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“Don’t worry,” Kyla said. “They probably aren’t planning to kill us.”
“Super comforting.”
We parked at the edge of town where a torn and faded sign read, “You’re not welcome in Silverback.”
I quirked an eyebrow at that. What a shocker that these werewolves lived here by themselves. I couldn’t imagine why nobody bothered to visit.
“Come on,” Riggs said, motioning for us to get out of the truck and wait.
I tried to stop my hands from shaking as I followed him out. Vivid images of being mauled by a pack of werewolves kept assaulting my brain, but I trusted Riggs. He wouldn’t have us doing this if there was another way.
I looked around us. We were on a pothole ridden road that was barely wide enough for two cars. Tall waist-high grass grew on either side and less than a mile from that was what looked like endless stretches of gently rolling wooded hills.
Pretty. If I wasn’t worried this was going to be the place I died.
It was quiet, too. Almost like even the bugs had decided to head off for the moment until the tension passed.
I was about to ask Riggs something when three men seemed to simply form out of nowhere in the grass across from us. One minute, there was nothing, the next I saw them rising up bare chested and stern faced.
Two lingered back like guardsmen and the one in the center approached. He was smaller than Riggs, but there was a confident set to his shoulders and the glare in his eyes that told me he was no slouch among these werewolves. He had handsome features with what I’d come to see as the characteristic ruggedness of werewolves. Something about the transformation to a vampire seemed to soften people and make them appear more lithe and elegant. The werewolf transformation made them look like warriors—all hard lines, rough textures, and abrasiveness. I could see how both cultures must’ve naturally clashed.
“Pax,” Riggs said stiffly.
“Riggs,” the shorter man said. He had a voice like whispering gravel that made my skin crawl. “You and your bitch sister have balls coming back. I’ll give you that. But it looks like you brought us a plaything.” He slid his eyes toward me, tilting his head down as he took me in. “She’ll entertain the boys for a time.”
Riggs made a low growling sound and I thought I saw him grow. It was like an optical illusion, but it seemed like his shoulders broadened and his legs got thicker. Maybe they did. I was starting to learn that my definition of “impossible” was up for debate in this new world I’d been dragged into. He was standing in front of me with one hand on my side, protectively pushing me behind him.
“Ah,” Pax said. “Of course. The pup of a vamp whore goes back to the fucking bloodsucker teet to get his cock wet. Doesn’t he? And you’ve forgiven that traitor bitch sister of yours for killing her wolf to ride some sunless cock?”
Jesus, I thought. Was there a more vulgar way imaginable to put it?
Kyla was stiff beside me. I could sense she was furious, but she was doing a good job holding it in.
“I’m not here to get your approval for my choices, Pax,” Riggs said. “This is bigger than you, me, or Kyla.”
Pax shook his head and started pacing menacingly. He kept his face turned toward Riggs, looking him up and down. “I used to admire you. The Alpha who came from nothing. Less than nothing. You fucking clawed your way to the top with nothing but determination and grit. I admired that. A werewolf who wasn’t afraid to take the universe by the balls and bite down until he got what he wanted. Of course, I thought you were a piece of shit, but that’s besides the point. And now look at you.” He spat on the ground, then spoke over his shoulder. “Get the truck. Take them to the church.”
Several more werewolves appeared out of the tall grass. Within a heartbeat, we were surrounded and being grabbed.
“Let it happen,” Riggs said to me. “I knew this might come.”
I relaxed, letting the big woman who was reaching for my wrists clutch them behind my back and start prodding me into the town. Kyla ignored Riggs’ advice, head butting the first werewolf who came for her. Her resistance earned her a fierce punch in the stomach that doubled her over.
Riggs went tense, probably fighting every impulse in his thick-headed brain not to rage out and get us all killed for that.
Gravy Boat emerged from the truck, arching his wrinkled back and hissing at the werewolves taking us.
Pax curled his lip. “What the fuck is that?”
“He’s with us,” Riggs said.
Pax sneered, but let Gravy Boat walk beside us into the village.
“You’re sure this was part of the plan?” I whispered to Riggs.
