Page 48 of Squirrel Hunt
Amir bumped his shoulder against Konrad and nodded in the direction they’d been coming. Gideon and Roan were already moving backward, but Konrad lingered. He didn’t want to back away. When the group of Ordbury wolves came closer, he reluctantly retreated.
They ran until they believed they were out of hearing range, then Jyran dropped down from a tree and shifted into human form. “They’re forming a ring, a chain. As far as I could see they’re standing a few feet apart. There is no way we can get through without being seen.” He grimaced. “Or I might, but there is no way you can.”
Gideon shifted back to human and reached for Jyran. “No.”
“We might have to. I might be able to locate Farris and maybe…” He grimaced. “We can take out who’s next to him and get a way in. Why didn’t we bring a vampire?”
Yeah, why hadn’t they? Konrad didn’t know anyone well enough to ask them to come on a rescue mission, but it hadn’t crossed his mind. He didn’t think Adara was in town, and she was the only one he was comfortable asking for help. Anyone else, and it would cost him. The werewolf alpha begging people from another species for help.
It didn’t matter. They were here now, and they didn’t have access to any vampires.
Gideon ran a hand through his hair as he looked at Jyran. “I don’t want you anywhere near—”
“Dahy is my cousin—”
“Squirrel cousin.” Gideon was hissing and spitting while trying to keep his voice down.
“Same thing.” The glare Jyran gave him made Konrad glad he wasn’t the one speaking.
“Babe—”
“Oh, don’t you try to sweet-talk me now.” Jyran took a step away from him. “I’m going.” He turned to Konrad. “I’m going to see if I can find Farris. Wait here. If I’m not back in ten minutes…” He looked at Gideon. “Then you’re allowed to come looking.”
Before Gideon could object, Jyran shifted back into squirrel and scurried up the closest tree. Konrad watched him run from branch to branch with a sense of dread, but he didn’t have a better idea. When he shifted his focus back to Gideon, he was glaring at Konrad. “If he’s hurt, I’ll kill you.”
Konrad flashed teeth. He couldn’t say he blamed Gideon, but he was the alpha, and Gideon should show some respect. They had a few seconds of staring competition before Gideon looked away. Konrad might have won the silent challenge, but it didn’t make him feel any better. Dahy was here somewhere, surrounded by wolves who wanted to kill him.
* * * *
Dahy stumbled on the cold ground when the man who’d been holding on to him pushed him. Myka followed behind him, also given a shove to make her stumble. Dahy caught her before she could hit the ground.
“You have five minutes before I free the wolves.” Varg grinned evilly, and the people close enough to hear him cheered. “You’ll know when you’ve reached the border. The wolves there won’t hunt you, and they won’t help you. They’ll make sure you don’t cross over to the other side. Those are the only rules.”
“How big is the area?”
Varg shrugged. “A pack full.”
Great. It could mean anything. Dahy tried to look over the group gathered around them, but squirrels were short, and wolves were not. He had to climb a tree, but five minutes was a short time, and he couldn’t abandon Myka.
“Clock starts…” Varg tapped on the screen of his phone. “…now!”
Dahy grabbed Myka’s arm and ran.
“Dahy.” She spoke on a sob.
“Come on. I’ll climb a tree and we’ll see where we’re at.”
Tears flowed down her cheeks. “Leave me. You can climb. You’re fast. You can—”
“I’m not leaving you. Stay here.” He shifted and scrambled up the closest tree as fast as he could. He couldn’t see much. Darkness fucked things up once again. He hurried down to the ground again and ran ahead of Myka. She followed him without question. Five minutes. How much had passed already? He needed to get her off the ground, needed a tall tree where they could climb high. He veered off to his left, farther away from the starting point. They ran for a minute maybe, then there was a cheer, and he cursed. They’d reached the border and the ones who’d spotted them had let everyone know.
He took off to his right, Myka following like a shadow behind him. Where the fuck should they go? Dahy stopped and Myka almost tripped over him. “Dahy?”
He shifted back into human form, doing his best to ignore standing naked in front of Myka in the chilly February night. “We have to climb. It’s the only way. I fear the time is almost up, and we can’t be on the ground when they come running.”
She nodded. “You climb.”
“No, you go first.” Dahy gestured at the closest tree. It was an elm, not as big and sturdy as he’d have wanted, but the birch next to it didn’t have any branches within reach, so they didn’t have much choice. “Up you go.” Dahy pulled Myka toward the tree.