Page 82 of The Tracker's Revenge

I wanted to cut a glance in their direction to see if they’d moved, but I kept my eyes on Stephen and Marlowe, pretending that they’d forgotten about the monster helpers. As if.

A girl could hope.

“The dagger!”Stephen’s voice ran inside my head.

I glanced sideways at Jake, waiting for his answer, except he didn’t waste time with words. Instead, he attacked.

I barely had time to blink, then Jake was on Stephen, his huge clawed paws swiping at his face and barely missing as his target pulled back with a yelp of surprise. Jake pressed forward, a wall of muscle moving faster than it seemed physically possible. Stephen had barely recovered from the first attack, and Jake’s sharp teeth were already snapping a mere breath from his neck. Stephen retreated once more.

I moved to join Jake, to get my revenge for Damien, but Marlowe came from the side, barreling toward me, his mouth opened wide, pointed teeth glimmering with saliva.

I halted and pivoted to one side, narrowly escaping.

Unrelenting, he pressed forward.

I had a mind to turn tail and run, but Red’s instincts overpowered that desire. And good thing she was in charge because this was her territory, not mine.

Hackles raised, I let out a growl and pushed my alpha power forward. Instantly, Marlowe’s ears leaned back, his tail curled down, and the light in his eyes dimmed. Yet, he prevailed over his instincts and kept coming.

Wild snarls came from behind me, but I couldn’t turn to look. I just prayed Jake was all right.

As Marlowe came closer, I ducked my head and went for the scruff of his neck. My teeth snapped shut around him, cutting into thick sinew. Blood flowed into my mouth, driving my anger and instincts into a frenzy. I shook my head, teeth tearing chunks of fur and meat.

Pushing downward, I drove Marlowe to the ground, sunk my teeth deeper, and increased the pressure until I hit bone. I snarled and kept shaking my head, barely any human thought left in me. I was nothing but a savage creature overrun by instinct, fighting for her life. There was no pity, no remorse, nothing but the certainty that I would do anything it took to stay alive.

My rage remained even after my opponent stopped moving. It took me a long moment to pull away and blink at the mangled mess that lay at my feet. As reason returned, I backed away, unable to comprehend what I’d done. It wasn’t the first time I’d killed, but it was the first time I’d killed one of my kind.

Athudbrought me back to the moment. Jake and Stephen were still fighting, thrashing on the ground, rolling over each other in a flash of teeth and claws. It felt as if an eternity had passed, but I’d overpowered Marlowe in a matter of seconds. And during those few beats, Stephen had wasted no time in conjuring his monsters.

I didn’t know how he’d called them, but I caught their movement out of the corner of my eye. My head snapped in their direction. They ran in a semi-crouched position, their hands lightly brushing the ground as they propelled themselves forward like twin ramrods ready to break us into a million splinters.

Shit!

Instinct taking over once more, I pushed my alpha power toward the hybrids, exerting my will and taking an intimidating stance as I growled, ordering them to stand down.

Nothing happened.

I tried again, showing more teeth, building a deeper rumble in my throat.

Still nothing.

Damn!Maybe they had been alphas before Stephen turned them into beasts. Maybe there wasn’t enoughwerewolfleft in them to be commanded. Whatever the case, we were screwed.

“Jake, they’re coming!”

Jake’s head snapped up and his silver eyes quickly assessed the danger. He had Stephen cornered against a tree and had injured him.

“We can’t fight them. We have to get out of here,”I thought at him.

Jake had only enough time to make up his mind. He could either stay to finish Stephen and then be killed himself, or he could run.

He ran.

Joining me, we leaped over an outcrop of jagged rocks. My ears swiveling backward, intent on any sounds from our pursuers. They snarled and panted, treading heavily over the undergrowth, letting me know exactly where they were.

“They're gaining on us.”

“I know. Run faster.”