Page 6 of Blood Owed (Blood Mafia 1)
My inner monologue is interrupted when the beast knocks into my back. I scream and throw my hands up to protect my face. The knife smashes between my thumb and forefinger, and I grimace at the sudden bite of pain.
That’s going to leave a mark.
Won’t really matter if you’re dead.
No. I refuse to die in this disgusting alley. Using all the strength I have left, I shove my elbow into the muzzle of the wolf and wiggle onto my back again.
Hello, déjà vu.
Saliva drips from the wolf’s mouth, and its eyes are glowing a vibrant gold. Sharp—very sharp—teeth flash when he opens his maw.
I scream like a banshee and jab my weapon at him.
The wolf howls in pain when the knife slides into his mouth. I let out a relieved sob. My knife is silver, poisonous to wolves. Blood pours over my hand the further I jam it into his throat. I won’t relent, not until I know he’s dead. They heal too easily, and as I said, I’m not dying in this alley. The knife needs to go a little deeper before I’ll feel safe.
I force it further inside the stupid wolf, imagining it’s Kevin choking and dying around my sharp blade. Those pointed teeth scrape against my skin. I grimace and grunt around the pain. My arm is almost fully inside him when he lets out a small, wounded cry. Finally, I’ve shoved the silver weapon far enough to kill. The spark of life fades from the supe’s eyes.
I groan and pull my arm out of his throat and mouth. My own blood mingles with his, but I don’t worry about him turning me. The moon isn’t full, and he didn’t bite me in the right place. Using my good arm to help the wounded one, I shove the now dead wolf off me.
I killed him.
Am I crazy for letting a small smile creep across my face?
He didn’t kill me. I killed him.
A chorus of snarls and growls assaults my ears, and I cringe.
Oh crap.
I’d forgotten about the others.
Once again, the men in fancy suits are staring at me. My eyes lock on a small, dark red patch embroidered on the pocket of the suit.
I gulp, hoping with all my heart it isn’t the Blood Mafia symbol.
Before I can get a better look, the other guys have shifted and they’re fighting to get past Team Casual. I take a step back, screeching when my heel snaps. When I kick them off and sprint out of the alley, a wolf howls.
The sound is chilling.
Shivers race down my spine, but I don’t look back. Pumping my arms as hard as I can, I run past the line of bodies waiting to get into the club, not caring that I’m leaving Lexi behind. She’ll be fine. Thank God I live downtown. I sprint through the streets, not stopping until I reach my apartment building a few blocks away. My feet hurt but aren’t too banged up. I reach for my clutch, then remember I didn’t take one and I tossed my stuff in Lexi’s bag.
My keys and phone are with Lexi.
Damn it.
I kick a trash can, taking little satisfaction in the way it rattles on the sidewalk. Going to the side of my building, I jump and grab hold of the fire-escape. The metal ladder squeaks before shooting toward the ground.
Mateo
“You weren’t supposed to kill anyone, Colt.” My growled words sound louder in the back of the SUV we’re riding in. Our chauffeur winces as though my anger hurts him, which perhaps it does. He is human after all; compulsion only does so much to soothe their inherent fear.
My captain sighs heavily. “The wolves instigated it, and then the human came out and mucked things up. Had she not killed the enforcer, things would have gone a little differently.”
Grayson scoffs from the passenger seat. “They were attacking before she killed him.”
Colt narrows his eyes at him. “We would have found a way to keep the peace, we know how much the alliance means to you.”
“Alliance,” I spit the word out. “There is no alliance now. Richard is unstable at best. He’ll tear through San Francisco in an attempt to make me pay, foolish child.”
