Chapter 41
A sound in the distance caught our attention, forcing us to start moving. We crept down the hill, following the stream. There was a second waterfall, and at the bottom was a group of about fifteen Rogues. They were just swimming, eating, basically relaxing. My heartbeat accelerated, the scent of danger making my wolf instincts alert.
“We need to go,” Ryder whispered in my ear, his warm breath sending shivers down my spine.
Nodding, we turned and started running back to our motorcycles. It was an unexpected complication. Being only a mile from the clearing, we reached our bikes quickly.
“Get on, let’s go!” Ryder urged.
“Grab your samples first, quick!” The Rogues hadn’t spotted us yet, though Ryder looked nervous. He grabbed his equipment and ran about 75 yards into the field, beginning to twist a rod–like object into the ground. I started putting on my gloves and jacket. Just as Ryder finished, I began hearing rustling leaves. Ryder must have heard it too, because he sprinted toward me.
I gestured for him to hurry up, putting on my helmet, anxiously waiting. The Rogues still didn’t seem to know we were here, but I didn’t want to stick around to find out.
Fortunately, Ryder reached his motorcycle just as the first Rogue emerged from the trees. He stuffed the soil sample into his saddlebag and swung his leg over his bike. With no time to put on his jacket and gloves, just his helmet, we started our motorcycles right as they spotted us.
The wind whipped at my face as our motorcycles roared down the hillside, tires kicking up dirt and gravel in our wake. The howls of the Rogues echoed behind us, getting closer with each passing second. My heart hammered against my ribcage, adrenaline pumping through my veins.
“They’re gaining on us!” I shouted over the roar of our engines, glancing briefly at Ryder who rode beside me.
“Just keep going!” he yelled back, his green eyes flashing with intensity behind his visor. “We’re almost to the road!”
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Chapter 41
I pushed my bike harder, feeling it struggle beneath me as we descended the steep slope. Suddenly, my front tire caught on a jutting rock, sending my motorcycle into a violent wobble. For a terrifying moment, I felt myself losing control, the bike tilting dangerously to one side.
“Xena!” Ryder’s voice cut through my panic.
Without slowing down, he maneuvered his Harley closer to mine, reaching out with one strong arm. His fingers wrapped around my handlebar, steadying my bike just as we hit the steepest part of the descent.
“I’ve got you!” he shouted, his face tense with concentration.
“Let go!” I yelled back. “You’ll crash too!”
“Just hold on and straighten out!”
I gripped my handlebars tighter, forcing my body to relax enough to regain control. With Ryder’s momentary support, I managed to right myself just as our tires hit the asphalt of the main road.
“Go, go, go!” I screamed, opening the throttle fully as we both accelerated onto the
smooth surface.
We sped down the highway, the distance between us and the Rogues growing with each passing minute. Eventually, we slowed down when we were sure we weren’t being followed anymore. Pulling over to the side of the road, we both removed our helmets, breathing heavily.
“Oh my god. Are you okay?” I asked breathlessly.
“Yeah, you?” Ryder replied, his hair disheveled from the helmet, somehow making him look even more attractive.
“I’m fine. Wow, that was…” My heart was still pounding in my ears, but beyond the fear, I felt a strange exhilaration. Facing danger with Ryder had intensified the connection between us.
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