I yanked open the door and climbed into the back. X followed, leaving Alpha to slip into the passenger’s seat. There seemed to be an unspoken alliance with the little wolf. I stole a glance at her as she settled. The gashes in her scalp were healed. Her shaved hair was growing back thick and even. She was a wolf, but her pack was a pack of two, and that was the way she and Alpha wanted it to stay.
Gunny’s heavy tread echoed before she slid into the front seat and yanked the door closed. She turned, giving Alpha a hard glare—there was no room for weakness here. “You want to do this…I mean really do this?”
Alpha stared straight ahead and waited. If anyone thought he wasn’t one-hundred fucking percent dialed in, they were dead wrong. “I have no idea what kind of Hell we’re going to unleash by doing this—but I want him dead. And not just because he’s a gutless prick who left his own wife behind to save his skin, but because anyone that had a hand in Stitch’s death deserves to be six-fucking feet under, and that includes my goddamn uncle.”
Gunny gave a nod, and then turned the key.
She needed to hear it.
We all did.
We’d killed in the line of duty and we’d killed to protect.
But this was something different. This was pure, blood-chilling vengeance.
My brother might walk the long and lonely road to Hell…but he wouldn’t go alone.
2
Ghost
My stomach tightened. I stilled, lowered myself to hands and knees and dropped my face to the grass.
There…over there. I shoved upwards, kept my steps light and fast, moving down the slope. Rocks skidded from under my feet, but I was too high, and upwind. They’d never see me, never smell me—not until it was too late.
Movement darted in the distance. Not fast, not panicked…not yet. The whip of a tail, head high for a second until she dropped her focus to nibble sweet green grass.
She was young, fresh…her mother close by.
I licked my lips, stilled at the side of a pine and yanked the pouch from my waist. The cold water hit my mouth. I took a deep draw and swallowed, stilling the gnawing ache for a second before the agony returned with a vengeance.
My thighs trembled, breath stuttered. I yanked the tie closed and bound the soft flask to my belt. I was too far…farther than I’d dared before, and I never came this way. I glanced behind me to unfamiliar trees. Go back, that voice whispered inside. Go back…we’ll survive—somehow.
I listened to that voice…I needed that voice. It saved me, protected me…it killed…for me. It was the voice of my father…and the words of my mother. I reached for my neck and brushed the totem, tracing the open jaw, long canines, and the thick outline of my spirit.
The ache radiated, clawing into my chest, sticking my lips to my gums. I closed my eyes. Every cell in my body was screaming…eat…I need food. The snap of a twig echoed. Just a little farther…the hill sloped down and then rose back up. By the next rise I’d have her…by the next rise I could eat.
I pushed off, scurrying for the next tree. My body trembled, muscles ready for the hunt. A tight cramp spread through my jaw, throbbing, drawing me closer to the beast and the whispers in my mind.
The hard dry pelt brushed my arms, pale silver hair caught the blinding ray of the sun, turning the storm-cloud colored hide almost gold. “Soon…” I growled. “By the next rise.”
Thorns snagged my pants as I moved forward, head down, keeping to the downwind, and moved lower and around, skirting them, pushing them to exactly where I needed. My belly flared, lightning ache slashed across my side. I gripped my waist, finding the hard ridges of my ribs and the jutting bone of my hip. Not enough food…and too much snow.
Unusual snow. It came in drifts, falling lightly to coat the ground, and then it grew, smothering, suffocating until there was nothing left.
The long cold had been hard, storm clouds brought with it savage lightning and driving rain. I’d hunkered inside, keeping my animal hard around me—staying warm, until I could hunt. With the storms came the young green…and with it food.
The breeze hit my face, scattering my hair to the wind. I sucked in the pungent scent of urine and pushed with the balls of my feet, driving toes into soft dirt. Movement stilled. I froze. Heart hammering. Breath too loud. Slow down now…easy does it…easy…does…it.
I closed my eyes and my world narrowed. There was just me and her out here. The hungry and the young. I could almost taste her flesh. Almost feel the warmth of her in my belly, the ache sated… sleep would come, just a little…until I’d wake and eat again.
The snap of a twig sounded, small…and again. Moving slow. Growing fainter. I dragged open my eyes.
Don’t lose her. Just don’t lose her.
I surged ahead, quick strides. Stopping…breathe…breathe. Her mother darted forward, lingering at the base of the gully where the grass grew thick and lush. I could take her now…I could take her…
No…don’t…wait. It’s all about the timing…all about survival.
Air rushed in carving through my nose to fill my lungs. She was right there. She was—my stomach trembled, the need cut like acid through my veins. I’d die if I didn't eat. I’d die…alone.
No. Never alone.
Never alone…never alone. I flattened my palm against the thick, scaly bark and pushed ahead. She moved higher, leaping with short bursts to catch the beginning of the rise. It wasn’t far. If I could just get ahead…just a little.
A deep burn flared in my lungs. She moved higher, halfway now. I whipped my head to the next tree, and sprang once more. Toes dug harder, gouging through pine needles to skim rocks and sharp twigs. I stole glances, surging…fighting.
Her mother stilled, tail standing half-mast.
She knew something was wrong. Could she smell me? See me?
The fawn skittered farther upward, oblivious to her mother scenting the wind.
Just a little more…please…just a little more.
Her mother’s darting eyes searched the valley. She raised her head and sniffed the air.
The rough edges of my hide scraped, wearing close against my elbow, and stuck to the underside of my arm. I could feel her now…the hunger…the power…the animal.
My spine straightened as the hide flattened against my back. The wind…the wind. I raised my head, drawing in the sharp tang of ammonia. Fresh meat. So fresh, and we were hungry.
Her mother moved. My heart thundered.
Each boom drove the desire harder. Claws scraped along my arm, moving down to my wrist. Silver bristles shone as the hard pelt softened, sliding now and not scraping as the skin of my bear smothered me.
Run, she commanded. Now.
I ground my jaw and sprang, driving my feet into the ground and punched the air. My body trembled, all senses firing as I drove my body toward the rise. She was almost there now, almost ready to slip ahead of her mother and crest the rise.