“This is the guy?” Samantha asked, crawling in the back of the still moving truck.

Connor’s wound had since closed up.  He pulled on his shirt while taking charge of the steering wheel.  Alex sat in the back with an eye on Torque while Samantha talked.

“Sort of,” Alex said, “It’s complicated

Samantha reached out and delivered a forceful blow with her tiny fist directly into Torque’s face.

“I told you I wanted to hit him,” she said, “simple.”

Alex shrugged.

“You know I never wanted to fight you,” Alex said.

Connor may have been distracted by the road but he still listened with earnest to the two talking in the truck bed.

“I never wanted to fight you neither,” Samantha replied, “But I probably could’ve beaten you.”

She smiled broadly at Alex, but Alex tapped her cast.

“You tried,” he said.

“You hurled me off a cliff,” she said.

“You charged at my girlfriend,” he said, “I was just trying to save Cynthia.

“Oh big deal, saving your girlfriend; there’s no doubt that if we were in an open field I could easily beat you.”

Alex laughed.

“Maybe you’ll get your chance someday,” he said, “how’s the leg?”

She looked at the cast and wiggled her toes.

“I’m not sure,” she said, “I can’t shift until the dang thing gets taken off.”

“I could take it off right now,” Alex offered.

“I’d rather wait for someone who knows what they’re doing,” she replied with a laugh.

The light of dawn stretched out over the road and Connor was thankful to have it.  They’d figured out the right path back and it would be much quicker to get back to Tess.  He’d skirted death once again and the only thing to show for it this time was a man who meant almost nothing.  Maybe Crunch could at least get some vindication for the things Torque put him through.

The thoughts of his father swept in and mingled with those of the hunter, Eli.  There was something familiar about him, like a small memory from his youth that would move away as Connor reached out to grasp it.  Like an answer on the tip of your tongue that can’t be found.

The alpha of the pack was there to protect everyone in his charge, that was their duty and any good alpha would protect every member equally.  The hunter said he was a runt.  Sure, he wasn’t the biggest man Connor had fought but he was still a wolf. 

“Connor!” shouted Alex from the back, “Wake the hell up and drive!”

Connor came to his senses and checked his mirrors.  He saw the familiar shape of the hunter’s van squarely behind them and was overcome with fear.  His foot stamped down on the accelerator as he hoped to outrun the hunter.

What little speed he could muster was easily eclipsed by the approaching peril.  His old truck was reliable but nowhere near fast.  And, within moments he was right on top of them.

Boom!

The side mirror of the truck disappeared into a shower of sparks and shrapnel. 

Boom!

The driver’s side door was scraped with buckshot that tore the worn paint and ripped through the steel.

Alex and Samantha were ducked down in the bed of the truck and through the rearview mirror he could see the old hunter taking aim at his head.

Connor ducked just in time for the shot to break through the back window only to stop and crack the glass in the front window.  Glass clattered all around him as shrieks of terror wailed from Samantha.

Connor couldn’t see at all where he was going.  With a mighty punch he smashed the remaining glass free and it fell to the roadside.  Wind rushed through the cabin and Connor had to narrow his eyes to continue his drive.

Boom!

The rearview mirror tumbled out the front of the truck.

Something had to be done.  Connor hammered the breaks and the van steered clear of the obstacle.  The hunter sidled up next to the truck and Connor could see the shotgun aiming straight for him.

With a flick of the steering wheel his heavy truck raked into the side of the van.  The sudden shock of motion caused the hunter to drop his gun to steer the van to stay on the road.

Again, Connor turned hard and pushed the van a little harder, trying to nudge it into the ditch. 

Despite his attempts, the van barely held on.  The hunter recovered his shotgun and took aim, but this time it wasn’t at Connor, it was at his engine.

Boom!

A series of holes spread out through the skin of the truck as the shot found its destination.  Steam started to pour from the engine bay and it sputtered as it attempted to move forward until finally it came to a halt beside the road.

The van screeched to a stop just a ways in front of the truck and was quickly backing up. 

“Go!” Connor shouted. 

Alex and Samantha leapt from the truck bed.  Neither of them bothered to grab for Torque.  Their minds only yearned for survival. 

Connor tried opening the driver door but the shrapnel had fused the hinge and it wouldn’t budge.  He eased his way over to the passenger door as another shot rang out, narrowly missing him and embedding into the driver’s seat.

He kicked his way out just in time for him to hear another gunshot and Alex fall to the ground just ahead of him.  Connor’s rage built up and he clenched his teeth.  He turned and saw the hunter aiming squarely at Samantha.

If he were to let him take the shot, surely the young bear would die, but he would get the chance to attack his enemy and avenge Alex.  Connor cried out in rage.  Samantha was the furthest away and the only one with a chance to survive.  Connor saw no other option.  He leapt in the way of the shot.

The silver buckshot tore through his leg, smashing bone and muscle.  He fell to the floor with a thud and skidded.  When he looked back he saw Samantha make it to the tree line and he laughed. 

Life is a funny thing, even when you’re about to lose it.

The hunter strolled over and began reloading his shotgun.

“You know,” he said, “I got this scar a long time ago from an alpha.”

The hunter knelt down beside Connor who could do nothing but hold his leg from bleeding out.

“He was my older brother,” he added, “I’m sure you wouldn’t know anything about older brothers being an only child yourself.”

Connor clenched his teeth and held on to the pain.  The hunter shoved another shell into his shotgun.

“I was beat up more times than I remember.  And, you know what I realized?” He asked with a smirk, “The only good wolf is a dead wolf.”

The hunter lined up his shot and Connor felt the end start to take him.  If he didn’t pull the trigger, Connor knew he would bleed out anyway.  There was nothing left he could do.  His muscles had all but given up on him. 

He thought of his father again.  Connor could hear his voice as things started to fade.

Did you learn your lesson?

A gunshot rang out and everything went black.