Page 59 of The Rabbit's Foot
Except for Hyde. Him Mal would make suffer and scream for what he did to Alp.
What he’d taken from Mal’s mate.
* * *
As soon as the ramp opened and the truck pulled out, three shadows rushed inside the complex. With his sensitive hearing, Alp detected the cry of a human that was quickly silenced. Moments later, Damon’s head popped up, and en masse the wolves rushed for the opening. It no longer mattered if someone saw them, because they’d be dead shortly after.
“Let’s go,” Mal said, grabbing Alp’s hand.
He led Alp down the ramp, and with every step, Alp’s anxiety soared. Why had he said he wanted to come? He should have done the smart thing and listened to Mal. Had he ever done the smart thing? Not that Alp could recall.
They took several turns, Mal leading Alp deeper into the complex. Around them were shouts, screams, pleading, and the sound of flesh and bone being torn into.
They came to one of the labs where two big men stood guard, their pistols at the ready. Mal pushed his way into the large room. Inside, Lydia was putting bandages, needles, and other accoutrements out on trays. She glanced up as they entered, then gave them a curt nod. Her face was pale, and Alp could see she was trembling. He rushed to her and threw his arms around her waist.
“I’m so sorry,” he breathed out.
She shook her head. “No, don’t be. I signed on for this, and knew what I was getting into.”
It was then Alp smelled it. The overpowering scent of vomit.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“Nope. Won’t lie, this is worse than I ever imagined. I keep hearing the growls and the screams and….” She squeezed Alp harder. “How the hell did you make it through this?” she asked, her voice shaky.
“It wasn’t easy,” Alp admitted. “Hearing all this, it makes me think that I’m back here, stuck in that fucking pen, listening as they conduct their fucked-up experiments.”
Before Lydia could reply, a shot rang out, followed by a howl that echoed down the cavernous halls.
“Fuck,” Mal grunted. “They’ve brought out the guns. Alp, stay here.”
But Mal was going to die. Alp knew it. He’d seen it.
“No. I’m going where you go. That’s what you said, remember? Shift and let’s get moving.”
A scowl, a terse nod, and Mal stripped out of his clothes. A moment after that, he stood in his wolf form as the two guards came inside, carrying another wolf with blood matting its fur.
“Hind quarters, losing blood. Can you handle this?” the one snapped, his gaze never wavering from the wolf.
“Lay him down here,” Lydia replied, pointing at the table as she grabbed her instruments.
“Do you need me to stay?” Alp asked.
She shook her head, her eyes locked on her patient. “You’d be in the way. Go.”
Alp did as Mal had and stripped out of his clothes. He shifted, listed a bit until he figured out his balance, then hopped to Mal. The guard opened the door, and Mal was off like a bolt, with Alp doing his best to follow. When they rounded the corner, they came upon two women and a man. He was barking orders at them, and the women were scrambling to obey.
“You two, get inside the fucking lab and find something to barricade the—”
Mal growled, and it went straight through Alp. These people were about to die. Before they could react, Mal was on them. He locked his jaws around the man’s throat, the crunch loud in the nearly empty hall. One of the women cried out, turned, and tried to run, but Mal was faster. He was on her, and before she could scream, he ripped out the back of her neck, her spine snapping. When he turned toward the other, she got up and backed toward the corner.
“Please, God, no. Don’t let me—”
Those were her final words as Mal surged forward, knocking her to the floor. True to his word, she didn’t suffer as he tore open her throat. The spray of blood, followed by the gurgle, lasted only a few seconds before the light went out of her eyes. When Mal faced Alp, his muzzle was coated in the blood of the people he’d killed. Alp hopped closer, only to squeak as a bullet hit the wall near him.
Mal, turning to face the new threat, pulled back his lips and showed off the fangs that were already crimson. The guy who’d shot, his hands shook so bad, he couldn’t even aim a second time. He cried out when Mal mowed him down. His screams, echoing in the hall, were cut short.
As soon as the man was dead, Mal shifted even as he turned back to Alp. He picked him up and held him close. “Are you okay? Did he hit you?”
