They all came to a halt when a loud cracking noise erupted from the forest, followed by a thundering beat Charlie couldn’t place as it came steadily closer. When the ground started shaking beneath her feet, she pushed Dylan behind her and pulled a knife free as she braced herself to destroy whatever emerged from the woods.
The vibrations in the ground traveled from her feet to her calves and up into her thighs. Charlie’s mouth went dry as the image of a group of Savages racing toward them with saliva dripping from their fangs filled her mind. The thunderous beat grew louder until it drowned out the crackling of the fire.
Then, a herd of deer burst out of the woods and, in great leaping bounds, came straight at them. Once she saw the deer, Charlie realized she should have known what was happening, but she was unprepared for the beautiful animals barreling toward them. Spinning, she grabbed Dylan and pulled him protectively against her as the deer split to funnel around them.
“Look out!” Darlene cried as one of the deer crashed into Miguel and threw him ten feet backward.
Charlie bent more protectively over Dylan as someone else let out a shout of pain. A hoof kissed her temple, slicing her skin and spilling blood as the blow shoved her forward. Her arms tightened around Dylan when he cried out.
Behind the deer, foxes, mice, squirrels, and other forest creatures raced through the trees toward them. The animals weren’t at all deterred by the group standing in the woods as they fled the fire in search of somewhere safer. Charlie didn’t think the poor creatures would find it as she watched the smoke weaving insidiously through the trees toward them.
“The fire’s getting closer,” she said when the last animal vanished.
She turned to search for Jack, but he was still nowhere to be seen.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Jack threwthe door to the root cellar open and raced out. As he closed the door, he paused to take in the woods. Nothing stirred in the forest, and though he could see smoke rising over the trees, he didn’t see any fire. If the Savages hadn’t gotten the flames under control, it was only a matter of time before the fire took over the island.
He kept his attention focused on his connection to Charlie as he ran through the woods. He sensed she was frightened, but she was safe. However, an incessant urgency filled him. She wasn’t alone out here, and she could handle herself, but he had to be there to protect her and Dylan.
Leaping over a fallen log, he almost crashed into a deer. He stumbled back when more of the animals bounded past him, followed by some of the slower forest creatures. Jack ran through the animals, who were so intent on fleeing the fire, they didn’t acknowledge his presence.
He was so focused on catching up to Charlie that he didn’t realize there was a hunter in the trees until a bullet struck him in the shoulder. The impact of the shot knocked him back, and with a startled cry, he nearly hit the ground. Somehow, he managed to catch his balance before he fell on his ass.
Another bullet cracked through the air, and he threw himself down as it struck the ground inches in front of him. Dirt and pine needles sprayed his face before he rolled. The boom of the gun indicated more shots were firing.
Before he could get behind the rocks another bullet grazed his arm, tearing his shirt and spilling blood. His fangs lengthened, and he ground his teeth together to keep from screaming in frustration. He should have been paying more attention; he wouldn’t be any good to Charlie if he were dead.
The silence following the last bullet alerted him to move. The hunter was most likely trying to circle behind him to get a better shot. Jack spun away from the rocks and dodged the next bullet as he darted behind a tree. Bark shattered, and the hunter released a muffled curse.
Jack poked his head out, but he couldn’t see the hunter. Jack flattened himself against the tree as he listened to the woods. The animals created more noise in the trees than usual as they fled the flames. The acrid scent of the smoke buried all other smells.
All the chaos made listening for the hunter more difficult. Crouching down, Jack swung out from behind the tree and ran for the next one. A bullet crashed into the ground behind him, but it was a couple of seconds too late. He’d taken the hunter by surprise, and he suspected he wouldn’t do it again.
Jack glanced up at the tall pine against his back and then the woods around him. He could try bolting straight ahead, keeping the tree behind him and fleeing the hunter, but this vamp might anticipate that move. When he got his hands on this vamp, he would shove the rifle so far down its throat it would use the barrel as a breathing tube.
The softest of steps to his right alerted Jack to the hunter’s approach. He ducked, and the bullet struck the tree where his heart had been. “Son of a bitch,” he snarled as he scrambled behind the boulders.
More deer erupted from the woods and bounded toward him. They split to go around the rocks as they flowed into the forest. Jack used the distraction to slide around to the back of another tree. From his new position, he spotted the Savage ten feet away and ducked down to avoid being hit by one of the animals.
Jack sprinted out from behind the tree and toward the hunter. The vamp saw him coming at the last second and swung the barrel toward Jack’s chest. Before the vamp could fire, Jack seized the barrel and shoved it up as the Savage pulled the trigger. The blast vibrated Jack’s hand as the bullet traveled down the barrel and erupted into the air.
Shoving the gun backward, Jack hammered the butt of the rifle into the vamp’s face. The Savage’s nose exploded like an overcooked egg in the microwave. The vamp howled but didn’t release the weapon as it fired another shot and then another. Jack yanked the gun back, ripping it away from the Savage and spinning it around.
“No!” the vamp cried.
He threw up his hands as Jack pulled the trigger and the bullet tore through his heart. Those eyes remained on Jack’s before they rolled up in the vamp’s head and it slumped forward.
Jack checked the remaining bullets in the gun before the sound of more Savages had him lifting the rifle to his shoulder and spinning to take out the threat. His finger was squeezing the trigger when his mind registered what he was seeing. He pulled back just in time to prevent firing at his family.
Brian shoved Abby behind him as Stefan stepped in front of Issy. Ethan and Liam threw up their hands. “Easy,” Liam said.
Jack almost threw the gun away when he realized how close he’d come to nearly killing one of them, but the weapon could be useful. “Shit.” He wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his arm. “I’m sorry.” He slung the gun over his shoulder. “It’s good to see you.”
Abby and Issy poked their heads out from behind their mates and smiled at him.
“I bet it is,” Liam said. “And it’s time to get you home.”
