Winter Wolf(29)

He’s here. Bass has come for me…

Katalina felt time slow as her brain worked a mile a minute. She needed to escape, but her door was guarded and Jackson was downstairs. Cage, where’s Cage?

“Toby, where’s Cage?”

“Jackson sent him home. Said his presence was winding up your wolf.”

“So no one is guarding the house? Who’s here?”

“No…Kat, what’s going on? You’re safe. Jackson is here and Ned is an enforcer.” He nodded toward the door.

Just Jackson and an enforcer to get past.

She saw a truck in the far distance.

Katalina picked up a vase and smiled at Toby, sending him a look of apology in the process. She threw the vase. It smashed loudly against the window, cracking the glass. The sound of Jackson’s feet running for the stairs urged her to move. Leaping, Katalina smashed through the window. She landed on her side in the snow, wishing she had more control over her wolf so she could have changed and landed on her paws. The impact knocked the air from her lungs. Stunned, she was unable to breathe as her nerves pulsed with pain. Sucking in a gravelly breath, she pushed up with her arms, blood dripping onto the snow; its stark crimson leaving its mark on the pristine earth.

Shouts from inside the house brought her body back to life. She leapt to her feet running for the truck that had travelled past the tree line. Katalina was surprised nothing major had been broken from the fall. Her feet glided across the ground fast and sure, a quick glance over her shoulder confirmed Arne was following, and Jackson had just burst through the front door.

“Katalina!” His voice echoed all around her, the power in it, vibrating through her bones. She shook it off, pushing her legs faster toward Bass. He’d just spun the truck around and headed back toward the tree line.

“Katalina, I order you too stop, as your alpha!” His voice bellowed through her causing her steps to falter. She felt her wolf rise to the surface, brushing against her skin, wanting out.

She could feel it, the natural instinct to change; her wolf was stronger, faster and she needed to escape. Katalina forced herself to relax to let her wolf through. When an image of Toby entered her mind, the feel of his warm blood filling her mouth…she gasped, forcing the wolf back.

“I’m your alpha. Obey me!”

He was right behind her. She could almost feel his fingers brushing against her. Arne ran at her side. The command rolled through her again. No! You’re not my alpha. You are no one to me!

Katalina found more strength within her, pushing herself faster. The truck ground to a stop. Bass climbed half out, his eyes frantic.

But Jackson was an alpha, not hers, but he still had the power of an alpha, which Katalina didn’t possess. His fingers brushed her skin and she heard a growl rumble from his human throat.

“Go!” she yelled at Bass. The truck started moving; it was just a meter away.

Katalina pushed off the ground, stretching as she jumped. She landed half into the back of the moving vehicle. Her hands scrambled for something to hold onto, wrapping around a bar as Jackson took hold of her ankle. The truck was now speeding away, swerving from side to side, trying to loosen Jackson, but his hand only tightened around her.

“Let go!” he growled.

Katalina gripped on with all her strength half-turning her body. She looked into Jackson’s angry eyes. “Let me go!” she screamed, kicking her free foot into his face.

Arne was still running after the truck, but he wasn’t quick enough to make the jump.

“Bass, Arne!” she yelled, kicking out again in hopes of making Jackson let go.

The truck suddenly braked, causing Jackson to collide with the back; Arne jumped, his legs scrambling on the smooth metal as he landed beside Katalina; her arm jarred, stretching painfully as Bass put his foot back on the accelerator. Gravel sprayed up as the tires skidded, making Jackson lose his footing. Katalina screamed as Jackson’s weight pulled against her.

“Let me go, Jackson!” she yelled. She was losing her grip, unable to take his full weight.

He was dragged behind the truck, his feet scrambling for grip. Determination flooded Katalina as her foot connected with his nose. His blood splattered against her bare feet. Her hold was slipping; she was going to fall. Fear of being trapped in that house forever coursed through her. At that moment, Arne leapt forward, sinking his teeth into Jackson’s wrist. Jackson yelled. Unable to keep his grip, he fell onto the ground, rolling over and over before stopping in a heap. The growl that left him as he sat up made Katalina’s hairs stand on end. She scrambled further into the back and banged on the glass window. “Go, Bass, get me out of here!”