The three boys nodded.
“Stay on the floor. Now fall into a deep sleep.”
“How will that help? Shouldn’t we make a run for it?” asked Emma.
“We are surrounded.” Without Nexus and her wolfsbane rifle, he had no choice. He reached in and took out a bottle of vodka.
“Now isn’t the best time to drink. Besides, I thought you didn’t touch the stuff.”
Nik smiled. “You will soon see why I never drink socially.”
“What do you mean?”
“Please run, Emma, you do not want to see what I become.”
She cocked her head. “What about the boys?”
“I will return to human form once the job is done.” He snapped off the top and drained the bottle. He had never consumed an entire bottle, but he’d no choice. He wiped his lips. “Run.”
Emma nodded, but froze. “Shit.”
Nik growled. Too late.
Saskia, in human form, stepped out of the woods. “I see you are celebrating our reunion.”
The other werewolves snapped and snarled.
Nik grimaced. “Let’s leave, Saskia. I don’t want blood on my hands.”
“Prove to me you are worthy to father my pups.” She signaled her pack.
The vodka initiated the change. Just as monstrous and as mindless as the men who didn’t turn human in time to prevent the monster. The last time he’d imbibed vodka, he had slaughtered more than twenty men. He fell to his knees and howled.
Emma slowly backed away as Nik turned into a giant savage werewolf, towering over the others by at least six feet. What was he?
He roared.
Two werewolves attacked him. Nik swiped one, decapitating him and snapping the neck of the second. Two more werewolves attacked.
One stalked toward Emma. Saskia snarled. “She’s mine!”
Shit. Emma ran. At least with Saskia hunting her, she bought them some time. Knowing Saskia, she might have killed the boys in front of her just to torment her.
Emma didn’t look back as Saskia’s paws slammed the ground, catching up to her. Fortunately, her ankle had completely healed. Even better, she somehow outpaced Saskia who failed to reach her. How could she outrun an alpha lycan? Did Bolton add cheetah DNA to the modified drug?
Emma reached the bank of a river, took off her shoes and leapt in. The shock of the water’s cold temperature encouraged Emma to swim faster. Never a good swimmer, her super strength amazed her.
A splash behind her meant Saskia had followed.
Emma reached the other side of the river and dragged herself out. She ran deep into the forest. I can’t outrun her forever. Sure enough, she reached the edge of a cliff making her thought a self-fulfilled prophecy. The end of the road. No one could survive the fall, not even a werewolf.
The giant she-wolf arrived and shifted to human form. Saskia stalked forward. “I must say whatever Bolton gave you made you better prey.”
“Like it did any good.” Emma backed toward the edge.
Saskia grinned, baring sharp, dagger-like fangs. “Some creature with speed. A horse, perhaps.”
Emma swallowed. “Any closer and I’ll jump.”