Chapter 9

• We continued on our way as soon as we woke up. By lunch, I was panting in effort. Wolf slowed down and glanced at me with what I presumed was concern, but I pushed forward. I wasn't stopping. I wanted to find Xavier and then get back home.
• Wolf barked and a familiar scent hit my nose. I quickened my pace with aching muscles and when a backpack on the ground caught my eyes, my heart jumped. The blood next to it made me stumble and I tumbled on the snow, rolling over my head.
• Mate stopped next to me, but I ignored him and approached the abandoned backpack. My every fiber was telling me to get away, that my heart couldn't beat this, but I had to see. I needed the clothes and I needed to make sure he was really dead. Sharp pain shot through my stomach as I neared the remains of blood. This was Xavier's blood. His backpack.