Page 55 of Scarred Resolve

Running for the cabin, I slid as I tried to make the sharp turns I needed to get to Niko’s bag. The claws would be on top. I found them, yanking them out haphazardly, ignoring that they were silver. I hissed at the cut I gave myself, but it didn’t slow medown. I rushed past Davor, running for Niko and the werecat. Niko wasn’t getting out of the fight unscathed, that much was certain. He was already favoring his left leg, blood hitting my nose as I saw the claw marks through his pants.

“Hey!” I roared, causing the werecat to break his concentration on Niko for a moment, giving my brother time to step away. Davor got off a shot, hitting it in the shoulder.

Someone screamed.

I threw the claws into the grass near Niko as I squared up with the werecat, not able to think about much else as the now-injured monster focused on me once again. This time, I wasn’t paralyzed by fear, the adrenaline of what was happening pumping too hard through me. It lunged, and I knew the moves, having fought a monster all too similar to this one before. All I needed to do was keep it from getting its hands on me, but it was a struggle. This werecat was just as fast as Rainer and probably more powerful. The only difference in its behavior from Rainer was that it was totally lost in whatever rage and frenzy washed over it, while Rainer had been focused on a goal. He’d had some thought left to him, while this werecat didn’t.

It felt like forever, but Niko joined the fight once again, silver flashing through the air as he jumped for it, slicing it.

Someone screamed again.

With it focused on Niko, I turned and ran back for Davor, knowing I was the weakest one in this fight. I wasn’t supposed to be in my human form for this, but I wasn’t certain I would have the time to Change. Thirty seconds wasn’t long normally. Right now, it was long enough to give that werecat an easy chance to kill me. I felt the need to help, but I wasn’t sure how I was supposed to do that now.

I didn’t have long to think about it as something hit the wooden wall beside me then hit the ground.

Without thinking, I jumped into Davor, sending us flying as something went off. My ears were ringing as I tried to figure out what had just happened.

I didn’t have long to think about it as sharp claws sank into my thigh and pulled, this scream coming from me as it used that deep grab to lift and throw me away from the cabin, rolling toward the trees until my abdomen hit a trunk.

Dizzy and in pain from the back-to-back impacts, I struggled to even lift my head. I was rattled, and I didn’t have time to be, but when I tried to stand, I stumbled hard.

I need to move. I can’t leave them to fight that…

“So, the rumors are true. You really don’t know how to stay down.”

I didn’t know who was talking, but something slammed into the back of my head. It wasn’t a werecat’s force, but it was perfectly aimed and had an immense punch behind it.

I blacked out instantly.

24

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

HEATH

“I’m Heath Everson. I’ve made an appointment with?—”

“Yes, the noon appointment. Please take a seat. Mr. Moore will be with you in a moment,” the receptionist said, barely looking up from her work.

Used to these sorts of moments, Heath took his seat, not making a scene in front of anyone else in the high-end office. He put his briefcase down haphazardly, discouraging anyone from sitting next to him unless they wanted to move it.

Well, I had been hoping for a more positive welcome, but at least I got the appointment.

Heath had been declined appointments before. As a werewolf, he was used to it, especially in cities he didn’t come from. No one in Dallas denied him appointments by the time he was stepping down, even those who preferred not to work with werewolves or any known supernatural. The attitude from the receptionist could have been her attitude toward anyone, or maybe it was because he was a werewolf. He watched as others came in and left, realizing quickly that she wasn’t always short, but she wasn’t the warmest, either. He had certainly gotten the most curtness from her, and others working in the office gavehim odd glances as they came out to talk to people visiting the office.

Thirty minutes past his appointment time, he knew for certain that he was given this appointment, but they didn’t want to see him. He let it roll off him, not taking offense. He was only here to help this family, and the safest way to do that was through the lawyer that the victims had held on retainer to manage their estate in case something happened.

Finally, Frank Moore walked out. Heath stood up, maintaining the expression of benign professionalism he needed for this, grabbing his briefcase as he moved.

“Mister Everson,” Frank said with a smile. “Or is it Alpha Everson?”

“You only need to use Alpha if you work with werewolves regularly. Mr. Everson or just Heath will be fine today,” he answered, shaking an extended hand. The human tried to have a strong grip, squeezing tightly. Heath, offering a silent but important warning, squeezed back, very careful about the amount of pressure he applied to make sure Frank Moore, attorney, knew who would win this battle, but not enough to hurt him. Heath released after that to keep the handshake from entering the awkwardly long territory.

“Let’s head to my office. This way, Mr. Everson,” Frank said, the smile now covering the tinge of fear that Heath smelled in his scent. Heath didn’t like causing fear in random humans, but he was one of the better wolves to incite it, a necessary evil that Frank would never appreciate. If Frank tried that with the wrong werewolf, he would disappear, and his last moments would be painful.

“Of course.” Heath followed, not looking around, ignoring the stares and wave of whispers left behind him.

He took a seat in Frank’s office and heard the door close behind him after some whispers. Once Frank sat down,Heath relaxed a little more. The whispers had been innocently paranoid, which Heath was no longer offended by in these situations.

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