Page 51 of Alpha Chained
Before the man holding me can react, the wolf explodes forward with a ferocious snarl, taking us both off our feet.
There’s a sickening crunch as his powerful jaws clamp down on the gunman’s throat. Blood sprays across my face as Riot’s teeth tear through flesh and bone with ease. The man’s screams are abruptly cut off in a nauseating gurgle.
The last gunman turns to flee, but Riot is on him in an instant, his jaws closing around the man’s leg and dragging him down. It’s over in seconds, everything deathly silent except for Riot’s rumbling growls.
I clamber to my feet, trembling, stunned by the carnage surrounding me. The entire fight had lasted less than a minute or two – a violent, efficient display of Riot’s lethal power. As he shifts back to human form, I can’t help but stare at the body lying at his feet, chest ripped open.
Riot approaches me, his expression concerned, seemingly oblivious to the blood that’s spattered across his bare skin. “Are you alright?” He reaches out to cup my cheek, his eyes searching my face.
I can only nod mutely, still trying to process what I’ve just witnessed.
“I’m… I’m fine,” I croak out, my voice rough with the sound of my wolf. But already, I can feel her fur retracting now that the danger has passed. “Are you okay? Your shoulder…”
I look at his bicep, where the pulse of blood has already begun to slow. He frowns down at it. “Flesh wound. Silver didn’t get a chance to get into my system.”
“You heal fast.” I stare, half convinced that I can see the wound closing before my eyes. “I think we were lucky, though.”
He gives a casual shrug. “They were amateurish. Unskilled.” His gaze drifts to the bullet-riddled pickup truck. “Vehicle’s a write-off, though.”
I glance past him. “Yeah…but at least we have their ride.” Sure enough, the black SUV idles on the road, powerful engine still running – our newly acquired getaway car waiting for our next move.
“Looks like it’s a bit of a step up,” he says wryly. He reaches for my hand, fingers threading through mine like it’s the most natural thing in the world. “Go get in. I’ll clear up here.”
“Clear up…?” I look around, my stomach lurching.
So much blood.
“We can’t leave them out here. The minute the traffic picks up, someone will find them, and then there’ll be trouble. I don’t want the police on our tail as well as Parker.”
“Good point.” I swallow hard. I’ve always been shielded from the more bloodthirsty side of my species. The story I’d spun to Parker about Steel Lakes being a peaceful artist’s commune wasn’t entirely untrue. Many of our community are creative. It’s an outlet for those who need somewhere to channel the wolf energy that would have us running through the woods for miles if we had the chance. Not possible when there’s so much human habitation around us.
But I like the life I have there. I’ve managed to exist peacefully in our pack, running the clothing stores and trying my hand at sketching and pottery. I mainly eat vegetables, for Pete’s sake.
A freaking vegetarian wolf shifter.
What next?
“Go get in the car,” Riot repeats, leading me to the passenger side. I follow him mutely, keeping my eyes away from the bloody mess we’re leaving behind. I keep them firmly averted for the next few minutes until he climbs into the driver’s seat.
“All done?” I clear my throat when the words come out hoarsely.
He nods. “Tossed them all into the back of the pickup and pushed it off the embankment back there. Nobody will see it if they’re driving by, but if anyone stops…” He leaves the sentence hanging.
“Nice duds,” I say, changing the subject rather than thinking of having to face even more challenges.
Riot glances down at the denim overalls and stained white T-shirt he’s wearing. “I think our benefactor may have been a maintenance guy. Not much fashion sense.” He grins ruefully.
“Yet somehow you make it look good.” The compliment slips out, and I feel my cheeks warming.
“Are you flirting with me?” There’s a flash of amusement in his eyes.
“Maybe.” My blush spreads.
Nice, Raura. We just killed four men, and you’re eye-fucking the man.
“We’d better get moving.” He puts the car in drive and casts an eye over his shoulder, checking for oncoming vehicles. And I feel like an idiot for blurting that out.
Pushing it aside, I settle back into the deep leather seat, exhaling deeply as Riot maneuvers us smoothly onto the road, and we leave the carnage behind. The SUV rumbles reassuringly beneath us, the powerful engine thrumming. Riot was right – it’s a definite upgrade from the pickup truck.