didn’t know if she could keep that threat. He’d helped her, after all. It would be shitty for her to inflict bodily harm on him after he’d helped her.

Yeah, but he’s involved in this. He was paid to rat you out.

That was before—

Before what? She was sitting here arguing with herself about a wolf shifter that gave her up to the berserkers. Just because he saved her life didn’t make him her ally.

And the fact he was more devastatingly sexy than any other man she’d ever met…

That has nothing to do with it, she reminded herself.

And yet, there was something in his eyes, both human and wolf. That something…

Like he was honest. Honorable. Trustworthy.

WTF? He’s not a damned boy scout.

“Look, dammit. I’m going to run in that direction and you’re not going to follow me anymore. Got it?”

The wolf snarled.

She stomped her foot at it, as though to shoo it away, then stopped herself before she did it as second time. Not only was it an exercise in futility, but it was stupid, as well. This was a sentient being. He knew better than to be worried about a little foot-stomping.

“I mean—”

Her tirade was interrupted by the sound of a crack so loud, so ear-piercing, that it made her flinch.

She looked around. What the hell was going on? Surely her attackers hadn’t caught up to her so quickly.

She glanced at the wolf to gauge his reaction.

Except the wolf was on the ground, on his side, blood blooming across his fur.

What the hell?

Her first instinct was to run—to get the hell out of there, posthaste, and escape the attackers.

But the problem was that her integrity put the brakes on that idea.

Dammit.

Why did she have to have a conscience?

Eira knelt to check on him.

“Get your hands off him.” A voice was heard from in the trees.

Eira glanced up.

Three men approached, all carrying rifles, decked out in ammo.

She appraised them. They didn’t look like the guys that had captured her.

Nah, they looked like a couple of good ol’ boys. And they were sporting grungy beards and a nasty attitude.

Did she mishear him?

“What?”

“I got ‘im,” one of them said to his buddies with a guffaw.

“Get your hands off him,” the same voice that had spoken earlier said. He was the burly one in the middle. “That’s Junior’s kill.” The barrel of his rifle was rising precariously.

“That’s right. I shot him.” This came from the one that was clearly Junior.

She frowned.

Her wheels were spinning, working overtime, trying to figure out how to get out of this situation.

She rose to her feet, planted her hands on her hips. “You shot my dog, asshole.”

Junior’s jaw dropped.

Burly lowered his weapon, pointing it downward, yet said, “That doesn’t look like a dog.”

“He’s a fucking hybrid, you inbred piece of shit. Part wolf, part dog. I want your names. I’m telling the law on you. Ignorant bastards. My dog and I were sitting here minding our own business, walking through the woods.” She summoned tears, and that wasn’t easy.

I’m not a damned cry-baby.

“Ma’am, let’s get him to a vet. I’ll cover the cost.” Junior was stammering the words out.

“Yeah, we’ll carry him to—you got a car?”

“A pickup. It’s a good bit away.” She hoped she could find it.

“We’ll load you up in the back of my vehicle,” Burly said. “It’ll get you to your truck quicker. Just don’t call the law, okay?” He was into negotiation, clearly.

“Fine. Get me to my truck.”

She put her hand on the wolf’s side. It was rising and falling, though, slowly.

At least, he was still alive.

She prayed he wouldn’t shift while they got him to the truck.

She also prayed the keys were in the same place he left them last time.

What a mess. I should have run.