Page 101 of Wolf's Endgame

Cass’s eyes hardened. “You’re not a nice person,” she scolded. “I told you we’re doing this. Come on, you’re holding us up.”

She beamed at Mal like they were sudden bosom buddies, and then set off, leaving me staring after her.

“I think Kris would want you to make sure she’s okay,” Mal prompted.

With a curse, I ran after her, ignoring his low laugh behind us.

We moved at a steady run. Cass may not have done a lot of chores at home, but she trained and hunted and liked to run in both human and wolf form. After my third time of asking, when she told me to stop asking her if she was okay or she’d punch me, we ran in easy silence, both of us watchful of our surroundings.

It was a trek I had made three times now, so it was familiar to me, and I had the advantage of knowing the attack plans from listening to the meetings.

We stopped after a few hours. Cass needed to rest, even if she wasn’t saying it. She downed her water bottle, and I gave her some of mine too. There was a fresh spring further up the mountain, and I told her we would refill there. We both ate some dried beef and shared a protein bar.

We spoke little and, when she nodded, we set off again. I knew they were a few hours ahead by now. The pack would be moving at a much faster pace than us, but that was my hope. That they were so far in front that, by the time Cannon realized we were there, he couldn’t send us back.

When we reached the place where Landon had taken me, it was fully dark. I pulled Cass away from the direct path to the Anterrio Pack.

“What? Why?” she whispered.

“The place Landon took me, it wasn’t at the pack. It was somewhere else. I think it’s this way.”

“You think?” she hissed.

“Don’t hiss at me, Cassandra. It’s your father’s hidden pack; why don’t you know where it is?”

“Snappy much?” she grouched.

Inhaling deeply, I rubbed my eyes. “Sorry, I’m on edge.”

“I know.” Cass slipped her hand into mine. “We’ve got this, Kez.”

Did we? I was beginning to doubt my great plan to swoop in and save my alpha.

“Kezia?” Firm hands grabbed my face, turning me to her. “I need you for this. I need the badass bitch who struts into illegal fighting rings and kicks ass. I need her.”

I nodded. “You got her.”

“Yeah?”

Pulling free from her hold, I nodded. “Yeah.” I took a calming breath. “Yeah. Come on.” I nodded to the west. “It’s this way.”

We kept in low crouches as we moved over the terrain. I couldn’t sense any other shifter nearby, and that was beginning to freak me out more than I wanted to admit.

Together, we went lower down the mountain until I heard the faint snarls on the wind. “Cass?” I whispered.

“It’s already begun?” she guessed.

“Quickly!” We stood and ran towards the sound of the fighting, our feet flying over the uneven ground as we stuck close together.

Cass grabbed me, bringing me to a halt when the clouds suddenly parted to reveal the full moon high above us, which lit the world in sudden brightness.

I almost fell backward at the sight.

In front of us was more than a pack war.

It was complete and total bloodshed.

CHAPTER 26

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