Stray Omega by Lizzy Bequin

other times dropping down on all fours to scramble under low branches and
duck below fallen logs.
The farther she ran, the denser the woods became, and that worked to her
advantage. Behind, she heard angry snarls and the crackle of snapping limbs.
The sounds of Orwen brute-forcing his way through the obstacles. He was
fast, yes, but the forest was slowing him down.
Hope flickered in Embla’s heart.
She was going to get away.
The omega allowed herself a smug grin.
Suddenly, the leash pulled taut and the leather collar cinched around her
neck, choking her. Her feet flew out from underneath, the forest seemed to
spin madly, and Embla’s back slammed hard against the forest floor, sending
up a whirl of leaves and knocking all the air out of her lungs.
Gasping for breath, Embla cocked her head back and instantly realized what
had happened.
In her mad dash for freedom, she had all but forgotten about the branch
dragging behind her on the other end of the leash. She had run right between
two small trees, and the branch—which was longer than her body was wide
—had gotten caught.
Her heart clenched with panic.
She could hear Orwen back there, crashing through the underbrush. He had
almost caught up with her.