Page 62 of North

“Fuck me,” Marc said.

Another cocoon started moving. We walked closer. My heartbeat echoed in my ears.

There was a sound behind me, and I turned. “North?”

I frowned. He wasn’t there. He’d been standing right behind me.

“North?”

Where did he go?

“Hunter Squad.” Sasha’s tense voice. “Heat signatures are lighting up all around you. Get out!”

What?My gut contracted.

Then a long, deafening roar echoed through the building.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

North

Istared at the cocoons, my gut tightened.

There were so damn many.

There was a noise in the shadows behind me and I swiveled, gun aimed.

I didn’t see anything. Just more of those damn cocoons. I peered into the darkness but didn’t see anything.

My senses tingled. Something was there.

I shook my head. The sooner we got out of here, the better.

I turned back to look at the squad. Jameson pulled a knife.

Suddenly, something grabbed me from behind and yanked me backward.

Something strong.

A dark, wiry arm covered my face, muffling my shout. I hammered against my attacker, and it dragged me back into the darkness, away from the others.

“Hunter Squad,” Sasha said. “Heat signatures are lighting up all around you. Get out!”

I heard carbine fire as I struggled. I caught glimpses of my squad mates fighting. A giant monster bounded toward Marc and Zeke. Jess fired on several small, agile creatures. Hell, they didn’t even know I was gone.

The monster holding me dragged me across the warehouse. I kicked and jerked, but it held me firmly. It was so damn strong. Its hold loosened for a second, then it slammed me to the ground. The air rushed out of me.

A clawed hand in the center of my back kept me pinned to the dirty concrete.

I looked up.

My heart kicked my ribs. There were two of them. They were the same creatures we’d seen in the cave where we’d rescued Hudson.

Their skin was ink black, and their long, skinny bodies were all lean, honed muscle. Long arms were tipped with big claws. One hauled me off the ground, holding me in the air, my feet dangling. Then it reached up and plucked the earpiece from my ear.

Fuck. I fumbled for my knife. I could still hear my squad fighting. Snarls and growls filled the warehouse.

“Come on…assholes,” I gritted out. My hand curled around the hilt of my combat knife.

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