Chapter 48
Chapter 48
The snow came up to Tessa’s thighs, forcing her to make awkward, lunging leaps. Another shadow flashed into sight on her left, coming from behind her. Tessa gasped and stumbled–a wolf! It raced towards Natasha. Fear stabbed at her heart.
Two more wolves appeared after the first, closely chased by a fourth. They closed in on Natasha with unbeatable speed.
“Help!” Tessa screamed, hoping someone in The Spruce would hear her–realizing far, far too late that she should have called for help in the first place. But panic had overtaken her, and she’d leapt out the door without thinking.
The shadow that had taken Natasha straightened suddenly, and Tessa realized it wasn’t a wolf like she’d first thought–it was a man. A tall, powerfully built man who’d emerged from the forest without
a coat, and who moved with inhuman speed.
At the sight of four wolves bearing down on him, the man dropped
his hold on Natasha. The dark of the night seemed to condense
around him, distorting his shape until Tessa wasn’t certain anymore
that it was a man. With that same alarming speed, the shadow leapt
to Tessa. She slid to a halt, falling backwards into the snow. Time
seemed to slow as she watched the shadow close in on her, reaching
for her with hands made of midnight.
Out of nowhere, another wolf appeared, leaping in front of Tessa
and intercepting the shadow creature. They crashed together and
landed hard, kicking up snow as they rolled. Both figures broke
apart, and then the wolf lunged. Moonlight flashed over his silvery pelt, his bared fangs, and Tessa realized she recognized him–it was the same big silver wolf she’d seen that night through the dining
room windows. Vicious snarls rent the air as he lunged at the
shadow again and again, sinking his fangs in and tearing away
Chapter 48
strips of fabric and flesh.
Tessa scrambled to her feet, the cleaver still clutched in her hand.
The shadow twisted and feinted, surged and fell back, landing a blow against the wolf that sent the animal sprawling. Blood sprayed the snow, vivid and steaming. The shadow straightened–suddenly in the shape of a man again. The moonlight flashed over his face as
he turned to look at Tessa.
Her heart stopped. A scream boiled in her throat, but she couldn’t
make a sound.
Alex.
Three more wolves raced in from behind Tessa, leaping at him. Snarls and howls surrounded her. Just as quickly as he’d appeared, the shadow man with Alex’s face condensed back into shapeless
darkness. It fled from the wolves, racing over the snow with
impossible speed. The wolves gave chase, also impossibly fast. The
shadow disappeared into the darkness of the forest, and the wolves plunged after it.
Tessa was alone again. The sound of her own breathing abraded her
ears. She turned to where she’d last seen Natasha–there, still
surrounded by wolves. She began running.
“Tessa!” She heard a voice behind her. “Tessa, stop p>
She glanced back. Jess was running to her, closing the distance between them with ease. Adam and Elena sprinted past her, racing
towards Natasha and the wolves.
“Here!” Tessa called to them, waving the cleaver frantically. “For the
wolves p>
“The wolves won’t hurt them.” Jess reached her side. She grabbed Tessa’s weapon arm and carefully wrestled her to a stop. They were similarly sized, but Jess was far stronger than Tessa. “Come on,
Chapter 48
Tessa, it’s going to be alright. I need you to come back inside with
me p>
“But-” Tessa tugged against Jess’s hold, twisting to look back. Arthur Freeman had Natasha scooped into his arms. Where had he come from? And… “Why is Arthur naked?” Tessa asked faintly, letting Jess take the cleaver from her.
“Shh, come on,” Jess soothed. “It’s minus twenty and you’re out here in a camisole and ballet shoes p>
“I lost my shoes,” Tessa told her dumbly, allowing herself to be led back to the kitchen door. “They came off in the snow p>
“Well, I hope they weren’t expensive. You’re probably not going to find them until spring.” Jess got her back to the kitchen door. She tried to turn for another look at Natasha, but Jess hustled her inside. A crowd had gathered in the kitchen, watching the mayhem.
“Out of the way,” Jess ordered. She led Tessa through the parted
crowd. “Someone get blankets. And someone fill hot water bottles p>
Tessa was vaguely aware of bodies hustling to obey. Jess brought
her into the dining room and pushed her to sit on the stone hearth in
front of the fireplace.
A moment later, Arthur emerged with Natasha still cradled in his
arms. Someone had draped a blanket over his shoulders.
“Put me down, ukochany,” Natasha said weakly. “I can walk p>
Arthur ignored her, his face a grim mask. He sank down next to Tessa at the hearth, cradling Natasha in his lap and staring down at her with heart–rending grief on his face.
“Arthur,” Natasha said softly, freeing one hand to cup his jaw. He shuddered, eyes closing as he leaned into her touch.
Chapter 49
Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.