Natalia’s POV
The climb up the mountain was brutal. I had thought that the forest had been cold, but it was nothing compared to this. The wind tore at my skin like knives, howling through the narrow passes and carrying flurries of snow that stung my eyes. The wolf I was tied to struggled to cross patches of ice hidden beneath fresh powder.
Every time we hit a particularly steep incline, I was certain we were going to fall. But somehow, we never did.
The man pulling the sled with the twins cursed constantly under his breath, yanking the rope when the sled caught on rocks or snowdrifts. I kept my eyes on Max and Jane as much as I could, watching for any sign that they were waking up, but they stayed motionless. Well, at least they weren’t awake for this nightmare.
My fingers had gone num
