by Kali Argent
Making her way to the back corner of the barn beneath the loft, she examined one of the load-bearing beams. She crouched in front of it, running her fingertips over the splintered wood until she found the knot near the bottom. Then, she extended her claws and hooked them into the edges to pry the misshapen cap away from the post.
Once she had it loose, she dropped the jagged piece of wood to the dirt, took a deep breath, and reached into the small hole.
Chapter Twelve
Staying close to the doors, Cade rolled his shoulders, trying to ease some of the tension from his back and neck. The discomfort remained.
Nothing existed for miles around them except open fields and steep mountain faces. The landscape provided nowhere for an attacker to hide, nowhere for someone to lie in wait to ambush them.
Still, the hair on the back of his neck stood on end, and a heaviness pressed down on his shoulders. Even when all the evidence said otherwise, his instincts insisted something didn’t feel right.
He and Mackenna were alone in unfamiliar territory—at least, unfamiliar to him—and they had already been attacked once. Funny how encounters like the one with the pack of Ravagers had become so common now it barely registered as an actual fight. Mackenna had been understandably shaken, but she’d recovered quickly. It kind of amused him that she’d been more concerned about their procreation habits than she had been about the fact that they’d tried to eat her.
Despite the chaotic nature of their encounter, there had been empathy in her voice when she’s spoken about them. He thought he’d even detected an undertone of recognition, an understanding that she could have so easily suffered the same fate. Technically, she still could.
If she’d retained her sanity for this long, it was unlikely that she’d go full Ravager, but it was always a fear among the werewolves. He’d heard Rhys speak of it often, but the wolf had Thea now, a mate to keep him grounded and centered. Cade vowed to be that for Mackenna.
“Damn it!” she snarled from the other side of the barn.
He didn’t have the sight of a werewolf, couldn’t see through the darkness, so he could only assume the secret compartment she’d been excited about hadn’t been such a sure thing after all. While he hadn’t held out much hope, he’d honestly wanted to be proven wrong. Of course, that didn’t necessarily mean that Jessica had died or that something nefarious had happened to her. He also doubted Mackenna would ever see her friend again.
“Maybe she had to leave quickly and didn’t have time to stash a note.”
The logical parts of his brain demanded he retract that statement immediately. The Christmas tree standing sentinel in the living room had been the first hint that not all was well.
Even if Jessica had been one of those people who kept their decorations up until March, that still meant she had set out from the ranch before the rise of the ARC. She had left before survivors would have known anything about Olympus or how to get there. On her own in an increasingly hostile world, she wouldn’t have made it far.
That, of course, was assuming she had even survived the virus, which didn’t seem likely. In fact, it was more plausible that she’d died in her home and coyotes or some other scavengers had dragged her body off into the desert.
He’d never tell Mackenna that. He’d never paint such a gruesome picture for her, but it wasn’t right to give her false hope, either. Doing so would only make the hurt of losing someone she loved more agonizing in the end. Yet, he couldn’t bring himself to take it back, not if he could spare her that pain for just a little while longer.
“Maybe. I just can’t believe she would—” Mackenna jerked her head up and sniffed audibly at the air. A low, rumbling growl rolled off her lips, and her eyes glowed amber from the shadows. “Get away from the door.”
“What is—”
“Get away from the fucking door!” she screamed as she ran toward him.
Reacting more to the panic in her voice than her actual words, he backed away from the door, moving deeper into the barn. Big mistake.
Three Ravagers appeared in the open doorway, big, mean-looking males with dark, matted hair that hung down past their shoulders, and menacing, predatory gazes. Standing shoulder to shoulder, their hulking frames blocked the most accessible exit out of the barn, effectively cutting off their escape.
“Shit,” Mackenna cursed, coming to stand at his back. “Where the hell did they come from?”
His guess would be the mountains. He and Mackenna had only been in the barn for a few minutes, but he also knew how quickly Ravagers could move, especially when they were hunting. They could have easily covered the two or so miles in that time.
“I’m sorry, Cade.”
With the mountains in the east and the wind blowing from the west, there was no way she could have scented them until it was too late. If anyone had to shoulder the blame, it was him. He had known they were too exposed, but he’d let the vastness of the surrounding area lull him into a false sense of security anyway.
Even his gun didn’t offer him a lot of comfort. There might only be three of them, but they weren’t easy to kill. They were fast, strong, and with their supernatural ability to heal, it almost always took multiple bullets to bring them down. Headshots were easy when he was up close and personal like back on the highway. Shooting with the same accuracy from a distance and while under duress rarely allowed for the same results.
“Is there a way out from the loft?”
“Yes, but it’s a twenty-foot drop,” Mackenna argued. “Even if you don’t break your damn leg, it’s nearly half a mile back to the house.”
He heard clearly what she hadn’t said. There was no way he could outrun a pack of Ravagers. He wasn’t even sure that Mackenna could, not without a decent head start, but he could give her that much. If they couldn’t fight their way out, he could provide a distraction, giving his mate the chance to make it to safety.
While he worked out the logistics of his—admittedly flawed—plan, four more Ravagers stepped up behind the trio in the doorway. Then, three more followed behind them, with six more behind that group. Together, they comprised the largest pack he’d ever encountered.
He was going to need a lot more bullets.
“Go,” he said over his shoulder. “Up the ladder.” He stepped back, nudging Mackenna with his shoulder when she didn’t move. “Run, Mack. I’m right behind you.”
She hesitated at first, then cursed under her breath before turning and sprinting for the ladder that led up into the hayloft. She had almost reached it when all hell broke loose.
Triggered by her actions, the three Ravagers in front moved into the barn, slowly at first, but picking up speed as their eyes adjusted to the dimness. Growling and grunting, the rest of the pack filed in behind the leaders, spreading out to separate and surround Cade and Mackenna.
A female with pale hair darted across the room like liquid lightning, circling the rest of the group to reach the ladder ahead of Cade. Mackenna was already halfway up the rickety rungs when the other female caught her by the boot, snarling viciously as she tried to dislodge her from her perch. A swift kick to the nose sent her flying through the air to land in the dirt with a heavy grunt.
“Cade!” Mackenna screamed from above him a moment later.
The muzzle of his gun flashed in the darkness as he squeezed the trigger again and again. Some bullets found their marks, but just as many flew wide as the pack closed in, undeterred by the loud crack of the gunshots.
“Go,” he shouted back. “Get out of here.” By his count, he had just three shots left. Not nearly enough to take out the horde before they reached him. “Fucking go!”
He pulled the trigger again, hitting one of the males between the eyes. He took aim at a female beside him, but this time, his shot sailed wide, hitting another male behind her in the shoulder and spinning him around. He didn’t go down, though, and Cade had just one bullet left.
Of all the ways he’d imagined it ending, being eaten alive
by a pack of feral werewolves wasn’t even that crazy. He could put his gun to his temple and use the last bullet to save himself a lot of suffering. That option held little appeal. If this was to be his final stand, he’d go down swinging, fighting until his last breath.
At the very least, he could give Mackenna more time, keep the Ravagers occupied long enough for her to make it somewhere safe. Christ, he just hoped there weren’t more of them waiting for her beyond the barn.
The pack surrounded him now, closing in on all sides. They didn’t snarl or growl, but their heavy breathing sounded unusually loud as it reverberated off the high ceiling. No one lunged at him, but a few circled close enough for their foul breath to fan against his nape. The smell of blood and decay was overwhelming.
Any situation could only sustain so much tension before something snapped. In this instance, it was a young female, impatient, aggressive, and clearly frustrated with her pack’s restraint. She moved swiftly, soundlessly. Only a disturbance of the air announced her approach, giving Cade just enough time to throw his arm up to block her attack.
Three-inch claws sliced across his forearm, tearing the sleeve of his jacket and ripping open his skin. Searing pain radiated out to his fingertips, causing his grip on the gun to fail. The 9 mm tumbled to the ground, lost somewhere in the shadows.
Cade didn’t waste time mourning the loss. The single bullet wouldn’t have done him much good anyway. Besides, he had bigger problems. The blood dripping from his arm hadn’t gone unnoticed, and the scent was clearly inciting the others in the pack.
A male lunged at him, mouth open and fangs aimed directly at Cade’s jugular. A right hook to the jaw barely seemed to faze the beast, but the violence sparked a flame within his comrades.
Pulling a dagger from the sheath on his thigh, Cade swung out at the next male who darted toward him, slicing a horizontal line across his bare chest. The Ravager screeched, a high-pitched keening noise that resonated through the barn. The growls started then, as well as strange chuffing noises, almost like coughing but more ominous.
More Ravagers pounced, one swiping him across the ribs while the other barreled into him, pinning his back to the ladder and sinking his canines into Cade’s shoulder. Blinded by the pain, he cried out as he shoved the beast off him and swung out wildly with his blade. With so many bodies gathered around him now, it was impossible to tell who or what he cut.
He received another bite, this one to the thigh. More claws slashed across his torso, shredding his cotton shirt and parting his flesh. The pain was blinding, consuming, but he kept swinging, determined that if he had to die, he would take as many of them with him as he could.
His head started to spin. The muscles in his legs trembled. His vision blurred and dimmed at the edges. God, he hoped Mackenna had made it out and was somewhere far away and safe.
A howl rent the air, the sound eerie, haunting, and filled with threat. Time froze. Ravagers ceased their attacks and turn as a unit toward the barn doors. Even Cade stopped fighting, utterly mesmerized by what he was witnessing.
Frame in the doorway with the sunlight glinting off its russet fur, a wolf the size of a goddamn bear lowered its massive head and bared its fangs. The growl that rumbled up from its throat vibrated deep down in Cade’s bones and sent a shiver of dread rippling along his spine.
At first, the Ravagers seemed just as stunned as he felt, but it didn’t take long for them to come out of their stupor. Clearly seeing the wolf as the bigger threat, they abandoned their assault on him and rushed at the animal. Some prowled around it, mouths open and fangs bared, while others leapt onto its back, tearing and ripping with their jagged claws.
Even their superior numbers were no match for the beast.
One swipe of its enormous paw sent three Ravagers to the ground. Only one got back up. Whipping its head around, the wolf snapped at the two Ravagers on its back, catching one by the thigh and sending him sailing across the room. A sharp twist and a powerful kick of its hind legs dislodged the other Ravager, sending him flying into the air where the wolf caught the male by the neck, easily dispatching him with a single bite.
Filled with the illogical rage of the young, the remaining four rushed forward, heedless of the danger. Without leadership, they lacked the skill and discipline to take on such a challenger. They pounced when they should have retreated. They lunged when they should have feinted. Instead of working together, they attacked without coordination or strategy.
They never stood a chance.
When it was all over, when every Ravager sprawled bleeding and unmoving on the ground, the wolf shook out its long coat and limped forward. Cade took a step back and lifted his knife, pointing the tip of the blade at the creature. He’d seen with his own eyes what the animal could do, the violence it had meted to men and women far stronger and faster than him. If it wanted to hurt him, he could do nothing to stop it.
Seeing his reaction, the wolf lowered its head with a whine. Then, it crept forward, head still down, until it stood mere inches from him. Hot breath tinged with the smell of copper fanned over his face as the wolf butted its wet nose against his chin.
Damn, the thing was even bigger up close, standing at least six feet from the ground at the shoulders with a head the size of a boulder. The beast whined again. Against his better judgment, Cade lowered his knife and reached out slowly to stroke the fur on the side of its neck. The coat felt soft and silky between his fingers, and far too clean for that of a wild animal.
“Who are you?” While he didn’t know the difference between a wolf shifter and a werewolf—or why the thing was so damn big—shifter was the only conclusion that made sense.
With a soft whimper, the wolf backed away from him and lowered itself to the ground. The air around the beast shimmered like the haze over asphalt on a hot summer day. Fur receded. The snout shortened. Bones realigned, and muscles stretched. It was the shortest transition he’d ever witnessed, and when it was complete, his mate knelt before him, naked, shivering, and covered in blood.
“So,” she said, lifting her head to meet his gaze. “There’s something I need to tell you.”
Chapter Thirteen
“What the hell, Mack?”
Wincing at Cade’s harsh tone, Mackenna bit her lower lip as she rose to her feet. “I wanted to tell you. I was going to tell you. I just—”
“I don’t give a fuck that you can shift.” Sheathing the blade in his hand, he dragged the other through his hair and snorted. “Oh, don’t get it twisted, we are definitely going to talk—” He waved his hand up and down in a vague sort of way that somehow encompassed all of her. “—about this later.”
Her eyebrows drew together, and her lips curved downward at the corners. “Then, why are you mad?”
“Why am I mad?” He staggered over to the nearest Ravager and nudged the male with his boot. “You’re kidding, right?”
“They would have killed you.”
“They could have killed you,” Cade roared at her. “What the hell were you thinking?”
“I was thinking that I couldn’t just sit there and watch you die,” she snapped back. “Cade, I’m okay.” She held her hands up in a conciliatory way as she took a step toward him. “See? I’m fine.”
“Fine? You’re bleeding everywhere.” He pointed an accusatory finger at her. “You have a goddamn hole in the side of your neck. What the fuck about that is fine?”
Even though the danger had passed now, he was still frightened for her. Not only could she hear it in his voice, but she could smell the stench of terror all over him. So, instead of reacting with anger, she took a deep breath and smiled at him.
“My neck is healing.” It itched like crazy where the skin was already fusing itself together. “I’m a lot more worried about your injuries.” She wasn’t the only one covered in blood, but she was the only one who could heal herself. Cade appeared far too pale for her liking. “Look, you can keep yelling at me, or you can let me help you back to the house so I c
an clean you up.”
“I’m fine.”
Mackenna arched an eyebrow at him. “Is that really how you want to play this?”
They stood there for a long time, just glaring at each other, but eventually, Cade blew out a long breath and bobbed his head. “Okay, but don’t think this means I’m not still pissed at you.”
“Duly noted.”
He held his arms open. “Come here.”
Hurrying to him, she went directly into his embrace, sighing in contentment as she snuggled against him. “I’m sorry I scared you.”
“Don’t ever do something like that again.”
“What? You mean, save your life?”
“Mack…”
He was kind of cute when he was all growly. “We’ll fight about it later.” Arching her neck, she pressed a kiss to the side of his jaw, then stepped out of his embrace. “This is really gross.” Her gaze flickered to the dead bodies littering the ground. “What do we do with them?”
“Stack the bodies.” From his tone, it wasn’t the first time he’d had to deal with something like this. “There’s lighter fluid and matches in the car.” He shook his head at her wrinkled nose. “It’s that or leave them for the coyotes.”
Cultures had been burning their dead for millennia. There was nothing shameful or distasteful about the practice. It was also efficient and practical. She’d seen her share of death, and there was a high probability that she would see a lot more. She needed to stop being so damn sensitive about it.
“That’s going to be a big fire.” She rested her hands on her hips and tried to think like her mate. “It’ll draw a lot of attention.”
Cade nodded. “We’ll be long gone from here before anyone notices.”
“You plan to drive all the way back to Colorado tonight?”
