I laughed softly at his bravado. He was so sweet. "Okay. Then I won't force you."
River smiled.
The sharp creak of metal against the floor jolted us. The safe groaned as the poachers pushed it out of the way. A second later, they would open the door and enter. My heart raced. It was now or never.
"Wait."
It was the other poacher’s voice coming from deeper in the cabin.
"What?" the one at the door snapped.
"We have a new buyer. I just got the notification." Something akin to joy entered the poacher’s voice. "He's paying way more than the other guy, and is willing to take both of them!"
"Are you serious?"
My blood ran cold. I didn't hear the rest of what they were saying. I searched River’s face. He looked just as stunned.
What the hell was going on?
"I take it that's not you," River muttered.
Heart sinking, I shook my head. My glimmer of hope exploded into rage. Who were these disgusting human beings that wanted to own River? The fact that there were so many of them made me see red. Suddenly I was no longer hesitant to take a bite out of the poachers. I was freeing my mate today.
"The plan hasn't changed," I growled. "I'm ready."
River nodded curtly. I knew he felt the same way I did.
"When's he showing up?" the man at the door asked.
The other grunted. "Says he can't be here until tomorrow."
"Shit, that means I really do have to feed this thing..."
I heard an exasperated sigh, then the rusty squeak of the door handle. He was coming in.
I braced myself. My entire pelt stood on end with fury. I ground my jaws together, ready to sink my fangs into him.
The door opened. The man strode inside confidently, without an ounce of fear or hesitation. Since his captives had never fought back before, he had no reason to expect that we would.
But things were different now.
River sat with his back against the tub, his tail draped around him. The tub was still half full of water. The poacher didn't know him well enough to notice the angry tension in his body, but I did. He didn't even glance at me. I may as well have been nonexistent.
There was a stale loaf of bread in the man's hands. He held it awkwardly, like he wasn't sure if he should hand it to River like a person or if he should throw it on the floor as if he were a dog.
The man settled halfway, loosely holding out his hand and then letting the bread fall from it. It landed with a dry clunk on the floor.
Anger flashed across River’s face.
"There," the poacher mumbled.
As he turned to walk away, River leapt.
He snatched the man's arm and yanked him backwards so that he landed halfway in the tub. Dirty water splashed everywhere. The man cried out, kicking and screaming.
Fury still sizzled in my veins, but the open door was beckoning to me. We finally had a chance.
"River!" I called.
