Free Un.Wavering (Claimed Series Book 3) by Reese Morgan Page A

from the setting sun, she was late to her meeting with Cole and Nicolas. A subtle, persistent worry stemmed from her Alpha’s side of the bond, but he knew she was alive and well. There was no need for him to worry so much.
    She could handle herself.
    Hayden took another deep breath and pushed off from the tree. Silently, she moved over the snow, trying to refrain from making obvious tracks. She imagined most of the rogues either had given up or had died from her blade or Nicolas’ wrath. It was best not to lead any stray wanders to their current location.
    As she trekked toward the double peak, the sound of rapid gunfire suddenly echoed across the mountains. Hayden paused abruptly, stilling in order to pinpoint its general direction. Though, as soon as she paused to listen, a high-pitched scream sounded before it was abruptly silenced.
    Everything on the mountain was quiet and still.
    Releasing a breath she’d been holding in anticipation, Hayden gradually began moving again, her limbs tense and coiled.
    She’d forgotten they weren’t the only ones on the mountains. Amber Beard’s impromptu pack was still on the run, hunted relentlessly by Tracer’s puppets. However, she wondered if they were still mindless puppets given that their Sire was dead and no longer giving orders.
    Around her, the woods suddenly became unbearably dark. The heavy snow was the only element preventing the forest from being pitch-black. Though, somehow, even the snow seemed darker than usual. Odd shadows and dark shapes darted through the trees, cloaked in absolute darkness and stealth.
    Hayden clutched her sword tighter, trying to remain as silent as possible.
    Only, as the hairs on the back of her neck stood, she knew she’d been spotted.
    Whirling around, she spied the hulking figure behind her. She raced to the nearest tree and crouched behind it, her sword prepared to attack. The figure stood a good distance away. It was possible they hadn’t detected her location yet.
    She pressed her cheek against the cold and unforgiving bark, waiting in trepidation as the figure approached. It was clearly a male and he wasn’t too concerned with speed. His gait was slow, yet hypnotic and stiff.
    Hayden stopped breathing, least her visible breath give away her position. Something about this figure was unnerving. Perhaps the uncanniness stemmed from the sheer expanse of his rigid torso, or maybe the robotic way he moved.
    Nonetheless, Hayden crouched lower, deciding to forgo a surprise attack. Her instincts told her to remain hiding, to remain docile. And a moment later, she realized why.
    As the man advanced closer, Hayden identified it as one of Tracer’s puppets. The blank, yet unnervingly invincible eyes focused obstinately ahead, as if no outside interference was of any consequence.
    And it probably wasn’t.
    The beast carried power like a second skin. It wasn’t like Cole’s natural aura, or even Nicolas’ predatory aura. This puppet, this monster, possessed a wickedness foul enough to raise the hairs on her body and chill her to the bone.
    For a second, Hayden thought the puppet would pass her unnoticed. Her hopes sunk, however, when his thick neck turned with cruel slowness and vacant eyes stared straight through her. Gasping softly, she inched further behind the tree, as if the flimsy trunk could somehow protect her.
    She needed not to have worried.
    As if stuck in a trance, the puppet turned his neck back forward and never missed a stride. He walked straight past Hayden, dismissing her completely.
    Slumping against the tree in relief, Hayden craned her neck around, studying the monster. Her eyes dropped to the ground, noticing immediately the snow was stained crimson. With each stubborn stride, Tracer’s puppet shed a significant amount of blood. Clearly, he was wounded, yet he didn’t let that slow him as he carried out his mission.
    Further down the woods, another figure stumbled blindly, gasping and wheezing. Hayden’s eyes dilated