AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Almost a year ago, unbelievers took Austin back from the Heavenly Host. At first, I figured the Angels would take it right back—it’s been one of their major bases since they first arrived in Texas—but things just continued to get worse. More and more people showed up in Austin looking for Infernal Legion sympathizers, and then the Host just…left.
They left us without protection, without medicine for our older residents—and my sister. Homestead isn’t safe anymore.
They told us they would come back if we could take out the Alpha Prime of the Austin pack, so that’s exactly what we’re going to do.
In fact, I’ll do it myself…no matter what the mayor orders me to do.
A few days ago, a group of bounty hunters rolled through town telling us that the Heavenly Host was looking for one particular head in particular: that of Father Reyes Garza, the leader of the Austin pack. I saw an opportunity, and I took it, along with my kid sister’s boyfriend.
Because Enid is diabetic.
Enid needs insulin.
And we’re going to get that insulin, come hell or high water. If all I have to do is kill a lycanthrope to do that, I’ll make it happen.
The cool night air blows through my hair as we ride through the trees, Annie’s hooves nimble on the forest floor. My rifle is slung over my shoulder, my knife at my belt. Based on the intelligence we’ve collected spying on them over the past few months, we’ve learned that lycanthropes tend to be pretty distracted during the full moon, so now is the time to strike.
With any luck, the Prime won’t be inside the den. But even if he is, I have confidence that I can get him.
The bowie knife at my hip has killed lycans before.
We’ve been riding through the night to get here, and the others are clearly exhausted. I look around at them and press a finger to my lips as I slow Annie’s gait at the edge of the forest, then dismount.
David, a new recruit a few years younger than me, heaves a deep breath. “You sure about this?” he says.
“Sure as I’ll ever be,” I say. “Look—we can do this now, or we can wait until we’ve run out of medicine. The closest hub is San Antonio, and the wolves have been routing us every chance they get.”
“You don’t have to convince me,” David says, even though he clearly needs convincing. “I’m just—what would Enid say?”
I wince. My little sister Enid would be…well, real fuckin’ unhappy about this, to say the least. And I know David is sweet on her, so I get why he’s concerned. But that doesn’t mean he’s allowed to start questioning me when we’re already in this deep.
“Enid’s not the captain of the guard, is she?” I ask. “So you’re gonna follow my orders, aren’t you?”
I sweep my gaze over the other three men in our group as they dismount and tie their horses up to the trees. “Any other questions?”
The others don’t say a damn thing.
We each secure our rifles on our backs and our knives on our belts, and then we shuffle into the grass, parting ways and leaving David behind to keep an eye on the horses. I make sure my step is light enough that they won’t hear it, my posture low enough that no one will be able to see me coming.
I’m going to get him.
I can hear the sound of music coming from somewhere in their encampment, behind the wooden boundary wall they’ve erected. I’ll slip in between where the wall meets the old visitor center, where they keep their kitchen—after a few months of observation, I’ve seen that it’s where they bring in ration shipments. Once I’m inside, I can scour the grounds for Reyes, looking where I’ve seen him before through my binoculars, staring at the moon.
In and out, quick as a shadow. I’m going to get him.
Ihaveto.
Because even if Enid doesn’t like it, she’s diabetic and she needs medicine. The Angels are the only ones who can give us that medicine.
The rebels would never help us.
I’ve almost reached the wall when a laser sight shines out into the grass, brilliant red against the night sky. I resist the urge to curse under my breath, especially as it sweeps uncomfortably close to where I can see one of the others’ heads poking out over the grass.
They’re going to see him.
The first blast rings out and I watch as he goes down, the whole thing happening so fast that I barely have time to process.Fuck, fuck, fuck, I curse over and over in my head, refusing to make a sound. I didn’t realize they had laser rifles—this must be a new development. And I really thought they would be so distracted with their monthly festivities that they wouldn’t leave armed guards at the gate.
I was wrong.
