Bound in Death (Bound #5)(24)

Werewolves weren’t supposed to offer themselves up as prey to vampires.

Jane wasn’t any vampire.

Mine.

His stare swept the men. No one spoke. No one questioned him.

They knew better.

Alerac stalked toward his bike. The scent of Jane—her blood—followed him.

Jaw locking, he reached into his saddle-bag and pulled out an extra shirt for her.

Then, making sure he shielded her with his body, he ordered, “Take off your top.”

Her jaw dropped.

He smiled. She was just so damn cute.

“The shirt and the bra.”

She edged closer to him. “What?”

“The vamps will follow the scent of your blood. So we need to leave as much of that scent behind as we can.” Or, even better, maybe they could use that scent to lead the vamps on a false trail.

Jane grabbed for the top he offered. “Then I’ll go into the woods and change. I won’t do some kind of peep show for your pack.”

“They can’t see you.” Not with his body blocking hers. “And we need to move.” They’d lost too much time already. Granted, that was his fault. He’d been too taken with her. Apparently, he hadn’t learned a damn thing from the mistakes of his past.

She stood on her toes. Glanced over his shoulder. “Make them all turn away.”

Fine. “Turn the f*ck away,” he ordered.

He knew they would.

She clenched the cloth in her hands. “Now you turn away, too.”

He lifted a brow.

“Turn. Away.”

He turned. Crossed his arms over his chest. “I’ve seen you naked before.”

Her clothing rustled. “You aren’t seeing me naked now.”

A challenge? His lips curved. “I will be.”

Her breath caught. He heard the slight sound. His smile stretched.

“I-I’m done.”

He glanced back at her. His shirt swallowed her, but at least the blood was gone.

“I tried to clean off my skin with my old top. A little blood is left, not much though.”

He jumped onto the bike. “Finn,” he called out. A wolf with dark red hair drove his motorcycle closer. “Take this to the east. Give ‘em a trail to follow, then meet back up with us at base.”

Finn took the material from him. Rode off without a word.

Alerac reeved the motorcycle. Jane took up a position behind him. She wrapped her arms around him.

“Closer.” A growl.

She slid closer.

Much better.

“Be prepared for another attack!” Alerac called out. Those hunting them weren’t going to stop.

Not until Alerac saw them all cold in the ground.

***

The two vampires had been ripped apart.

Breath heaving, rage nearly blinding him, Lorcan stared down at their remains.

They’d died too quickly. They should have suffered.

“Jane’s still alive.” The human’s voice came from behind him.

Lorcan whirled toward him.

Heath frowned at him. “You okay?”

No, he wasn’t. Some plans could come back and twist and—bite you in the ass.

“I don’t want Jane dead.” The words were clipped. “Alerac had better keep her alive.”

Heath edged back a step. The glimpse into the human’s mind had been very interesting. Traitors had been revealed. Secrets uncovered.

Lorcan wasn’t the only one with enemies stalking him in the night. Alerac had his share, too.

Foolish wolf. When would he learn? Trust no one in this world.

Even your own blood would turn on you.

“Wh-what do you want me to do?” Heath asked him as he squared his shoulders. “I told you, I want to help Jane.”

“Such a lie.” Lorcan was tired of the lies. What did they matter? “You want immortality. Jane won’t give it to you.” He titled his head to the right as he studied the man. “I will.”

Heath’s eyes widened.

“You can be useful to me, doctor. You can help me get what I need. If you do, then I’ll give you exactly what you have coming to you.”

Heath nodded quickly.

The werewolves would attack instantly if they were confronted by a vampire. But if a human came calling…

Lorcan smiled. This human would definitely prove to be useful. And, when that usefulness was at an end, he would die.

***

Dawn was coming. Jane saw the faint streaks of gold and red across the sky. She tensed, her hands tightening around Alerac. “We need to stop!”

He didn’t respond.

He’d heard her, hadn’t he? With his shifter hearing, he must have.

But she still tried again, “We need to stop!”

The first time she’d gone out in the sunlight, Jane had been hit with a lethargy so strong that she’d almost keeled over. When day came, she just got weak. No other way to describe it. Her body wanted to shut down and curl in on itself. There was no way she could stay upright on that bike during the day.

The bike began to slow. They were nearing a rest area. A deserted looking place. He eased into the parking lot, and the other pack members fell in behind him.

“Vampires don’t burn in the sunlight.”

“I know that,” she muttered. She’d discovered that TV myth just fine on her own.