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Maybe the water would keep them away. Did wolves fear water? She didn't know, and wished right now that she'd spent more time watching those nature shows on television.
A burning pain seared her chest as she struggled for breath, panic quickly overtaking her. The wolves were gaining, although she had a gut feeling they could have jumped her by now if they'd wanted to. Didn't they run faster than humans or something? It wasn't like she was sprinting at top speed here. Were they toying with her? Was this some kind of game to wear her out and make her an easier target when they tired of chasing her?
Thoughts of Max entered her mind. How close was the house? She couldn't see a damn thing in the darkness, spotted no lights to guide her way. Where was he? Did he know she was gone yet? Would he come searching for her?
Oh, God. If he did, he'd drive down the road, never thinking she'd entered the forested area. Why would she? He'd think she meant to go home. He'd figure exactly what her plan had been and would drive to the store to look for her. How stupid was she? So desperate to escape him, she'd foolishly set out on foot in an area unfamiliar to her. She deserved her fate.
A sick feeling of impending doom swept over her, and she fought the tears that welled and spilled over her cheeks. She didn't want to die out here. Not like this. Not torn apart by these savage creatures.
Max, where are you? I need you. Help me!
*
Max slipped on a pair of shorts and went in search of Shannon. Maybe she'd gone downstairs to fix something to eat.
Knowing her, she was pissed off and pacing in the kitchen, waiting for him to come down so she could lay into him for suggesting she move in with him.
Okay, maybe he'd blurted. Not his smoothest move, that was for sure.
He had to calm her down, make her see reason.
It was time to tell her everything, explain why she had to be with him. He ran his fingers through his still-damp hair, damning himself for being so caveman-like in telling her how things were going to be between them, instead of discussing who and what he was, then asking her to move in.
Me big, strong man. Me tell woman what to do. Fucking Neanderthal.
He groaned and stepped into the dark kitchen, realizing immediately that something was up.
And that something was not good.
Sniffing the air, he smelled danger, knew instinctively that Shannon was no longer on the premises. The hair on his arms and legs stood on end, and chills popped goose bumps on his skin.
Shannon was in trouble. Big trouble.
He picked up her scent immediately. Not just hers, either, but others, and in close proximity.
Wolves.
"Shit!" He tore out the back door and into the woods, ignoring the burning pain of his body changing as he made the dash across the lawn. By the time he reached the woods, he was fully wolf and ripping through the trees and bushes, hoping he wasn't going to be too late.
It was easy to track Shannon. He could pick up her scent from miles away. He also knew she was panicked, afraid, and quickly running out of energy.
Not that it mattered. They stalked her slowly, enjoying the game. He knew their kind, toying with humans, making a game of terrorizing them, getting off on their fear.
He also knew they wanted her because they smelled him on her, recognized what he was and weren't happy about a new alpha in their midst. They wanted to take her, to put their mark on her, to claim her.
Over his dead body. No fucking way would any of them lay a paw on her.
Granted, this wasn't the way he'd wanted to draw them out of hiding. Not using Shannon as prey. Because he knew they didn't care what happened to her. The only reason they were doing this is because they knew if she was in danger he'd come running, and they thought they could beat him down this way.
Max didn't know who the members of this pack were, but he'd bet they'd never met a Devlin wolf before.
This was his territory now, and Shannon was his mate. He'd take on a dozen of them if need be. When he was finished, they'd know a new alpha was in town, and meant to take over.
She hadn't gone far, thankfully. He stopped about twenty yards in front of her and let out a howl, announcing his arrival to the others. He sensed their fury, their blood thirst, but he felt no fear for himself, only for Shannon.
Now that he spotted her, he felt a measure of relief. She was cut and bloody, but it looked more like branches had done the damage. The wolves hadn't touched her. They could have torn her to pieces in seconds, but they hadn't. He might let them live because of that.
He'd been aching for a fight for a long time, and as he scented their locations, knew this one would be bloody.
He welcomed it. They'd crossed the line when they targeted his woman. He'd either take over the pack or kill them all. Either way, he knew who'd come out the winner tonight.
*
Shannon stopped and leaned over, resting her hands on her knees, not caring if they attacked her or not. She couldn't breathe. The run, along with fighting her ever-increasing fear, had stolen every ounce of energy she possessed. Her adrenaline rush had passed and right now she just wanted to lie down.
But she couldn't. She leaned halfway up, resting her hand against the bark of a tree for support. The incessant growling grew louder, and she felt a calm peacefulness overcome her, as if she finally accepted her fate.
There was no way she could get out of the woods. But she refused to stand there and let them take her. She'd die, but she'd die running for freedom.
But then she heard a sound ahead of her now, as angry a growl as she'd heard before. Coming toward her, slowly. The sound grew louder and she stilled, praying for invisibility but knowing that it wouldn't matter. They scented her. That much she knew. Wolves hearing and scent were heightened, much more so than a human.
So she waited, watching its glowing eyes as it appeared before her. She met its gaze head on, refusing to look away, refusing to show weakness.
The wolf stopped in front of her. She was sweating now, her body drenched, her heart slamming against her ribs, her legs trembling from fear and exhaustion.
She could barely stand as it stopped a mere inches from her, its teeth bared, a low growl rumbling in its throat.
Lord it was a beautiful animal, though. Even though she feared it, she admired its strength, the gray and white fur that covered strong legs and body. And it was much bigger than she'd ever known wolves to be.
Then it shocked the hell out her. It winked. She blinked, surely delusional in her panicked state. But when it walked around her and behind her, she didn't know what to think. Why hadn't it attacked her?
Slowly, s
he turned to follow it, her heart lodging in her throat as she realized that at least six wolves were behind her in a semi-circle.
The gray one that had winked stood in front of them, snarling, saliva dripping from between its teeth. She backed away and stood to the side of all of them, not enough that they thought she'd run because one of the six watched her.
It seemed as if the big gray was communicating in some way to the others, because after it growled, the others did too.
She was afraid to move at all, but took small steps backward, sensing that something was about to happen between the gray wolf and the other, darker ones.
The gray took a few steps forward, ignoring the warning snarls of the others, and entered their circle. The strange thing was, she felt concern for the gray. Maybe because it hadn't attacked her. Stupid, she knew, but she really didn't know what to think about what was happening right now. She should take the opportunity to run, but with so many wolves around her, she was afraid if she moved, one would pounce on her. So she stayed put and watched.
They circled each other, moving counter-clockwise, their glowing golden eyes the only thing moving in the dark woods. The six wolves advanced slowly, closing the circle and drawing nearer to the gray.
Shannon shrieked and jumped back when the gray leaped on the center wolves. Then they all fell on him, snarling and growling as the battle ensued.
The tangle of fur on fur made it impossible to determine what was happening. She wished for the clouds to dissipate so she could see how the gray was faring, but it was all she could do to hold back the fierce storm.
They were all engaged. She should turn and run, head back to the road and return to Max's. Anywhere but here.
But her feet were frozen to the ground. She couldn't make them move, couldn't turn her eyes away from the carnage in front of her. Whimpering yelps emitted from the center of the fray, but she didn't know which wolf or how many of them were injured. The growls grew louder, more fierce, splitting the air with the angry sounds of their battle. And all the while she watched. Stupidly stood there and watched.
Suddenly, two of the dark wolves retreated, hovering outside the center of the circle. Soon, two more retreated, and then the other two. They stayed in the circle, moving around the gray, still baring their now bloodstained teeth, still emitting low rumbles from their throats.
