Free Unbound by Emily Goodwin

making my pass impossible. I resisted the urge to punch her in the stomach and yell “SIC ‘EM” to Hunter.
    “What do you want, Alix?”
    “Oh, nothing.”
    “Then get out the hell of my way.” When she didn’t move, I went around her. I only made it a few feet past when she said, “Who do you think took care of Mike when you didn’t?”
    I didn’t know what she meant, and the confusion must have been apparent because she said, “That night I first met you. You left Mike in a very uncomfortable position. Who do you think took care of him?”
    Oh, I got what she meant now. I clenched my fist. Hunter sensed my hostility and walked in front of me and growled a very low growl. To my delight, Alix looked a bit scared.
    “Go to hell you ugly cuchara!” was all I could think to say and Hunter and I turned and quickly walked away. Laney would die laughing when I told her I called Alix a spoon in Spanish. Surprisingly, I was more pissed than hurt. Not only did that asshole use me, but he cheated on me the whole time with someone as gross as Alix. What had I been thinking, dating someone like him?
    I was way too angry to go home so I opted for the barn instead, walking with Hunter to trails so I could be alone.   I unclipped his leash and let him wander ahead of me. Hunter stopped dead in his tracks and the fur stood up along his back. I couldn’t hear him growl, but I could feel the vibrations coming from his throat when I reached down to hold onto his collar.
    Without wanting to take my eyes off of the woods in front of me, it took a while for me to clip the leash back on. Now was the time to feel truculent.   The sunlight was fading fast, but I could still see into the trees fairly well. Hunter could no doubt see better than me. He lurched forward and almost pulled me down. Any bravery in me died that very moment.
    Something big and dark was crouching in the woods. Hunter kept pulling forward, wanting to attack. I pulled back on the leash. The thing slowly stood up and turned towards us. The remaining sunlight reflected off of its eyes and flashed yellow. With a final jerk on the leash, I regained Hunter’s attention and ran as fast as I could back to the barn. I stopped right outside the big door. I was shaking. Hunter was still on edge, looking behind us. I slowly turned but didn’t see anything. I sank down on my butt. Hunter stood protectively over me. What the hell was going on? That makes two times, in a row I might add, that something attempted to attack me at the barn.
      What should I do? I felt like I should warn everyone in the barn, but no one would believe me. I didn’t think anyone else was in danger though; it seemed that these things were definitely only after me. I didn’t want to be outside anymore, but I didn’t want to go in and risk anyone see me in my traumatized state. I wrapped my arms around Hunter and buried my face in his fur. I was thankful for the fact that Hunter was with me. If he hadn’t noticed, I really doubt I would have. I was in deep in self pity and probably wouldn’t have noticed anything around me.
     
    ***
    “I’m really sorry Anora. I feel like I should have known and warned you.” Leslie looked at me with sorrow in her eyes. We were sitting in the barn office; everyone else had left by now.
    “How would you have known?”
    “I don’t know. I guess no one could have. But still…”
    “Yea, I know what you mean. I just feel so stupid for trusting him and thinking that someone might actually like me.”
    “Don’t even say that! You are amazing and any guy would be lucky to have you. I’m serious.”
    Of course she would say that. Laney, Marie, Harrison, and even the curious Ethan told me that. That was what you are supposed to say to someone after a breakup.   I looked down at Hunter. I was still freaked out from being chased and Leslie noticed. I debated telling her about the creepy things that had recently happened, and I opened my mouth to say something,