He didn’t answer, and just as he made it to the cabin, Brent and Anthony stepped out from the woods onto the path.
“He’s close,” Raze said to the two men.
“We know,” Brent answered. “Get Janine inside. Karen and Rindy are waiting for her.”
“What is going on?” Janine struggled against Raze as he practically dragged her up the stairs.
“Damon is here, and you are in danger.” He stopped and fixed her with a determined stare. “You have to go inside. The cabin’s security system and Karen and Rindy will keep you safe.”
“While what? You go out and risk your life for me? No. I’m staying with you.” She gripped his hand tightly.
He cupped her face. “We don’t have time for this. You don’t stand a chance against any of the lycans. They’ll tear you apart or take you again, and if they take you again, they won’t give me a chance to rescue you. They’ll kill you before they let me get my hands on you. They know you are important to me, or I would have never taken you with me when I left.”
“I don’t care. I don’t want anything to happen to you.” She glanced over at Brent and Anthony. “Or them for that matter.”
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“Get inside, Janine. Now.” Raze growled.
“I’d listen to him if I were you, Janine. ” Damon stepped out of the woods, and ten of the pack filtered in behind him.
“Get off our land. This is a sanctuary, and you are trespassing.” Brent took a step toward Damon and stood straight, showing no fear.
“You have something of mine. I’ve come to collect it. Just hand over Raze and the woman and I’ll be gone.” Damon nodded toward Raze.
Anthony stepped up beside Brent. “Lycans and humans are not possessions. You do not own them, and our kind are permitted by our laws to leave a pack if they so desire, unharmed.”
“I do not recognize your law. We have our own laws now, and your laws are old, outdated, and quite frankly, ridiculous.” Damon smiled. “Surely you can see that.”
“The only thing I can see is a bunch of idiot, rogue pups who think their britches are bigger than they are. Same old story, different day.” When Brent spoke, the smile vanished from Damon’s face.
“I don’t want to have to fight you,” Damon sneered.
“No. Believe me, you don’t.” Anthony nodded toward the lycans behind Damon. “Because I guarantee you, you will lose.”
Damon snorted. “I think you are out numbered.”
“And I think you are out aged,” Brent replied.
By the way the smugness drained from Damon’s face, Raze was sure he’d had no idea that Brent and Anthony were ancient lycans. The older the lycan, the more deadly, and by lycan standards, Damon and the rogues he’d brought were young. Raze was even a few years older than Damon. The few ancients that had once been a part of the pack had long vacated the pups, not wanting anything to do with their nefarious ways. Damon’s hunger for greed had driven the strongest away.
Damon snarled. “Get them!”
Raze shoved Janine at the open door behind him and jumped over the railing of the deck, shifting in mid air. Brent and Anthony partially shifted.
Claws sprang from their fingers and fangs burst through their gums. Only 68
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ancients had the ability to partially shift. Raze hadn’t mastered that ability quite yet, and landed on the dirt path on all four paws.
* * * *
Janine landed on her butt in the open doorway of the cabin after Raze had shoved her, and watched in horror as he leapt from the deck and turned into a huge, golden blond wolf. Damon and the rest of the pack shifted into wolves as well. Brent and Anthony, however, looked like monsters straight out of a Hollywood horror movie.
She gasped when someone started pulling her inside the cabin, and struggled. When she was released, she turned to see two women staring down at her.
“I’m Karen.” The tall redhead with blue eyes spoke. “This is Rindy.” She motioned toward the smaller woman with blonde hair nearly the same color as Janine’s. “You need to get inside.”
Janine looked back at the wolves now tearing each other apart. Growls, howls, snapping teeth, and yelps ripped through the still night air. “Will they be okay?”
“They’ll be fine. Come on. It’s dangerous out here.” Rindy tried to coax Janine inside once again by tugging at her arm.
A particularly loud yelp made her decide that maybe she should wait inside. She stood, but just as she turned to go, a large wolf landed behind her and quickly shifted. Fingers wrapped in her hair and jerked her backwards.
She landed with a thud against a hard chest. Tears sprang to her eyes as some of her hair ripped from her scalp, and another hand wrapped around her throat.
“You should have gone inside when your boyfriend told you to, you stupid bitch.”
Janine shivered. She knew that voice well. It was Damon. Rindy and Karen stepped out, but Damon tsk ed at them.
“One more step and I’ll break her neck.” To prove his point, Damon applied enough pressure to make Janine cry out.
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When Rindy and Karen stopped, Damon sniffed at Janine’s neck. Shivers of dread raced down her spine. Why hadn’t she done what Raze had told her to do? She’d be safe inside now. She’d been so worried over his safety, she hadn’t cared about her own.
Worse than that, she was putting Raze, Brent and Anthony in more danger. She’d given Damon the upper hand now. She would become a bargaining chip, one that Damon hadn’t had until she’d insisted on not doing what she’d been told. If something happened to any of them because of her, she’d never forgive herself.
It’ll be okay, Janine.
Raze?
He didn’t answer her, but she was sure
