CHAPTER EIGHT
Hayley tried to punch him but he caught her fist easily in his palm. “Bite me again,” he said, shoving her against the wall. “I want to feel your blunt human teeth on me.”
He unzipped his pants and grabbed her breasts roughly. He tried to put his hand down her jeans but Hayley kneed him in the groin. The man snarled and tore her blouse open.
Hayley screamed, tears leaking from her eyes. This couldn't be happening to her. She didn't want to be raped and killed in this dark alley. She didn't want to die, not like this. She had felt disheartened, disillusioned and jaded after two divorces but it suddenly dawned on her that she was only thirty-four. She still had her whole life to live.
“No! No! Please, no! Help! Help me, please!” she shrieked, hoping that someone would hear her.
She felt the man's mouth on her neck and she felt the sharp points of his canines. Claws were digging into her wrists. Hayley pushed away her fear and fought harder.
Her attacker was a shifter. He was strong, brutal, feral and he could probably snap her neck in a heartbeat. But she wasn't going to give up without a fight.
Predators went for easy prey. Hayley screamed and head-butted her attacker. She wasn't easy, and she wasn't prey!
The man cursed and backhanded her savagely. Hayley's head whipped back and slammed against the wall. Black spots swam in front of her eyes and she tasted blood in her mouth.
The man roared and she instinctively raised her arm to shield herself. But the blow never came.
She was no longer pinned against the wall. The pressure around her throat was gone and the man's hard, gravelly voice sounded far away.
As Hayley slid down the wall, she saw a tall, blond man slam her attacker into the opposite wall. The man roared and she saw claws glinting from his fingertips.
Oh great! Another shifter.
Hayley whimpered as she tried to push herself up. The man glanced over his broad shoulders at her and she fell back to the ground in shock when she saw his face.
It was her next door neighbor, Grayson.
Grayson turned back to her attacker and growled. “Leave the humans alone, Strom.”
Strom laughed. “I know you're recently taken over the Silverfangs pack, Grayson. But the Red Razor wolves still outnumber your wolves three to one.”
“You are the Alpha of the Red Razor pack, one of the largest wolf packs in Wolves Hollow. You have enough willing females to satisfy you, Strom. Return the human women to their families. They've done nothing to deserve this,” Grayson said in a level voice.
Hayley detected the simmering rage and stern warning in his tone. Grayson's voice was calm but commanding. There was an air of authority to him that Strom lacked.
Strom smirked. “I'll let the others go. If—” He pointed at Hayley. “She comes with me. If I have her, the other human females can go.”
Grayson stepped in front of Hayley, blocking her from Strom's lecherous eyes. “You will never have her,” Grayson snarled.
Strom stepped up to Grayson. “Are you going to fight me for the little bitch?”
Grayson's blue eyes turned wolf in a heartbeat. As he stalked towards Strom, running footsteps could be heard. A petite, blond woman skidded into the alley and rushed towards them.
“Fight him in front of the pack, Grayson,” the woman snapped. “Everyone's waiting. The Sentinels and the Red Razor pack.” Her words were directed at both Grayson and Strom.
The woman crouched beside Hayley and gripped her shoulder. “Can you stand?” the woman said gently. “Come on, I'll help you.”
Hayley blinked and looked up into the woman's brilliant blue eyes. She gasped. She recognized those eyes. “You! It's...you!” It was the wolf who had stood guard in front of her house that night.
“Yes.” The young woman flashed her a quick smile. “I'm Ariana Edge. And that's my brother, Grayson. Let's get you out of here.”