Everyone froze.
“Now we’re all going to calm the fuck down,” snapped Makenna. Her wolf flexed her claws, not at all interested in calming down. “Boys, back away from the net—I don’t think I have to explain what will happen to your leader if you don’t.” The humans slowly edged back. “Wise decision.” The next thing on her agenda was getting away from this net. “Church Boy, we’re going to take a few slow steps forward.” She half expected him to try something. He didn’t.
As soon as they stepped off the net, she kicked it aside. “Now—”
The fire exit hatch flipped open, and a head popped out. Eyes wide, the male yelled, “She’s out back! She’s got Jeff!” The human toppled clumsily out of the hatch.
“Jeff,” drawled Makenna. “Is that your name? Not the kind that strikes fear into the heart of a person, is it?”
The leader sneered, “I do not converse with demons.”
The sounds of running footsteps made her tense. It was more like a stampede. “Looks like your other friends are joining us.” Sure enough, they all hurried out of the side alley . . . holding stakes? She snorted at Jeff. “Stakes? Seriously?” He actually flushed.
They slowed as they took in the situation, seeming confused as to what to do. That told her that Jeff was their leader too. He’d probably stationed them outside the front of the building as a decoy, forcing her to leave through the back—exactly where he’d be waiting.
“You might want to tell them to stay the fuck away.”
Instead, Jeff’s mouth curved into an ugly smirk as he spread his free arm out wide. “Do your worst,” he dared Makenna. “Charge!” he hollered at the humans, shocking the shit out of her. The crazy bastards did. With a roar, they came at her with their stakes.
“Fuck.” She could run, she could stand and try to—
They halted. Just stopped dead, casting wary glances at something over her shoulder. She inhaled deeply. Ryan. Relief surged heavily through her and her wolf. Makenna didn’t think she’d ever been so glad to see anyone in her life.
He came to her side without making a single sound, radiating fury and danger. And for once, his emotions were evident in his expression and body language. It was only then that she heard other noises . . . footsteps, light and agile enough to go undetected by most. She inhaled deeply again, picking up other scents—Jaime, Dante, Tao, Trick, Dominic, Marcus, and Roni.
With one glance, Ryan took in the scene—took in the open hatch, the gathering of humans, the clawed net, the knife glinting beneath it, and Makenna’s hostage. It was easy enough to read what had happened. “They used a net on you?” rumbled Ryan as the other wolves fanned out around them.
“I could be wrong,” said Makenna. “But I don’t think these humans like me very much. Not that I’m complaining, but what brought you here?”
“The extremists attracted a news crew. I saw them on TV outside your building.” And Ryan had almost lost his fucking shit. “You didn’t answer my calls.” That was when he had lost his fucking shit. Panic had seized his body, taken over his mind, and sent his wolf insane. His pack had managed to calm him just enough to instill some rationality into him. But now, as it became obvious just how much danger Makenna had been in, the rationality began to slip away.
Makenna inwardly winced at his words. She’d forgotten to take her phone off “silent” mode when she woke up. Even so . . . “I was a little busy here with Jeff and his buddies.”
“I wonder if these little photos will feature on the news,” said Jaime. That was when Makenna noticed she had her cell phone out, snapping pictures of the net, the knife, and the humans.
“I remember when Derren once uploaded a video of violent extremists on YouTube,” said Roni. “It upset a lot of shifters.”
Dante nodded. “Those humans had to disappear for a while. Come to think of it, I don’t think they ever reappeared.”
Ryan growled as he smelled something. Blood. Makenna’s blood. “Where are you hurt, Kenna?” The words came out sharp and clipped.
“It’s just a gash on my thigh. It’s almost healing.” She watched Ryan take slow, deliberate, predatory steps as he moved to stand in front of Jeff, his eyes cold, hard, and menacing. Ryan always looked unnerving. Right now, he looked downright terrifying.
“Was it you that made her bleed?” Ryan asked Jeff.
Makenna shivered. Ryan’s normally bland voice vibrated with the need to hurt.
Jeff sneered. “Our Lord protects us. Your kind can do us no harm.” His words were confident. His tone wasn’t.