The timber wolf stood with its back to us, looking farther into the garage.
The red wolf was nowhere in sight.
It was probably just in the garage.
I let out the breath I was holding. “Okay. All clear. We’re—”
A low growl off to my right.
I turned my head.
There, head bowed low to the ground to peer at us from under the other side of the tow truck, was the red wolf.
“Well, fuck,” I said.
The wolf’s lips quivered over sharp fangs.
Its ears flattened to the back of its head.
There wasn’t enough room for it to get to us. At least not yet.
Chris gasped behind me.
I held up my hand at them without looking away from the wolf.
Its violet eyes glittered in the snow.
“Slow,” I said, voice even. “Back the way we came. No sudden movements.”
Tanner said, “Gordo,” but I just shook my head.
“Now.”
I heard them moving. The wolf’s gaze darted over my shoulder, but I snapped my fingers, bringing its attention back to me.
It growled lowly.
I didn’t look away.
The others were moving behind me. I knew we didn’t have much time. Either the wolf would try to come for us or the hunters would be alerted. Our pack was too far away.
But I’d faced worse.
I’d seen the monsters in the dark.
This asshole didn’t know who the fuck he was dealing with.
I grinned at the wolf. “I’m going to kill you. All of you. Just you wait and see.”
It growled louder as it took a step forward. Its shoulders hit the tow truck, which creaked ominously, the boom scraping against the floor, the frame shuddering. It didn’t like that sound, backing a step or two away.
“Come on,” I said under my breath. “Come on.”
The raven fluttered its wings.
The wolf crouched low and began to crawl toward me, black claws digging into the snow.
“That’s right,” I said. “Come and get me, you fucker.”