Chapter 202
Lynette's POV
Ten men. Maybe more in the shadows behind them.
All Wild Hunt. All armed.
The red-haired one in front smiled. Like he'd already won.
"Rezar said you'd come," he said. His voice was smooth. Confident. "Said you couldn't help yourself. Always playing hero."
I didn't answer. Just watched. Counted exits.
One door behind them. The windows—reinforced glass, too thick to break quickly. The corridor we'd come through.
That was it.
Cole shifted beside me. His breathing was steady but I could smell the adrenaline spike. Fear mixed with determination.
The red-haired man gestured casually. "Alive, he said. The woman—alive. The other one..." He shrugged. "Doesn't matter."
His men spread out. Fan formation. Blocking the corridor.
I did the math fast. Ten against two. Narrow space. They couldn't all attack at once.
That was their weakness.
"Cole," I said quietly. Not looking at him. "Cover my back."
"Yes, Alpha."
The red-haired man raised his hand. "Take them."
I shifted.
The world exploded into sharper focus. Smells intensified—sweat, gun oil, the metallic tang of fear. My vision sharpened. Every muscle coiled tight.
I picked my target. Left side. Two younger ones. Less experienced. The way they held their weapons—too tight, fingers white on the grips.
I launched forward.
The first one barely had time to raise his gun before my claws raked across his chest. Four deep lines. Blood sprayed hot across my fur.
He screamed. Went down hard.
I didn't stop. Momentum carried me into the second one. My jaws closed on his shoulder. Bone crunched. He dropped his weapon.
Behind me—a grunt. The wet sound of flesh hitting flesh.
Cole.
I spun. Saw one of them swing at Cole. The punch connected with his shoulder. Cole staggered but didn't go down.
The attacker drew back for another hit.
I was there first. Claws out. Slashed across his arm. Felt muscle part under my strike.
He howled. Fell back clutching his bleeding arm.
"Don't push yourself!" I snarled at Cole.
"I'm fine!" His voice was tight with pain but steady.
The red-haired man's face had gone pale. "What are you waiting for? Stop her!"
Three more came at me. Coordinated this time.
I ducked under the first swing. Came up inside his guard. Drove my shoulder into his ribs. Heard something crack.
The second one grabbed my fur. Tried to pull me back.
I twisted. Snapped at his wrist. Tasted blood.
He let go with a curse.
The third one was smarter. Stayed back. Raised his gun.
Shit.
I dove right. The bullet sparked off the floor where I'd been standing.
Cole moved. Fast. Slammed into the shooter from the side. They went down in a tangle.
The gun skittered across the floor.
I didn't waste time. Ran for the fire door. The one leading up.
"Cole! Move!"
He scrambled up. Blood on his shirt now. His shoulder.
We hit the door together. I shifted back to human. Kicked it open.
The stairwell was empty. Concrete steps spiraling up into darkness.
Behind us—shouting. Footsteps pounding.
"Go!" I shoved Cole ahead of me. "Up!"
We ran.
My bare feet slapped against cold concrete. Cole's breathing was getting ragged. The blood from his shoulder left a trail.
Not good.
Two flights up. Three.
The footsteps behind us were getting closer. They were faster. Fresher.
Four flights.
Cole stumbled. Caught himself on the railing.
"Keep moving," I said. Grabbed his good arm. Pulled him forward.
Five flights.
A door ahead. Metal. Heavy.
I hit it with my shoulder. It flew open.
We burst into another corridor. This one was different. Cleaner. Brighter lights.
And two figures at the far end.
Big. Broad shoulders. Purple-mottled skin.
Enhanced guards.
They turned. Saw us. Their eyes went dead and flat.
"Fuck," Cole breathed.
Behind us—the stairwell door crashed open. Voices echoing up from below.
"Alpha, they're coming!"
I knew. I could hear them. Smell them.
The enhanced guards started toward us. Their movements were mechanical. Wrong. Like puppets on strings.
One of them opened its mouth. Made a sound—low, guttural. Not quite human.
Cole was breathing hard. Blood soaking through his shirt now. His face was pale.
The guards raised their fists. Massive. Like sledgehammers.
I stepped in front of Cole.
The first guard swung.
I shifted mid-step. Went low. Under the punch.
My claws found its knee. Tore through modified flesh. It didn't bleed much. Just dark, thick fluid.
The guard stumbled. Didn't fall.
The second one came from the side. Fast for something so big.
Its fist caught my ribs. The impact lifted me off my feet. Slammed me into the wall.
Pain exploded through my side. I tasted copper.
"Alpha!" Cole's voice. Panicked.
I forced myself up. The guard was already coming again.
This time I was ready. Caught its wrist. Used its momentum. Threw it into its partner.
They collided with a wet crunch.
Behind me—footsteps in the stairwell. Getting closer.
The Wild Hunt. Almost here.
The guards were getting back up. Slow but inevitable.
Cole was leaning against the wall. His shoulder was a mess. Blood running down his arm.
We were trapped.
Front and back.
The first guard lunged. I dodged. Barely.
Its fist went through the wall where my head had been. Drywall and metal crumpled like paper.
I needed to end this. Fast.
I went for its throat. Claws out. Ripped deep.
The guard made that sound again. Gurgling. But it didn't stop.
Just grabbed my arm. Its grip was crushing. I felt bones grind.
The second guard was on me. Both hands around my throat.
Pressure. Darkness creeping in at the edges of my vision.
I couldn't breathe.
Couldn't shift back. Couldn't speak.
Cole shouted something. Couldn't make out the words.
The pressure increased.
My vision started to tunnel.
Then—a sound. Sharp. Metallic.
The pressure vanished.
I fell. Hit the floor. Gasped for air.
Through blurred vision I saw the second guard. Standing still. Something protruding from its eye socket.
A knife.
It swayed. Fell backward. Crashed to the floor.
The first guard released my arm. Turned toward Cole.
Cole stood there. Empty handed. He'd thrown his only weapon.
The guard took a step toward him.
I moved.
Launched myself at its back. Claws sank deep into its spine. Found the gap between vertebrae.
Twisted.
Something snapped.
The guard went rigid. Then collapsed.
I rode it down. Stayed on top until it stopped moving.
Silence.
Just our breathing. Harsh. Ragged.
I shifted back. Stood up. My ribs screamed. My throat felt crushed.
Cole slid down the wall. Sat hard. His face was gray.
"Cole—"
"I'm okay." His voice was weak. "Just... give me a second."
I didn't have a second.
The stairwell door was still open. I could hear them. The Wild Hunt. Right below us.
Maybe thirty seconds away.
I looked around. The corridor stretched in both directions. Doors on either side.
And at the far end—another door. Larger. Reinforced.
A keycard reader beside it.
I still had Glenn's card. And his finger.
"Can you walk?" I asked Cole.
He nodded. Started to push himself up.
I helped him. His weight sagged against me.
The stairwell door burst open.
The red-haired man came through first. Gun raised.
He saw us. Saw the dead guards.
His eyes went wide.
I ran.
Half-carrying Cole. Toward the far door.
Gunshots. Bullets sparked off the walls.
Twenty meters. Fifteen.
More Wild Hunt poured into the corridor behind us.
Ten meters.
I could hear them. Right behind us.
Five meters.
I slammed into the door. Fumbled for the keycard.
The reader beeped.
"Fingerprint verification required."
I pulled out the wrapped finger. Pressed it against the scanner.
Behind us—running footsteps. Shouting.
The machine hummed.
Come on. Come on.
"Welcome home, Dr. Domich."
The lock clicked.
I shoved the door open. Pulled Cole through.
Bullets hammered into the door frame. Sparks and concrete dust.
We fell through. I kicked the door shut behind us.
Heavy. Reinforced. It sealed with a solid thunk.
The shooting stopped. Muffled now. On the other side of the door.
I lay on the floor. Cole beside me. Both of us breathing like we'd run a marathon.
The room around us was bright. Clean. White walls. Pristine floors.
Complete opposite of the blood-soaked chaos outside.
I forced myself to sit up. Looked around.
We were in a wide corridor. Doors lined both sides. Clinical. Like a hospital.
At the far end—another door. Larger. More secure.
Cole groaned. Rolled onto his side. His shoulder was still bleeding.
"We need to keep moving," I said. My voice came out hoarse. Damaged.
"I know." He tried to sit up. Failed. "Just... one more second."
I stood. My ribs protested. Every breath hurt.
Through the sealed door behind us—pounding. Muffled voices.
They'd get through eventually. That door wouldn't hold forever.