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EXCERPT:
A growl rumbled through the air, coming from outside the barn wall. An icy trickle of fear slid through my veins, and the hair on my arms stood at attention, even under the warmth of my sweater.
I held my breath as paralysis locked my legs. I had to be imagining it.
But the growl rumbled through the wall again, low and ominous.
“Please, go away,” I whispered to whatever was out there. “Please, go away.”
Wild animals were supposed to shy away from humans, right? It wouldn’t come near me unless it was provoked. And I hadn’t done anything to provoke it.
Unless… Unless it called this abandoned barn its home?
Shit. I needed to get out of here. But I was too afraid to move. And even if I could run, that might only make things worse.
Slowly, I pulled my phone from my pocket and hit Reese’s number. After our argument and my declaration that I didn’t need his help, this call would be humbling. He’d probably call me a city girl and tell me I didn’t belong up here. But at least he’d have the necessary information to later find my body.
Reese didn’t pick up. Instead, I got his voicemail. When I heard the beep, I closed my eyes and whispered, “Reese. Help. I’m in an old barn not far from the lodge.”
A low, menacing growl responded from just outside, and through the cracks in the barn wall I could see a large tawny animal prowling along the exterior.
I whimpered, walking backward toward the farthest right corner of the barn. My shoulder ran into a prickly bale of straw. There were two stacked on top of each other, and I ran around behind them, crouching low.
I sat with my back to the bales, facing the rear wall of the barn and drawing my knees to my chest.
I wrapped my arms around my legs and said a little prayer.
But it was too little too late. The animal was inside the barn. Its rumbling growl was louder now, and I felt rather than heard the whispery vibration of large paws slowly stalking across the wooden floor.
Sunlight streamed through the open barn door and projected the shadow of an enormous mountain lion against the back wall. Perhaps the shadow was distorted, but it looked to be unnaturally large—maybe four feet high at the shoulder.
Its tail twitched, and it turned its head in my direction.
Oh god. I closed my eyes and laced my hands behind my head, curling into an even tighter ball.
More soft footfalls.
It was now on the opposite side of my hiding place, and it rubbed the length of its body against the bales of straw, putting a heavy pressure against my back.
I squeezed my eyes closed as I sensed it round the end of the barrier, then the beast’s breath brushed against my cheek.
My whole body trembled and I swallowed my scream as a warm tongue rasped the length of my neck.
Author Bio:
USA Today bestselling author A.S. Green lives in chilly Minnesota and spends the all-too-short summers on Lake Superior, which is the muse for her paranormal and contemporary romances. She writes complex characters, action-packed plots, and snarky in-your-face banter. And, of course, loads of steamy love scenes.
When she's not writing romance, she's probably watching Outlander or pleading (unsuccessfully) with her husband to don the kilt she bought him last summer.
You can find her on most social platforms at @asgreenbooks. For the latest news - and to get your hands on exclusive content - subscribe to A.S. Green's newsletter today (asgreenbooks.com)!
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