Terrent angled his body in front of her. “They’re defying an order from their Alpha just by being here and helping us.
I called them earlier this morning when you were sleeping.”
She huffed out a breath. “I was tired. Having my shoulder almost ripped off by a lying, sneaking, butt-head of a wolf exhausted me.”
“Did you just call me a butt-head?” he asked mildly.
“Yes.” She elbowed him and stood free. “I’ll go with you, Felix.” They were still outnumbered, and she couldn’t let anyone die because of her. Plus, if she left, Terrent and Jase could just come after her. As plans went, it rocked.
“Wrong.” Terrent nodded at Gerald.
The ex-Alpha jumped between Maggie and danger.
In a burst of power, Terrent Vilks leaped across the clearing and smashed into Felix.
The two hit the ground with a boom louder than the thunder tearing up the sky.
As quickly as that, all hell broke loose.
Some wolves shifted, others rushed forward to fight hand to hand. Blood sprayed and bodies flew.
Maggie wiped rain out of her eyes, her gaze seeking Terrent. He and Felix fought, fists flying too quickly to see. She angled to the side for a view of the battle. A group of Gerald’s pack needed help over by the far tree line. She stepped forward, only to be blocked by Gerald.
“Let me help—I’m trained,” she yelled over the rising wind and cries of pain.
He shook his head, white hair throwing water.
A shadow slipped up behind him. Silver glinted through the storm.
Maggie cried out a warning.
Gerald pivoted in time to block Roger’s knife before it plunged into his neck. Roger smiled, sharp canines dropping down. Gerald growled and hit the new Alpha mid-center, throwing them both into the woods.
Maggie turned to help Terrent and was stopped short by a snarling black wolf. Even on all fours, the beast reached to her chin. The wolf circled her, the rain matting down its fur.
She dropped into a fighting stance, slipping and falling in the mud just as the wolf lunged. The animal flew over her head and smacked into a tree.
Maggie scrambled to her feet and turned around.
The wolf shook its head, baring sharp canines. A woman emerged from the trees, anticipation lighting her face. Long black hair cascaded down her back, while several piercings lined her chin. Another woman, this one with piercings on her nose, lurched next to her. “We’ve got her,” she said to the furry wolf. He took off.
Maggie concentrated on the women as the battle raged behind her. “Now, ladies, is this really necessary?”
“Yes.” The first woman angled around to the right. “You have a pretty face—it won’t be for long.”
The other woman angled to the left. “I’m going to enjoy living on this mountain.”
They were both taller than Maggie and definitely more muscular. She settled her stance, trying to remember the moves the vampires had taught her. “So long as I don’t look like you, I’m all right.”
The first woman drew a knife from her pocket to swirl around. “You ever been cut?”
A third woman slipped out of the trees.
What the hell? “Three against one is cowardly,” Maggie drawled, her heart racing. Her ears heated, and her knees trembled. She’d have to take them out one at a time.
The one with the knife leaped at her. Maggie threw a cross-arm block, following up with a kick to the ribs. The attacker cried out, dropping to her knees. Mud sprayed.
Holy crap. The move had worked. Maggie slid her strongest foot behind her body.
The second woman rushed forward, head down. She hit Maggie in the gut, and they flew several feet to land hard in the mud. Pain spread along Maggie’s shoulders and down her spine. She kicked her feet into the woman’s hips and sent her sprawling over Maggie’s head. She shoved to her feet.
Backing to the side, she gulped air as both downed women stood. Fury lit their eyes, death a promise glittering deep. Why wouldn’t they stay down?
The one with the knife charged, slashing wildly. Maggie jerked away. Her foot caught on a rock, and she dropped.
With the battle cry of all battle cries, Andrea and Shannon somersaulted out of the trees. Andrea locked her legs around the neck of the woman with the knife and twisted, sending them both sprawling in the mud. Shannon kicked and punched the second woman with a speed unmatched by any warrior Maggie had ever seen.
Maggie turned and side-kicked the remaining enemy wolf, following up with a front jump-kick that connected with a frightening crunch. The woman dropped like a stone.
Whirling around, she sucked in air as Shannon knocked her enemy down. Andrea stood over the final wolf, pretty pink tennis shoe perched on the woman’s unconscious face.
Maggie swallowed and blinked several times.
Andrea shrugged a delicate shoulder. “What?”
Maggie swept her arm out through the rain. “What? Seriously?
Shannon wiped her nose with her wet sweatshirt sleeve.
“Yeah, we’re cheerleaders, but we’re wolves, too. We’ve been training to fight practically since birth.”
“You didn’t think the Raze pack controlled wolf-shifter headquarters just ’cause we’re pretty, now did you?” Andrea snorted and kicked the downed wolf. The woman barely moved.
“Ah, no.” Maggie exhaled and shoved wet curls off her face, turning to find Terrent. His massive shoulders shifted as he threw one of Felix’s men into the forest. The guy hit several trees on his journey into darkness.
Felix lay on the ground. Without his head.
Although Terrent remained in human form, his deadly claws dripped with blood.
Maggie shoved bile down where it belonged. The Ausgel wolf pack turned tail and ran into the forest. A triumphant cry rose from the Raze fighters. The battle was over . . . and her friends had won.
A rustle sounded behind her. She turned in time to see Gerald stumble between two pine trees, his gnarled hand over a bleeding abdominal wound. The cheerleaders rushed toward him, and Shannon helped him to the ground.
Warmth brushed Maggie’s back. A hard arm yanked her around the waist and cut off her oxygen. A sharp blade nicked her neck. She cried out, her body stiffening.
“I told you to leave,” Roger hissed in her ear. “You should’ve listened.”
She pressed against him to keep him from slicing her jugular. “Roger, don’t do this,” she whispered.
He laughed, the sound cutting through wind and storm.
“Shut up.”
Gerald coughed and shoved to his feet. “Let her go, now.”
“You’re not Alpha any longer, old man,” Roger spat, pressing the blade harder against Maggie’s neck.
She hitched out breath, pain lancing her skin.
Terrent advanced, his expression a cold mask of death.
Roger backed up, taking Maggie with him. Her toes scraped through the mud. She blinked away tears. Panic muffled her thoughts.
Shannon angled to the left, while Andrea maneuvered to the right.
“No,” Maggie croaked, too afraid to shake her head.
Roger grabbed her hair to hold her in place and slashed out with the knife. The blade sliced Andrea’s arm, and she jumped back with a yelp. Blood bubbled through her dark sweatshirt.
Fury whipped through Maggie with so much heat she almost doubled over. Her blood popped inside her veins. The world pinpointed to the head of a needle. Absolute focus.
She hissed and shot her elbow into Roger’s gut, hoping to maim him.
She slipped at the last minute and nailed him right in the crotch.
