Twisted Stars (Hardest Mistakes #3)

by Dannielle Wicks

  I look down at my branch, impressed. Who knew I was that strong?

  The unmistakable noise of people moving around in the tents closest to us kicks my brain back into gear. We have to get away from here. Now.

  Dropping the branch, I kneel down and help Jayden push the man off. His shirt, face, and arms are streaked with blood and dirt. I can’t tell if the blood is his or the soldier’s. He groans in pain as he sits up.

  “You didn’t need to do that. I had him,” he gasps out, throwing me a quick smile. I roll my eyes and take a hold of his hand to help him up.

  “Come on, let’s get out of here before the rest of them wake up and I need to save you from them too.”

  We stumble as quietly as we can through the dark trees toward the mountains. Jayden trips over nothing and starts wandering off in the wrong direction. He’s out of energy, and he’s hurt. The adrenaline must have worn off.

  I grab his arm and pull him toward me as I search the surrounding area. Hidden behind a thick clump of trees, I spot a large rocky outcrop carved into the cliff side. We make it to the small cave, and I push Jayden in ahead of me.

  He trips and sits heavily on the stone floor before he falls over. “I have to get away from you,” he spits out, trying to move away from me. I open my mouth in shock. Where did this harsh attitude come from? His words hurt, but I ignore him and shake my head.

  Kneeling down beside him, I reach out to touch his arm. “I need to check you over to make sure you’re not going to bleed to death.”

  “I’m fine.” He pushes me away and tries to stand up. “I need to get out of here—it’s not safe.” He fails to lift himself up and collapses onto his back, breathing heavily, his eyes unfocused. What is wrong with him?

  I scowl at him and lift up his right arm to find a large bleeding gash on his chest. “This needs to be dressed.”

  He tries to push me away again, but I ignore him and rip a shred of cloth from the bottom of my shirt.

  “Ashlee, stop—you need to get away. I can’t…control—” His words cut off with a sharp intake of breath. I snatch my hand away from his arm and stand.

  He tilts his head back to look at me. His eyes aren’t dark anymore.

  He groans, his gold eyes rolling back into his head as he turns onto his side, curling into himself. I have to get out of here. This isn’t right—something’s wrong.

  I pause beside the entrance of the cave to look back at Jayden’s trembling body before spinning around and dashing into the forest.

  What have I gotten myself into? Where am I supposed to go now? I should have trusted my instincts—the ones that said he was dangerous.

  I run through the trees. Branches and leaves smack and scratch me as I pass, but I don’t stop. I can’t…

  I slow to a walk and take a breath. I have to be far enough away by now, don’t I?

  I tilt forward and brace my hands on my shaky knees. I need to rest, or I’m going to collapse.

  I lift my head and glance around at the trees. Where am I? I straighten up and turn around slowly. In my haste, I’ve lost my way. Which way did I come from? Which way do I go now?

  Dammit…okay, stay calm.

  I just have to make it to sunrise, and then I can climb a tree and find out where I am. But first, I need water.

  I push branches out of my way and stumble over the rough undergrowth, searching.

  I just have to make it to sunrise.

  Something moves the bushes beside me. I jump away and sprint off like a startled animal. My foot catches a rock, and I go down, landing on my hands and knees.

  I can’t do this…

  I’m not cut out to be on the run…

  I never should have left…

  I miss my mom.

  Tears dribble down my nose and onto the forest floor. I close my eyes. The sobs get caught in my throat. I give up, lying down on the soft undergrowth.

  Let them find me—I don’t care anymore. I shouldn’t have run off in the first place. What was I thinking? That I could somehow help Jayden? How could I be so stupid?

  The sun begins to rise; I tilt my head to the side to see its beautiful light streaming through the leaves and onto my face. It gives me a small sliver of hope.

  Dragging my heavy body off the ground, I stand on shaky legs and walk toward the closest tree. I glance up at its large, thick limbs; it should be strong enough to hold my weight.

  I suck in a deep breath and wrap my arms as far around its trunk as I can reach. The climb takes every bit of energy I have left.

  Puffing, I settle on a sturdy branch and peek through the thick green foliage. Something sparkles close by in the early morning light. Water? No, a waterfall. If I listen carefully, I can hear the tumble of water over stone in the distance. That’s the way I need to head. I twist on my branch and look back the other way. Most of the trees are too tall to see past. Maybe if I keep walking, eventually I’ll make it to a town.

  Surely I can find my way to a town from here?

  I slowly lower myself down the tree. By the time I reach the bottom, my arms are shaky and weak from holding up my weight. I can’t believe I thought this was a good idea. I can’t survive out here. And where were we going to go, anyway?

  I shake my head and stomp through the bushes, heading for the waterfall.

  I reach the river leading to the falls just after midday and sigh happily at the sight of water. Finally. I kneel down on the rocky bank and slurp greedily from the clear liquid. It feels amazing going down my throat. After I’ve drunk my fill, I sit up and leisurely glance around the trees.

  Suddenly, a horn sounds close by. Hunters? The soldiers? Or something worse?

  I jump up and take off along the bank of the river, pushing myself to sprint over the slippery rocks.

  A soldier jumps out of the trees ahead of me. I have to stop myself from screaming. The rest of them will hear me. I take a sharp turn and dive into the water, crossing the icy cold river. I can’t swim, but I can hear the rest of them crashing me through the trees. If I don’t make it across, I’m as good as dead anyway.

  As I struggle through the water, I take it all back, everything I said before. I don’t want them to catch me. I don’t want to give up. My head goes under, and I come back up sputtering for breath. I move my arms, pushing myself through the rapids.

  I reach the opposite bank and haul myself out, not stopping for air—I start sprinting again into the trees.

  I reach a small grove and push myself inside.

  Please don’t find me.

  Please don’t find me.

  Heavy footsteps crunch over the undergrowth. I can hear them surrounding the grove of trees I’m hiding in. They know where I am. They’re just playing games with me now.

  I step backwards as quietly as possible, immediately smacking into something solid. I freeze and suck in a breath. Reaching behind me, my fingers touch the rough bark of a tree. The breath I was holding comes out in a relieved whoosh.

  The soldiers are getting closer, and I have nowhere to go unless I want to fling myself off the waterfall and fall to my death. The rocks at the bottom of the shallow pool would almost definitely kill me.

  Although…what have I got to lose? Either way, I’m about to meet my end.

  Something shifts in the shadowy trees beside me. I squeak and move around the tree away from it. A low rumbling growl echoes through my chest, and I peek back around the tree to see a huge white tiger crouching low, ready to pounce.

  Oh god. This is it.

  As the first soldier breaks through the trees and spots me, the tiger leaps, knocking him to the ground and closing its jaws around his throat. Then, as the next soldier crashes through the trees, it launches itself at him as well.

  This is my opportunity; I have to run, right now.

  I sidestep the dead soldier and start making my way down the side of the waterfall. I move slowly—the rocks are covered in wet moss and extremely slippery. All movement in the trees above me has stopped
suddenly. They’ve either retreated or they are all dead.

  Thoughts about the tiger coming for me next distract me, and I misplace my foot, slipping off the edge of a rock and falling. A sharp sting in my shoulder slams me into the rocks and stops my descent. I tilt my face up and suck in a scream. The tiger has its mouth over my shoulder, its teeth digging painfully into my shoulder and ripping into my skin, drawing blood.

  I use the tiger’s weight to haul myself back up onto the stone ledge beside it.

  I immediately shuffle as far away from it as I can on the rock ledge. It just stares at me with its eerie gold eyes. It doesn’t look like it’s going to attack.

  Down is probably not the best way to go. Wary of the tiger, I turn and cross the slippery rocks until I reach the tree line. Glancing over my shoulder, I notice the tiger has followed me. Its gold eyes follow my movements as I find a rock close to the water to sit on and assess the damage to my shoulder.

  I peel back my shirt to feel the punctures on my shoulder. It feels superficial rather than damaging. I can handle it. The tiger grunts a few feet away, and I tilt my head to the side as I watch him try and lick clean the bleeding wound on his chest.

  If I am to believe what I think I saw back in my house…I glance back at the big cat—at Jayden.

  This is just weird—like Kai all over again. I shake my head and stand, walking over to the water and kneeling down. I turn back to the tiger and motion for him to come closer.

  “Come on, Jay-kitty.” I try at light and unafraid, but I’m not really feeling it. My hands shake at my sides.

  Ripping another strip of fabric off the bottom of my shirt, I dip it in the water and take a deep steadying breath. Jayden sits down beside me. Can he sense my fear? Is he still human inside? He told me to run…

  What about the other times a gold-eyed predator has saved my life or come close to me? The bear? The wolf? Was it always Jayden?

  I hesitate with the damp cloth held tightly in my fist and look up, meeting his gaze. The sun reflects off the water, glittering in his eyes.

  I can do this. He’s not going to hurt me. He’s proved it many times already. I lick my lips, nod to myself, and press the cloth up against the deep wounds on his chest, cleaning away the excess blood.

  How long until he’s human again?

  I peek up at his gold eyes again. He’s watching me carefully.

  Suddenly, he stands and starts walking. He looks over his shoulder as he enters the trees as if asking me to follow.

  The trees beside the waterfall are thin, but soon we are squeezing through shrubs and trees pressed so tightly together I have to walk behind him.

  I watch his stripes as we walk. This is so weird, and yet, it’s not?

  When we reach a spot of wider space between the trees, I hasten my steps and lift my hand, running my fingers along Jayden’s back. His soft white fur ripples under my fingertips as his muscles move beneath his skin.

  We stop just after dark under a small overhang. The rock provides only a small amount of warmth and shelter, but it’s better than a clearing with an open sky above.

  I sit with a heavy sigh and lean back against the rock. Jayden stops in front of me and dips his huge head. His gold eyes search my face before he moves closer and sits beside me.

  I try to conceal my small gulp of fear as he leans in, touching his nose to my shoulder. I keep my gaze straight ahead. He finally gives up and curls up on the stone beside me.

  After I’m sure he’s asleep, I curl up on my side with my back pressed against his side. I need his warmth, but I’m too afraid to face him.

  ***

  I did not sleep well last night. My dreams were more like nightmares, twisting and turning like a sea filled with painful voices and lingering hurt. I left them all without a word. Mom, Sammy, Kai, Brooke…even Dylan.

  Once I pry my eyes open to the early light of dawn, I roll over and shove my wet face into the leaf litter.

  I can’t do this.

  I’m starting to get used to being alone out here. But it’s getting hard trying to figure out which way to go. Does Jayden even know where he’s leading us, or is he just hoping to stay out here forever? I can’t live like this, not for the rest of my life. I hope he has a plan. I make a mental note to ask him if I ever see him human again.

  I stand and look around. Jayden isn’t here.

  There’s no point in staying. Someone might find me. Taking a wild stab at it, I start walking in what I hope is the right direction.

  I don’t stop for anything, not even food. I just keep walking. The monotony of the task helps me think and clear my head.

  I’m still walking at a steady pace after the sun sets below the horizon. I push through the dense trees, emerging into a dark grove, and freeze.

  Jayden watches me from the other side, waiting.

  We sit a few feet apart, our bags between us. Jayden must have retrieved them during the day. I look up and meet Jayden’s heavy gaze. I don’t know what to say or do.

  I mean, I know what he is, sort of. But witnessing it properly is totally different.

  “You’re afraid of me,” Jayden whispers, breaking the tense silence that has descended over us.

  “Yes,” I answer softly without a pause.

  He shifts closer. “I would never hurt you, Ashlee, no matter what form I take…never. I know that now.”

  “I know.” And I believe it. I really do. But he told me to run from him. You would think that as someone with previous paranormal experience, I should be able to handle someone as different as Jayden.

  Although Kai was cursed and freed. Jayden will be like this for the rest of his life—however long that may be.

  Am I okay with that?

  “Do you believe me?” The pain in his voice is clear. He doesn’t want to be alone anymore, and neither do I.

  “Yes, I believe you.”

  He closes the remaining distance and wraps his arms around me, his warmth enveloping me in a safe cacoon. I breathe in his pine scent and relax against him. I want this. I want this more than anything I’ve ever wanted before.

  Being here in his arms…it just feels right.

  We lay back on the soft grass facing each other, starlight glittering in Jayden’s eyes.

  Chapter Eight

  A noise in the trees catches my attention as we pack up our supplies.

  Jayden’s head snaps up, and he searches the tree line before looking back at me. His mouth twitches then he slides the bag off his shoulder and drops to his knees, placing his hands up in surrender.

  “What are you doing?”

  “We’re surrounded.”

  “You’re giving up? Just like that? After how hard we’ve fought to be free…”

  He looks at the ground in front of him, defeated. They start to converge on us through the trees. I step closer to him and watch, terrified as the soldiers trap us.

  Three of them grab Jayden and throw him to the ground with unnecessary force. Another grabs my arm and ties my hands in front of me.

  One of the soldiers standing over Jayden pulls out a thick needle full of clear liquid and plunges it into his neck. I flinch as Jayden’s body jolts in shock. They hoist him up by his hands and drag us both out of the grove, walking us through the trees to a black four-wheel-drive van. The side door slides open loudly, and they push me in. I land face first on the hard metal floor. Jayden is thrown in next to me. He lands awkwardly on his front but doesn’t move.

  The van’s heavy door slams shut behind me, and the ignition starts. I slide over to Jayden and use my tied hands to push him onto his back so he can breathe.

  My eyes adjust quickly to the sudden dark. I search for a handle on the door, but there are none. Not that I was going to jump out of the side of a moving van.

  Jayden moans. I lean over and find his eyes half open and unfocused—they must have sedated him. “Jayden, can you hear me?” His head tilts toward me limply.

  The van drives over a rough patch in the
road, and I squeal in surprise as it throws me sideways, landing heavily on Jayden. He groans quietly. “Sorry, sorry.” I push myself up.

  His eyes are closed tightly now. He looks as if he’s in a lot of pain. I lean back against the van’s wall and watch him, scared. His face suddenly goes lax as if he’s passed out. I’m so stupid. Why did I have to get myself involved?

  Watching Jayden’s face—I have my answer. I couldn’t possibly leave him now. I’ve fallen too far and too hard to turn back.

  The van slows to a stop after what feels like hours. A soldier heaves the door open with a grunt; another reaches in and drags Jayden’s unconscious body out. He hits the dirt with a thump. I frown at their rough treatment and shake off the soldier’s hands so I can step out of the van of my own accord.

  A soldier stands on either side of me as I’m escorted into a huge grey building. I take in as much of the surroundings as I can before I’m pushed inside. We are still in the forest but inside a compound surrounded by high electric fencing.

  I’m led down a narrow hallway and into a huge dark room full of cages. There is a lone window high up in the bricks of the back wall. I twist to see Jayden thrown into one of the cages, the door padlocked behind him. The man beside me pushes me into the cage next to him and unties my hands, locking the door as he leaves. The soldiers filter out of the room until we are left alone.

  The cage isn’t high enough to stand, so I shuffle on my hands and knees over to the side of my cage closest to Jayden, who is slumped up against the back. He groans softly, his head tipping toward me. His eyes open halfway, glowing gold. They stand out eerily on his pale face.

  I wrap my hands around the cage bars and rest my head against the cool metal.

  Tears dribble down my face and off my chin. Is this how I’m going to die? No one will ever know what happened to me—I’ll just be another one of those teenage runaways on the back of a milk carton that nobody cares about.

  “Please don’t cry,” Jayden’s voice comes out soft and slightly slurred. I lift my gaze to look at him, lying on his side facing me. His eyes are still a dull gold.

  “How can you say that? Look at where we are.” I slide to the ground, leaning against the bars. He grunts, slowly lifting himself into a sitting position and dragging himself across the cage floor to me. He leans against the bars, our foreheads touching between the metal. I wipe at my tears and search his unusual eyes and dirty, bloody face.