Page 63 of Wolf Unleashed
Tiernan plunged his shovel into the ground, angry at the number of patches of disturbed dirt in the clearing. Even if each grave only held one body, it was too many. Fourteen. And there could be many other fields like this one hidden out here in the wilderness.
“Damn,” Rafe said as his shovel snapped. “Well, now, isn’t that a shame.” He tossed the two broken pieces of his shovel into the grave.
“Keep that shifter digging while I get another shovel,” said Cooper, the younger guard who held his pistol crossed over his chest.
“You’re not leaving me alone with two shifters,” Voss said. “Cuff and take one with you. And bring back two shovels in case another breaks.”
Cooper cuffed Rafe’s hands behind his back, then shoved him toward the compound, not caring when Rafe tripped over Maddox’s body. Rafe and the guard disappeared into the woods.
“You know what we do with killers, don’t you?” Voss said.
Tiernan clutched his shovel as he spun around. The guard had his gun aimed at Tiernan’s head, and he was smart enough to stay out of swinging distance.
“Put the gun down now, and I’ll let you live,” Tiernan said, as he walked around the shallow grave.
The guard mirrored his movements. “Bullet beats shovel. A more realistic version of rock, paper, scissors. Get back to digging.”
Tiernan tossed the shovel at the guard’s feet. “You want another hole in the ground so badly, then you dig.”
The guard laughed even as he cocked his gun. “You think you’re gonna jump me? Go ahead. Shift. I’ll shoot you before you leap.”
“Oh, I have no intention of killing you. But he does.”
The guard spun around, right into Maddox’s open hand. Maddox tore the gun from his grip before he could fire a shot.
“You going to kill him?” Tiernan asked.
“I should kill you. And Rafe, for holding me down while you attacked me.”
Tiernan picked up his shovel and struck the guard from behind, knocking him out. “We had to make it look real, Maddox.”
“A little too real. You came close to my carotid artery,” he said as he helped Tiernan drag the unconscious guard into the shallow grave. My wolf’s not pleased with you right now, Tiernan. He’s been working overtime to heal me while keeping my breathing and heart rate low enough to fool the humans.”
“There wasn’t time to brief you. Or me. It was Rafe’s idea. Be glad I understood what he wanted and didn’t actually kill you.”
Maddox lifted a brow. “And you think I couldn’t have broken free of Rafe had I thought you were really trying to kill me?”
“I hadn’t considered that.”
“I take it Rafe broke his shovel on purpose.”
“Looked that way to me. We haven’t been able to talk. There’s always been guards around.”
“Then start tracking, scout.”
“Rafe or Alyssa?”
“Both. We’re not leaving here without either.”
* * *
ALYSSA
Alyssa staredat the vials of blood. She couldn’t keep herself from envisioning Maddox lying on the floor, torn up and dead, at Tiernan’s hands. Even enraged, Tiernan would never kill Maddox. Her father had to be lying to her.
“Make a fist,” the phlebotomist said as she tied the rubber tubing on Alyssa’s arm for yet another blood sample.
Alyssa made a fist, enjoying the feel of it. She knew just where she wanted to plant it, too.
