Page 78 of Blood Pack Beginning

They wouldn’t be going in. A wise move.

Only as Pierrot went to pull close the door, several filthy hands reached out to snag the vampire and yanked him before slamming the door shut.

And locking it!

Well fuck.

There was no question they would go in after him. Rather than be subtle, Sasha kicked her foot into the door, which, given it was bare, didn’t make a dent.

Amir snorted. “Move aside, Shorty.” The bigger man moved into position and used his shoulder to snap the lock and pop it open. Sasha darted inside, Anabel on her heels. Cyrus, Amir, and Diego followed, despite the fact it was probably a really bad idea.

The inside smelled abominable. As a wolf, the stench overwhelmed his enhanced sense of smell, the odor a dozen times stronger than that they’d experienced in the sewer. All the more reason to act now, not only to save Pierrot but also anyone who might be a future victim to these monsters.

Time to be a hero.

The darkness in the room they entered wasn’t complete, and Diego could see enough to notice another door on the far side closing.

Sasha hissed, “It’s taken Pierrot into the warehouse.” And of course, she didn’t hesitate to follow.

None of them did. They dashed through the next doorway and then halted abruptly. Blame the hundreds of ghouls clustered.

“Jeezus,” breathed Amir, who could still speak since he’d not shifted.

Actually, it should have been more like, “holy fucking Christ in hell,” because they were fucked. And it was too late to change their minds now. Pierrot needed rescuing from several ghouls dragging him. Big, strapping Lycans, who had enough muscle—and monster adrenaline—to ensure Pierrot couldn’t escape.

Before they could start chewing on the man, Diego darted forward, a blur of fur that lunged and latched onto a ghoul. He chomped hard enough the monster’s hand spasmed and loosened. It was enough for Pierrot to yank an arm free. The vampire then began punching, the force of his fist smashing the faces of those slavering for a bite. While he pummeled, Diego went for the ankles. The rest of the group formed a semi-circle to protect while Pierrot shed his ambushers and killed them.

But forget an easy escape. The ghouls scented fresh meat and, judging by the red glint in their eyes, wanted dinner now!

A wave of monsters came for them, and a battle ensued, a chaotic and terrifying melee. For each monster taken down, another—nay, a pair—took its place. It was nonstop. Bite, swipe, squirm, and, yes, howl when one of the monsters managed to hurt. The only reason they weren’t completely overrun was because they formed a tight fighting square that only allowed a single row of ghouls to attack. However, the number behind them, the monsters that took the place of each one that fell, proved daunting.

Diego and the others did their utmost to remain close to each other and struggled inch by inch to the exit. He lost count of how many he killed. Couldn’t think beyond surviving.

Sasha yelled, and he swiveled to see her taken down to the floor. Immediately, ghouls savagely tore at her. Diego lunged to the rescue, he and Cyrus chomping, the nasty taste of rancid blood gag-worthy, while Amir swung his machete, yelling the entire time.

A sudden glaring light, illuminating the space, brought a sudden stillness to the fight.

In that reprieve, a deep male voice boomed, “Nobody move!”

Diego didn’t need to look to recognize Thaddeus had arrived. Just ask his frozen body as it obeyed the alpha command.

Thaddeus strode forward, and to everyone’s surprise, the ghouls remained frozen in place. Obeying. A welcome surprise.

A soft command from Thaddeus allowed Amir and the other Lycans to move. Amir dragged Sasha free of the gaggle of ghouls and scooped her limp body into his arms. He began to retreat, along with Diego and Cyrus. The other vampires joined them, all except for Thaddeus and the pair of wolves flanking him. Marc and someone else. Not Toni, which didn’t surprise given her ripe condition.

Move quickly. I shan’t be able to hold them for long. Already some break free of my command.The soft murmur in Diego’s head startled, as it belonged to his new alpha but wasn’t spoken aloud.

In the fading brilliance, he saw the ghouls twitching. A few taking steps in their direction.

“You will obey,” Thaddeus thundered, the authority in his tone making Diego shiver.

A few of the ghouls halted, but several continued to push forward, the red in their eyes glinting ominously. And when one of them hissed, “Master says kill,” Diego knew they’d better flee.

So did Thaddeus, who yelled, “Run!”

Amir exited first, holding Sasha, with Anabel and Pierrot at his heels, then the four wolves. Last to come through the door before it slammed shut: Thaddeus.

He leaned against the portal, which heaved as ghouls thumped into it. “Get out of the warehouse. Now,” he barked.

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