Some people, in the wilderness, they let themselves go. They give in to the inhuman side of their brains. They build their own societies, with their own rules.

They howl at the fucking moon.

Chapter 78

DAWN AND LUCAS CAN’T SEE IT, but back at the camp, the thin fabric of society has begun to tear to shreds. They didn’t see how Brandon and Evan discovered Warden by the remains of the campfire, how he coughed and choked and couldn’t breathe, and then when he finally could, he told them what Dawn and Lucas had done.

They couldn’t see how Brandon and Evan set out after Dawn and Lucas, the gleam in their eyes as they thought about what came next.

They can’t see how killing Dawn and Lucas isn’t a necessity for Brandon and Evan, a task that needs to be done, however distasteful, to ensure Pack survival.

No.

The Pack has killed twice. Alex and Christian are dead, and their deaths broke down a barrier. The rules don’t matter anymore.

What Dawn and Lucas can’t see, but can surely remember, is how Brandon and Evan have been outsiders from day one, lurking on the margins and not engaging with any of the Out of the Wild teachings.

Neither of them was going to be saved by this program, not while the other was around. They endured what they had to, sure. They did as little as they could while still rising through the ranks, but they weren’t going to walk out of these woods any different from how they’d walked in.

And Warden recognized that, and he used it. And he’s using it still.

This is the moment Brandon and Evan have been waiting for. The chains are broken. There aren’t any adults anymore, and there is an excuse.

Warden’s focused on survival, self-preservation.

Brandon and Evan want to sow chaos; it just so happens that Warden’s interests align right now with the sowing of chaos.

Dawn and Lucas can’t be allowed to make it to safety. To tell what they saw, what Warden has done. Not if Warden wants to survive.

So Brandon and Evan.

So chaos.

So the boys howl like animals, because the chains have come off.

Chapter 79

EVERYTHING SEEMS TO MOVE SLOWER when you’re being chased. Your feet scramble through the snow trying to find traction. You slip and almost fall. The cairns you’re relying on to guide you suddenly seem to shrink and turn invisible. The trail disappears.

Behind you, the howling only seems to get closer.

Dawn runs, or tries to, and feels a hopelessness pervade her, as she’s slipping and falling on the icy rock and snow, knowing Brandon and Evan are coming, knowing they won’t stop until they catch up.

And then?