Page 68 of Beta Hybrid

I smell blood, Cai tells me. Stay in the car, Zen. Half a dozen wolves converge with them to follow the scent while the rest of the convoy closes in on us, protecting our position. And me, I realise. The alpha’s mate.

I watch Cai and the other wolves venture ahead, the pale morning light catching his inky hair, slicked back from his face with slight grease. His shoulders are tight, his feet moving carefully to avoid making a sound or slipping on a rock.

Three wolves from the back surge forward into a copse of trees. Everyone waits with bated breath.

It could be nothing.

Just a dead animal, hunted by another animal.

Hell, it could be a human hiker who cut his leg on a sharp rock.

For three long seconds, I hold my breath.

Everything is silent.

A series of pained howls pierce the air, then I’m surrounded by noise. My head whips about as vampires attack from all sides, moving as fast as any wolf.

My vines surge as I climb out of the ute. I can’t be trapped in here, not a good position to fight. Cai, ambush! As my booted feet hit the ground, my head swivels, unsure where to look. My mate is locked in battle with a vampire, but I watch Cai take him down easily. Cai tries to run back to me, but he has to protect his mother as four more vampires spill upon them.

Get to Vale, he’ll protect you, Cai says.

My gaze darts about, but everything has turned to chaos. They were waiting for us. Until we let our guards down, when we were tired, unsure if we were to be attacked at all.

Cries of pain and bloodlust fill the air as wolves and vampires launch themselves at each other. Claws slice into skin, ripping, tearing, as fangs do their own damage.

I keep my back against the truck, the cool metal a small comfort in the din. In my mind, I keep a close watch on the bond, making sure Cai is okay, even though I can’t help him or get to him right now.

Aidan and Will. They’re only witches. I should find them, help them.

I search the mountainside and finally spot them. Noah and Lexie are fighting off vampires, the witches at their backs. Aidan sends a wave of power, knocking a stray vampire onto his ass, but he just gets right back up.

This is bad.

Really bad.

Taken by surprise, most of us exhausted.

But where is Drusilla?

Callen speeds toward me. I flinch back, but he just gives me a bloody grin. ‘Finally, something fun happens. You okay, little hybrid?’

I nod numbly. Callen takes my elbow and yanks me away until we’re on higher ground, looking down at the fight. ‘What—?’ I hiss, but his wet hand covers my mouth. I gag into his fingers as blood assaults my senses.

He grips the back of my head, keeping me still. ‘Shh,’ he hisses.

Together, we watch the bloodshed. I stare up at him with wide eyes. He and Evelyn were supposed to be lookouts, our early-warning system.

‘Didn’t realise we were upwind,’ Callen murmurs quietly. ‘The cold of the mountain disguised their cold scent. Sorry,’ he adds, nonchalant.

I jerk my head down, to the fight. We have to help!

Callen nods. ‘We pick who we help so we don’t die.’ He points to a pair of vampires scouting the outskirts of the chaos. ‘These two. I’ll come up behind them.’ He nods, releasing me, and moves quickly down the other side to creep up behind them.

I wipe my face off on my sleeve and get to my feet. I climb down to meet the two vampires, stumbling, to make plenty of noise, as I bring myself up short. ‘Oh,’ I loose a surprised breath as I face them.

They lick their lips as they drink me in with their gaze. ‘Well, look at you.’ The taller of the two inhales deeply. ‘What are you?’

The vines on my arms surge forward and grip him tight, digging my thorns in. I squeeze as hard as I can, aiming for vulnerable flesh—wrists, throat, thighs. The vampire lets out a cry as the other frowns at me.

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