Only Vampires Cry Blood (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #3)

Both Dylan and the other wolf kept their distance. Dylan was staying about a block behind me, keeping to the shadows. I could see him in my mind’s eye, padding along with the silence of the wolf. His companion was to my right, walking parallel with me a block over. I didn’t feel intimidated by them, but I was wary. Werewolves were nothing if not true killers. Having two of them preying on me was definitely unsettling.

My wolf was on full alert, ready for an attack. She wanted it. Tearing Dylan’s throat out would feel incredible right now. The thought encouraged my bloodlust and a small smile played along my lips. This could be fun.

Much as I liked to rant and rave about it, the vampiric tendencies I’d acquired from Arys had a plus side. With the power blazing its way through me and the blood hunger rising, I wasn’t surprised when my fangs and claws lengthened fully. My brown wolf eyes were very likely blue with the vampire power coursing through me. I focused on control. I’d let loose when the f**kers cornered me.

It wouldn’t be much longer before they made their move. I could feel it. Dylan started to close in on me from behind, and that’s when I casually strolled across the street.

Kylarai’s was still several blocks away, but using the walking path and cutting down another street would lead me to the stretch of field behind her house just the same.

I jumped when my phone vibrated in my purse. Slipping it out, I struggled to maintain my casual composure. Shaz’ reply said only: on my way. I breathed a sigh of relief. I was pretty sure I could handle these guys, but Shaz was my mate and Alpha male in this town. I knew he’d want a piece of Dylan.

Ever so slightly, I quickened my pace. I wanted to hurry as if trying to flee the biting cold, but they’d never fall for that. It wasn’t cold enough to greatly affect a Were. Dylan would be onto me by this point. He had to know I was aware of their presence.

The liquor induced haze I’d felt upon leaving the Lounge quickly dissipated as adrenaline blasted through me. I was ready to fight for my life and, if all went well, end theirs.

I’d underestimated them. I’d mistakenly assumed they would tail me from their positions a block away until we left public property. When I sensed the sudden shift in their positions, I almost panicked.

They were coming up on me fast, a full out run. I could feel it. I froze, glancing frantically at my surroundings: a line of houses on both sides of me and the field at the end of the street, straight ahead. One mile or so remained to the tree line beyond.

Dylan’s heady Alpha wolf energy was strong, coming fast. I broke into a full out run, knowing that I had to outrun him. I couldn’t decide whether to shift forms or not. I had more metaphysical power in human form. However, we were all wolf, and that was the ideal way to settle this.

Leaving the glow of the streetlight behind gave me a sense of comfort. My eyes adjusted to the dark, and I stared hard at the tree line. I’d never beat them in human form.

I simply couldn’t move as fast on two legs as I could on four. A snarl broke the silence behind me, causing the tiny hairs on the back of my neck to stand on end.

I reacted without thinking, throwing a blast of vampy energy behind me. It burned my palm as it went, and the sudden yelp that came next was music to my ears. The two of them were hot on my heels, no more than several hundred yards behind me. Too close.

I allowed myself a split second to mourn my outfit. No way would I have enough time to disrobe before shifting. It would end up a torn, useless scrap of rag instead.

Damn.

The two men had much longer legs than I did. They quickly closed the distance between us. As carefully as I could, I let my purse drop to the ground. I used the last precious moments to toss another shot at them before leaping into the air and becoming wolf.

I hit the ground hard, nearly losing my balance. The element of surprise was on my side, and I was off and running before they could change forms. The snow and dirt kicked up beneath my feet, and the cold wind ruffled my fur.

Exhilaration drove me hard, and I all but threw myself toward the awaiting forest.

Shaz couldn’t be far. He’d be coming from Kylarai’s backyard. A glance in that direction revealed nothing.

I fought back the fear that threatened to break through my calm and ready demeanor.

Dylan was approaching fast. I made the mistake of casting a look back over my shoulder, right in time to see him launch through the air.

I didn’t even have time to gasp before he slammed into me. His momentum rolled us so that we flipped in the snow a few times before sliding to a stop at the base of a large spruce tree. I sprang to my feet before he could sink fangs into me. Circling away from the tree, I put it at my back so that neither wolf could attack from behind.

Dylan, large and gray, advanced on me in a way that was supposed to intimidate. His companion, a slightly smaller brown wolf, stood twenty feet away watching for a signal from his Alpha.

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