Page 52 of Wolf Trap

As soon as they saw Jax, their eyes lit up, the expressionless mouths beaming, shoulders relaxing.

“Hello boys! I have a few guests tonight.” She swaggered up to them, straight into their personal space, her eyes caressing their faces, then, in turn, resting on their lips.

Her seduction technique was impressive. I realised now that she used this to get what she wanted. The red lipstick, heels, leather clothes were her weapons, disarming her conquests. They were like putty in her hands. It was insanely effective.

If only I could use that. I wouldn’t be comfortable trying to pull that off, but it was fun to watch.

Inside the club,the air was thick with sweat, blood, and stale beer.

Crammed in like a tin of sardines, immortals and mortals alike were shouting, jeering, all tightly packed into the low-lit cellar. My boots stuck to the floor as we pushed and shoved our way inside.

Thrumming beats of music echoed around us, but it was hardly audible over the din. It seemed the crowd was denser at the end of the room.

Squeezing through, Jax shouted, “If you want to get a drink, I suggest getting it now. We need to get to the back. See?”

She pointed up, and I could just see that just under the ceiling, what looked like a circular cage.

The walls were slick with moisture, the breath of so many crammed under ground. Shifters glared at me from their towering height, their T-shirts stretched over their muscular bodies. Their demeanour changed as they sensed, or smelt, the scent from Lycaon, who had his hood pulled over his face. They stepped back, clearing a path for him in silent acknowledgement.

I pulled my hood from my coat tighter over my head. Fierce gazes from vampires, narrow eyes burned as they eyed us. Eyes glanced from the cage to us, and even Austin kept his hooded head low, eager to avoid detection.

Tiered seating lined the walls, but everyone stood. And as the roars grew louder, dread churned in my belly. My skin shivered even though sweat was breaking down my neck.

Lycaon’s hand gripped mine tighter and he pulled close to him so that I was walking in front of him, his free arm across my body.

Austin bustled up alongside us, followed by Anthony, who wore no hood. He grinned, the smell of blood lighting up his eyes, his smile revealing his fangs.

Punters clenched at the cage bars. It was circular and all around shouts and screams, taunting the fighters to kill.Doubting I could even cope with this, I wrapped my fingers around Lycaon’s arm. He edged his chin on my head. Austin shot me a nervous glance. As we got closer, onlookers were now unwilling to move for us.

In the ring, a young werewolf, in part-human form, part-beast, shook with fear at what I can only describe as a monster.

Almost unable to breathe as I saw it, its face was part demon, part beast. Its muscled body and arms were covered in hair, like a werewolf, but it was clearly part demon. A Hell demon. It moved fast, the force of its strike almost creating its own breeze. And the pounding of its feet as it struck forwards resounded on the ground. The bastards had pitted a young shifter, who reminded me of Bren, against this brute. Slight in body, terror etched on his face, the young man sprung back as the creature lunged with the savagery of a beast.

I didn’t want to look. Was I being a coward? I wanted more than anything to get that young shifter out of there. Lycaon shifted from foot to foot. I could feel the magic, a power surging through him, as if he’d been plugged into the mains. Unable to contain a growl, others around him stepped away, glancing up at him, fear in their eyes.

Would they submit to him too?

Again, the beast sprang at the shifter, who stumbled back as the creature towered over him. Valiantly, the shifter dipped low, claws out, and ripped at the monster’s ankle. Blood trickled, but the beast didn’t flinch. Roars and chanting followed. On the opposite side, through the bars, I saw piles of cash being exchanged, greed in the eyes of those counting on the death of the young lad.

Lycaon glanced up. Eyeing the distance between the top of the cage and the ceiling. Although that would blow our plan, I wanted him to rescue the kid. If he didn’t do something, I would.Shaking my hands free, I waved my fingers at the ready. Leaning into me, he whispered, “No, follow my lead.”

Sweeping away, he pulled back his hood for all to see and shoved his way around the cage. Immediately the shouting lowered, replaced by hushed voices, whispers.

In the enclosure, the monster and shifter stopped and watched as Lycaon walked towards the gate. Whispers of, ‘the father of wolves,’ and ‘the first of our kind’ from the crowd as they bowed their heads, clearing a path for him.

The young shifter had so much fear on his face, clutching a wound on his torso, shaking with defeat in his eyes.

As for the creature, this amalgamation, it stood taller. It had some semblance of cognition then. It knew, just as I did, what Lycaon was about to do.

My heart in my throat, I dared a look at Austin, who was gaping wide-eyed as his eyes followed Lycaon. Not Anthony. Aside from sucking his cheeks, a wry grin on his lips, as he narrowed his eyes in what looked like approval.

I had no doubt if things went from bad to worse, the vampire would relish the chance for a fight. The chance to taste blood.

And that’s when I saw Hakon…

Hakon’s eyes flashed with confusion. The old vampire was by my side before I could blink. Bending his neck, he whispered urgently, “What does Lycaon think he’s doing? Is he mad?”

Anger in my voice, I spat back, “Is this why you get a crick in your neck, craning it to watch innocent shifters being ripped to their death? Why didn’t you help?”

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