Page 77 of Blood Pack Beginning

“It’s like you want us to become ash,” he stated.

“More like I’m worried about what might be in that building.”

“You think those other two truckloads of people are going to become ghouls as well?” Cyrus queried. That would suck. More folks he knew getting fucked over in a skirmish that didn’t involve them.

“If they are, then we can handle it. I see another gas line.” Diego pointed to the meter attached to a pipe. “We already know it only takes one bullet to blow up.”

“You can’t just explode the place without being sure of who’s inside,” Cyrus argued. “What if the other two trucks weren’t carrying tainted Lycans? You’d be killing innocent people, children too.” Because the last truck hadn’t held any of the missing young’uns.

“Hence why we need to take a peek inside. Any suggestions on how to do so without being spotted?”

A glance at the warehouse showed it lacked windows on this side. Just a bunch of oversized roll-up doors for the loading docks and a smaller door set by the left corner.

“I don’t think you can do so without being heard.” Pierrot pursed his lips as he stared at the laptop he balanced in one hand. “There’s no signal around here indicating cameras in use. Probably the quickest thing we could do is open a door and have a quick smell. Ghouls tend to leave a stench.”

“Not the fresh ones,” Sasha reminded.

“We’re wasting time. I’ll go,” Amir volunteered. “Run in for a sniff then right back out.”

“Not alone,” Diego said with a shake of his head. “I’ll come with you.”

“We’ll all go,” Sasha firmly stated. “And stick close together. If we’re attacked and the odds are shit, keep a tight formation while we work our way back to the exit.”

Not the best plan, but better than blowing up the place blindly.

Just in case they ran into trouble, though, Cyrus and Diego stripped to save their clothes and shifted. Amir held off since he’d already been through the wringer and would need to recover more fully before attempting to change again. Exhausted people who tried too hard to morph could become caught in a half-state that was very painful—so he’d heard.

The vampires and Amir grabbed weapons. Then the motley group headed silently on foot for the warehouse. Time to discover what hid within.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

The warehouse appeared innocuous.No light. No sound. Nothing out of the sorts.

It immediately triggered Diego’s wolfy sense. These days, with the number of homeless in America, an abandoned area such as this should have been a prime squatting ground. Yet, he’d not seen a single vagrant, or signs of any—AKA tent, shopping cart, discarded needle.

Were the police in this area more vigilant? Or could there be another reason nothing living appeared to be in the environs?

He couldn’t ask, as they approached with stealth, a line of predators once more trying to save the world—or at least the people from Woolly Pillars.

As they reached the warehouse’s small side door, Pierrot put an unnecessary finger to his lips. As if they needed a reminder to be quiet.

The knob didn’t turn. Locked. They could have probably kicked it in, but the noise would totally give them away.

Sasha waved Pierrot off and stared at the door. Stared long and hard. The click, barely audible, had her relaxing tense shoulders.

Interesting. She had a telekinetic power. He’d heard mention of it as a vampire ability, but seeing it? Kind of cool.

Pierrot once more gripped the knob and slowly turned it, easing open the door and wincing when it squeaked.

They all stood still and ready.

Nothing emerged but a smell. One they all knew.

Ghouls.

And a shit-ton of them.

Sasha put a hand on Pierrot’s arm and shook her head.

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