by Cynthia Eden
What? Lucas’s gaze flew back to Sarah.
“Didn’t mention that, did she?”
Hell, no, she hadn’t.
“She’s the bait they used, to get into the pack. To get to me.” Rafe’s lips curled back in a snarl. “To get to you.”
“Sarah.” Lucas said her name flatly, not letting the fury tightening his gut to be voiced. “Is he lying?”
He saw her throat work as she swallowed, a delicate movement against the claws. “No,” she murmured and her lashes lowered. Then . . . “He’s not lying. I-I was with the FBI.”
Every muscle in his body locked. He knew there was a division in the FBI that followed Other. A division that even had a so-called “extermination list” for the paranormals that the Bureau felt should be put down.
He’d known about that group, but he just hadn’t particularly given a damn about them. Until now.
“You can’t trust her,” Rafe murmured, and his hold eased a bit as a satisfied smirk curled his lips. “Bait, that’s all she is.”
Maybe. Maybe not.
“How’d she get those scars on her back?” he demanded.
That smirk slipped away. “I found out who she really was.”
“Um . . . was that before or after she went for your heart with her silver knife?”
Rafe’s teeth snapped together. The light dimmed more as dusk swept toward them. “She told you about that?”
“She told me a lot of things.” Like the fact that you want me dead because I took out your asshole of a father.
“Don’t believe her.” The claws lifted a bit, but they were still killing-close. “She’s good at lying.”
He’d figured that out. So when Sarah said she worked for the FBI, was that a lie? Or the truth? “If she’s such a damn liar, why the hell do you want her back so badly?”
“Because she’s mine.” Rafe spoke the words in a tone that said the answer should be obvious.
Sarah’s head slammed into his. Rafe swore and blood spurted from his nose. He stumbled back, and she tore free as the claws raked across her flesh. “No,” Sarah shouted, “I’m not yours!”
Around him, Lucas heard the howl of the coyotes. So they were finally coming out to play. The waning sunlight bled across the sky. The sky wouldn’t be the only place filled with blood soon.
Bones crunched behind him. Caleb would be shifting, getting ready to attack. Lucas would change, too. The better to rip Rafe’s throat right out.
“No!” Sarah’s scream. “Don’t shift, Lucas!”
His muscles locked, and he fought the change. Sweat broke over his body as he held back the beast.
Rafe laughed as the blood poured from his nose. “Too late,” he murmured.
Lucas leapt forward and caught the bastard around the throat. “Where’s Dane?”
Rafe spat blood. “How the fuck should I know?”
Now that he hadn’t expected.
Rafe started laughing then, loud, wild laughter. “So fucking easy. And here I thought you’d be a challenge to take down.”
Lucas lifted the bastard up, letting Rafe’s feet dangle above the ground. “Dane.” The coyotes were closing in. Piers was shifting, the man disappearing as the wolf howled and broke free of his leash.
Rafe’s laughter slowly faded. The guy could have broken away. Could have shifted. But he hadn’t.
“Lucas . . .” Sarah grabbed his hand. “I don’t—”
“Where the fuck is he?” Lucas shook Rafe.
“Don’t know.” He smiled, and the blood smeared his teeth. “I never had the asshole.”
But, wait, no, he’d wanted a trade. Caleb had said—
Howls filled the air. Lower, harder cries from the two wolves behind him, and the higher-pitched howls from the swarming coyotes.
Then a bus hit Lucas, slamming him to the ground as Sarah screamed.
No, not a bus. He’d been taken down by . . . a wolf.
Dane knew there was trouble at the wolf compound long before the big house came into sight. The scent of fresh blood hung in the air, a silent call to his beast.
He stayed low, going in carefully when he wanted to run flat-out and storm the place.
Quiet. The whole damn area was too quiet. And the lingering scent of coyote teased his nose.
Not those bastards again.
He pressed a hand to his side. Most of his wounds had healed. Most. He needed to shift again, but wouldn’t, not until he found out what the hell was going on.
“Dane?” Michael’s shocked voice.
Next to Dane, Michael’s nose was the strongest of the pack. Dane gave up the shadows and charged forward.
Michael shook his head, his brows high above his dark eyes. “They got you back already? But—”
“Got me back? Wait, you knew the coyotes had me?”
Michael came away from the doorway with slow, measured strides. “The coyotes . . . they’re working with Rafe. He was going to trade you—”
“Rafe? That bastard hasn’t been anywhere near me.” Just coyotes. Dead coyotes.
“—for Sarah,” Michael finished.
A fist punched Dane in the gut. “I wasn’t part of any damn trade.”
“But . . . Caleb heard your voice. You were with Rafe. The bastard said he’d kill you if Sarah wasn’t brought in as a trade.”
The compound was tomb-silent. “Where’s Lucas?” But he already knew.
“Gone to make the trade.”
Dane’s hands fisted. “There was no fucking trade.”
“Caleb—”
Dane’s snarl stopped him. “Where are they?” Lucas was walking right into a trap. Dammit, a trap. For me.
Michael’s gaze swept down his body. “Why do I smell human blood on you?” Suspicion had him tensing.
Don’t think about her. “Caleb never heard my voice. If he said he did, he was . . .” Lying. No, Caleb was pack. He wouldn’t lie. “Mistaken.” And shit, they didn’t have time to kill. “Where are they?”
“Monclave and Grant. Sarah went first, she took one of the SUVs and—”
Dane turned away and ran back toward the van he’d stolen a few hours before. Hold on, Lucas. I’m coming to cover your back.
He owed the alpha everything, and he damn sure wouldn’t stand back while Lucas was slaughtered.
Mistake . . . or fucking lie?
Lucas spun around and barely caught the muzzle that came at him. The wolf’s teeth were dripping saliva, the beast ready to bite, to rip him open. And the damn bastard was one of his own.
Caleb.
“Guess Sarah didn’t tell you about her other talents.” Rafe’s voice drifted in the air.
Caleb’s claws dug into Lucas’s chest.
A wolf’s snarl of fury reached his ears. Piers. Lucas craned his head, just a bit, that was all he could manage. Piers stood in front of Sarah, his back up, his teeth snapping. Attacking her?
“Stand down!” Lucas roared.
But Piers didn’t move. Lucas could barely see him and Sarah. Caleb’s body blocked his line of sight.
“Good job, Sarah,” Rafe told her, his voice oozing satisfaction. Lucas clamped down tighter on Caleb’s muzzle. The bastard had almost bitten his fingers with that head twist. “You did real good with him.”
Betrayal burned in Lucas’s gut.
Rafe crouched close to Lucas. Not too close. Out of grabbing reach. “She can’t just read the minds of wolves, you know.” He said the words like he was revealing a big secret. Maybe he was.
“Fuck off!”
Caleb jerked his muzzle free. He came in for a bite—
Lucas shoved his forearm between the wolf’s teeth. When Caleb bit down, sinking his teeth through muscle and bone, Lucas didn’t make a sound. Betrayal. From my own damn pack. Like this was the first time.
“She can control the wolves, too,” Rafe murmured. “In wolf form, your men are helpless against her. Whatever she thinks, whatever she wants, they’ll do.”
Shock froze him fo
r a moment.
Caleb jumped back, then came in for another bite—
“No!” Sarah’s scream. Rage and terror. “Leave him alone! Don’t!”
The change swept over Lucas then. Uncontrollable. Instinctive.
“Hell, yes . . .” Rafe said. “Finally.”
Lucas shoved his claws into Caleb’s chest. The wolf bursting from within gave him power, and he lifted Caleb, tossing the wolf into the air and right at Rafe.
“Shit!” Rafe scrambled back, too late.
Lucas’s hands hit the ground. His fingers curved. His back arched as the bones snapped. Fur burst over his skin.
“No, Lucas! That’s when you’re—”
His head rose and he saw Sarah. The coyotes had surrounded her and Piers. Piers was trying to hold them off, trying to protect her, and Sarah was swiping out with a knife. But she’d turned away from the coyotes, turned to shout to him—
And a coyote caught her, locking his teeth around her arm and the knife clattered to the ground as she stumbled.
No!
A soft snick reached his ears. His head whipped back around. Rafe smiled at him. The asshole stood less than two feet away, and his right hand curled around a gun—a gun that was aimed straight at Lucas.
“I think what Sarah was trying to say . . .” Rafe began.
Lucas’s body bucked, his hands vanished, paws appeared.
“. . . is that you’re helpless when you change.”
“Lucas!” Sarah’s scream of pain and fury.
“The bullet’s made of silver, Simone.” Rafe pointed the gun at Lucas’s head. “And there’s no way I’m missing when I’m this close.”
Lucas tried to leap forward, but his legs were useless, the bones reshaping, too weak now to—
“When you get to hell, tell my old man I said hello.” Rafe pulled the trigger.
Sarah barreled into Rafe just as he fired. Lucas lurched to the side. The bullet missed his head but plowed into his exposed stomach, burning through muscle and lodging deep in his gut. The silver was molten, frying him from the inside out, and Lucas opened his mouth to yell—
And the wolf’s cry of pain rang into the night.
“The hero’s going to die.”
Lucas lifted his head and narrowed his eyes. Sarah and Rafe were in a tangle of limbs, fighting for the gun. Sarah was no match for the bastard.
I am.
He pushed back the fire, bunched his legs and—
Two coyotes sprang at him. Lucas swiped at them, catching one on the back and breaking another’s leg. They kept fighting him, snapping, clawing.
Get out of here, Lucas! Sarah’s cry but . . . only in his mind.
He could feel her then, the warmth of her touch, her scent. Inside, though, not out.
What the hell is happening? Lucas pushed the question through their link. Why did Caleb attack me?
She cried out then and his head snapped toward her. Sarah was on the ground, not moving. Rafe rose beside her, the gun still in his hand. He pointed the gun at her.
No! Piers stop him!
Piers bolted past Lucas.
Don’t let him kill her!
Lucas sank his teeth into the nearest coyote. The asshole screamed, a high, keening cry.
Piers slammed into Rafe. Rafe staggered, fell, but before Piers could close in for the kill, the coyotes attacked, immediately surrounding him.
They swarmed. Slashing. Biting. Piers’s white coat turned red as he went down.
Piers! For a moment, Lucas’s vision went gray as fury churned his blood.
They’re all gonna die.
Lucas swung his head to the left. Caleb stalked toward him, his white coat gleaming. They’re all gonna die and the blood will be on your hands, Alpha. Caleb’s taunt.
The psychic link between him and Caleb was sharp, perfectly focused. The way it was supposed to be between pack-mates.
Why the hell are you doing this? Lucas wanted his blood. Why are you turning on me?
He hadn’t seen this coming. He’d fought side-by-side with Caleb for so long, and he’d never seen—
Caleb’s teeth snapped closed as the two wolves circled each other. What makes you think I was ever with you?
Fucking bastard.
Lucas attacked. Caleb’s wolf was just as big as his, but not nearly as strong—and not nearly as fucking pissed.
Lucas raked his claws down Caleb’s side. Caleb snarled but backed away.
The guy didn’t try to fight at all—just backed away. Lucas slammed his front paws onto Caleb. The other wolf fell. Lucas locked his teeth around Caleb’s throat.
The bastard still wasn’t fighting back. Why aren’t you fighting? You want to take me out? Then fight!
But Caleb wasn’t fighting or answering. Caleb wasn’t—
Watch out! Sarah’s voice in his mind. Weaker than before.
Lucas jumped back instinctively, but the bullet still hit him; this time, it lodged in his back. Fuck. Fire burned near his spine. Lucas’s claws dug into the earth. The coyotes were coming back, closing in, but screw them.
He took the pain that blazed through his body. Took it, used it, and Lucas launched into the air. His paws crashed into Rafe, and the asshole fell. The gun flew from his fingers and hit the ground. Rafe fought him, catching his claws, holding tight with both hands. Lucas’s blood dripped on the bastard.
A coyote locked his teeth around Lucas’s right hind leg. Another dog caught the left. They dragged him off as he howled his rage.
Rafe laughed. “Guess the mighty have fucking fallen, huh?” The other coyotes attacked.
The last thing Lucas saw was Sarah’s face. She’d staggered to her feet. Blood dripped down her cheek and terror filled her eyes.
Lucas. Her desperate fear filled his mind.
Don’t worry, babe. I got this.
Maybe. Maybe not.
Then he couldn’t see anything but teeth and claws.
“Stay here,” Dane ordered as the van squealed to a stop.
“You try to break free, you so much as make a single sound . . .”
The woman with the golden eyes blinked at him. She lifted her bound hands and pointed to her gag.
“You try to escape, I’ll have to knock you out again.” Right, he was bullshitting there. He wouldn’t be around to knock her out. Because the blood was flowing close by and the fight called. He grabbed her arms and jerked her up toward him. “Stay here.”
She blinked and then gave a slow nod.
He sprang from the van, ran, and knew that she’d be long gone when he came back.
If he came back.
He rushed down the dark road. He hadn’t parked too close, that would have been dangerous. But he could hear the fight, the snarls and the growls, and when he rounded the corner, he knew he’d see—
Caleb jumped at him and took his ass down to the pavement.
“You bitch,” Rafe snarled, whirling on Sarah. “I was going to let you live, I was going to—”
Bullshit. He’d already sent his attack dogs after her. Hayden had been ready to slice her open.
Piers had finally shaken free of the coyotes who’d attacked him. The big white wolf stalked toward the group attacking Lucas. His movements were slow, and blood soaked his right side.
“For old times’ sake,” Rafe told her with the grin that had once made her heart race faster, “I’ll make it quick.”
She kept her gaze on him, but she let her thoughts shoot out, let her mind connect with the wolf. Piers.
His rage hit her first. The wild fury of the wolf. Destroy. Attack. Protect Alpha.
“Our old times are over,” Sarah said, lifting her chin. She could feel the wetness of blood on her cheek. “And they were never that good.”
Rafe’s eyes narrowed with a flare of rage.
Piers, come to me.
The white wolf froze. She swallowed and kept her gaze on Rafe. He could strike at any moment. She didn’t have time for . . .
“You�
��re right,” Rafe said. “They weren’t that good.” His gaze dismissed her. “So maybe I will make this hurt.”
Great. She should have kept her mouth shut.
Piers, here. Attack!
The white wolf’s body shuddered and he began running toward her. Fast, faster . . . “There’s something you should know,” Sarah told Rafe quietly.
One brow rose.
“I definitely plan to make your death hurt.” Attack him Piers! The white wolf hit Rafe, and they both barreled to the ground.
She muttered, “Guess you didn’t see him coming,” and her shoulders sagged.
Go for the throat, Piers. Go for—
Rafe shoved off the white wolf as he screamed in agony. Piers had bitten him. Not a death bite, not deep enough but—
Rafe tossed the white wolf into the side of the warehouse. Piers was so weak he wasn’t fighting back.
“No!”
Rafe spun back to her. “You—”
Get back, Sarah. Lucas’s order, drifting in her mind. Run.
She stumbled, nearly fell in the blood on the ground, but then she turned and ran as fast as she could.
“Come back, damn you!” Rafe’s scream. He’d be running after her. He’d be—
She risked a glance over her shoulder. Lucas had him. They were fighting, man versus wolf. Rafe wouldn’t be able to defeat Lucas, not while Lucas was in wolf form. But . . .
But Lucas was hurt. He’d taken two silver hits. His pain beat at her, steady, burning, a fire that churned from the inside of his body. In the blood.
Lucas?
Rafe lifted something, metal glinted. No, not just metal. Silver. Her knife. Sarah tripped and hit the cement. Her hand went to her ankle sheath. Gone. Hell, no, she’d lost her knife.
She whipped her head back to the fight. The coyotes were down or limping away, Piers wasn’t moving, but Rafe was still up, and slashing out with that knife.
She couldn’t run and leave Lucas. If Rafe killed him . . .
Snarls reached her ears. Angry, fierce. Sarah barely had time to stagger to her feet when two more wolves burst onto the scene.
A white wolf with a pelt already stained red. A black wolf with teeth dripping blood. Caleb and Dane.
She tried to reach their minds, but found only a tangle of fury and desperation.