OLEANDER
He hit something.
What could he possibly have slammed into that was hard enough to force the car to a stop?
A human?
My breath hitched, eyes widening at the horrifying thought that we might have just killed someone.
“Hex,” I stammered, panic rising like bile in my throat.
I clutched his arm, trembling.
“I’ll have a look, boss,” Roy murmured.
He exchanged a look with Hex—something unreadable but heavy.
Before Roy could reach for the door, Hex stopped him.
“I’ll do it.”
Roy looked like he wanted to argue, but the weight in Hex’s voice shut him up.
“If I don’t return in two minutes,” Hex said, “take Oleander and get the hell out of here.”
“What are you talking about?” I whispered, my fingers tightening around his hand.
He was only going to check what we hit.
Why wouldn’t he come back?
Hex said nothing.
He shoved a hand into his pocket and pulled out a dagger.
His eyes narrowed on me.
“At least you should know how to fight. Can you?” He pressed the dagger into my trembling hand.
Without waiting for an answer, he was out of the car.
I reached for the door handle to follow, but it was locked.
“Roy?”
“I’m sorry, Miss. It’s too dangerous out there. The boss has it under control,” he said in a clipped voice.
“What—”
My words were cut off by a guttural howl.
Loud.
Close.
Too close.
It shook the air around us.
“Shit,” Roy hissed.
“Get down!”
I didn’t even have the time to react.
He slammed a foot on the gas, and my head whipped forward, crashing into the back of his seat, before I was yanked back into mine by a sudden force.
I gasped, clutching my aching skull.
I glanced down to see what had pulled me back.
A seatbelt.
I didn’t remember putting it on.
Then again, that was the least of my worries right now.
Roy was driving like he had a death wish.
The road ahead was a blur.
We were tearing through it like Barry Allen.
A sickening crunch filled the car.
Then I felt something scrape violently along the side, followed by a snarl.
I couldn’t tell who made the sound.
Me.
Roy.
Or something else entirely.
But I was sure of one thing.
Today was the end for me.
“You’re going to kill us!” I screamed as the car swerved wildly.
“Sit tight, Miss,” Roy grunted.
“I’m getting us to the pack house in one piece!”
I didn’t have time to think about his words.
All I could do was whisper the Lord’s Prayer under my breath.
Yes, I did.
Even though I knew it might be futile.
My father and brothers had died without any divine intervention.
But maybe he would save me this time.
Maybe he would listen.
Keep me alive to see another day.
Another day to—
The car jerked to a sudden stop.
This time, not from a collision.
Roy did it.
“Shit,” he growled, slamming his palm against the steering wheel.
“What’s happening?” I asked in a small, shaking voice.
“We’re out of gas.”
“What?!” I exclaimed.
I stared out, trying to make sense of where we were.
Just an empty road lined with trees and somehow, this was where the gas gave out.
A nervous laugh bubbled from my lips.
Roy didn’t seem fazed.
He turned to me, eyes narrowed.
“Do you have the dagger the boss gave you?” he asked.
“Show it to me.”
What did it matter?
If whatever was chasing us was some wild animal, we didn’t stand a chance anyway.
I handed the dagger to him, extending it across the seat.
He didn’t take it.
“Silver.
Ah, I see,” he murmured, then added, “I’ll be right back.”
“Wait—!”
But he was already out of the car.
First Hex. You are reading on g.com, the official source.
Now him.
I wasn’t going to sit here and play the obedient little girl they both expected me to be.
My grip on the dagger’s hilt tightened.
I opened the door and stepped out.
The cold air hit me instantly, and I shivered, teeth chattering.
Roy was nowhere in sight.
Where did he go?
I squinted into the dark, trying to spot anything.
Just swaying trees and…Something blurred past me.
It was so fast, I might have missed it.
But I didn’t.
I saw a long, furry tail.
My breath caught.
I clutched the dagger tighter.
Was that the dog that had howled earlier?
Still… a dog?
Out here, in the middle of nowhere…?
I scoffed, shaking off the thoughts.
Lost in my head, I didn’t notice the humongous creature near me until it was too late.
It resembled a dog.
No.
A coyote?
Its fur was thick and brown.
Black eyes gleamed with an evil I swear I had seen before.
Its teeth were bared, and I saw…blood and what looked like torn flesh clung to them.
“Jesus Christ,” I clasped my free hand over my mouth, my heart thundering and vomit surged up my throat.
Did it kill Roy?
The ground shook as it began to walk toward me, its body growing taut, the predator-like glint in its eyes intensifying.
I yelped as my back hit the car window, the dagger lifting in front of me.
“Stay away from me!” I shrieked.
It didn’t stop.
Whether it heard me or not, it kept coming, its intent clear in its eyes.
It was going to kill me.
Frantic, my eyes darted around for an escape route.
I could open the car and rush in.
But what if it tore into me before I could?
And with the sheer power in its paws, I doubted the car would protect me for long anyway.
“Help!” I cried, my voice echoing around me and coming back unanswered.
No one was coming.
Roy wasn’t here.
Hex wasn’t either.
It was just me and this damned, evil creature.
I braced myself to fight.
But all that resolve vanished the moment it leapt into the air and lunged at me.