“Relax, I’m not after your nasty meal. Just hurry the fuck up and scarf it down. I want to go see Kitten. Cade said we could—”
A rustle cut through the air. Leaves trembled. The sound was too heavy to be the wind.
Ryker froze, and his head snapped up toward the tree line. A split second later, branches exploded outward as a direworg launched itself from the dense forest, claws gleaming and jaws wide. It came at him fast, snarling; the ground shaking beneath its weight.
Ryker barely had time to lift his weapon. A crack of gunfire shattered the silence and echoed through the forest. The bullet hit the creature clean between its eyes, killing it instantly. The beast's momentum carried it forward, skidding past Ryker and across the dirt before slamming into the corpse of its mostly eaten friend. Blood sprayed, painting the ground.
“Fuck! Why are there so many of them? They’re everywhere! Where the hell are they coming from?”
My wolf considered devouring the fresh kill, but I forced the instinct down, already pretty satisfied and needing control back. Gathering the reins, I coaxed the satiated beast inward until it receded. The transformation came quickly, leaving me standing on two legs again, completely nude, stretching my arms above my head as joints clicked back into place.
“I don’t know. I’ve been trying to track the source, but the direworgs are getting smarter. They double back, covering their scent. I can’t figure out how they’re getting through the wall.”
“We have to report this to Cade. He’s going to make us fill out a million fucking forms. Promise me you won’t tell him until after we get to have some fun with Kitten. I’ve been patient, but if I have to wait any longer, I think my balls are gonna explode. They’re so blue they might’ve turned black.”
I rolled my eyes and cracked him on the back of the head as I headed toward base.
“Hey! What the fuck, Tally? Come on, promise me!” he begged.
“Okay, okay! But only because I don’t want to wait either. And for the millionth time, stop calling me Tally!”
Ryker grinned wide, popped a toothpick into his mouth, and started humming as we walked along the length of the wall, following it back toward the Border Front Base. I was so glad he had finally quit smoking. The smell had been abhorrent, and I could never stand being near him when all those chemicals and toxins filled the air.
About a mile outside the base perimeter, we ran into our sentry replacements, making their way out into the wild. I didn't recognize either of them. Both looked pretty green, younger than us by almost ten years, gripping their guns tightly and scanning every tree and rock with nervous attention. The sight of me, nude and covered in blood, turned the smaller one white with fear as every ounce of color drained from his face.
"Keep your head on a swivel. We ran into two direworgs roughly five clicks out. There's plenty roaming the woods," I warned them.
"Thanks for the heads up," the less nervous soldier said, nodding and puffing out his chest, trying to seem brave. I couldn't help but wonder if they were replacements for the two alphas killed on patrol.
Ryker caught the way both soldiers were eyeing me with that curious and fearful kind of judgment people reserved for things they didn’t understand.
"You two can relax. He already ate a whole direworg, so I'm pretty sure he's full," he said with a smirk. "Then again, if you keep looking at him like that, I can't promise he won't get hungry. He rarely snacks on people, but he might make an exception for green recruits."
Both soldiers let out forced laughs as the smaller one paled even more. They looked at each other, unsure whether he was joking.
I rolled my eyes, warning the soldiers to be careful again before continuing east. Their heavy footsteps faded west, and when I couldn’t hear them anymore, I turned to Ryker.
“You don’t have to do that, you know,” I said, stopping him with a hand on his chest.
He gave me a look, feigning confusion as he brushed my hand aside. “Do what?” he asked, waving me off like I was being dramatic.
“Play my guard dog every time someone looks at me like I’m about to sprout claws,” I said. “You don’t need to defend me. I’ve dealt with worse than a couple of rookies who don’t know what a shifter looks like up close.”
Ryker chuckled under his breath. “Yeah, but where’s the fun in that? You should’ve seen their faces. I thought the little one was gonna pass the fuck out when I mentioned you might eat him.”
I shook my head, but the corner of my mouth twitched despite myself. “Your threats don’t help, Ryker. It only makes them hate—”
He cut me off, stopped walking, grin fading. “I’m not threatening them, Talon. I’m reminding them what respect looks like. They treat you like a fucking animal because it’s easier than admitting you’re stronger than they’ll ever be.”
“I don’t need you to fight my battles. They’ll always see me as different. You won’t change that.”
Ryker’s voice was serious for once. “Maybe not. But I can try.” His smirk slid back into place as he started walking again. “Plus, it sure is fun. I love seeing their faces when I tell themyou’re going to eat them. It’s fucking hilarious."
He looked over his shoulder with a grin. "Don't lie; you like it when I defend you.” Then he shot me a quick wink. I shook my head at him.
Just outside the base, we stopped at a small creek. Ryker stood guard again while I bathed, scrubbing away the flesh and dried blood from my skin so Rowan wouldn’t faint when she saw me. I still needed a proper shower, but at least I wouldn’t look like Carrie walking in.
“Catch!” Ryker yelled, tossing me a dry bag with my uniform inside.
