Page 69 of Wolf Crowned

I shared a look with Lincoln before turning back to the pack. “If anyone gets a shot at Alpha Dane, take it. The sooner we end this, the less lives we lose.”

Brandon cleared his throat. He clutched his computer to his chest with one arm and held his phone in the other. He met my gaze. “The sprinkler systems are off now. We’re good to go when you are.”

I sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly, but it did nothing to slow the frantic racing of my heart. “Good work, Brandon.” I turned back to the pack, scanning each of their faces again. “You know the plan. Stick to the pavement once we get closer. There shouldn’t be any wet spots there.” I shifted my position, my knees getting sore from squatting. “Any questions?”

Silence. Everyone watched me, waiting.

“Good.” I stood up slowly, pivoting on my heel and glancing back at the trail ahead.

I blinked, narrowing my eyes as I outlined my path. The stark white and brick exterior of the main house stood out in the distance. It seemed like it had been years since I fled through these woods, when it had really only been weeks. I’d come here a prisoner and was returning to liberate those who hadn’t been lucky enough to escape with me.

I was bringing them home today. I blew out a breath.

A light drizzle misted the air, bringing me clarity even as it chilled me to the bone. It was time.

I held my fist up, opened my hand and flicked my wrist, giving the signal for us to move again.

I hopped over the log and charged forward. The hairs on the back of my neck prickled. Gooseflesh pimpled my skin. We were almost there.

I forgot to breathe for a second. My chest constricted, my heart pounding so hard it might explode. I rounded the corner to the main lawn, half expecting the pack to be there waiting or us.

There wasn’t anyone.

The front door stood ajar. Wet foot prints led a path away from the house toward where Sheriff Adam had been shooting. I swallowed hard and suppressed the urge to jump up and down. Our plan was working.

I glanced over my shoulder and gave Brandon one last look. He offered me a smile and a nod before his group jogged up the stairs and disappeared inside the house.

Be safe, Brandon.

I picked up my pace again, eyeing the creepy fountain with the fighting wolves. The water spewed up from the fountain in the middle. It was a mirror image of what was about to happen, except the alpha wolf going in for the kill was going to be me, not Alpha Dane.

I gritted my teeth and pumped my arms and legs faster. The gravel drive crunched beneath my sneakers as I raced across it, making a beeline for the prisoner compounds.

It had been too much to hope that our plan would go off without a hitch. We had hoped that the prisoners would break free of their compounds. That hadn’t happened. A small group was supposed to release the prisoners and take care of the guards so the rest of us could box the pack in away from the main house. But that wasn’t going to work.

The guard count had more than doubled. There was no way ten men could take on thirty, especially with half of them being wolves. We needed the prisoners freed. Our only saving grace was the guards hadn’t seen us yet. They were too busy containing the men and women, beating against the doors in desperation to be released.

Indecision rolled through me. Did I continue on? Or did we stop to help?

There wasn’t a choice. We needed the prisoners on our side. We were already outnumbered even with them. I couldn’t risk my pack. With any luck, we could still free them and block in Alpha Dane’s men.

The guards were standing in front of the windows and the door at the ready. They still hadn’t noticed us. I flicked my wrist to the left and right, indicating the compounds, praying everyone got the message.

I charged toward the building to my left. One of the wolves snapped their head up, their attention shifting to me. The moment his gaze landed on me he howled, alerting everyone else.

The wolf charged, running straight at me. I didn’t falter. Instead, picking up my pace as I ran straight at him.

I flexed my hands, triggering a partial shift. I ducked to the right at the last second, reaching my arm out and swiping it across the wolf’s side. A flurry of fur came off, but I didn’t think I’d actually done any damage except maybe scaring him.

Crap.

I didn’t stop my momentum and kept sprinting for the compound. There were enough people behind me they would catch the wolf at least I hoped.

The next one that came at me was a burly man that had at least a foot on me and enough muscles that if he caught me, he could snap me in half. I shuddered.

Don’t let him touch you, Sloane.

The jackass looked at me like I was weak, his eyes lighting up and he slid his hands together expectantly as he stalked forward. He thought I was an easy target. I’d show him. I’d been training nonstop, and I had something he didn’t. A heart. Determination. The list went on.

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