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Aric held up the first aid kit. “I was going to change his dressings. I might as well take him his food and save you the trip.” His heart hammered.

Say yes. Say yes.

The soldier chuckled once more. “Wait a sec. Weren’t you the one who gave him the wounds in the first place?”

He bowed his head, trying to look suitably ashamed. “Yeah, but I’m feeling bad about it now. The medics have all gone, Doc’s busy with Jake, so I said I’d do it. I do have a little first aid training.” That wasn’t a lie, but then again, he had no intention of delivering any aid.

The opposite, in fact.

“Well, okay, then. Knock yourself out.” The soldier handed him the tray. “I’m not about to argue with you, especially as you’ll save me from having to get too close to him again.” He shuddered. “That guy gives me the fucking creeps with the way he stares, like he’s seeing right into your head.”

Aric thanked him and waited for him to head back to the hangar before approaching the building.

The guard glanced at the tray, then Aric. “You been conscripted?” he said with a smirk.

“Just helping out—delivering his food and changing his dressings,” Aric replied, holding up the first aid kit again.

The guard nodded. “Okay. Knock when you’re ready to leave and I’ll untie him so he can eat.” His eyes gleamed. “But no shifting this time, okay? I thought you were murdering him last time. All that screaming…. How much damage can kitty claws inflict anyhow?”

Aric snorted. “He’s still alive, isn’t he? So not enough, obviously. And I won’t shift. You’ve got my promise.”

What Aric had in mind wouldn’t require shifting.

The guard didn’t open the door right away, however, but regarded Aric for a moment. Aric tried to keep his cool. His heart was beating so fast, he was sure the guard could hear it. Finally, the guard nodded. “I guess you’ll be safe enough. He can’t shift, and while he might give some pretty impressive glares,theywon’t harm you.” He opened the door, and Aric went inside.

Fielding sat in the same office chair, his ankles and wrists secured with rope. He glanced at Aric with disdain, his lips curled into a sneer. “Well, ifit isn’t the kitty cat again. Come to inflict more damage?” There were four Steri-Strips on his forehead and cheeks, and his hands were all scratched up. Fielding peered at the tray and shuddered. “What muck are they giving me now? It should come with a health warning.”

“You don’t need to worry about that.” Aric’s voice shook. “Food’s going to be the least of your worries.” He put down the kit and the tray, then approached Fielding’s chair. His fingers trembled as he unfastened the rope around Fielding’s ankles, then his wrists. Aric stepped back quickly and pulled the handgun from its hiding place, pointing it at Fielding with as steady a grip as he could manage.

“Why have you cut me loose? And what are you doing with that?” Fielding seemed almost amused.

Aric raised the gun a bit higher. “Taking back my fucking dignity. Taking it back for all of us who you hurt, tortured, and killed. You can’t be allowed to live.”

Fielding sneered again. “You? You don’t have the guts. You’re a weak, pathetic little thing. The only reason we kept you was because we wanted Seth to comply.” His smile was cruel. “If it wasn’t for him, you would have been one of the first to be culled.”

“Well, this weak, pathetic little thing is going to end you.” Aric spoke clearly, not bothering to mask his thoughts.

Come on, Brick. I need you.

Aric pulled the trigger and the gun clicked. He did it again with the same result.

Fielding smirked. “See? Pathetic.” And before Aric could take a breath, Fielding lurched out of the chair and grabbed the gun, knocking Aric to the floor. “Are you so stupid you didn’t realize the safety was on?” He moved his thumb and smiled. “But it’s off now, not that I need it to finish you. I can do that with one hand, but I’m not going to waste time killing you. Especially since you might have some use after all—as a shield.” He grabbed Aric around the throat and squeezed. “How many guards outside?” He released his grip a little, and Aric coughed.

“One,” he croaked. “Everyone else is inside.”

Now would be a good time, Brick.

Fielding nodded. “Armed, of course.” He dragged Aric to the door and opened it a crack, the gun raised. Then he shoved Aric through the doorway, aiming at the guard, pulling thetrigger—

And nothing happened. Fielding’s shocked expression was almost comical.

Then a ferocious roar shattered the silence, and Aric scrambled to his feet, his heart thumping. Somewhere, Seth cried out, “Don’t shoot him!”

A solid mass of white fur crossed Aric’s field of vision, barreled into Fielding, and shoved him out of sight, accompanied by Fielding’s shriek. Thunderous noises filled the air as heavy paws slammed the ground, and Aric winced at the sound of Brick’s deafening roar as he hurtled after Fielding.

I have to see.

He turned in time to watch Brick slam a hefty paw into the side of Fielding’s face with enough force to snap his neck. Fielding dropped like a stone, but Brick wasn’t done. The air was filled with noises that curdled Aric’s blood: The scream that was cut off, the gurgle of blood, and the crunch as Brick bit through bone and cartilage. He closed his jaws around Fielding’s throat, and by the time he was through, Fielding’s head was hanging by its tendons.