When it came down to it, he wasn't certain he could protect her any better than he had Kyle and Sybilla. Rainna carried his scent now and there was no changing it. He wanted to take her back to the Falls, introduce her to his pack brothers, and make her his life mate, make her a part of his family. But what would she do when she found out what he was? And besides, humans without abilities weren't allowed to join the community. It was one of the laws of their society. It was too easy for a traitor to infiltrate.
He had to put his mind back on track and return his focus to why he was here in the first place. And that was to hunt down a killer. He also needed to find out if there were others, and whether he was working alone, or if the team was close by as well.
From what the council members said, this was the first PIA assassin that had come to Silver Creek. If he was alone, all the better. He could be dispatched quickly. But would that lead to others coming to look for him?
If Trey killed him, the body would need to be removed to somewhere far away. He'd talk with the vamps about how they wanted it handled so it didn't draw attention to Silver Creek or Vampyre Falls. Although in his opinion it probably was already too late. Just having one of them show up in Silver Creek said they probably already knew about the Falls, and infestation by rodents such as these was probably not far behind.
He sniffed the air again, smelled the strong scent of danger, and circuited the darkness and shadows. In wolf form his vision was far more acute than when he took human shape. He could move faster and more quietly through the thick vegetation as well, and his senses were more acute.
The assassin was close, he could feel it, and he wasn't making any attempt to hide his presence. He probably had no idea he was even being followed. Obviously, he was too intent on whatever prey he had in his sight. What was he up to?
Trey knew what he looked like. He'd seen him in town, but he'd tried to keep his distance, not wanting him to catch his scent. One thing about assassins such as these was that they had highly developed senses of smell and sound. It was part of their training when they joined the agency. Whatever scent he was onto couldn't be good.
He still couldn't fathom why someone would want to become a part of a group like that. Of course, there were the high bounties and he expected they enjoyed the thrill of the hunt, and the kill. Some of them were more bloodthirsty than others. And the wolfhunters were some of the worst. They collected the pelts of the victims they killed.
He shuddered when he thought about Sybilla and Kyle. He'd never found their bodies and often had nightmares about what had become of them. All he'd found was a bloody trail that had led him nowhere.
His brother, Carson, had gotten away with a wound to his chest from the silver-dipped knife that had sliced him open. He'd been lucky. They'd apparently taken them out one at a time after incapacitating them. Carson was probably meant to be the last. Donovan had been hunting when they'd attacked. He'd just returned and found Carson, lying unconscious and wounded on the ground, and had dragged him out of the cabin before the assassins could come back and finish the job. There'd been no sign of Sybilla and Kyle. Other than the bloody trail. Van had been required to make a choice and he'd lived with that knowledge ever since.
There was always a plan B, and theirs was an abandoned gold mine they'd stocked with supplies--just in case. That's where Trey had found his brothers when he'd returned. Carson's wound had never healed properly. Of course, Carson still wasn't right in any respect. Sybilla had been his mate, and he doubted Carson was ever going to recover from that loss.
The assassin veered to the right and Trey perked his ears. He shouldn't be moving in that direction. It certainly didn't lead to the mountain, nor back to Silver Creek.
Shit. He was headed for Rainna's cabin. What the hell was he doing going in that direction?
Suddenly he realized what the assassin was tracking. It was Trey's scent he was on. He was following it to Rainna's cabin.
Sonofabitch!
Trey took off at a dead run. He had to take the bastard down before he reached Rainna's cabin. He would not lose the woman he'd marked as his mate.
Chapter 3
* * *
Rainna rushed into her cabin, shouldering the door open, her arms full of grocery bags. Her plan was to make a special dinner for Trey.
She knew his favorite meal was a thick steak with wild mushroom gravy, twice-baked potatoes, and corn on the cob. It wouldn't take long to grill the steak since Trey preferred his practically raw. He always seemed to have a voracious appetite. In more ways than one.
She reached into the cupboard for the seasonings, pulled the head of lettuce and other vegetables out of the refrigerator, setting them on the counter, and was just reaching for the knife she planned to use for the vegetables, when the door of the cabin rocked back on its hinges and slammed against the wall.
Whirling around, a butcher knife clutched in her hand, she reared back against the counter as she saw a man, who looked more like a wild demon than a human, filling the doorway. Black straggly hair down to his shoulders, a full black beard, a narrow face with small, beady eyes. He wore ragged Army fatigues, clutched an evil-looking machete in one hand, and had a rifle slung across his back.
"What do you want?" she screamed
He tilted his head to the sky and sniffed loudly. The smile that spread across his lips was not pleasant and made Rainna shudder. She clasped the knife tighter, knowing she and a cheap kitchen knife were not going to be a match for this man if he came at her.
He turned back to look at her and the expression on his face had to be the cruelest one she'd ever seen.
"This place stinks of him." His black gaze narrowed. "You stink of the pack. Where's the alpha?" He took a menacing step toward her. "This time I'm going to skin him and take his carcass back with me."
There was only one way out and he was blocking it. She had to find a path around him somehow. The cabin had never seemed quite so small before.
"I don't know who you're talking about." She tried to inch her way to the other side of the tiny kitchen, hopefully forcing him farther into the room. "Who are you looking for?"
"Black. Him and his pack. I got me two of them, but I know there's more. I've seen their markings. They've been here." He narrowed his gaze on her again. "And I'm guessing he'll be back. In the meantime..."
That was when she tried to lunge past him, just as he took another step toward her, freeing a small space she might be able to use to get past him. At least she had the knife. She didn't know what Trey might have done to have this man tracking him; she didn't care because what she did know was that this man was bad. Really, really bad.
Rainna bolted, hoping to take him off guard. She almost made it past him when he shot around and grabbed her by her long hair. He yanked her off her feet. She screamed as loud as she could before she toppled backward. She held little hope that someone might hear her--the cabin was too far away from town--but someone might be walking in the woods nearby. A long shot, but her best hope.
Trey wasn't due to arrive for several hours. She was on her own.
She yanked around and blindly jabbed out with the knife. But, again, he was too quick, too experienced. He grabbed her wrist in a tight, breaking hold, and twisted to the point where she thought the bones might snap.
"No," she screamed, as the knife clattered to the floor from her numbed fingers.
He dragged her up against him and his hot breath choked her.
"You're a little spitfire, aren't you? Seems to me you could use a little taming. You and me are going to come to an understanding before Black gets here."
That wasn't going to happen. In a quick movement, she jabbed her knee up as hard as she could and hit a bull's eyes. He yowled and suddenly she was free. Not wasting an instant, she whirled around and raced toward the open door.
He was on her before she could reach it, ripping her shirt, yanking her back by the hair.
"No," she screamed, whipping around. She dug her
curled fingers into the flesh of his face.
"Damn you, bitch. You'll pay for that."
The next thing she knew pain shattered through her. She saw stars as his fist smashed into her face and blood poured from her nose. Oh, God, she was certain she was going to die.
Before she could crumple to the floor, he hauled her up and threw her onto the bed. She rolled over and tried to crawl to the other side. He dragged her back, picked her up, and slammed her back down.
She fought him with every bit of strength she could muster, refusing to give in to the pain. She knew she was fighting for her life. This time she tried for his eyes, curling her fingers into claws, she struck out fiercely.
He deflected her aim, grabbed her arms, and slammed her back down again. She was losing strength and she knew it. He hit her across the face again and she felt the blackness start to descend. She fought it, knowing she would certainly be lost if she allowed herself to lose consciousness.
She tried to lift her legs, to kick out. Her mouth filled with blood and she couldn't breath. She felt his vile hands at the front of her jeans and she fought harder, but knew she couldn't last much longer.
She wiggled and refused to remain still. She would not give in. One leg achieved freedom and she kicked out. He twisted her leg and she screamed with pain. Then he punched her in the stomach, winding her, and she fell back, trying to catch her breath, knowing something was broken. Tears blurred her vision.
The loud echo of an angry growl shot through the room. The vile hands left her body for an instant, and she managed to crawl away on her hands and knees, toppling off the other side of the bed. Pulling herself up, she looked around and couldn't believe what she saw. It was a huge black wolf with a vicious look on its face.
She had to be seeing things. She shook her head and tried to focus, but one eye was already beginning to swell and her vision was blurry.
"Black. I knew you'd get here sooner or later. Too bad it wasn't just a bit later."
Then the large wolf leapt straight toward the man, knocking him to the ground. They grappled on the floor, rolling over and over. The wolf's lethal fangs were bared as he growled and snapped, trying to reach the man's throat.
Rainna dragged herself across the bed and folded to the floor. She tried to focus, to remain conscious, but she knew she didn't have much strength left. When she couldn't get her legs to function, she crawled across the floor, trying to find the knife that he'd forced from her hand. She saw the glint of silver just to the right of the violent battle.
The man was now on top, trying to break the wolf's jaw, one hand at his throat. His machete wasn't close enough for him to reach and there was no way he'd have time to remove the rifle from his shoulder to use in this small space. If he killed the wolf, Rainna knew she would be next. She'd rather take her chances with the wolf later. Reaching for the kitchen knife, she fumbled. Her hand was still numb, and the knife clattered back to the floor. Using her other hand, she quickly recovered the knife and rose to her knees.
With the very last of her strength, she lifted unsteadily to her feet and threw herself at the pair on the floor. She knew she'd only have one chance. Gripping the knife with both hands she thrust it into the assailant's back, pushing as deep as she could, desperate to hit something vital that would stop him.
He arched back, howling with pain. She ripped the knife out, his flesh sucking at the blade, and plunged it in again, driving through muscle as blood poured out onto her hands. He stiffened and then finally dropped forward beneath her. She left the knife where it was and rolled away, closing her eyes. The violence and stench of blood was already making her ill. She had to get out. She couldn't be certain she had killed him.
There was a whine and a blast of hot breath across her battered face. She managed to open one eye and she met the fierce, pale blue gaze of the wolf standing over her, watching her.
There was no room left for fear. All that remained was the unbearable pain of her body. And a shocking moment of recognition.
"Trey," she whispered before she blacked out.
Chapter 4
* * *
Trey had never been so scared, or so angry, in his life. He quickly shifted back to his human form. There was no time to waste. He had to get her out of here and back to the Falls so Morganna could tend to her wounds. He could only hope nothing vital had been damaged or broken. He should have been faster, dammit. He didn't dare take her to the hospital in Silver Creek--there would be too many questions.
He turned back to check the wolfhunter and determined without doubt that he was dead. The minute he'd released Trey's jaw, Trey had finished what Rainna had started. He had no regrets.
He turned back to Rainna.
Look at what the bastard did to her and she still kept fighting.
She was his mate, dammit, and he should have admitted it to himself before this and convinced her to go back up the mountain with him. It didn't matter if she didn't have special powers; he would make the council agree to allow her to remain in Vampyre Falls. If not, then he and the others would leave. They'd have no choice. He had no choice. He couldn't let her go.
He found a blanket and carefully wrapped it around her. Then he located her purse with her car keys. Lifting her into his arms he carried her out to the car and placed her on the backseat, being certain to cushion her head. Once he was sure she was as comfortable as possible and that her breathing and pulse were steady, he went back inside the cabin.
She was going to be angry when she woke up, but he had little choice at this point. If he was going to protect not only her, but everyone in Silver Creek as well as in Vampyre Falls he had to make sure he covered their tracks and that there was no trace of the PIA agent by the time it was done.
He walked outside and around to the shed at the back. He picked up the can of gasoline and then went back inside. Pulling a book of matches off the counter in the kitchen, he lit the match and dropped it into the liquid pooling on the floor. It caught fast and he hurried outside, closing the door behind him.
He'd use the cell phone before he got too far out of range and alert the fire department before the fire could have a chance to get out of control. Then he'd lose the throw-away phone. It didn't do him any good up in the mountains anyway. There was no phone service in Vampyre Falls, no vehicles other than ATVs. The electricity was powered by the falls.
Fuck. The cell phone was back in his truck along with his clothes. What the hell was he thinking? He looked back at the cabin, wondering what his chances were to get to the agent to see if he had a phone. The flames had already begun to engulf the interior and he couldn't take the chance. He was going to have to make a quick stop before he could get her back to the Falls--he had no choice. Luckily there was a shortcut to where he'd left his truck hidden on the other side of the woods. Sometimes this clothes problem really irritated him. And no pockets in his wolf form. That was a real issue at times like this.
One last check on Rainna and he got into the front seat and started the engine. As he pulled away, he checked the rearview mirror and saw the yellow flames licking at the structure. He spun out, throwing dirt, gravel, and clouds of dust behind him as he hightailed it for his truck. Once he got to it, he jumped out of the car and raced toward it. Yanking open the door he grabbed for his clothes and the cell phone. He punched in the number for the fire department, gave them the necessary information, and then tossed the phone. There was no time to dress--he had to get Rainna to the healer and fast. One of his brothers could come down later to take care of his vehicle. Tossing his clothes into the front seat of Rainna's car, he jumped in and jammed his bare foot down on the gas pedal.
There was no going back. He could only hope that Rainna would eventually understand what he had done and why. He hoped his brothers would give her time to become acclimated with their way of life. They weren't much on patience. But if Trey planned to keep Rainna as his mate, and remain head of his pack, the others would have to accept her as well. And that was
something he wasn't certain Rainna was ready for.
* * * *
She hurt. She hurt bad. Pain was about the only thing she felt when she woke up to find herself wrapped in a blanket, speeding down the road, the faint scent of burning wood assaulting her nostrils. The one thing she did know was that she was lying on the backseat of a car.
She tried to focus, but her eyes were too bleary, one actually completely shut, and the side of her face felt like pummeled steak. She couldn't breath easily through her nose and she was afraid to touch it, to discover that it actually was broken. She was terrified to see any bit of her face from the way it felt.
It was the fear of who was driving the vehicle that was the impetus to make her attempt to sit up, even though it felt like her ribs were broken. And then she finally managed to see who was driving the car.
"Trey," she croaked.
He glanced quickly around and then returned his attention to the road. She had no idea exactly how fast they were traveling, but she knew it certainly far exceeded the speed limit, especially on what felt like a dirt road.
"You should slow down." She couldn't make out a lot, being half-blind, but it looked like-- "Trey...are you naked?"
"I need to get you to a doctor," he gritted out, obviously ignoring her personal comment. "Goddamn it to hell. The sonfoabitch," he roared as he slammed his closed fist against the steering wheel.
"Is he...dead?"
Her gaze connected with his angry, pale one in the rearview mirror. Some memory flittered in her mind and then disappeared.
"Yes. But you didn't do it."
"Was it the wolf?"
She saw something flash through his eyes. "I should have gotten to you sooner. I knew he was in the area. I was tracking him, but I just never thought he'd go for you."
She tried to collect her thoughts, to remember what the man had said before he'd attacked her. "He knew you. He was looking for you."
Vampyre Falls: Animal Heat Page 2