Chapter 98. Time Ticking

Liam

The forest around us is shrouded in a heavy overcast overhead, making every step toward Windaster feel like an omen.

I can barely hear my own ragged breathing over the pounding of my heart.

Something behind me rumbles in the distance, gaining on me with every crunch of my paws against the snow. It isn’t long before the sound is almost deafening, forcing me to look over to my right to see both Ainsley and Iris riding an ATV.

The smell of exhaust stings my nose, and the loud rumbling of the engine rings in my ears, but I have to hand it to them. The damn machine is faster than Iris can run.

Iris holds a thumbs up to me right before buckling down and shifting the clutch. The ATV skyrockets forward, snow kicking up behind it and creating a worn path into the hard ground that gives me more traction to run along.

I howl into the darkening sky.

My mind races with memories—of meeting Koen and wanting him dead to slowly building a frien