I finally gave in to the urge to run, jogging along her twisting path toward the water. Her scent slammed into me—another flare. She’d stopped here by this tree on the edge of the woods before the open space between the safety of cover and the water. Imagining her looking for me, seeing if I’d already made it here, knowing she was wet with nerves and excitement.

It was all there in her scent, the deeper, richer layers of her arousal. Perfume she couldn’t control. Poor Omega, giving herself away with her need. My cock was rock hard now, aching to fulfill that need.

She wasn’t in sight, but the trail led toward the river. I stepped out from the edge of the woods and followed it to the edge of the water, where it disappeared entirely.

It wasn’t far across. A couple of rocks and a jump had me on the other side, and there was nothing. She hadn’t crossed the river. No, she’d used it to mask her scent.

The watch she was wearing was waterproof, but the river was freezing even in the middle of summer. It would slow her down. But I had no idea where she was now.

In the darkness, I smiled.

The hunt was on.

Chapter 33

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

________

ESME

I couldn’t stop shaking. My clothes clung to my skin and my breath was thin in my lungs from the cold water. It was worth it to break the trail, swimming up the river away from where I’d entered it, as far as I could stand before becoming too cold.

I’d even gotten out quickly on the other side to give him a false trail before pushing on. But it was only going to last a certain amount of time. Kade would find me.

I was in the woods again, weaving through the trees. But I needed to stop. Find a place to hide and wait. Catch my breath. If he found me and I was entirely exhausted, I wouldn’t be able to run.

By now, he was hunting me. I had no idea how much of a head start he gave, but it had been long enough.

Ahead of me at the top of the hill there was a tree larger than the others—thick enough to hide behind and not be seen. It would be good enough. For now.

I could see in the dim moonlight I’d nearly reached the other side of the woods. They ended and broke out into an open field filled with tall grasses. On the one hand, there was no real cover, and on the other, ducking down in the grass would be a decent hiding place.

If my perfume wouldn’t lead him straight to me.

I shivered with both cold and anticipation.