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It was only when I glimpsed the shimmering surface through the trees that I realized where we were.
Bone Lake.
“Where did they go?” I asked, as we arrived at the lake’s shore. The trail ended here, but there was no sign of West or his kidnappers.
Kane put a finger to his lips and listened.
“Don’t get too close to the water,” I whispered. “You won’t like what you find in there.”
A low growl reached my ears. Kane and I shifted position so that we stood back-to-back.
Twigs snapped and leaves rustled as a team of wolves crept toward the lake.
“Those aren’t Arrowhead wolves,” Kane said.
“Didn’t think so.”
The wolves stayed low to the ground as they inched toward us, snarling and snapping their jaws.
Kane glanced at me. “Is that supposed to be intimidating?”
“I think so.”
“Shall I show them how it’s done?”
“I’d be disappointed if you didn’t.”
Before the demon could shift into his monster form, the trees above us shook and spit out a giant wolf. Brown fur. Muscular haunches. A gaping maw designed to instill fear in the bravest of hearts. He landed between the parties with a grace that belied his size and shook the leaves from his coat.
West.
The wolf faced the approaching pack. A powerful growl-bark tore from his throat. The ground trembled beneath our feet in response. I’d never seen this side of West. This was an alpha hellbent on defending himself and his home.
Even Kane looked impressed. “I like this West. Shall we help or will that be deemed offensive?”
As mighty as West was, he was still outnumbered. I wasn’t convinced he could defeat his opponents on his own.
I held up a throwing knife. “Fair warning. I’m an excellent shot and you are all big, fluffy targets.”
A black wolf separated from the pack. His eyes glowed amber in the starlight. He was larger than the others, except for West. His muscular frame and excessively sharp teeth suggested he was the strongest and deadliest of the pack.
It seemed the alpha had taken West up on his offer to come for him personally.
West didn’t want any casualties the last time they’d attacked him. I wondered whether his stance had changed.
“A little direction would be helpful right now, West,” I said.
The Arrowhead alpha was focused solely on his opponent. The black wolf howled, prompting the other wolves to dissolve into the shadows.
This was personal. Got it.
Kane and I gave them space, although I didn’t want to stray too far in case West needed us.
Kane squinted. “By the devil, is that Magnarella?”
The vampire stormed through the woods toward the lake. He locked eyes with me, and his lips parted to display his formidable fangs. The left side of his face glowed with a greenish hue and the left-side collar of his shirt had disintegrated. Whatever Sage had released into the air had marred the vampire’s smooth complexion.
He didn’t look happy about it.
