Page 16 of Corbin
Going back down the corridor she’d taken from the front entrance was not possible.
She opened the door and looked to her right. A cracked and unlit EXIT sign dangled in the dark. That had to be stairs, but would it offer a second escape point from the building?
The door she’d seen the human male step out of burst open. Three human men brawled to her left. One bled from his head. They were distracted by fighting each other. This was her best chance to make a run for it.
She slipped out to her right, glad her shifter vision adjusted as she moved into the dark corner. She yanked open the door beneath the broken sign. Rusty hinges squealed, hurting her ears. The men fighting quieted. Without a look back, she raced down the stairs, pleading silently that the rotted steps wouldn’t break beneath the weight of two shifters.
The sirens howled louder now.
When she reached the bottom floor, she started out an exterior door at the opposite end of the building from where she’d entered and paused. Flashing lights zoomed past. She rushed, moving as quickly as she could with the weight she toted.
Bless poor Lauren, but she smelled terrible.
Eirene jogged through tall weeds and scattered garbage to the rental car she’d hidden, glad no one had found it, or she might have no wheels or tires. She dumped Lauren in the back seat. Legs and arms flopped loose. Good for now. If she woke up and thought Eirene was kidnapping her, this situation could turn deadly fast.
If the Black River wolf pack ever found out what she’d done today, they’d come for Lauren and take Eirene as well. Did that terrify her?
Yes, but someone had to help these women who, like her, had no one else.
Chapter 3
Corbin dodged a claw and spun around to stop. He flicked wet hair out of his eyes and counted another day of living free.
Badger slashed at him with claws out. Crazy Head is begging for death again by breaking the practice rules. How many times had Adrian said to fight in human form only?
Claws were not human attributes.
Corbin lifted his hands to end the mock battle. “That’s it. I’m done for the day.”
Badger shook his head. “Nope. No one stops while everyone’s still fighting.”
That was not the rule. A day ended once the six male wolf shifters in the pack had battled each other in human form. Those six included Adrian, who set up these exercises. That’s how the rest of them understood the plan.
Who knew what Badger believed?
Stepping away by walking backward, Corbin clarified, “I’m getting water. You know the rule. No jumping anyone who’s not actively battling you.”
Would that even register with this idiot?
Their pack had issues thanks to the former sick-in-the-head alpha who had ruled a huge pack, but after Jaz killed him in self-defense, she became alpha. Some of the pack had run and been captured by shifter law enforcement. Others had to be put down. She and Adrian had treated him and the others fairly since day one.
Corbin didn’t need much to be happy after what he’d endured for years.
But he could do without Badger’s constant crap.
Not even that crazy was going to cost him the new level of respect he’d earned with Adrian after climbing a mountain and fighting a grizzly.
The slaps of flesh hitting flesh died down as the rest of the group ended their practice battles. Mock battles sounded harmless, right? Maybe for another wolf pack, but this one had too many who lacked control, including Corbin on some days.
Bosse had the best control. He’d recently joined the pack and was in the process of getting settled with his mate. Corbin envied the happy guy. He’d never have a mate. Any mate worth having would not have him with a crazy wolf.
“You all better after your water, pussy?” Badger stood with his arms crossed and sweat streaming down his bare chest. “See how wonderful I’m being?”
You pussy. Not me,Ares accused.Let me out!
His wolf hammered Corbin’s insides. He tightened muscles from neck to toes, doing his best to stay in human form. Why hadn’t Adrian called it a day yet?
Badger started circling him.
