Savage Silence (Her Savage Bond)

Hidden behind the massive oak tree, I pressed my back against the rough bark and tried to control my ragged breathing. My heart hammered so loudly I was certain it would give me away.

This is all Reed's fault.

My brother, two years older and infinitely more reckless, had convinced me that a night walk through the woods would be "perfectly safe." 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. Reed had always been good at talking me into stupid ideas.

We got separated and the worst part is I don’t have my wolf yet. He’s not here to protect me either. Just me, alone in the dark with something stalking me through the trees.

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. And I couldn't help the sharp intake of breath that escaped me. The sound was deafeningly loud in the silence.

The padding footsteps stopped.

Oh no. Oh no, oh no, oh no.

Then I heard it—a low, rumbling growl that made every hair on my body stand on end. It had found me.

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.

My thoughts go to my brother Reed. He’ll probably tell everyone I’m an annoying little sister who never listened to him. I shake my head, dismissing those thoughts. Now isn’t the time for me to accept my death, though it’s not looking good.

My eyes land on an old rundown building that we use for training. Technically, I’m not supposed to know about it yet, because my parents and the older wolves all use it and I don’t have a wolf. Of course, I was dumb once around the age of ten and discovered it, anyway.

I aim for the old building, and just as I think I’m not going to make it to safety, I find the willpower to keep moving. Once I make it to the building, I dart through the open doors, and turn to slam it between me and the big cat. I use all my strength to lean against the door, keeping it closed.

I frantically look behind me, searching for anything to use as a weapon, but there’s nothing. The building is empty.

“I’m going to die.”

The door rocks against my hands as the cat on the other side hisses. Then, there’s a loud crack, followed by a loud thump on the ground.

“It’s safe to come out now,” a boy calls out.

Without thinking twice, I throw open the door and look down at the ground. There, in a pool of its own blood, lies the mountain lion. I stare at it, my body going numb.

A hand lands on my shoulder, making me jump and look up. The boy is standing there, trying to pull me into his arms.

“It’s okay, Halley. I got you. Why are you out here all alone at night? You’re supposed to be with your brother at home.”

I look up and it clicks who this boy is. “Sam.”

He grins at me, revealing perfectly straight teeth and fangs. His eyes are glowing an eerie yellow, which means his wolf is close to the surface.

“Are you okay?” He asks, his hands on both shoulders. “You look terrified.”

“I was before you came,” I say, my voice cracking. “Reed and I were just going for a walk, but I lost him and then that cat came.”

He pulls me in even closer. “You’re safe now.”

His head rests on top of mine and I’m lulled by his warmth. At that very moment, something settles into the back of my mind and I know that one day this boy is going to be my mate. But just as that thought crosses my mind, I realize I’m stupid to think so. Alphas and betas can’t be together. It doesn’t matter that I’m not even the heir and my brother is. I’m still an alpha by birth, which means the rule applies to me as well.

But if this is a fated mate bond, rejection means we’ll both die.

A heavy sigh escapes me. There can’t be a bond between us, so we’re safe. Everything is fine, even if I wish he could be mine.

He picks me up, and just as I sink into his arms with my cheek resting against his shoulder, I hear someone coming. Their footsteps are loud against the fallen leaves. I pulled back slightly to look at his face, searching for any sign that he felt it too. His expression was unreadable, but there was something intense burning in his eyes.

"Sam, I—"

"What the hell do you think you're doing with my sister?"

We sprang apart as Reed emerged from the treeline, his wolf form rippling just beneath the surface. His eyes were blazing gold with protective fury as he took in the scene...