They walked in silence, and as the minutes became hours he had to release her hand and go ahead of her to forge a path though the dense woods. He moved silently and easily thought the forest, obviously at home in his surroundings. Every now and then he’d glance over his shoulder to check on her. She always smiled at him, but still his frown deepened.
Truthfully, her feet were killing her again. They’d been pretty good for the first hour, thanks to the extra padding he’d wrapped around them. But now they were beginning to throb again. She passed her time imagining how wonderful it was going to feel to soak them in a tub of warm water. When this was over, she was going barefoot for a week.
He held up his hand as he stopped in his tracks. She immediately came to a halt, knowing he’d sensed or heard something. Silently, he prowled the area before coming to stand beside her. “We have company.” His low, almost toneless words were mouthed next to her ear. She nodded to let him know she understood.
He bent over and quickly unlaced his boots, yanking both them and his socks off quickly. Shucking his jeans, he folded them and handed them to her. Alex swallowed as he turned from her and began to shift.
She’d seen it once, but not like this. This time the man was becoming the beast. Bones cracked and changed, some lengthened and others shortened as he bent forward and placed his palms on the forest floor. Muscles rippled and flowed beneath his skin. Thick black fur seemed to spring from his flesh as his face contorted and his jaw elongated, forming the familiar muzzle of the wolf.
Her heart pounded so loudly she couldn’t even hear her own breathing. She clutched his jeans to her chest, needing something to hold onto. She swayed and stiffened her knees. This was no time to act like a ninny. She knew what he was. Accepted what he was. At least intellectually. This whole change thing was going to take her some time to get used to.
She couldn’t even begin to imagine what it would be like to go through this metamorphosis herself. That was something she’d deal with when she had to and not one moment before. Right now, it was taking everything she had in her just to keep putting one foot in front of the other.
Even though it seemed to take forever, she knew it had only been a matter of seconds. The man was gone. In his place was a powerful, magnificent predator—a huge black wolf—king of the forest.
He turned his head and peered at her through familiar eyes, so dark that they appeared black. There was no doubting the intelligence or determination in that gaze. She’d seen it many times before.
Bending over, she picked up his boots and added them to her load. He was still staring at her when she faced him again, obviously waiting for her. She gave him a quick nod. He turned and loped off ahead of her, his muscular body sliding gracefully across the ground. She couldn’t take her eyes off him. Even in this form he was enthralling.
He turned and shot her a disgruntled look. She didn’t need to be able to hear him to read his thoughts. “I’m coming,” she muttered under her breath as she crept as silently as she could behind him.
Chapter Twenty
They’d only been walking stealthily along for about five minutes when Joshua stopped again and ducked behind a cluster of fir trees. Alex quickly followed him, lowering the bundle of clothing to the ground and drawing the hunting knife from its sheath.
She thought about Joshua’s handgun and the two bullets left in it, but felt the knife was the better choice. A gunshot would be heard for miles. She’d use it if necessary, but for now the knife would have to do.
Hunkering down behind the trees, she listened. The woods had gone silent. The birds had stopped singing, the insects were silent, even the wind seemed to pause.
Her fingers squeezed the hilt of the knife. Who was after them this time? Bounty hunter? More werewolves? It didn’t really matter she supposed. An enemy was an enemy.
Joshua tipped his head to one side, as if he were listening intently to something only he could hear. Suddenly, she wished she could change too. If she could transform herself into a wolf then they would be able to speed through the countryside to their destination. She would be a help to him, not a hindrance. If he were by himself, he’d already be back within the safety of the pack.
Her ears perked up as she thought she heard a sound off to the left. It was faint. The sound of something brushing against the leaves that littered the ground. Her hands were moist and she shifted the knife, wiping her hand on her jeans before gripping the hilt again and moving it into position.
The longer she stayed in a crouched position, the more her legs began to cramp and her feet throbbed. But she stayed in the uncomfortable stance. There was no way she was moving until Joshua gave her the okay. His senses were much keener than hers and she knew he was hearing or smelling things she wasn’t able to.
A man stepped out into a small clearing a few feet away from them. He was tall and well built with a wide chest and long, muscular legs. “Striker.” His voice was low, but it carried well. “We’ve taken care of a couple of bounty hunters and a rogue wolf that were on your trail. It’s safe to come out.” He reached behind him and dragged the carcass of a brown wolf into the clearing. Alex recognized it as the one that had escaped from yesterday’s fight.
Joshua didn’t move, but turned his head to study the man. Alex wondered who he was. He obviously knew Joshua. Still, they waited.
“Come on man. We’re your escort back to the compound.” The man turned his head, his long blond hair ruffling in the slight breeze. “I know you’re close. I can smell her.” He turned his face from side to side, his nose in the air as if trying to find her.
Alex buried her face against her knees, huddled closer to the tree and tried to make herself as inconspicuous as possible. He could smell her? How humiliating was that? She felt something brush against her face and jerked her head up. Joshua rubbed his face against hers as if offering silent comfort.
She reached out, clutching her fingers in his soft fur, needing the reassuring contact. She didn’t think she was ready to meet anyone from his pack yet. But time had obviously run out.
Joshua changed back into human form. The transformation was quick. The strange thing was it was beginning to seem almost natural. And how weird was that? He bent close to her, his hair brushing against her cheek as he whispered in her ear. “You stay here. I’m going to go and talk to Luther.”
She nodded, but didn’t speak. Joshua faded into the bushes, circled around and stepped out behind the other man. “I wasn’t expecting you, Luther.”
The blond man spun around. He was slightly shorter than Joshua, but not by much. In terms of build, they were evenly matched. Still, there was something more dangerous about Joshua. Menace seemed to just emanate from him.
Luther took a step back and then seemed to check himself. “Thought you might need some help.” He jerked his head toward the dead wolf.
“How did you know where to find me?” Joshua was totally naked and should have seemed vulnerable next to the other man, but nothing could be further from the truth. He appeared even larger, more imposing and totally unconcerned about his nudity.
Luther shrugged. “Me and my brothers have been out scouting the perimeter of the pack land for the past two days. We figured you’d be along soon. And you found her, didn’t you.”
It wasn’t a question because he’d already said he could smell her. His eyes gleamed with lust. Alex shivered when the blond stranger licked his lips. Suddenly, she felt like the girl in the fairytale her father used to read her when she was a little girl. What was it? Oh, yeah, Little Red Riding Hood. This particular wolf looked like he wanted to eat her for lunch.
“She is safe.” Joshua kept his arms by his sides, his stance loose. She could tell he was ready to move or fight at any second.
Luther scanned the trees, searching. “Where is she? I want to see her.”
Revulsion filled Alex. She didn’t want to be anywhere near this guy.
“You will see her when the time is right. I’ll bring her ba
ck to the compound. You and your brothers can go on ahead.”
“I don’t think so, Striker.” Luther motioned off to his left and two wolves slunk out from beneath the brush. “We’ll take her from here.”
“You think you can take her from me?” Joshua asked, his tone almost mild.
“You Strikers think that you are so special,” the other man all but spat. His handsome features were contorted with rage. “Why should you have her? The Carlos family is just as deserving and furthermore, we don’t mind sharing. Do we boys?” The two wolves seemed to smile.
Oh shit. She was in trouble. The hilt of the knife dug into her palm she was gripping it so hard, but she took comfort from the pain. There was no way she’d allow herself to become some pass-around treat for Luther and his brothers. She tried to swallow, but her throat was impossibly dry. Sweat beaded on her forehead, but she didn’t dare move to swipe at it. The last thing she wanted to do was draw any attention her way.
Joshua bared his teeth as a menacing growl came from deep in his chest. “You are refusing a direct order?”
The other man smiled with smug satisfaction. “Things have changed since you’ve been away.”
Joshua stilled. Energy seemed to coalesce around him, making him appear even larger. “I always thought your family was short on brains, Luther. But now I’m certain of it.”
The blond man laughed as the two wolves slunk closer. “With all the Striker brothers gone looking for the little she-bitch, there was a change in the leadership of the pack.” He shrugged and crossed his arms over his chest.
She was almost afraid to blink, afraid she’d miss something as the tense scene played out in front of her. Her position from behind the trees allowed her to watch even as she was hidden from view. Joshua’s eyes narrowed, becoming even darker.
“I wouldn’t want to be the one to have to tell James LeVeau that you killed his brother.” Joshua’s tone was mild, but the other man jerked backward as if he’d been struck.
“He’s still alive?”
“Did you expect it to be otherwise?” Joshua shifted the tiniest amount, but the others didn’t seem to notice.
“Those damn hunters guaranteed they’d get rid of him.”
“It was you who fed information to the bounty hunters. You betrayed our people to those monsters who have preyed on our women and children.” His entire body seemed to vibrate with barely suppressed anger.
Luther shrugged. “Whatever it takes to get the woman. With James LeVeau’s daughter by my side, no one will gainsay my right to lead the Wolf Creek pack.”
“You think not?” Joshua shook his head as if addressing a wayward child. “The Striker family would definitely object.”
“Not if there are none left to do so.” Luther puffed out his chest, full of bravado now. Alex couldn’t believe he didn’t seem to realize the danger he was in. Joshua was only one man, but at this moment she’d put all her money on him.
The fine hair on the back of her neck stirred and a shiver skated down her spine. She turned her head slowly, careful not to make a noise. He was standing right behind her, a large brown wolf with dark brown eyes and very sharp teeth. He growled as he started to lope toward her.
Jumping to her feet, she ignored the shout she heard behind her, focusing on nothing but the animal in front of her. She kept the knife in her hand hidden by her side as the wolf raced closer. All her senses were heightened. She could hear the pads of his feet pounding against the ground as he ran. She could feel the breeze on her skin, the sweat on her back and the deep pounding of her heart. The forest seemed to recede into the background. There was only her and her attacker.
The animal took one final step and launched itself at her. She swung her arm upward with all her might and buried the silver-coated hunting knife in the wolf’s chest, aiming straight for the heart. She threw up her free arm, covering her face and blocking it from the animal’s large jaw.
She heard the yelp of pain, felt the gush of liquid as blood coated her hand. Leather tore as sharp teeth shredded the thick fabric of her jacket. Alex fell over backward, striking the ground hard. The wind was knocked out of her, but she managed to twist the knife deeper in the wolf’s chest. Claws tore at her jacket and she screamed out as he struck her bad arm.
The beast thrashed about and Alex’s already abused body took another beating as she fought to keep the wolf’s teeth from her throat. Finally, after what seemed to be an eternity, the wolf gave one final shudder and went limp. She lay there panting for breath, unable to move with the weight pinned on her chest.
She gathered her remaining strength and managed to roll to her side. The muscles in her arms and legs burned as they bunched and strained to shift the bulk of the large wolf off her. She flopped back to the ground, gasping for breath. She started to wipe the sweat from her brow and stopped when she realized her right hand and arm were covered in blood.
Alex rolled to her hands and knees. She sucked in a deep breath as her stomach heaved. She yanked off her jacket and cursed when she hit her bad arm. Using the lining of the jacket, she wiped off as much of the blood as she could.
It was only then that she heard the sounds of a fight in the clearing behind her. Joshua. She jumped to her feet and almost fell back to the ground again. She swayed and grabbed a tree for support, blinking as the world came back into focus. Joshua had shifted again and the massive black wolf was locked in a life-and-death struggle with two other wolves. Luther lay flat on his back on the ground, his sightless eyes staring at the sky, his head at an unnatural angle.
Although it made her stomach roil, she grabbed the hilt of her knife and yanked it out of the chest of the wolf beside her. What was it her father had said about how to kill a werewolf? Silver was poison. Breaking their necks or decapitating them would also kill them.
She stared at the knife and gave thanks that this was no ordinary blade, but one coated with a layer of silver. The shiny edge was now speckled with the blood of the creature on the ground. She’d never have been able to break its neck, but she’d certainly sunk the silver blade straight into its heart.
Alex swallowed hard and turned away from the carnage beside her. Reaching down, she grabbed Joshua’s gun from the pocket of her mangled jacket and jammed it into the waistband of her jeans. It wouldn’t kill a werewolf, but it might slow one down. Clutching the knife tight, she stepped into the small clearing.
The three wolves ripped, clawed and bit each other. Blood sprayed the ground as they growled and fought. Alex had never witnessed anything so brutal in her life. She swayed, but locked her knees. She had to be able to fight, to help Joshua.
Sucking much needed air into her lungs, she steadied herself as a deep calm settled over her. She and Joshua would defeat their enemies or die together here in the woods. Determination fired her blood as she took a step closer to the mound of growling fur that thrashed on the ground.
Joshua had one of his opponents by the neck, his teeth locked into the creature’s flesh in a death grip. The other wolf jumped on Joshua, sinking his teeth into Joshua’s black fur. Alex lunged forward and drove her knife into the rogue werewolf’s back. It raked Joshua’s sides with its claws as it jumped away.
Alex stumbled back as the wounded animal turned on her. The hilt of the knife was sticking out of its back. The wolf had moved so quickly, she’d lost her grip on her weapon.
Drawing the gun, she fired off the two remaining shots in quick succession. The wolf jumped to the side, but one of the bullets nicked him. Rather than slow him down, the regular bullet just seemed to piss him off.
She tossed the empty gun aside. She was on her own, weaponless. With one eye on the predator moving closer to her, she searched the ground for a rock or branch. Her back hit a tree and she stopped, but the wolf kept creeping closer.
The werewolf growled, saliva and blood dripping from its massive jaws. Alex braced her legs and got ready. If she was lucky, she could hold him off long enough to grab the knife from his back
. Who was she kidding? She’d have her hands full trying to keep those large, sharp teeth from ripping out her throat. Not to mention the damage those long claws could do.
These guys were playing for keeps. Now that their leader was dead, she didn’t think mating with her was still on the schedule. Even if it was, she didn’t care. She was a fighter. If she was going to die then she was going to take this creature with her. “Come on,” she taunted. “Or are you too afraid to fight a woman. I’ve already killed a couple of you mangy critters.”
He leapt so suddenly she stumbled. She stuck out her arms and prayed for strength, as she was knocked backward. A low rumble seemed to fill the air and then the weight was gone from her chest. She turned her head and watched as Joshua dragged the smaller wolf away from her, his powerful jaws crunching the bones of the other beast’s neck.
She tried to sit up but fell back to the ground, swallowing a moan of pain. The wolf had raked her arms with his claws and they were bleeding. She watched, unblinking, as Joshua finished off the other wolf and dropped its body to the ground. The small clearing was littered with bodies, the stench of blood and death permeating the air.
Alex gagged and dragged herself as far away as she could get, which in reality was only a couple of feet. Soft fur brushed against her as she felt Joshua settle beside her. His tongue stroked over the torn flesh of her arms as if trying to soothe her. She gave a small hiccup—half-laugh, half-cry—and then began to cry in earnest.
Wrapping her arms around her wolf, she buried her face in his fur and sobbed. She didn’t cry for long, because in the back of her mind she knew they had to move. If these werewolves had found them, then others could as well.
Pulling her face away, she dried her eyes with the tail of her cropped shirt. Most of the bleeding on her arms had stopped. Hopefully, that meant the gouges weren’t deep, but just long and mostly superficial. Or maybe it was because her wolf was pushing more to the surface with each passing minute.
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