Page 68 of Rogue Wolf

The vampires weren’t doing much. Kodiak crept closer, paws instinctually padding across the earth without making a sound. That’s what he did best—stalk his prey. He hoped his scent was more wolf than shifter, but he couldn’t do much about it. Instead, he readied himself, for anything.

He spied the enemy, his greyscale vision sharp and accurate.

Three vampires.

They stood away from each other, looking pale and sickly. Stinking of rancid blood, they moved forward.

Kodiak watched, unable to believe his eyes as the vampires moved into the sunlight. They weren’t entirely unaffected. He could see them wincing. The sun still caused them pain, but they could endure it.

His stomach knotted. They really could survive in the light. It was an abomination. What new horrors would they unleash on him with their new power? He shuddered to think.

Kodiak would have to find out later. The trio of vampires moved faster, and the pack’s cars were still leaving.

He just hoped there weren’t any other vampires lurking where he couldn’t sense them.

On his way over, he hadn’t detected anything that would suggest more vampires. The problem with their security system was that vampires couldn’t be detected on cameras. Their motion could only be detected if the vampires disturbed their surroundings, leaving behind unnatural movement in bushes and branches.

Ordinarily he’d put more value on his sense of smell, but who knew what they had up their sleeves, or how these changes could affect that.

Despite the evidence from his own senses, Kodiak still didn’t trust the vampires. Their attacks on the wolves were painstakingly organized, which unnerved Kodiak. They were more organized than ever before. Amdis was too skilled a leader. Kodiak vowed that, when the chance came, he would take out the vampires’ leader once and for all.

Yeah, he didn’t trust the vampires. He did trust that, no matter the vampires’ number, his pack would be able to fight back and win. Kodiak just needed to do the same.

I better fucking see you later Kodiak. Tamaska’s last words urged him on as he watched the vampires progress closer to the hut.

He wanted to rip them apart for getting so close to the wolves’ inner sanctuary.

As they moved, Kodiak noticed the vampires favored shadows over light.

Attacking the pack as they departed would force the vampires to endure more sunlight. For now, their aversion might still keep his pack safe.

Kodiak considered waiting to attack until the vampires reached the hut, with more sunlight to assist him in the fight.

Then, they slowed, their behavior changing.

He tensed.

They’d detected him.

Still banking on the element of surprise, Kodiak leapt from his position. He slammed his paws into the nearest vampire, pushing him to the ground in one swift movement. He snapped his jaws, sinking his teeth into its putrid flesh.

The screams of the vampire turned muffled as Kodiak gripped its neck with his teeth. Stale blood filled his mouth, and he gagged. He shook his head, breaking its neck before releasing the body and bracing himself to fight the other two.

They weren’t there.

Where are they?

He turned around, using all his senses to detect them on his right. He rushed them, unwilling to let the fight drag on. He wanted the vampires destroyed like they’d tried to destroy his pack.

He leapt toward the nearest vampire, growling deep, expecting to connect with the monster.

Then, something hit him.

The projectile was lightweight, but enough to disrupt his trajectory. Kodiak fell to the ground, barely managing to land on his feet inches away from the vampire.

Angry at his mistake, he crouched to leap again. Searing pain exploded through his body.

He howled, trying to push against the sharp tangle around him that restricted his movement. He couldn’t fight in this, not fully.

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