Page 32 of Under the Moonlight

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Xander caught Pax’s musk just past the wreck and his heart kicked up a notch. The scent of Greer’s terror mingled with the cat, and Xander growled. He launched himself into the air, running after the fading trail. About five miles down, he crossed the two-lane country road with the others right on his heels.

He wasn’t thinking about anything but getting to Greer. To finding her alive and in one piece.

He stopped suddenly moments later, and the rest of them crowded behind him. Up ahead was a small, wooden cabin with a light on in the window. The curtain moved to the side and Xander saw Pax peering out.

He snarled.

They all shifted, including Jill, until they stood naked in the shadows.

“I don’t see Dakota or Greer,” Xander said.

“That doesn’t mean anything,” Clyde said.

Xander could smell Greer, but he had no idea if Pax was waiting behind a door rigged with explosives, planning on blowing up the first shifter who charged through that door.

A black truck pulled up the driveway, and parked. Xander watched Dakota jump out of the driver’s seat, but then the rest of the doors opened, revealing six more people.

Correction. Shifters.

One of them was Patty Simcox.

So, Dakota and Pax have been busy recruiting.

The new shifters stood out front like a wall as Dakota went inside. Xander didn’t see any weapons, but that didn’t mean they didn’t have guns tucked away in the back of their jeans.

“What the hell is your plan, son?” Clyde asked.

Xander contemplated his options as he surveyed the scene. They had no weapons themselves, except teeth and claws. What they needed was a diversion.

“I want to get to that truck.”

“Why?” Luke asked.

“I’m going to drive it into the cabin.”

All of them stared at him like he’d lost his damn mind.

“That’s insane. What if you hit her while using it as a battering ram?” Derick asked.

“She won’t be close to the window. They’d put her back further, harder to get to.” He tried to sound confident, but he wasn’t so sure. It was more of a hope and a prayer.

“I have a better idea,” Clyde said.

“And what’s that?” Xander asked.

“We wait for the cavalry to arrive.”

Xander cocked his head, completely confused. “What do you mean? Who is the cavalry?”

A black wolf stepped out of the shadows, followed by a white wolf, a black wolf with white paws, and another black wolf with white dots across his muzzle. Fifty more wolves stepped out from the trees, surrounding them.

“Who are they?”

“Just some old friends I called in a favor to.” Clyde shot him a sheepish grin. “What can I say? I like a stacked deck.”

With Greer’s life on the line, he agreed and appreciated the backup. “Thank you. Thank you all. I know this isn’t your fight, but I appreciate you being here.”

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