The Challenge (The Pack 2)

I blinked, losing my focus when I didn’t see the second Hanley. Only the dumb ass was still climbing the tree and I hoped that meant the other one had left, too scared of the she wolf to stick around.

I breathed in through my nose and then out through my mouth, slow and steady, as I pushed the terror away. You escaped them once, I reminded myself, ignoring the little voice that screamed, you had help!

In and out I breathed, fighting the fear that held me prisoner. A long second later, I felt a flicker of awareness. The sensation of a large room, crowded with people, raised voices echoing. Dom, I cried desperately, hoping he’d heard me as the connection broke when Monster yelled, “Hi-Ya” and drove the bat down on the top of the Hanley’s head.

We heard him shout as he wind milled backwards, falling along with the bat as Monster looked up at me and said, “Oops.”

We traded a glance and then I stared back through my peephole. The Hanley was sprawled on the ground, rage burning in his eyes as he gasped for air, the bat on the ground next to him.

“Shit,” I muttered under my breath when I saw the bat. It was our only weapon and now they had it. Monster crawled over to me, whimpering as he curled next to me. “I’m sorry, Sissy.”

“You did a great job,” I rushed to reassure him, smoothing the copper hair I’d despised for so long and now couldn’t wait to see in the form of fur. “You were so brave. Braver than me,” I admitted before hardening my voice. I gripped his shoulder, forcing him to look at me. “When he comes back, run. Get Dom. I’ll fight them off.” He blinked at me, his wise eyes telling me he knew better but he nodded, easing one of my fears. He would be okay, I told myself, glancing back through the hole, as I prayed it was true.

Hanley was struggling to roll over into a sitting position and I knew it was only a matter of time before he climbed back up here. A flash of movement caught my attention as a brown wolf crept up behind him, fur matted and greasy, and my heart stuttered once again.

It was the other Hanley. He’d come back.

I tightened my arm around Monster, knowing I could distract one, but if the other was in wolf form there was no way Monster would make it. I prayed, cursing my inability to link to Dom when I needed him most. Dom, Dom, Dom, I chanted his name, hoping something would get through. I didn’t care about myself but if he could save Monster….

A snarl caused my eyes to snap open as the Hanley wolf circled the human Hanley. “What are you doing?” The human Hanley stammered, fear making his voice tremble. “Look, if you want first dibs, man…” he broke off as the other one growled. I pressed closer to the peephole as Monster pushed himself up, finding another hole to peer through. “Shift back, dude, and you can have her. My compliments.” He laughed, the sound high and shaky. I almost pitied him as he shrank back from the wolf steadily creeping closer. “We can go,” he offered, crawling backwards until he bumped against the tree we were in. “I’ll leave. No questions. You can do what you want with her.” He nodded as he spoke and any pity I might have felt disappeared as he offered me like I was his to give.

The wolf paused, cocking his head as if he was considering the offer and I stilled, wondering if I’d mistaken his intentions.

The motion was so fast it blurred. Only the scream cutting off into a gurgle told me he’d ripped out the throat of his friend.

Monster jumped, a gasp escaping him at the suddenness of the man’s death. I curled my hand around his leg, patting him as I stared down at the dirty wolf. He glanced up at us, his eyes a clear grey, intelligence shining from them as he lowered himself to his belly, keeping his head down as he bowed to me. A moment later, he stood and trotted off into the woods.

Monster moved to the ladder and I tightened my grip on his leg. “Wait until Dom gets here,” I managed as I rolled onto my back, staring up at the low ceiling as I wondered how in the hell Dom had ever fit inside of this treehouse.

Chapter Fifteen

“You’re saying we missed the whole meeting?” I exclaimed, my voice pitched higher than normal as I stopped walking. Dom didn’t answer, only pausing his stride long enough to scoop me up and throw me over his shoulder as he strode away from the treehouse and the dead Hanley.