Page 82 of Wicked Wolves and Tangled Truths
“Just hang tight. Go in the back. I’ll be there in ten.”
35
Isa
I’m huddled on the floor in the kitchen hiding behind one of the cook stations. My knees are pressed to my chest and I have my arms wrapped around them as though through sheer will, holding myself tight will keep me from falling apart and shifting.
My phone chimes and I lift it to glance at the illuminated screen.
Des: I’m here.
“Thank God.”
I squeeze my eyes shut once before forcing them open. Desmond is here. I’m safe. He’s a big strong wolf and he’s the Southwest Pack Hunter. Whoever is outside won’t want to mess with him. You can’t go after a Pack wolf without consequences.
Besides, he’s probably gone by now anyway. I’m okay. Everything is okay.
Me: Be right out.
I pushmyself up from the ground, my legs still shaking as I shove my phone in my back pocket and try to catch my bearings.
I take several deep breaths and press my hand over my chest. My heart is racing but there isn’t anything I can do about it. I make sure my saber is still snuggly secured on my back and I force myself to move toward the front of the diner. My steps are slow, and I keep checking my surroundings to make sure I’m still alone. I know the vampire couldn’t have gotten inside. The doors are all locked. I would have heard if he’d forced his way inside. But I still feel the urge to double and triple check.
I spot Desmond’s Escalade parked right out front and a small sigh of relief escapes me. He sees me and opens his door, stepping out and heading my way. Going outside, I make it three steps out the door when the air shifts, bringing with it the realization that we’re not alone. I freeze. Des’s dark brown eyes meet mine and the next thing I know he’s running straight toward me.
He’s almost to me when the assailant strikes. Des intercepts the guy before he can reach me, and they collide in a tangle of fists and snarls. Des is quick to retaliate, slamming his fist into the man’s face with shapeshifter strength, but he doesn’t go down. Instead the man laughs, a familiar harsh and grating sound right before he whirls and lunges for me.
I jerk back, my reaction all wrong as fear overwhelms me. Des catches him around the middle, throwing him to the side. He slams into the diner’s exterior brick wall and then he rolls to his feet in a crouch, crimson eyes stare back at us.
I swallow and inch closer toward Desmond. The vampire tracks my movements, his lips pulling back to expose his fangs.
“Samuel,” I whisper and he smiles.
“You’re making a stupid mistake,” Des snarls, drawing the vampire’s attention to him.
Samuel straightens to his full height. “You’re the one interfering,wolf,” he sneers. “Best run along. This one doesn’t belong to you.” He exhales a dramatic sigh. “I would hate for you to be hurt during the hunt but,” he smiles, “reparations can always be made.”
The threat is clear, but Des doesn’t back down. “I’m only going to warn you once—”
Another vampire appears as if from the shadows to flank the first one. “You were saying?” Samuel taunts.
Another two appear behind us and suddenly we’re surrounded.Shit.
Des growls, a deep rumble in his chest that fills the silence. He flicks his gaze toward me, eyes like liquid mercury. I know what he’s silently asking and I nod in answer, preparing myself for what I know will be a hard fought battle. I swallow down my fear and call my wolf forward. Her sharpened vision fills my eyes and my wolf’s claws pierce my fingertips.
“Ah, are we going to shift?” Samuel asks, canting his head to the side. “I much prefer this form than the hybrid beast you were when we first met but,” a curl of his upper lip exposes his fangs, “I did enjoy forcing your shift. Tell me, how’s your back feel?”
Desmond’s lips move, his words whisper soft for my ears only. “You can hold a warrior form?”
I nod.
“Take it the first chance you get.”
I reach for the saber on my back, pulling the blade free as Des whips a simple dagger out.Will it be enough?
The vampires all smile like our weapons are useless against them. I force my mind to remain calm. Steady. Usually a vampire up against a shapeshifter is a done deal regardless of breed. Vampires are fast and there are only a few ways to kill them. Destroy the heart, decapitation, and fire are about it. Whereas with a shifter, all you have to do is deliver enough damage that the Lycanthropy virus in our systems can’t keep up. Silver is our kryptonite but it isn’t necessary to take us down.
Four against two isn’t helping our odds.
