Chapter 17

Breaker


I hit the ground with a thud, and I can feel the vibrations of fear that ripple through the air. The guy holding the gun is just a kid, a young adult, barely more than a teenager. He drops the weapon as my growl rumbles deep in my chest. 

Behind me, I hear Ava's voice calling to me that she's safe, and that seems to be clear as the group before me cowers in terror, their eyes wide with shock and disbelief. I know I've made a mistake - they're not a threat to her. 

"No!" Ava shouts, her voice shaking. 

I turn my head to look at her, and the fear etched across her face sears into my soul. In my desperation to protect her, to make sure I wouldn't be taken again, I lost control of myself. 

My memories from the Supermax prison rise to the surface like ghosts, threatening to drag me back into the darkness. No, I won't let them win. Not now, not ever.

"Breaker, please," Ava pleads, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Calm down. It's over."

Her words reach me, pulling me out of the abyss of my past. I blink and focus on her, feeling the beast within me receding. I force my breathing to slow, trying to regain control of my emotions. My heart aches at the thought of scaring Ava, of becoming the monster she thinks I might be.

The whispers of the terrified group burrow into my ears, twisting and turning like worms in my skull. My wolf eyes scan their faces, taking in the mix of fear and fascination. I catch one guy fumbling with his phone, snapping a picture of me and Ava.

Shit. This is bad. Worse than bad. Catastrophic.

I bolt into the trees, the shadows swallowing me whole. The coolness of the forest floor sends shivers through my fur as I force myself to calm down, focusing on shifting back into human form. Bones crack and shift, the transformation ripping through my body like lightning. Naked and vulnerable, I stand in the darkness, my heart pounding in my chest.

"Breaker!" Ava asks as she emerges from the trees, hair wild and eyes wide with worry. "Are you okay?" 

"Sorry," I mutter, my voice rough and strained.

Ava hands me a blanket. I take it from her and wrap it around myself. 

"Let's get inside," Ava suggests. 

"Are they still there?" I ask, my voice full of guilt.

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Chapter 17 Continued

“Took off down the path as fast as their legs would carry them,” Ava explains. 

"No good, Ava," I grunt, hands trembling as I try to steady my breathing. 

"Tell me about it," she replies, “One of them was taking pictures.”

“God damn it!” I spit, kicking the ground, thinking how I’ve messed everything up. 

 "We need to get back to the cabin and figure this out," Ava says, and she’s right. We need to think and think fast. 

"Let's go," I reply. 

We make it back to the cabin. I’m glad to close the door behind this mess. But I have a feeling a door won’t hold back the can of worms I have opened. 

Ava's eyes blaze with fear and fury as she slams the cabin door shut behind us. "What the fuck was that, Breaker?"

I hurriedly pull on my pants, all too aware of how vulnerable we are right now. "I-I'm sorry, Ava. I just... I lost control. I thought you were in danger."

"Lost control?" She scoffs, throwing me my shirt. "You would have killed that guy!"

"I know, I know." I run a hand through my hair, frustration gnawing at me. "I didn't mean for any of this to happen. I just... I couldn't bear the thought of you getting hurt."

She pauses, her anger seemingly tempered by my admission. However, it doesn't last long, as she resumes rummaging through the drawers for clothes. "Well, your protective instincts have officially landed us in deep shit."

"Do you not think I know that," I mutter absently, pulling on my socks. As much as I want to argue, I can't deny the truth in her words. The weight of the consequences bears down on me, making it difficult to breathe.

"Okay, what now?" Ava asks, her face pale and drawn. As soon as those kids get back to their car, that photo will be all over the web.”

I rub my temples, trying to push away the headache building behind my eyes. "We need to find a way to contain this. To make sure that picture doesn't spread."

"How the hell do we do that?" Ava asks.

I wish I had an answer to that question, but right now, I don’t. 

"Morning," Ellis shouts as he enters the cabin, supplies under his arm and a big smile plastered on his face. "Well, what have you kids been up to?"

Ava looks at me. And I look at Ellis. 

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