I fall through the shadows and the ground catches my feet. I roll forward and continue running. A thick fog covers everything, almost blinding, but I only need to smell him to know I'm getting close.
I leap over a dumpster and latch onto the walls, speed-climbing. The night air is cold and slaps my face in a refreshing haze.
I skid to a halt, and my breath catches at the shadow that blurs by.
Icarus Morvan.
He barrels across the rooftop and I break into a sprint, my breathing sharp and heavy, faster as I near his tail.
He leaps across and lands in a rough roll on the adjacent building's rooftop. Keeps going without looking back.
Tonight, this madness will end. Because I am not just going to catch him and toss him in prison—no. I've been too lenient.
I finally catch up, and I am disgusted at myself. Here is an ex-alpha who kills wholeheartedly and cold-bloodedly, and yet every time I'm close, I start to salivate. Not from nausea, I wish. Far from it. He should reek of death and decay, of the blood of his victims but no. He smells delicious. Like chocolate.
I reach and miss his shoulder by a hair's breadth. He rockets high up, and I stop, watching him travel across rooftops with a speed that's insulting, especially since my lungs feel like they're about to burst.
I don't see him again. He's probably hiding in one of his shadows. As much as I want to rip him apart, I know best to save energy and wait. I can lure him to me instead, and I do just that by calling him a dickless, murderous asshole.
The night echoes back my insult. It is silent for three beats before his laughter breaks it.
I strain my ears to pinpoint exactly where he's hiding, but it's impossible because the laughter seems to be coming from all directions. I curse.
I don't find him in the end.
He comes to me. Stalks over like I'm the prey instead of the predator, moonlight painting his naked flesh.
He stops an arm's length away. Eyes golden sharp, flickering with mockery and something else that causes my lungs to misfire. My wolf crawls under my skin, demanding I let her out so she can face him.
I tame her down.
"You should let her out, Huntress. My wolf is calling too. Last time… wasn't enough."
At the last two words, his voice strains, and his skin splits to sinew for half a second before closing back. His fingers twitch.
"We had a deal," I say. "Escaping prison and going on a rampage was never a part of it."
"The deal was you survive me and then do your job. You broke it the second you kept coming back for more." His voice drops. "You're a pawn in their game, Elsa. The big dogs don't actually want me dead—they want me contained. One rogue alpha doing their job is bad for business. But if I live… if I keep killing the bastards who murdered the only person who ever cared about me… maybe you'll finally admit what your wolf already knows."
He reaches out to touch me but I smack his wrist away.
He continues, undeterred, "You don't want me dead. You want answers. And you want them while I'm still inside you."
My fist shakes. I should kill him. Right now.
But the selfish, shameful truth claws up my throat: I can't. Not until I understand the part of me that aches for the monster I must destroy.
I lunge.
He evades, and I might've overpushed, because now I'm about to tumble over the roof's edge. My eyes widen as I tip over, and the wind kisses my face and hair as my eyes shut. I wobble my arms to keep balance, but it's too late.
Until a strong hand catches my wrist.
I let out a gasp when I'm pulled back, and my back slams into something hard as his arms envelop me.
"Watch your step, Huntress." His breath tickles my ear.
I elbow him. He buckles and releases me.
I snap to face him, but he's clutching his side and chuckling, a twinkle in his eyes.
"I know how bad you want me," he says, "and frankly, I admire your restraint."
My wolf growls within me, and I can feel my skin tightening, telling me she's ready to burst out. Not yet.
This is what he wants. I can see it in his eyes.
"Come on," he purrs. "Let her come out to play."
His voice darkens.
"I promise you it'll be fun. You didn't hunt me all the way here just to talk to me. So do what you came for."