Free Wolf Song by Storm Savage Page B

worked the stick into the steel jaws. The wolf didn’t move, as if it knew she was helping.
    Using all her strength, she pulled with her body weight until the trap began to open. As soon as the metal separated far enough, the wolf tugged its paw free and sprung to its feet. They stared at each other. Orianna panted for breath, half from exhaustion and half from anxiety rising inside. She wondered if it would attack.
    “You’re free now. That makes one of us.” She barely blinked before the wolf simply disappeared. “Where’d you go?” She turned sharply and kept turning, searching the thickly wooded area for signs of the animal.
    Not a trace of blood lingered on the snow. She thought this strange. Surely the trap had wounded the wolf’s leg. But no blood. A stiff gust of wind howled through the trees, blowing her gown out behind her. Icy chills raced over her skin. Suddenly she felt lost—and cold, very cold. It doesn’t matter. She sighed. This was the first time she’d managed to get away from Zale. Her tracks in the snow were buried under a fresh layer. She had no idea how far she’d come. I’d rather die out here in the woods than go back to that suffocating life.
    She combed the immediate area, clawing the ground with her numb fingers until she found the bottle she’d dropped. With pills in hand, she found the thickest tree trunk, placed her back against it and slid to the ground, curling herself into a ball against the harsh weather. With knees drawn tight to her chest and arms wrapped around them, she shivered in the cold. Her teeth chattered. Snow began to gather on her hair, skin, and dress.
    She could barely twist the cap, her hands were so cold, yet she managed to get the bottle open and shake several pills into her mouth. Enough that would ease her into a deep sleep so that nature could take over from there.
    God, I’m sorry for being so weak but I just can’t take anymore. With a jagged sigh, she closed her eyes, waiting for peace to come at last.
     
    * * * *
     
    Lorcan knelt over the most exquisite woman he’d ever seen, wondering why she felt the need to end her life. She obviously had money by the looks of her home and lovely blue gown. He tilted his head, staring at her pretty face while petting her long rich brown hair. Sorrow filled his heart that she’d taken this road. Yet, he hadn’t been able to deny the sound of her weeping. He did not intend to shift into human form tonight, but he couldn’t just let her die.
    After lifting her limp body into his arms, he broke into a run through the woods. His den was not far away. With his enhanced abilities, he had no trouble getting her out of the cold before the harsh weather caused permanent damage to her flawless skin. He laid her on a thick bearskin rug and brushed snow-dampened hair from her pale cheeks and creamy shoulders. The bruises on her face concerned him.
    He examined the rest of her body for signs of frostbite or other injuries. Other than minor abrasions on her dainty bare feet, she appeared in fair condition, but barely breathing. Pressing an ear to her chest, he detected a very faint and irregular heartbeat. He couldn’t help but let his gaze linger a few moments on her beautiful body. Soft looking perfect creamy white skin, slender, with nice curves he could easily imagine pressed against him.
    He covered her with a blanket then, built a fire on the dirt floor of his primitive yet private dwelling. He slid beneath the blanket and wrapped her in a warm embrace so his body heat would raise hers slowly and protect her vital organs. With a blazing fire warming the interior of his cave, he lay beside her and kept watch, praying to the Shasta Realm for her to escape death. Whatever had driven her to this point, he longed to make it right. A precious creature such as this deserved to live.
    He longed to hear her reasons why she’d been crying, why she’d followed him into the woods, and most importantly, why she tried to end her