“Surely the biker guys will back you?”
Simon nodded. “If they stay. Hammer was saying that the boys wanted to hit the road.” He took a deep breath and leaned against a rock outcrop. “Things may have changed since Trent and his minions bit the big one though.”
Lana shrugged. “So what if they leave? That’s fewer alphas to challenge you.”
Simon shook his head and stared into her eyes. “This isn’t like taking over a pack of Quee. It’s not always the strongest or the smartest who gets to lead.”
“It should be,” she purred, sliding her hand up his chest. “You’re by far the smartest.”
He scoffed and pointed to his arm. “But nowhere near the strongest. And plenty of people in that camp can wield a shotgun.” He shoulder bumped her playfully. “Present company included.”
She smiled and lay her head on his chest. “You’re the right man for the job. I can feel it in my—”
Simon stiffened as she froze, her head darting to the side. She raised a hand up to prevent him from talking then whispered in his ear, “Did you hear that?”
Simon shook his head. He was just about to ask her what she heard when she bolted into the brush, disappearing into the shadows.
He opened his mouth to speak then closed it. He slowly pushed off of the rock outcrop and bent low to peer into the brush. “Lana?”
He could hear a low snarling and moaning sound and his interest was piqued. He pushed through the brush and did his best to follow the sounds. He rounded a thick bramble and froze in his steps.
Squatted low in a small clearing, Lana held what looked like a large rabbit in her hands, her face buried in the animal’s insides. Blood ran down her arms and her face was coated. The feral look in her eyes made him do a double take and he nearly tripped over the roots of the bush beside him.
Her head snapped around to him and she pulled the rabbit away, wiping her face on her forearm. “Oh my god…this is so good,” she moaned.
Simon felt a sickening clench in his guts as she pressed the still kicking animal back to her mouth. He heard the flesh rip from the carcass as she chewed, rabbit fur clinging to her lower lip.
She looked up at him and her face held the same feral ferocity that she often got when she was horny. “Want some?” She was smiling at him as she held the rabbit out at arm’s length, inviting him to share her kill.
He quickly shook his head, unable to pull his eyes from the carnage. “N-No…”
“Oh my god, Simon!” She tore another chunk of flesh from the rabbit and barely chewed before she swallowed it. “I have missed this so much.” He watched as she slowly stood to her full height, the blood running down her face and neck and leaving thin rivulets that ran between her breasts. “You have to try this.” She stepped toward him and he backed away slowly.
“How can you eat that…raw?” He couldn’t mask the disgust from his voice and he nearly stumbled as he stepped away.
“It reminds me of when we were Quee.” She wiped her face on her arm again before lowering the rabbit’s carcass to dangle at her side. “Come here and kiss me.” She broke into a toothy grin and Simon fought the urge to throw up.
She stepped toward him and he held a hand up. “No…no, honey, that’s okay.” He shook his head at her then glanced back down the path towards the camp. “You need to finish…” He trailed off, not believing what he was about to say. “Then you need to get cleaned up. Before any of the other campers see you.”
She chewed absently at the raw morsels still lingering in her mouth as she stepped toward him seductively. “Why?” She lifted the rabbit to her face again and ripped another large chunk of flesh from its hindquarter. The meat made a sickening slap against her chin and she smiled at him as she chewed at it.
“Lana…” His voice was barely a whisper. “What the hell has gotten into you?” His face suddenly became stern and he glared at her. “We have an impression to make with these people.”
She paused and stared at him, her mouth hanging open, raw chunks of rabbit visible as the gears in her head turned. “I don’t care.” She finished chewing then swallowed. She held the rabbit out again. “Just take a bite, Simon. One bite.” Her expression changed to one he didn’t recognize. “Take one bite and remember what it was to be a Quee Alpha.”
Simon shook his head and glared at her, his jaw set. “Do what you’re going to do with that thing.” He locked eyes with her and refused to blink. “Then get your ass to the creek and clean up.” He leaned forward and put as much venom into his voice as he could, praying that she still recognized him as her alpha. “And don’t you dare let any of them see you until you’re cleaned up.”
He spun and made his way back down the hill. The entire way, he prayed that she wouldn’t follow. He could see her in his mind’s eye falling into step behind him, pleading for him to eat of the rabbit, berating him for his reserve.
As his feet hit the level earth again, he glanced back up the hill and breathed a sigh of relief that she hadn’t followed.
He entered the circle of campers and felt his hands shake, his breath catching in his throat as he took deep breaths and fought the urge to hurl.
He glanced toward Veronica’s trailer but knew better than to go there. He couldn’t risk Lana putting the doctor in her sights. He walked back to his own RV and pulled the door open.
As he fell into the overstuffed couch he held his hands out in front of
