Page 76 of The Tracker's Revenge

Stephen let out a tired sigh. “I don’t have time to mess around.” He flicked two fingers over his shoulder, and two massive shapes walked out of the building. They’d been waiting in his wake, ready for his signal.

The hybrids took their positions at either side of their master. I recognized the one from Liliana’s house. They were both tall and monstrous, standing on two legs, displaying their grotesque nakedness, patchy fur, and pulsing black veins that ran like cords over their bulging muscles.

I tried to look past the threshold to see if there were more of them inside, but it was impossible to tell. Were more waiting for another signal from Stephen?

“Give me the dagger or suffer the consequences,” Stephen hissed between clenched teeth.

My breath hitched. The dagger?! But he’d killed Walter to steal it. Had he failed? Did Jake have it? He hadn’t mentioned anything. What the hell was going on?

“It’s not here, obviously,” Jake said. “And hurting these people won’t help you get it. I can assure you that.”

I glanced questioningly in Jake’s direction. Still, his expression was impassive, giving nothing away, but if I knew him well, he was bluffing. He didn’t have what Stephen wanted.

My gaze went back and forth between the two hybrids.Damn!I was so confused. If Stephen hadn’t gotten the dagger from Walter, then it meant they’d made these two monsters before the coven temple. Had they only managed to make the pair? Or an army?

I wanted to know, desperately.

Stephen’s mouth twitched, anger flashing in his blue eyes. Jake’s composed attitude was unsettling him. He seemed to think for a moment, then, as he made a decision, his expression grew intent.

“Of course you don’t care what happens to your guests.” Stephen vaguely waved a hand toward the building behind him. “You’re not a... pack kinda guy. Ever since I met you, I thought you were an oddball. But I do know the one thing you care about the most.” His gaze lazily slid toward me, then his voice rose, “Grab her!”

Several of his armed cronies advanced closer. I crouched, ready to attack.

Should I shift? Fleet?

None of those seemed like a good option. We were outnumbered. I might be able to save myself, but they would hurt Jake. Could I use my sensory powers to overwhelm them? No, not all of them at once. I shook my head.

Do something, Toni.

But what?

Stephen’s men were almost upon me.

Jake spoke. “If you hurt her, you won’t get the dagger either. Let everyone be, and I’ll go with you. I’ll take you to it.”

“No, Jake. Don’t,” I protested, fear rippling over my skin.

I was on the verge of shifting and had to grind my teeth to keep my wolf at bay.

Jake peered at me, his expression calm and resigned. There was no doubt in his clear gaze. No fear or hesitation. He was doing what he thought was right, keeping these people safe, keepingmesafe.

He didn’t say a word, but I read the plea clearly on his features. It was intense and undeniable.Let me go, Toni.

I shook my head.

It’s for the best. It’s the only way to stop him from killing more people,I knew that was his train of thought.

But do you have the dagger?That was what I wanted to ask because if he didn’t have it, what then? Bernadetta and Stephen would get angry, and they would surely kill him. And if he did have it...

Did that make any difference? No, it wouldn’t. They would kill him anyway. Or worse, they would turn him into a hybrid. Either option was out of the question. I couldn’t let Stephen take him. I might never see him again.

I snatched Jake’s hand and squeezed it in mine. “I’ll go with you,” I whispered.

“NO!” His response was immediate and emphatic. He turned to Stephen. “She stays. The only way you’ll get the dagger is if you let everyone else be.”

Stephen’s blue eyes flicked from Jake to me. He seemed to consider it carefully. In the end, he gave a single nod, no regret flashing across his expression, as if he liked the idea of leaving me in safety. Yes, I was right. He still hadn’t given up on his idea of forcing me to be part of his pack. Would he ever? Would I have to watch my back until the day he died?

If so, all the more reason to kill him.