Howl For It
Page 89
Shamus gave a slight nod. The prey?
Her brother.
Surprise flickered briefly over Shamuss face. You want me to kill him?
No. If he did that, hed lose her. I want you to make sure his fool ass stays alive. Gage yanked out a scrap of cloth hed taken from the compound. Cloth that had once been Kaylas shirt. His bloods on this. When it came to humans, Shamus could track a scent with deadly accuracy. Take him out of the fight.
Because Jonah would be coming, Gage had no doubt about that. Coming for his sister and coming for vengeance.
Shamus took the cloth. Turned. Walked quickly away.
You cant lie to her.
Billys voice. Coming from a few feet behind him. But then, hed known Billy was there, watching.
Slowly, Gage turned to face the wolf hed considered his friend. The burns from the silver had faded. Mostly. Im sorry. For the pain Billy suffered.
Billy lifted one shoulder in a shrug. Youre alpha. You do what the hell you want.
Not when it meant that he hurt the ones he cared about. So he tried to explain, even though an alpha wasnt supposed to justify. Just act. Rule. Dominate. There was more to Gage than that, there always had been. Only you and Davis knew Kayla and I were at that cabin. And you two were both close with the other wolves who went missing. It was easier to be lured out into the open, easier to be attacked, when the one luring you wore the guise of a friend.
Shamus had told him that both Davis and Billy were near the site when he was taken. Hed broken away from them and attacked the hunters. Gotten trapped, but the other two had both gotten away.
And when Faye had gone missing, theyd been there, too. Been there, but hadnt managed to save her.
So you shackled me in silver. Billy exhaled and glanced away. Damn painful, hoss. Damn painful.
For the pack. The silver wasnt about pain. It was to make sure neither of you ran before I could find the real traitor.
Billy glanced back up at him. You could have asked me first.
Asked him. Asked Davis. One wolf would have lied, and no matter what the stories said, Gage wasnt the sort of wolf who could actually smell a lie.
He didnt think those guys existed.
So Gage just stared back at Billy. Davis wanted you to look guilty. Hed been setting the other wolf up all along. Timing their guard duty together, even tossing seeds of suspicion out among the pack. He planned to let you take the fall.
Yes, I figured that. The guy probably thought hed kill me. Billys claws flashed out. But Im tough tokill.
So others had discovered. There was far more to the shifter than met the eye. Hed run from his home in the South because hed wanted a fresh start.
But Gage knew what hed left behind. That death and hell that waited in the South, that was one of the reasons hed suspected Billy.
We cant run forever, Gage said. It was a lesson they all needed to learn. Maybe it was time for Billy to face his own demons.
Time for them all to face that darkness.
Gage kept his hands by his side. You want to run at me, come the fuck on. Billy deserved his pound of flesh. The first slice would be free. After that, Gage would slice back.
Billy shook his head. His claws were out, but he made no move to attack. I dont like fuckin silver. He turned away. But I like this pack. Pack first. Always.
Gage knew that Billy understood. The pain, it didnt matter. Not when there was a pack to protect.
Next time, ask, Billy snarled over his shoulder.
Before the wolf could storm away, Gage grabbed his arm. I will. He exhaled a rough breath. And for now, right now, Im asking you to help me.
Billys brows shot up as he glanced back at Gage.
Were goin after Lyle. Taking out the last SUV that comes onto our land because Kayla says hell be in that one. Minimum bloodshed. Right. He knew that was what she wanted. Wolveswell, they liked the blood.
A lot.
But for her . . .
I want a scent blocker. It would be the only way they could sneak up on Lyle. Lyle couldnt know they were closing in if he couldnt smell them. I know youve got a stash. Another reason hed suspected Billy. Get it.
The shifter nodded and rushed away.
Gage watched him go. Hed try it Kaylas way, for a time. Hed give the orders for all of the other wolves to stand down. But if her plan didnt work, if one of those hunters fired at them first . . .
The wolves would be the ones to finish the battle that the humans had started.
CHAPTER TEN
The SUVs slid onto the old, broken road just after midnight. The vehicles crept forward in a long, snaking line, with their headlights off and their engines barely growling, just as Kayla had predicted.
Now I know why you picked this place, Kayla whispered from beside him. One way in, one way out.
Damn straight. Hed laid his trap so carefully. The hunters had miles to go before they were even close to the safe houses hed set up for the pack. And they didnt know it, but the hunters were already surrounded by the wolves.
Easy kills.
Her brother.
Surprise flickered briefly over Shamuss face. You want me to kill him?
No. If he did that, hed lose her. I want you to make sure his fool ass stays alive. Gage yanked out a scrap of cloth hed taken from the compound. Cloth that had once been Kaylas shirt. His bloods on this. When it came to humans, Shamus could track a scent with deadly accuracy. Take him out of the fight.
Because Jonah would be coming, Gage had no doubt about that. Coming for his sister and coming for vengeance.
Shamus took the cloth. Turned. Walked quickly away.
You cant lie to her.
Billys voice. Coming from a few feet behind him. But then, hed known Billy was there, watching.
Slowly, Gage turned to face the wolf hed considered his friend. The burns from the silver had faded. Mostly. Im sorry. For the pain Billy suffered.
Billy lifted one shoulder in a shrug. Youre alpha. You do what the hell you want.
Not when it meant that he hurt the ones he cared about. So he tried to explain, even though an alpha wasnt supposed to justify. Just act. Rule. Dominate. There was more to Gage than that, there always had been. Only you and Davis knew Kayla and I were at that cabin. And you two were both close with the other wolves who went missing. It was easier to be lured out into the open, easier to be attacked, when the one luring you wore the guise of a friend.
Shamus had told him that both Davis and Billy were near the site when he was taken. Hed broken away from them and attacked the hunters. Gotten trapped, but the other two had both gotten away.
And when Faye had gone missing, theyd been there, too. Been there, but hadnt managed to save her.
So you shackled me in silver. Billy exhaled and glanced away. Damn painful, hoss. Damn painful.
For the pack. The silver wasnt about pain. It was to make sure neither of you ran before I could find the real traitor.
Billy glanced back up at him. You could have asked me first.
Asked him. Asked Davis. One wolf would have lied, and no matter what the stories said, Gage wasnt the sort of wolf who could actually smell a lie.
He didnt think those guys existed.
So Gage just stared back at Billy. Davis wanted you to look guilty. Hed been setting the other wolf up all along. Timing their guard duty together, even tossing seeds of suspicion out among the pack. He planned to let you take the fall.
Yes, I figured that. The guy probably thought hed kill me. Billys claws flashed out. But Im tough tokill.
So others had discovered. There was far more to the shifter than met the eye. Hed run from his home in the South because hed wanted a fresh start.
But Gage knew what hed left behind. That death and hell that waited in the South, that was one of the reasons hed suspected Billy.
We cant run forever, Gage said. It was a lesson they all needed to learn. Maybe it was time for Billy to face his own demons.
Time for them all to face that darkness.
Gage kept his hands by his side. You want to run at me, come the fuck on. Billy deserved his pound of flesh. The first slice would be free. After that, Gage would slice back.
Billy shook his head. His claws were out, but he made no move to attack. I dont like fuckin silver. He turned away. But I like this pack. Pack first. Always.
Gage knew that Billy understood. The pain, it didnt matter. Not when there was a pack to protect.
Next time, ask, Billy snarled over his shoulder.
Before the wolf could storm away, Gage grabbed his arm. I will. He exhaled a rough breath. And for now, right now, Im asking you to help me.
Billys brows shot up as he glanced back at Gage.
Were goin after Lyle. Taking out the last SUV that comes onto our land because Kayla says hell be in that one. Minimum bloodshed. Right. He knew that was what she wanted. Wolveswell, they liked the blood.
A lot.
But for her . . .
I want a scent blocker. It would be the only way they could sneak up on Lyle. Lyle couldnt know they were closing in if he couldnt smell them. I know youve got a stash. Another reason hed suspected Billy. Get it.
The shifter nodded and rushed away.
Gage watched him go. Hed try it Kaylas way, for a time. Hed give the orders for all of the other wolves to stand down. But if her plan didnt work, if one of those hunters fired at them first . . .
The wolves would be the ones to finish the battle that the humans had started.
CHAPTER TEN
The SUVs slid onto the old, broken road just after midnight. The vehicles crept forward in a long, snaking line, with their headlights off and their engines barely growling, just as Kayla had predicted.
Now I know why you picked this place, Kayla whispered from beside him. One way in, one way out.
Damn straight. Hed laid his trap so carefully. The hunters had miles to go before they were even close to the safe houses hed set up for the pack. And they didnt know it, but the hunters were already surrounded by the wolves.
Easy kills.
