Chapter 7

The sounds of the battle grew louder. From a distance, I could see the Alpha and his group, still tearing through people. The man guided me in the opposite direction, toward the city’s edge. We walked quickly and silently, and soon we were only a few steps from the entrance to a forest.

As the man matched his pace with mine, I started to question his motives. Was he part of that woman’s group? Or was he a lost human, trapped in this city, unable to let another human endure the same fate he had? I didn’t have much time to dwell on these thoughts because we suddenly reached an open area.

The man turned to face me, his gaze sharp and focused. “Listen,” he said urgently, lowering his voice. “You have to leave this place. Staying is not an option. The Alpha is coming for you—he won’t stop until he finds you.”

“You said their hearing is good,” I said, glancing toward the trees. “How good?”

“Good enough to hear any noise you make here.”

I swallowed the bitter