We were on the road within minutes of receiving Falon’s call.
I just hoped we were quick enough.
* * *
We madethe twenty-minute journey in a little under fifteen, traffic light this late on a Monday evening. As Talis pulled into the almost empty car park, Falon rushed through the trees, skidding to a halt a foot from the car.
Although Sherwood Pines was Falon’s pack territory, parts of it were still open to the general public, another income stream that couldn’t be ignored. Unfortunately, that meant humans could be out in the forest with a feral shifter on the loose.
Five cars dotted the car park. “How many humans?”
“Eight, and one witch.” Falon set off at a run, leading us into the trees. “The rest of my pack are either in the forest or patrolling the roads to try and stop him leaving our territory.”
Dogs barked, the sound carrying and easily picked up even without our advanced hearing.
Then a scream pierced the air.
“Fuck.” With a grim expression, Falon raced in that direction, Talis and I hot on his heels.
The heavy scent of Falon’s pack hung in the air, raising the hairs on the back of my neck. Not that we weren’t on good terms, but this was his territory, and as an alpha—even if we’d been invited—it still set my teeth on edge. Pushing aside my instincts, I followed Falon back through his forest.
Bursting into a clearing, we found all the humans and their dogs huddled behind a fallen tree trunk—terrified but still in one piece. Thank the Goddess.
The witch was nowhere to be seen and I hadn’t picked up their scent, but that meant nothing. With the right magic, a scent could easily be masked. They also knew better than to stay in the area when a feral shifter was on the loose.
Falon didn’t bother to stop and check on the humans, instead barrelling into the trees on the opposite side of the clearing.
His pack’s scents clung to every tree we passed, more concentrated the further we ran into his territory. But that wasn’t all I could smell.
Hunters used whatever they could get their hands on to hide their scents, but silver and aconite would always leave a tang in the air. My lips curled back into a snarl. They were ahead of us.
Judging by the way Falon tore through the undergrowth, he’d had the same thought.
As we raced over one of the walking trails, I almost fell over my own feet, the familiar scent barrelling into me like a sledgehammer. Flashes of silky black hair and teasing blue eyes came to mind, both unwelcome and unbidden. It might have been years since I’d last encountered him, but I’d never forget any of it. The ache I’d buried years ago threatened to resurface and I slammed the lid on it with a growl.
Not fucking happening.
“All right?” Talis grabbed my shoulder to haul me upright and stop me from face planting onto the path.
“Yeah.”
He gave me a curious glance, but Falon was getting away from us. With a muttered curse, he picked up his pace. “Come on.”
Gun shots sounded ahead as the forest opened up onto a path about twenty feet wide, and Falon let out a pained whine as soon as the scene before us registered.
Callum lay motionless on the floor, poison-laced blood seeping out onto the ground beneath him. One of the hunters leant over his body, a bloodied silver dagger in his hand.
I see nothing’s fucking changed then.
Three more hunters I didn’t recognise stood a few feet back from him, watching. The smug satisfaction on their faces made my blood boil and my wolf rush to the surface.
It took everything I had not to lunge for them, and Callum wasn’t even my packmate.
I caught hold of Falon as he flew at them, claws out, fangs bared.
“You fucking bastards!” Falon spat, struggling against my hands on him, but I held tight. The last thing his pack needed was their alpha getting shot for mauling a hunter. Even if they deserved it.
The lead hunter held up both his hands. “We’re just doing our job.”
