Page 48 of Enter the Lair
“Extinction,” Razel said.
The man gestured around them.“Look at us Razel.Weareextinct.”He turned his back on Razel as did his pack mate beside him.
“Don’t turn your back on me.I’m your leader.”He would have rushed at the man, but Galen stepped between them.
“You are nothing, but a traitor.Your brother should never have spared your life after you attacked my mate.You have not only constituted the destruction of your own pack, but have put every shifter species at risk.”
“You think that because you are the leader of your lair that…”
“I am no longer the leader of my lair,” Galen interrupted.
Sarah noticed all the cougars react in surprise except Devon.Growls and side glances populated the surrounding cougars.
“You are,” Razel said with certainty.
“Unlike you, I respect Mother Nature.She gave me my rewards in this life.A loving mate.Eight sons.Now my time is winding down and my oldest son has taken up the mantle of leadership.”
“You’re aging,” Razel said with disgust.Then a renewed interest gleamed in his eyes.“You have to fight me.”
“No Razel.What was once my right has now fallen to my son.”
Sarah felt Devon’s respect and love for his father surge through their bond.She felt the same way.Galen put his family, his species, above all things, including his own revenge.
“He is MY son!”Razel screamed.
Galen shook his head.“You cling to this foolish hope that your genes will live on.They won’t.They will perish right here, when MY son’s teeth puncture your throat, suffocating the life from you.”
“NO.”Razel rushed Galen, but Devon, prepared for the attack, leaped onto Razel’s back taking him to the ground.His teeth punctured the soft flesh at the side of Razel’s neck.Clamping down with all his ferocity and strength.Razel struggled without success to dislodge him, jerking with one last twitch before going limp.
Sarah watched as Devon’s eyes collided with Galen’s.She shifted then retrieved her clothes.
CHAPTER11
Devon shifted while running back to the cell.He knew he didn’t have a lot of time if he wanted to save Aiden.The two coyote men and Sarah followed him.Hunter joined them after grabbing a first aid kit, and clothes for the men.
Devon glanced at the men as Sarah dressed.Both men kept their eyes averted, focusing on cleaning Aiden’s wounds with the antiseptic pads Hunter had in the kit.Devon put on a pair of jeans once Sarah returned to Aiden’s side.
“Is he healing?”Sarah asked.
Devon shook his head.“No.It’s similar to what happened to Cyril, but Aiden doesn’t seem to be rotting.He said he can’t feel his animal at all.That he can’t shift.”
“Some sort of suppressant?”
“Maybe.All I know is that, for now, he is mostly human and will probably heal like one if we can get him cleaned up, dress his wounds and get him home.”
Aiden opened his eyes, gasping as Devon pressed a deep wound together to allow Hunter to stitch it.He grabbed Devon’s arm before passing out once more.
Hunter tied off the thread.“We need to get him out of here,” he said.“Can we move him yet?”
Hunter took a cursory look at Aiden’s body.“I can’t see any evidence of internal bleeding, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t there.This is the best we can do for him here.We need a vehicle.”
Devon turned to the coyotes.“You’re Buck and Ryan, right?”The men nodded.“Aiden asked that you be spared to join a healthy pack.Tell us where we can get a vehicle and you’re free to go.”
Ryan shook his head.“We won’t leave him.Besides no pack would take us in after they learn the truth about what happened here.We can’t lie to our own.”
Devon couldn’t argue with Ryan’s logic.He didn’t know what kind of future these men would have.He only knew he wanted them to have the choice.“Can you get us an SUV?”
Buck stood up.“We have a garage a half mile away.You get him ready.I’ll be right back.”He left quickly.