Page 31 of Wicked Fate

Irritation flashed through me, but I yanked it back to indifference. Ryker already wanted to kill the man, but I believed he was an ally, even though I was beginning to see Ryker’s point.Yes, he is.I wanted to say more. If he was on our side, he could be watching them for us, but Ryker might see it another way. In the end, we didn’t know anything about the man, so it was best to not rush to any sort of decision—including killing.

I blanked my expression and kept surveying everything, trying to glance in their direction the same length of time as all others.

We continued to move. About twenty yards from the perimeter’s end, the cold pressed on me like a wave slamming into me and trying to drag me under.

Ryker stumbled, clearly feeling the same sensations. The mate bond was even more connected and intense than the pack members’ bond, which took me by surprise.

Keep moving. They’ve got to be close to the perimeter. It feels as if I’ve been hit by a tsunami.My lungs screamed as if tons of pressure had settled over me, but the warmth that had to be coming from the strange man pulsed into me and warded off some of the discomfort.

No, we’re just gonna stop—Ryker started, but I noticed the wisps of shadows edging from spots behind the perimeter line’s trees.

They’re here,I linked with everyone,but don’t react. Not yet.

Dark, smoky outlines crawled behind the perimeter like ink bleeding through air. The shadows danced just far enough away to not set off the alarm, making it clear they knew exactly where Reid’s territory lines were.

I clenched my jaw, every instinct screaming to raise my weapon.Everyone, keep watching. They aren’t coming over yet to attack.I didn’t need to react. Not yet. Not until Ihadto.

What if they have weapons this time since we know who they are?Gage asked, and I could hear his steps becoming a little less steady behind us.

With the rising sun and the lightening sky, the darkness of the shadows thickened as more vampires arrived. None of them came any closer, but the magic pressed harder on me as more and more came.

A shimmer caught my eye, going back and then propelling forward, like someone flicked their wrist.

My heart seized.

Knife,I linked as it soared toward me. I dove sideways as the blade ripped through the air, and it whistled past the place my throat had just been and embedded in the trunk behind me with a sickeningthunk.

I hit the ground hard, shoulder skidding through mulch and wet leaves. Pain flared, but adrenaline kept it distant as I rolled to my feet, gun already raised.

I aimed and pulled the trigger, knowing that I wouldn’t be able to make out which one had tried to kill me. I merely had to make a stand.

A dark blob dropped while the rest of the shadows floated backward.

I hated that they now knew I could see them.

Ryker squatted at my side, his snarl slicing through the trees as he and the others fired in the same direction. Gunfire cracked through the woods like thunder—sharp, raw, relentless.

Xander and Gage kept firing toward the retreating shadows while Briar dropped to my other side, scanning me for injuries.

Calm down,I linked, needing them to stop. The Blackwoods had to be panicking at hearing all the commotion out here, and we had no way of contacting them to let them know they weren’t at risk.They’ve retreated.All you’re doing is wasting ammo at this point.Ammo we probably didn’t have a ton of, as wolf shifters in general preferred fighting in wolf form over using weapons. This was an exception because we couldn’t see them.

Smoke curled from the ends of gun barrels, scenting the air with metal and gunpowder even as my pack stopped shooting.

The warmth I’d felt from the strange man vanished with the vampires, like it’d never been there at all.

Ryker grabbed my arm, spinning me toward him.Are you hit? Did they injure you?

No, I dodged it.I shivered, trying not to focus on what could’ve happened if I’d missed seeing the glint of the blade.I’m fine.

He cupped my jaw with one hand, gaze darting across my face like he didn’t believe me.

We need to get the fuck out of here.Xander kept his gun aimed as if he expected them to come back at any second.We’re low on ammo now.

A warning howl pierced the air, and paws pounded on the ground toward us, not bothering to be quiet.

We need to meet up with them,I linked. The sooner we headed them off, the better. I could only imagine the panic that had to be pounding through all the survivors right now, wanting to protect their home and their dead while losing no others.

Ryker helped me up and placed a hand around my waist as if I couldn’t handle my weight on my own. Even though I was fine, the whole situation had terrified me, and his embrace was like a safe haven.

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