Enticing Their Mate (Pack Wars #6)(61)

The two circled each other and Russ swiped a paw at Jay’s face, barely ripping off some fur. He mentally shook his head. Did he think a claw to his face would kill him? Clearly, Russ wasn’t skilled in fighting—but Jay was. He needed to end this wolf’s life now.

Jay ran past Russ then circled behind him. As Russ tried to face him again, Jay changed directions and lunged. Fangs out, he sank his teeth into Russ’s neck and clamped down. Blood filled his mouth, spurring him on. Jay shook his head and Russ’s body went limp. He should be content that his adversary was mortally wounded, but he wanted him dead. Jay took one more bite out of the wolf’s throat, dropped the chunk of meat on the ground, then stepped back and admired his handiwork.

His celebration was short-lived as growls coming from on the other side of the barn returned his focus to what was at stake.

“Would appreciate some help,” Riley telepathed. The connection came out weak as if Riley was having a hard time concentrating.

Leaving Russ’s carcass behind, Jay stormed toward the back of the building where three wolves were circling Riley. Not good. One was limping, a second one had an eye gouged out, but the third appeared healthy. Riley’s condition concerned Jay the most. He was bleeding from the neck.

Upon seeing his friend’s serious condition, Jay lost it and charged. The second and third wolf moved between him and Riley, ready to fight. They must have smelled the blood and thought it was his. Wouldn’t they be in for a big surprise to find him at full strength—or close to it? Riley appeared to be moving quicker, perhaps because he only had one wolf to deal with.

Jay and the healthy wolf connected. Jay bit his hind leg, eliciting an anguished squeal. He then launched himself into the air at the one with the injured eye. His aim was a little off because the wolf he’d bitten first spun around and attacked him from the rear. Chaos descended as the three clawed, scraped, and tussled. Blood spurted from his other flank as one of them dug an incisor into his side and ripped back the skin. Jay stumbled, stunned at the intense ache.

Needing to regroup, he moved backward toward the barn where Sarah’s scent suddenly invaded his nose. Holy shit. She was here—and alive. He wanted to go to her worse than anything, but both wolves had him pinned. He wasn’t going to be able to reach her unless he ended their pathetic lives.

Another yelp sounded and then a whimper as the wolf Riley was fighting collapsed. With a discernable limp, Riley came toward the one-eyed wolf from behind and swiped a claw against his back. As the animal turned, Riley flung himself at the wolf’s throat and latched on. As he wrestled the injured wolf to the ground, Jay had recovered somewhat from his injuries, enough to zero in on the final wolf.

Spurred by the joy of finding Sarah, Jay bared his teeth and propelled himself at the last wolf. Caught between him and Riley, the wolf appeared startled. His indecision was enough to allow Jay to make his final kill.

* * *

The General was well aware that walking into a barn alone to face Paul Statler might not have been smart, but right now, his mission was ending this son of a bitch’s life—and finding Sarah.

Dressed in a suit, Statler smiled as he waved a gun at Armand’s chest. “Well, well. Hope you had a nice flight up here.”

“Fuck you. Where’s Sarah?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know?”

The General’s enhanced hearing picked up a deliberate scraping sound and he glanced toward an old cart. He couldn’t see behind it, but it was possible Sarah was being held captive on the other side or else a rat was well versed in Morse Code. “If you harm her, your death will be slow and painful,” he ground out.


Statler laughed. “You’re threatening me? Surely, your boys have told you that I’ve been enhanced.” He waved his gun—a gun full of poisonous bullets no doubt that would have killed him in the past.

Now, however, the were-killing poison would have no permanent effect on him. One of the reasons he’d asked Tyson and Ford to stay in Florida was because they’d agreed to donate their blood so that he, too, would become enhanced. Armand had to admit he’d never felt better, and those training sessions had made him feel like he was forty again.

Growls and howls arose outside the barn, indicating Statler hadn’t come alone either. No surprise there.

“Seems like our men are doing battle.” Armand had no doubt the Pack would be victorious. It was only a matter of time before they came barging in, which meant Armand needed to take down this man now. Statler had been a thorn in his side for too long.

“You didn’t follow my instructions of coming alone, I see,” Statler said. “Though I knew you were too much of a coward to face me by yourself.” He puffed out his chest, but a hint of worry had seeped into his eyes.

At another deliberate scraping sound, slightly different this time, Armand glanced toward the cart again. Statler reached in his breast pocket and withdrew a lighter and flicked it on. Only then did Armand notice the line of black powder leading to the cart. Oh, shit.





Chapter Twenty-Five





Sarah’s arms and legs were bound, and the dirty gag Statler had jammed in her mouth made it hard to breathe, but she wouldn’t give up. When she closed her eyes, she could picture Riley and Jay running around frantically trying to find her. Because she always returned to the motel after work, when she failed to show, they’d know something was wrong.