“Do as I say!”
Cricket backed into the large cavity and snarled. “On missions we’re equals.”
He thought of biting her, but had no time. “I promise after I lose them, I’ll come get you.”
She snapped. “We stay together and that’s an order!”
“How am I supposed to protect you?”
“I might ask the same question,” she snarled.
Slade ducked into the brush as the helicopter hovered above. No choice. He growled at her. “Stay.”
“Fine. Rylee will hear about this.”
Like he gave a damn. His wolf instinct to protect her overpowered her orders. He dashed toward the search light giving them a clear view of his big white wolf form. He growled at them and then headed deeper into the forest. Maybe if it got too low, they’d hit one of the giant redwood trees.
Come get me, assholes. He dashed into the canyon, but the helicopter didn’t follow. It circled and headed back toward Cricket. Baiting him to return. Shit.
The copter’s loud clap drew closer. Was Slade safe? No way could this helicopter land in the dense forest so he might have gotten away. She peeked out from her hiding place.
A long rope ladder folded out of the hovering helicopter. Six men in dark paramilitary suits climbed down and leapt to the ground, armed to the teeth.
Literally. Their scent told her everything. Humans and werewolves working together, but why? One carried a net. They intended to add them to the missing werewolf list. At least, Slade. She would be sniffed out as a runt and probably killed immediately like the other omegas had been.
A motorcycle pulled up. Pinky. He approached a werewolf, some beta douche. “I found their motorcycle and disabled it.” He took out a Glock. Her Glock. “They left all their weapons and clothes.”
Head werewolf nodded. “Good. Let’s search for wolves.”
Damn. They’d been caught with their pants down, or rather, off. In wolf form, how could they go back to town? Entering town naked might be their only choice. She had to find Slade. Or better yet, lead them away from him.
Head werewolf sniffed. “Female, up there.”
Her cue to run like hell. Cricket ran toward the road then stopped to listen.
Another werewolf spoke, “Sir, we should focus on the alpha male.”
“Agreed. Load up your tranquilizer. Jim, you and I will shift.”
“What about the female?” asked Pinky.
“Kill her,” said Head werewolf.
Pinky protested. “She’s sexy. Don’t you want to keep her? As a whore?”
Ooh. She narrowed her eyes.
Head werewolf chuckled. “The bitch smells lower ranked than an omega.”
Not as bad as you stink, asshole.
“It doesn’t matter to me,” said Pinky. “Part of my reward.”
“Up to Henrik. But since he invited you to come, keeping her might work out.”
Who was Henrik? Invited where? Not that it mattered. Time to find Slade before they captured him. She picked up his scent and ran.
The patter of wolves on her heels motivated her to run faster. Shit. These rogue lycans were more likely to kill her than to save her for their human underling’s kinky needs.