Page 78 of Raised By Wolves

“Thank you,” Wendy says. “I’m glad you did that.”

Neither Holo nor I mention that the FBI agents somehow know her name. I understand that I need to tell her, but first she needs to know about Ernie.

“Somebody shot Ernie,” I say softly. I feel the ache of sadness in my throat.

Wendy’s shoulders slump. “I knew he was gone,” she says quietly. “But I didn’t know what happened to him.” She pushes away her plate. “Without Ernie, I’m afraid that Beast has been forced to look for… easier prey.”

Worry floods me. It even overpowers the sadness. Wendy didn’t saysmallerprey, like rabbits or fawns. She saideasierprey. Like sheep. Calves. “Do you really think Beast is kill—”

Wendy holds up a hand as a shadow crosses her face.

“What?” I whisper.

She presses a finger to her lips. Listening.

She knows the sounds of these woods. She’s been listening to them for nearly forty years.

Her mouth tightens. Somewhere there’s a wrong note, and she hears it.

I close my eyes to hear what she did. At first there’s nothing. Then: A rustle of leaves. A snap of a branch.

“There’s someone outside,” I whisper.

Wendy shakes her head. Fear sparks in her eyes. “There’s alotof someones.”

CHAPTER 59

BEFORE I CAN respond, Wendy grabs the rifle by the door and rushes outside. “Go away,” she screams. “Get off my property!” She cocks her rifle and then fires it into the air. The explosion makes my ears ring. Holo half dives under the table.

Shouts erupt outside as I leap from my chair and scramble after Wendy. Sensing my presence behind her, Wendy moves to block my path. I know she’s trying to protect me. But I need to find out what’s happening. I need to see who’s out there. I crane my neck, trying to peer around her—

My mouth falls open.

There’s a line of eight men, and they all have guns.

Pointed at us.

“That’s my warning shot,” Wendy calls to them. “The next one hits someone.”

The chief has his gun aimed at Wendy’s chest. “Police,” he says. “You don’t want to fire at us.”

“Try me,” she says.

“Lower your weapon,” he says.

“Lower yours first,” I shout. I move Wendy out of my way and face the knot of strangers, one of whom is covered in blood and all of whom look pissed.

Relief floods the chief’s face when he sees me. “Kai, where’s Holo? Are you all right?” the chief calls.

“We’re fine,” I say. “But we’d be better if we weren’t facing a freaking firing squad.”

Then Waylon steps out of the shadows. Absurdly, he gives me a friendly little wave. I don’t wave back. What is hedoinghere?

This isn’t how I wanted to see you again, I think.

“Look,” Waylon says calmly, “one of us already got attacked by a bear, so tensions are running a little bit high.”

“I guess they saw Sheena,” Holo whispers in my ear.

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