Page 98 of To Hunt A Wolf
We’re on the steps of the alpha house, far left of the main entrance. A side door with more than enough visibility from the street where a crowd has gathered.
At the sight of us, their voices lift in screams and cries for justice.
I falter, confused.
Kari stares at them, just as bewildered, and it takes me a long moment to realize they aren’t here at her bidding.
If she didn’t do this, who did?
Something slams into me from behind.
Not something, someone.
Thiago’s teeth latch onto my hind leg, and I howl in pain as he rips me open. My legs give out, and I tumble hard against the concrete.
Thiago comes in for another bite, and I manage to fight him off. Over his shoulder, I watch as a dart strikes Levi in the hind leg. His eyes widen, blazing with surprise—and pain.
Then he snarls and comes for Thiago, ripping him off me with his claws.
Another shot hits Levi.
His eyelids begin to droop. His movements slow.
The crowd roars, and through the blood pumping in my ears, I have no idea if they’re cheering for us—or for them.
A third dart hits Levi.
He falls, hard, eyes closed before he hits the ground.
I whimper, pulling myself to my feet, wincing at the pain from the wound Thiago gave me.
If I don’t do something, they’ll put me down next.
The shift hurts this time. When I return to my human form, I’m covered in blood, and not all of it’s mine. Healing will be much slower this way, but there are more important things than my torn body.
“You all came for a killer,” I scream at the crowd.
They’re closer now, pressing in toward us with angry expressions. Some carry signs scrawled with words like “Justice for Crigger” and “Death to Romantics.”
At my words, they roar back at me, urging me to give them what they want.
“There,” I scream, pointing at Thiago, who’s already stalking toward me like a predator ready to finish off its prey.
He halts, mid-attack.
The crowd turns to him, shock muting their cries.
“He’sresponsible for Crigger’s death,” I yell at them. “And he’s not the only one.”
My gaze swings to Kari. Our eyes meet.
I can’t help the pain in my chest as I summon the words that will condemn her, once and for all, to our entire pack. Words I can never take back.
I look back at the crowd through eyes blurred with tears.
Movement ripples through them. I don’t have time to see what’s caused the sudden chaos of bodies being abruptly shoved aside. It doesn’t matter anyway.
This is all about to end.
