Page 123 of Wanted

I’ll have time to figure out my failings later, but for the moment, I’m the only thing that stands between Emery and death. I refuse to let that happen. I will die, killing every threat that tries to come near her before they touch her.

A howl rips through my jaw as I warn off the remaining three wolves. One of them has an obvious glint of fear in his eyes. He’s obviously the smarter out of the three. Too bad he’s going to die like the rest of whoever these motherfuckers are.

The largest of the remaining three snaps at my jaw. His teeth graze my neck but don’t make full contact. A trickle of blood runs down my fur, only igniting my rage even more.

Knowing I need to end this quarrel as quickly as possible, I leap at one of the wolves, aiming for his neck.

My aim is dead on and as soon as my teeth make contact, he goes down. I use the strength of my neck and jaw to toss his body at the other two, sending them ducking. That’s when I pounce on the third fucker. He goes down quickly.

Chance!

The panic in Emery’s voice sends a chill down my spine. I turn to find the fourth and final wolf, growling menacingly while rushing toward her. She swipes at him with a paw, but he keeps going.

One second, I’m on the other side of the room, the next, I’m taking a bite out of his side. A whimper of pain rips from him as he stumbles to the floor.

Yet, he recovers quickly with his attention now on me.

Good.

I recall him going for my mate with intentions to kill her and that’s all I need to finish this son of a bitch. His neck becomes my chew toy. Within seconds, his blood coats the linoleum and his lifeless body lies in a heap on the floor.

With my teeth bared and a growl emanating from my throat, I scan the room for any other threats.

Though there’s no one else here except for me and Emery, a quick sniff to the air tells me there are more wolves somewhere.

My parents and Dr. Lee. They’re getting away. We have to get them. They’re the only ones who can tell me where Ashley is.

Emery’s words spur me into action.

Stay behind me. There are more wolves around here.

She nods and I start toward the door, where she tells me her parents ran out. Their scents remain in the air, so they haven’t gotten too far. There’s also a faint smell of something else.

Wolf’s bane.

I smell it out here. We must be near some sort of field or refinery for the potentially deadly substance.

My truck is parked out front, which I assume is what they used to transport us from their house to wherever the hell we are now.

The coppery, acidic smell of blood invades my senses. It’s human.

I bit my father, Emery tells me when I relay this information to her. If I was in my human form, a smile would undoubtedly form across my face. As it is now, I pause just long enough to nuzzle her neck to let her know how proud of her I am.

We need to be careful. There’s wolf’s bane here,I tell Emery.

Moreso, the scent of wolves is even more apparent out here. It’s mixed with human blood.

I use my skills and enhanced vision to track the smell. Her parents ran deeper into the forest along with Dr. Lee.

We’re not given much time to follow their scent because a beat later, less than ten yards from the building we exited, a series of growls starts. I stop immediately, Emery at my side. We’re in the middle of the dark forest. Yet, one by one, pairs of glowing eyes spring out from the darkness.

Fuck!

I knew I scented more wolves. I should’ve locked Emery in that damn building before coming out here. I thought she’d be safer if she was by my side. But I’ve brought her right into the middle of the danger.

No less than fifteen more wolves step out from the shadows of the forest. They’re of varying shades and sizes but equally as vicious looking as the wolves I killed back at that fucking lab.

I growl and bare my teeth, moving to ensure that Emery is behind me.