Page 34 of Under the Moonlight

And so had Dakota.

Pax seemed to realize the moment he lost her, because he lunged at her. She got off one shot before the two fell back to the floor. Pax reared up over Dakota, his hand shifting into a claw as he started to bring it down.

Dakota pressed the gun into his chest and pulled the trigger.

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Greer managed to get her hands free as another bullet exploded into Pax’s chest. It was as though once Dakota pulled the trigger, she couldn’t stop. Greer wondered if it was almost a release for her; in just the hour she’d spent in their company, she’d known Pax and Dakota’s relationship wasn’t healthy.

Greer watched Xander as he shifted back into his human form, but Dakota didn’t seem to notice either of them. She’d pushed Pax off her body and scrambled back against the wall, holding the gun loosely between her hands.

“Dakota,” Xander said softly. “Give me the gun.”

She shook her head, squeezing her eyes tight.

Greer moved forward, ignoring Xander’s vehement gesturing for her to stay back. If she could just reason with the other woman, maybe they could all get out of there alive.

“Dakota, it’s going to be okay,” Greer whispered.

When the other woman opened her eyes, they burned with hatred.

“You. This is all because of you.”

Dakota dropped the gun.

“I’

m going to rip your throat out!”

Greer scrambled away from the deranged woman as she shifted. Saliva dripped down her fangs to the floor just before she launched herself at Greer.

“No!” Xander yelled, tackling Dakota to the floor. Dakota spun on him, ripping out a chunk of flesh from his up arm.

Greer screamed as blood sprayed the wall and she threw herself at the wolf, punching, and gouging with her fists and fingernails. When her thumb went into Dakota’s left eye, the wolf howled in pain.

Greer spotted the gun on the floor and rushed on her hands and knees, trying to get the piece.

She didn’t even get close before white-hot pain exploded on her right shoulder. Hot, rancid breath burn her flesh and sharp teeth tore so hard into the muscle that it scraped bone. Greer couldn’t stop screaming as she tried to get away, to just get her hands on the gun.

A roar shook the cabin and Dakota’s weight on her was gone. Greer belly crawled across the floor until her left hand wrapped around the gun. Her shoulder blade throbbed as she rolled to her side to see what was happening.

Xander’s wolf self was tearing into Dakota, even as Jill’s cougar jaws were locked across her throat. Dakota struggled to get away, but the two of them were too strong for her.

Greer closed her eyes, trying to block out the image and the sounds. Several wet, furry muzzles pressed into her cheek and hands and she realized she was crying. She opened her lids to find herself surrounded by wolves. They were nuzzling and licking her, as if reassuring themselves that she was okay.

When Dakota was finally still, Xander turned her way, his white fur stained red. As he crawled toward her, he shifted. By the time he reached her side, his hands gripped her shoulders and pulled her into his embrace. She cried out as his arm brushed her wounded shoulder blade. He turned her to get a better look and she knew from the way he stiffened it was bad.

“Am I…I…going…t…to…turn?” Her teeth chattered so bad she could hardly get a sentence out.

Xander’s face was pinched with regret. “God, baby, I’m so sorry.”

Greer dropped her forehead to his shoulder and drew in a long, shaky breath. “It’s not your fault. How is your arm?”

His hand smoothed over the back of her head, a comforting gesture that made her eyes sting. “Already healing.”

“That’s good at least.”

He carefully wrapped his arms around her, which only made her cry harder. “I…appreciate you…coming to my…rescue. I tried to…tell him you…wouldn’t.”

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