The Awakening

Thirty-four

THE TWO WEREWOLVES STOPPED a few yards away from us.

“We’re just passing through,” Derek said, voice steady. “If this is your territory—”

The blond one cut him off with a laugh. “Our territory? Did you hear that, Ramon? He’s asking if this is our territory.”

“I know you’re werewolves and I know—”

“Werewolves?” Ramon drawled. “Did he say werewolves?”

The blond lifted a finger to his lips in an exaggerated “shhh!” and jerked his head at me.

“She knows,” Derek said.

“Tsk-tsk. That’s against the rules, pup. You don’t go telling your girlfriends what you are, even the cute ones. Didn’t your daddy teach you better than that? Who is your daddy, by the way?”

Derek said nothing.

“He’s a Cain,” Ramon said.

“Think so?” The blond squinted, his head tilting. “Guess he could be.”

“If you’d met more than one, Liam, you wouldn’t be questioning. That”—he pointed at Derek—“is a Cain. Three things every Cain has in common. Big as a house. Ugly as a mud fence. Dumb as a brick.”

“Then he’s not—” I began before Derek shushed me.

Liam stepped closer. “Did you say something, cutie?”

“We’re just passing through,” Derek said. “If this is your territory, then I apologize—”

“Hear that, Ramon? He apologizes.” Liam took another step closer. “You have no idea whose territory you’re on, do you?”

“No, I don’t know you. If I should, then—”

“This is Pack territory.”

Derek shook his head. “No, the Pack is in Syracuse—”

“You think they claim one city?” Ramon said. “Their territory is New York state.”

“You do know what the Pack does to trespassers, don’t you, pup?” Liam said. “Your daddy must have shown you the pictures.”

Derek said nothing.

“The pictures?” Liam pressed. “Of the last guy who trespassed on Pack territory?”

Still Derek said nothing.

“Your daddy didn’t like you much, did he? ’Cause if he did, he would have shown you those pictures, so you didn’t make the mistake you’re making right now. The last time a mutt got too close to Pack turf, they carved him up with a chain saw. Then they took photos, and they passed them out as a warning to the rest of us.”

My stomach lurched. I squeezed my eyes shut until the image passed. They were just making this up to scare us…and it was working—at least on me. My heart pounded so loudly I was sure they could hear it. Derek squeezed my shoulder, his thumb rubbing, telling me to stay calm.

“No, I haven’t seen them. But thanks for the warning. I’ll—”

“Who is your daddy?” Ramon asked. “Zachary Cain? You’re darker, but you’ve got his look. You’re about the right age, too. And that might explain why he didn’t raise you right.”

“Him being dead and all,” Liam said. “But if it was Zack, then you should know to keep off Pack territory.”

“Should I?” Derek said, his voice emotionless.

“Don’t you know how your daddy died? Dumb ass decided to join an uprising against the Pack, got himself caught. Tortured to death, right up there in Syracuse.” He looked at Ramon. “Think they used the chain saw?”

Derek cut in, “If the Pack’s so bad, why are you on their territory?”

“Maybe we’re Pack.”

“Then you wouldn’t be talking like you were, saying ‘their’ territory, what ‘they’ do.”

Liam laughed. “Check this out. A Cain with brains. Must come from your momma.”

“Do you want to know why we’re here?” Ramon said. “A mission of mercy, and we’re the ones praying for mercy. See, we hooked up with this kid from down under last year. We quickly found out why he’d left home.”

“Man-eater,” Liam said.

“M-man-eater?” I didn’t mean to say it aloud, but it slipped out.

“It’s a disgusting habit. Now hunting humans? Killing them?” He smiled. “That’s always good sport. But eating? Not my style. Well, unless you count that time in Mexico—”

Derek cut him off. “So if you’re allowed on Pack territory, I’m sure they won’t bother me. I’m not causing trouble.”

“Can I finish my story?” Ramon said. “So this Aussie, he’s not very discreet about his bad habit. The Pack catches wind of it. Next thing you know, all three of us are on their hit list.”

“The Aussie dude goes to ground,” Liam said, “leaving me and Ramon holding the bag. The Pack doesn’t care if we’re man-eaters or not. We’ve had some run-ins with them before so, as far as they’re concerned, we’ve used up our free swings. Batter out. They already caught up with Ramon once. Luckily, he got away. Or most of him.”

Ramon pulled up his shirt. His side was pitted and puckered with healing scar tissue, the kind of thing I’d only seen in SFX demonstrations.

“So now you’re heading up to Syracuse to talk to the Pack,” I said. “Set them straight.”

“That’s right. Or that was the plan. But it’s Russian roulette, see? We throw ourselves at their mercy, and we might never stand up again. Then we caught an amazing break.”

He looked at Ramon, who nodded. For a moment, neither said a word. Liam stood there, a smirk playing on his lips, as he dragged it out.

“The break?” I asked finally, knowing Derek wouldn’t.

“I had to take a piss. About two miles north of here. Pulled off the highway, got out of the car, and guess what I smelled.”

“Me,” Derek said.

“The answer to our prayers. A Cain?” Liam shook his head. “What did we do to get so lucky? The Pack hates Cains. Bunch of Neanderthals too stupid to keep out of trouble. If we hand them you, tell them you were the one snacking on humans…”

I felt Derek shift behind me.

“Thinking of leaving, pup? That would be rude. You bolt, we’ll have to grab your girl, hold on to her until you decide to come back and hear me out.”

Derek went still, but I could feel his heart thumping against my back, hear his shallow breaths as he struggled to stay calm. My hand slid into my pocket, grasping my knife. Derek squeezed my shoulder, rubbing it again.

“It’s okay,” he whispered. “It’s okay.” But his heart kept pounding, telling me it wasn’t.

“Sure,” Liam said. “It’ll be just fine. The Pack aren’t complete monsters. This poor orphaned kid just screwed up. He’ll never do it again. They’ll understand. He’s probably got a—” He glanced at Ramon. “Fifty-fifty?”

Ramon considered it, then nodded.

Liam turned back to us. “Fifty-fifty chance of surviving. And even if he doesn’t, they’ll make it quick. No chain saws for you.”

“Why are you telling us this?” I asked. It was like the classic James Bond scene, where the villain explains what he’ll do to Bond, giving him time to think up an escape plan. Which I really hoped Derek was doing. I might not be much help—not when it came to plotting against werewolves—but I was really good at stalling.

“Good question, cutie. Why not just grab him, tie him up, toss him in our truck, and deliver him to the wolves up in Syracuse? Because the Alpha isn’t stupid. If we throw him a kid who’s screaming he didn’t do it, he might listen. See, there’s only one way this can work. If your boyfriend comes along voluntarily and confesses.”

Derek snorted. “Yeah.”

“You don’t like that plan?”

Derek shot him a look.

Liam sighed. “All right then. Option two it is. We kill you and have some fun with your girl.”

“I’ll do the killing,” Ramon said. “You can take the girl. She’s a little young for me.”

Liam grinned. “I like them young.”

His gaze traveled up and down me, his look making every hair on my body rise. Derek’s hands vise gripped my shoulders.

“Leave her out of this,” Derek rumbled.

“Never.” Liam bared his teeth. “I was almost hoping you’d say no. Sure, I’d love a scapegoat to feed the Pack. But a little cutie like that, who already knows what I am? That’s…” He smiled. “Sweet.”

He gave me a look that made me shrink back into Derek, my hand gripping the knife so hard it hurt. When Liam stepped forward again, Derek’s arm shot around me, a growl vibrating up from his stomach.

Liam put his hand out toward me. When Derek tensed, he pulled back, then did it again, testing his reaction, laughing when he got one, until even Ramon started to laugh.

“Check this out,” Liam said. “I think the pup’s got himself a mate. Isn’t that the cutest thing?” He leaned toward Derek, voice lowering. “It won’t work out. It never does. Why don’t you just give her to me now, let me help you get over it. Painful, but quick. It’s the best way.”

Derek moved me behind him. The werewolves let out a howl of laughter.

“I think he’s saying no,” Ramon said.

“Leave her out of this,” Derek said.

Liam shook his head. “How can I do that? Look at her. So tiny and cute, big blue eyes all wide and scared.” He leaned around Derek to look at me. “That hair doesn’t do anything for her. I can still smell the dye. What color is it really? Blond, I bet. She looks like a blond.”

His look made my insides twist.

“If I go with you, she walks away,” Derek said. “Right?”

“No,” I whispered.

“Course she does,” Liam said.

“Derek,” I whispered.

He put his hand behind him, gesturing for me to be quiet. It was a trick. He had a plan. He must have a plan.

“Here’s the deal,” Derek said.

“Deal?” Liam laughed. “This isn’t up for negotiation, pup.”

“It is if you want my cooperation. I’ll go with you, but the first thing we do is get her on a bus. After I’ve seen her leave safely, I’m all yours.”

“Uh-huh.” Liam rolled back on his heels. “Is your intelligence feeling a mite insulted, Ramon?”

“Sure is.” Ramon strolled up beside his friend.

“You said you’d release her—”

“And we will. Once you’ve done your part. Until then, she’s our collateral to make sure you do. And don’t worry; we’ll take good care—”

Derek shot forward so fast it caught them both off guard. He grabbed Liam by the front of his shirt and whipped him into Ramon. The men went down.

“Run,” Derek said.

I pulled out my knife.

“Run!”

He gave me a shove that sent me flying. I started running, but slowly, my hand on the knife as I watched over my shoulder, getting far enough so Derek would think I was safe without abandoning him.

Derek caught Ramon and whipped him against the steel fireman’s pole, his head hitting with a twang.

Liam lunged for Derek. He feinted out of the way. As Ramon lay motionless on the ground, Derek and Liam faced off, circling. Liam lunged again, and Derek twisted, but Liam caught the back of his sweatshirt, yanked him off his feet, and threw him.

Derek hit the ground in a slide. Liam bore down on him, taking his time as Derek struggled to get up, wheezing and coughing, crawling along the ground. I veered to race back. Then Derek shot to his feet and broke into a run.