CHAPTER 62

NICCO

Hope dropped her tree branch and began to walk over to me. I took it all in. She was in her underwear, hair unkept, dirty and scratched. She was walking like she was drunk, staggering and dragging her feet all at once. As I watched, she began to crumple.

I shifted and was by her side, catching her before she hit the ground. She was unconscious, her eyes rolled up into the back of her head. I looked over at Mario who had managed to shift back into himself. He was still winded, bent over double and gasping for air.

“Why does she smell like you?” I asked, my voice fierce.

“I scented her, Alpha. I’m sorry but I needed to buy us some time.” His voice was respectful but full of fear.

“And why is she half naked?” I pressed.

“Because I took her dress and led the hunters away,” a voice said from behind me. I turned to look and saw a girl walking towards me. She looked remotely familiar, but I didn’t know why.

She looked at me and took exception to the look on my face. “Oh,