Chapter 10
Ten minutes down the road and Katalina finally started to relax. That was until she saw a truck in the distance slowly gaining on them.
“Bass, we have company,” she yelled.
“Shit! Hold on!”
Katalina barely had a chance to grasp the edge of the truck before Bass swerved off the road. The vehicle bumped violently over the rough terrain and into the woods. Bass weaved in and out of the trees at stupid speeds; branches collided into them, slashing at Katalina huddled in the back. Arne stood on four spread legs, trying to keep upright; the look on his face, indicating he wasn’t impressed with the little detour. However, driving through the woods hadn’t stopped Jackson from pursuing, and soon Katalina saw the battered blue truck following behind them.
“He’s following!”
Katalina didn’t hear his answer. She screamed as she was thrown around when they turned sharply, bumping up onto another road. Arne’s feet fell from under him. He landed in a heap, skidding across the metal truck floor.
“I’ve got you, boy,” Katalina said, wrapping her arms tightly around her dog.
“Nearly there!” Bass yelled. He swerved again, taking them into more woods.
“Nearly where?” They didn’t seem to be anywhere and she could hear tires screeching onto tarmac so Jackson was still following.
Bass didn’t answer; instead, he sped up, swerving through the maze of trees as if he knew the placement of every one. Katalina couldn’t bear to look anymore. She was sure any minute they’d all be dead with the truck wrapped around a tree trunk, but another few minutes of crazy driving and Bass came to an abrupt stop.
“Get in!”
Katalina jumped over the side, Arne following her and they quickly climbed in. It wasn’t until she shut the door and glanced behind her that she realized Jackson wasn’t following them anymore.
“He gave up?” she asked, not quite believing it was true.
“We’re on Dark Shadow land. I didn’t think he’d risk an all-out w…” Bass’s eyes widened. “Kat, what happened to you?” His hands gently touched her bleeding arm. “We need to get this out, Kat; otherwise, you’ll heal with the glass still inside.”
“Okay.” She looked down at her arm for the first time, realizing it was lacerated with cuts and pieces of glass embedded in her skin. The adrenaline from her escape began to fade when she took in her injuries.
Bass gently removed the glass from her shoulder and arm. Kat winced each time, biting her lip so she wouldn’t cry out.
“There, all done. We’ll stop at a petrol station so you can freshen up, but I think it would be wise to leave before my father’s enforcers arrive.”
Katalina nodded, pulling her legs up to her chest and wrapping her arms around them. Bass glanced at her as he drove through the trees, slower this time.
“Tell me what happened, Katalina. Whose blood stains your skin?”
Katalina took a deep breath before speaking, “It’s Toby’s.” She didn’t miss the shocked look on his face, even if it was there for just a split second.
“Toby’s, the young lad? I thought you liked him?”
“I did…I do. Toby is the only friend I have there.” She sucked in another breath. “I couldn’t control it, Bass. Jackson had me locked up; he treated me like a prisoner and I was so angry. I…I lost it. I broke through the door and the wolf took over. I was so blinded by my rage I didn’t even know it was Toby until I felt his bl…until…” She swiped at the tears running down her cheeks.
“Hey, Kat, it’s okay. Losing control is perfectly normal after the first change and your situation is very different. Jackson should have treated you better. He should have known. If anyone is to blame, it’s him!”
“I don’t ever want to change again,” she whispered into her knees.
His hand ran through her hair. “So that’s why you didn’t change when you were running for the car. I’m surprised you could control your wolf. No more worrying. You are safe now, Katalina.”
Katalina turned her head to the side, her cheek resting on her knees. She looked at Bass with unshed tears in her eyes. “Am I? Am I ever going to be safe? Dark Shadow want me dead and my own father wants to keep me as a prisoner. What was his plan? To just lock me up until he decides he wants me to have babies with Cage.”
Bass growled. His hand caressed her face. “I will never let anyone hurt you again. I’ll keep you safe. Do you understand? You are mine, not his, and I will treat you like the queen you are. You’ll never be locked up again.”