Page 5 of It’s Kind of a Bunny Story (Hey There, Hop Stuff #3)

S tretching my arms above my head, I stared at the three men lying in a tangled heap on the blanket pile. They were so exhausted after spending the past three days making sure I stayed stuffed full of soup and their man meat, that they hadn’t even noticed when I climbed out from between them.

Linc had fallen asleep holding a sandwich that was now mashed against his face. Barely stifling a snicker, I watched as Copeland rolled over and spooned Fletcher. Both men were going to be pretty upset when they woke up and realized they were cuddling. I couldn’t wait.

Thanks to their valiant efforts, they’d sated the heat enough that I’d been able to sleep for several hours before my temperature had spiked and I’d woken drenched in sweat.

My inner slut was up early and already stoking the fires of my heat.

Resting a hand against my churning stomach, I breathed through a cramp.

How long before I have to wake one of my mates and find release? Probably not very long…

Deciding I needed to make the best of the limited time I had, I padded to the corner of the cave where Copeland had stacked supplies. I found the toothbrush and toothpaste Copeland had brought along with the food. After brushing my teeth, I ran a comb through my tangled hair.

What I really wanted was a shower, but the wet wipes would have to do. Realistically, I wouldn’t be comfortable leaving my nest for several more days. But maybe there was a water source nearby where we could take a quick dip? I decided to ask the wolves when they woke.

Needing a snack, but not wanting to wake my mates with the sound of crinkling wrappers, I tiptoed my way outside.

The moment I emerged into the late afternoon sun, every hair on my body rose, standing on end. Tendrils of smoke drifted between the thick tree trunks of the surrounding forest, creeping ever closer to the cave entrance.

Don’t freak out, Charlee. Maybe someone is camping? Or maybe it’s another gender reveal gone wrong, and the firefighters will have it under control within minutes.

As I took a deep breath, hoping to calm my frayed nerves, a new scent caught my attention. It was faint, almost entirely hidden by the acrid odor of burning wood. But there was no mistaking who—or rather, what —it belonged to.

Coyotes.

The cave was on pack lands, although just barely, since we hadn’t been willing to venture too far across the boundary before receiving permission from the alpha to stay.

Still, it would be suicide for coyotes to venture close enough that I could pick up their scent.

Needing to make sure I hadn’t imagined it, I took another deep whiff, coughing as the thickening smoke filled my lungs.

Predator.

Instincts that had passed from grandparent to parent to child kicked in.

Run! Do not pass go and do not collect $200. Move!

The scent seemed to be coming from all directions, so my best bet was to head left and get a head start.

The cave wasn’t an option, because they could follow and I’d be pinned.

But as my muscles tightened to obey the primal survival instinct and disappear into the brush, I hesitated.

My mates were in the cave, and if caught unaware, they’d be in danger.

Run. Run. Run.

The demand drummed in my skull, demanding that I obey. Rabbits survived predators one of two ways: outrun our would-be murderers, or run until we find a hole to dart inside that was too small for the predator to follow.

Fighting my instincts, I tripped backward into the entrance of the cave. I had to warn them, even if it meant being trapped.

I flew through the tunnel. “Get up!”

The men remained motionless. What the warren was wrong with them?

Why hadn’t they heard me scrambling through the tunnel?

Maybe I killed them. Is this what they meant by a body count? I was like a freaking dragon, but instead of gold, I was collecting penises! Pull yourself together, Charlee!

“Get up!” I hissed, leaping on top of the guys and shaking them. “Coyotes are coming, and the woods are on fire!”

The three men bolted upright so fast that I fell backward, screaming and grabbing my chest in shock.

“Are you sure?” Fletcher asked, pulling me back into a sitting position.

“Y-Yes,” I whisper-shouted. “They are close, but still a little way off. I think. Ugh! Rabbits don’t exactly stop to see how close a predator is, so for all I know, they’re right outside. We have to run if we’re going to escape them! Now! ”

Linc snorted, pushing to his feet. “Run? Wolves don’t run; we fight.”

“We need to know how many coyotes we are facing,” Copeland added. “And you are going to stay in the cave where it is easier to defend you.”

Both wolves ducked, disappearing into the tunnel. Fletcher and I held our breath until they reappeared. One look at the grim set of their jaws and my stomach plummeted to my toes.

“The smoke makes it hard to pinpoint the exact number of unique scents, but I’m guessing there are nearly thirty coyotes. Possibly more.” Copeland stared back down the tunnel entrance, prepared should anyone try to sneak inside.

“They are too close to risk trying to get Charlee to safety. If they surrounded us, it would be too hard to fight and try to keep her from getting caught in the crossfire.” Linc ran a hand through his hair and cursed. “I’ve already alerted the alpha, and wolves are on the way.”

“I thought the alpha said wolves would patrol near the cave? So, it shouldn’t be long before they arrive, right?” Fletcher asked, giving my arm a reassuring squeeze.

“They were, but a wildfire broke out on the far side of the pack lands. It spread so fast that it burned several homes. The full pack is working to put it out and evacuate the rest of the houses in the danger zone.” Linc’s jaw clenched and unclenched.

“It was a setup to draw security away from us,” Fletcher stated the obvious.

“It would seem so. But what the coyotes want with either of you, I don’t know. Nothing about this makes sense,” Copeland muttered.

“I’ll explain later. But this is definitely our burrow’s doing.” Fletcher moved toward the pile of tattered clothing, tossing them aside until he found the shirt I’d worn.

Linc began barking out orders. “I will hold them off at the entrance. Copeland will stand just inside the tunnel, and Fletcher will be the third line of defense.”

I finally found my voice. “More than thirty? And how many coyotes can a wolf take on?”

“You don’t need to worry. We’ll keep you safe.” Copeland turned from watching the tunnel, his eyes glowing.

“How many? I want a realistic answer,” I demanded.

“Around five. It is tough to estimate since it depends on the condition of the wolf and the coyotes. Your guys can probably handle a few more, but to take on that many coyotes, they’ll need the strength of the pack,” Fletcher answered, lifting my shirt and ripping off one sleeve.

All three of our heads snapped in his direction. How could he know that?

“Which means they will severely maim or kill Copeland and Linc before backup can arrive,” Fletcher added as he moved to my side and began rubbing the shirt sleeve all over my body.

“What are you doing?” I batted at his hands and tried to step back. “This is a weird time to try to clean me!”

“Be still!” Fletcher’s barked command shocked me into obeying. He’d never been stern with me. “I’m going to shift, and you are going to rub my fur against your skin. Then you are going to slip this sleeve around my body.”

“But why—” My blood turned to ice as I realized what he was planning. “Fletcher! You can’t! If they catch you?—”

“They won’t. We both know I’m faster.” He placed a tender kiss against my lips. “I’m no help in hand-to-teeth combat, but I can run.”

Stepping away from me, he turned to the wolves. “I’ll run along the ridge and cut back toward the pack house. Tell the pack my plan so I don’t end up a wolf snack. If we’re lucky, some of them will follow my trail, thinking I’m Charlee. That should give you two better odds.”

Respect shone in the wolves’ eyes while tears shimmered in mine.

“Protect her.”

“You have our word.” Linc took Fletcher’s forearm in a warrior’s grip. “Run with the speed of your ancestors, Bunny Boy.”

Linc’s insulting nickname broke through the tension, and Fletcher chuckled.

Without another word, he shifted forms. I quickly kneeled and rubbed his soft fur against my skin. Once the shirt sleeve had been slipped around his body, I held him in front of my face.

“Come back to me, my love.” Touching my nose to his, I set him on the ground and tried not to sob as he darted down the tunnel.

“I’m going to the entrance to listen and get an idea of how many follow him.” Linc disappeared the moment he finished speaking.

Copeland grabbed Fletcher’s shirt and tossed it to me. “Put this on. The more we can mute your scent, the better.”

I pulled it over my head without argument, thankful to be wrapped in my mate’s comforting scent. My insides churned as dizziness made the room spin. Fight to the death or not, my heat wasn’t planning on giving me even a brief intermission from the pain.

How long before my scent bloomed and became stronger as it attempted to seduce any male with a nose who happened to be within sniffing distance?

Copeland stroked my hair, although whether it was to calm me or him, I couldn’t tell. “I’m going to shift. If I need to fight, I’m stronger in that form.”

At my nod of acceptance, he moved away from me, shifting quickly to his chocolate wolf. Moving to the back of the cave, I curled into a ball on my side.

“It worked! At least a dozen coyotes followed Fletcher. I will hold off the entrance. If any slip by, I’ll bark a warning.” Linc didn’t wait for my response before shifting and bolting back into the tunnel.

Copeland padded to where I lay and collapsed on top of me, his giant body nearly covering me entirely. I knew he was trying to smother my scent, but my heat didn’t get the memo. My mate was so close, I could ask him to shift back. We could make it quick…

What the freak is wrong with me?

Coyotes were literally about to assault the cave’s entrance, and I was more focused on convincing Copeland to torpedo my cave’s entrance. Closing my eyes, I focused on slowing my heartbeat and breathing through the cramps.

Linc’s howl had every hair on my body standing on end. It wasn’t the reassuring call it had been that first day as they’d been on their way to my side. Nor was it the hauntingly beautiful song that wolves sang to the moon.

This was a battle cry; the wolf version of one: “Come and get it, boys.”

Wild yips from the coyotes followed Linc’s taunting howl. Each bark brought them closer until they had to be near the entrance. That suspicion was confirmed when a vicious growl rang out, followed immediately by the pained cry of a coyote.

The fight had begun.