Page 64 of Wed Or Dead

The men and women in their ski masks still had their weapons. But they weren’t fighting. Not yet. Some were too injured to fight. The scent of blood was strong in the air. Some were too scared. A wolf always knew the scent of fear.

“Gage and his pack aren’t evil.” Kayla’s voice was clear and strong. “They haven’t done anything to the humans in this city.”

Well, nothing that the humans hadn’t asked for. The wolves weren’t exactly perfect. No one was.

“We don’t have to destroy each other!” Kayla’s eyes burned with intensity, just like her voice. “We can just walk away from this fight.”

If the hunters didn’t start walking in less than five seconds, they wouldn’t have a choice in the matter.

The wolves were standing back, for the moment, but it would just take one howl from Gage to send them into action.Just one howl.

Then Jonah strode forward. “We aren’t killers.” His words carried easily. There was a heavy edge of command in his words. “We protect. Thisisn’tus.”

Lyle was digging the silver out of his chest.

A few of the hunters lowered their weapons.

“A damn shifter? All along?”

A woman yanked off her ski mask. Her face was pale. Shaken. “What…what have we been doing?”

“Following the wrong path,” Kayla answered with a sad shake of her head. “And it’s time to change that. It’s time for all of us to change and to make this right.” She was at her brother’s side. “Walk away from the wolves. These shifters aren’t the ones who are evil.” She swallowed, exhaled, and said, “To them,we’rethe evil ones. We’re the ones who came after them when all they were doing was trying to live.”

Silence.

The wolves were straining forward. So eager to finish the fight.

Gage didn’t give the order to attack. Not yet.

“Put up your weapons. Clear out of here,” Jonah said. His words held the unmistakable whip of an order. “This fight isn’t ours.” His gaze slanted back to Lyle. Still on the ground. Still clawing at his chest as he tried to dig out the silver. Disgust tightened his face. “And you sure as hell aren’t our leader.”

The rest of the hunters lowered their weapons. Then they slowly headed back to their vehicles.

No more fighting. Just…walking away?

Well, fuck me.

Kayla had been right. They weren’t out to kill blindly. They weren’t killing at all.

“I’m sorry,” Gage heard Jonah say to Kayla. “I should have trusted you sooner. Hell, you’re the only one Ishouldever trust.”

Her hands reached for his.

Gage’s eyes narrowed.Get to her.He raced toward them, his claws tearing over the earth.

Faster, faster.

“Everything’s gonna be okay now,” Jonah told her, and he pulled her close for a hug.

Gage opened his mouth and snarled.

Jonah jerked away from Kayla and saw Lyle—charging right for them. Bleeding, but with the silver gone, the bastard wasn’t done yet.

Not even close.

“This isn’t how it ends!” Lyle screamed as spittle flew from his mouth. “Not for me!” His claws lifted. “Not for you!” He went for Jonah’s throat.

Gage locked his teeth around Lyle’s leg and jerked him back. He’d wanted his pound of flesh, and hehadmade a promise to the other wolf.

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