Chapter 66

Reylin watched the fight with horror. She, Trax, and Joy surrounded Chessa. They kept the limestone bluff to their backs. Rey ignored her fear for her mates and focused on protecting the teenager who seemed to be the target of the attack.

She nipped at the big red wolf who tried to get past her. The three of them managed to hold off the six bittens who had separated Chessa from the pack during the surprise attack. The town pack fought hard too, but the rogue wolves had nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Two of them went after Reylin at the same time. One nipped her back leg, and she yelped. His companion was on top of her before she realized what was happening. Horrified, she yelped as the bastard attempted to force-mate her.

Joy snarled and pounced on Rey’s attacker. He flung her against the bluff, and her loud yelp echoed off the trees.

Rune was there. He grabbed the red wolf by the throat and shook him, hard. The other wolf backed off when Tristian jumped in front of Rey.

Trax fought off an older wolf who was trying to get to Chessa. She yelped as a young wolf about her age nipped her leg. Nik showed up in time to keep the youngster from injuring Chessa. The younger wolf ran off with his tail between his legs.

“I don’t like this.” Rey sent her thought to both Rune and Tristian.

“Agreed. We need to get the pack into hiding.” Tristian sent his thought to the whole pack. “Nik?”

Nik fought with a very obese silver wolf. The big guy had to outweigh Nik by a hundred pounds, but Nik held his own. Monte jumped the interloper, and together they took the big wolf down.

“I think you’re right, but I don’t want to leave the barn undefended. I have a bad feeling.” Nik ran to stand next to Joy. She barked, as if agreeing with her mate.

Monte growled. “I’ll send ten from town. You send five. That should leave things pretty even.”

Nik nodded. He yelped to gain everyone’s attention. Rey, Tristian, and Rune joined the group going to the barn. The packs separated. Chessa and Trax stayed with Nik and Joy.

The night was beautiful. The moon peeked out from behind the clouds, but only for a moment. Rey had a bad feeling too, but she was glad that Rune and Tristian didn’t try to keep her from helping. They ran through hayfields and cornfields until they reach the decrepit barn in the valley.

As they entered the barn Randal grabbed a gun from Sabrina.

“Those are ours,” Randal said. “What’s up? Trouble?”

“I feel like you’re Timmy talking to Lassie. Oh my God, this is so bizarre,” Kloe Masterson said.

Rey looked at Kane. “Can we trust her?”

Kane growled at Reylin. “I haven’t decided yet, but that’s not your concern, little girl.”

“Bianca would never forgive you if you hurt her.”

“My daughter is not the alpha here. I’m not sure why everyone believes she holds some special council and power with me.”

Rey growled back. “Just don’t forget that Kloe looked out for Bianca when she was all alone in the world. She’s family. Law and Bianca will protect her, and she’d never hurt them or Chessa.”

If a wolf could frown, Kane was frowning. His furry brows drew together.

The clouds parted above them, and when the moonlight streamed into the barn Bianca screamed.

Sabrina put her hand on Bianca’s forehead. “She’s burning up.”

Kloe dug into her purse. “I have acetaminophen. Maybe we can crush it and mix it with water for her. We have to get her fever down.”

Ethan and Law lay near the humans in wolf form. Law’s expression was pure misery.

Bianca’s whole body spasmed and contorted. Blood came out of her mouth and nose. Her eyes rolled back in her head as she made a choking noise. Kloe held her head, and gazed up at Randal helplessly. The terror in her eyes mirrored Rey’s own fear.

“What do we do?” Kloe asked.

“We pray.” Randal grabbed the water bottle from Sabrina and started crushing the medicine tablets using the cooler lid and a rock. He mixed the powder in the water, and they tried to get Bianca to drink, but she coughed the water out. “Come on, Bianca, come on.”

The moonlight receded. She stilled, then swallowed the water. Rey relaxed. The moonlight was affecting Bianca. She glanced at Law. He paced like a caged animal. His worry for his mate was palpable. Reylin went over to her cousin and bumped him with her head. He sat down and cocked his head to the side.

“She’ll be okay. I know she will.” Reylin sent the thought privately to Law.

He whined, but gave her a nod.

Randal got much of the water into Bianca. That seemed to soothe her. She lay as still as death.

Kloe put her hand on Bianca’s forehead. “Now she’s cold and clammy.”

A scent caught Reylin’s attention. Judging by the way the other wolves were looking at the doorway, they smelled it too. Tristian and Rune rushed to stand between Rey and the door. They both growled.

“What is it?” Randal asked Sabrina.

“How the heck do you expect me to know?”

“You’re mated to one of them, ask him?” Randal shook his head and scowled at her like she was an idiot.

Sabrina frowned. “I don’t exactly speak wolf.”

“Telepathy. Wolves have it, and I’ve heard they even have it with human mates sometimes.”

“Bianca said she didn’t have it with Law and she’s half-werewolf. I never even tried because I’m fully human.”

“Try it,” Randal urged.

Sabrina closed her eyes. Her dark brows drew together as her adorable button nose wrinkled. She opened her eyes and glared at Randal. “Nothing.”

“Maybe you aren’t doing it right.”

Sabrina looked like she wanted to punch the man. Rey couldn’t blame the human. If things hadn’t been so serious, she would have nipped him in the ass as her way of showing female solidarity.

“You’ve got to be kidding me. Anyway, shush so we can listen.”

It was Randal’s turn to scowl.

Rey sniffed again. There had to be less than a dozen wolves from the rogue pack. Rey’s pack had numbers on their side, but she’d seen this pack fight. They knew a loss meant going home without the mates they’d come to steal. The men were desperate, and that made them more dangerous than the average wolf.

“Stay close and stay back. If we die, you run. These bastards would force-mate, and with this moon’s power it would work.” Tristian’s worry hit her psyche hard as he sent his demand to her thoughts.

If either of the twins died, she didn’t want to live. She’d kill as many as she could. She wouldn’t run.

“Just lie to us. We know you’d never run, you’re too damn stubborn.” Rune’s thoughts were full of pride. He liked her reckless side. “Just make sure you kill the one who takes me down first.”

“Ha-ha.” Reylin shivered. The idea of Rune being hurt was bad, but she refused to imagine his death.

The moon shone down, and Bianca screamed. Her eyes fluttered open, and she tried to sit up. Law ran over to her and put his head on her shoulder.

“I love you,” she mumbled.

Law whined, and Bianca laid back on the air mattress.

Sabrina helped her sit up enough to drink more water. “Are you feeling any better?”

“I think I do. I—” Bianca doubled over and moaned in agony. “I. Lied,” she panted.

Rey watched in horror as Bianca’s body contorted and she started to transmogrify in the slowest way possible. The agony of her change was written all over her face.

Sabrina wept. Randal vomited. Kloe passed out. The humans weren’t much help, and neither were the wolves. This was new, eerie territory.

Law howled. Kane was the first one out the door as the rogue wolves picked that moment to attack.