Without hesitating, I launched myself at James, diving for his throat with my mouth open, ready to do some serious damage. Thankfully, Dallas had done as I asked. Following my lead, he’d gone after the goon behind James. The two men would be no match for us and they knew it. They shifted as quickly as they could, but we’d already trampled over them and continued on our way, hoping to create some distance. Soon enough, they had recovered and began chasing us through the forest.

We should stop and fight. Dallas growled, obviously determined to get some revenge for the pain they’d inflicted on him.

You can barely keep up with me. No way are you in any condition to fight. As I turned to zig zag up the mountain, I realized they were much closer to us than I was comfortable with. Faster, Dallas. We need a lead to make this work.

Where are we going? He sounded out of breath already.

I felt reluctant to reveal too much, fearing Dallas would unintentionally give something away and the Malvaggios would have yet another advantage. At the rate things were going, we wouldn’t make it to the one tunnel in Phoenix Pack territory that wasn’t near the homestead in our effort to escape. After all, I couldn’t very well lead the Malvaggios back to our homes. They fought dirty. They probably wouldn’t think twice about hurting pups. Plus, most of our pack wasn’t trained to defend themselves and our land. Suffice it to say, I couldn’t risk it. While we ran, I realized this would be the first change I’d have to implement. One of my high school classmates had gone into the military as soon as we graduated. He told me all about it, since he knew I’d studied self-defense. Thanks to his letters, I’d come to admire the Marines. See, with the Marines, every single one was trained as a rifleman, no matter if they were infantry or not. It was both smart and strategic. With our pack, we’d all learn to fight so we’d have more weapons in our arsenal than the use of my aunt’s spray.

Where? He continued to pant as he followed me and obviously he wasn’t going to quit asking until I shared something. He needed a goal, something to hold onto, something to spur him on.

Away from the homestead, but where we can get home quickly, secretly. I hoped he understood my meaning. This was as much as I was prepared to say with the Malvaggios in wolf form. They could hear us, just like we could hear them. While I fully expected Dallas to question me, this time he remained silent and I soon realized it was because he could hear James and his friend plotting.

Go that way. Cut them off. I’ll circle behind. James barked orders.

Sure enough, to my left, I soon saw a large wolf running as fast as he could. His mouth wasn’t open. His tongue wasn’t hanging out. I stared a moment, wondering why. Then I saw it, in the moonlight, a glint…protruding from his mouth. The silver looked to be attached to a leather necklace around his neck. Obviously, he planned to stab me. If he thought I was going to be an easy target, he had completely underestimated me. Already I worked to formulate my own plan. Maybe I should turn his weapon against him, stab him instead, let him suffer and understand what it felt like to be trapped in his own body, struggling to survive. I stared at the land ahead of me, wondering if I could use anything to my advantage.

There wasn’t much to work with: the usual trees, carpet of leaves, and the occasional boulder. If I could only increase the distance, I might be able to use the rock to surprise him. With my head down, I forced myself to run as fast as my legs would allow. Then I cornered at the boulder, leapt on top and flattened myself against the cold, hard surface. I knew he’d expect me to hide. His kind rarely understood the prey. Sure enough, he slowed down as he began to circle the big rock.

Come out, come out, wherever you are! He used his best De Niro voice, probably meant to inspire fear.

Instead, I peered over the edge and when he strutted around beneath me, I dropped over the edge and landed heavily upon him. He grunted and struggled to regain his breath since I’d completely knocked the wind out of him. While he opened his mouth, hoping to fill his lungs, the silver sliver fell from between his teeth and I dove for it.

Based on Dallas’ injury, I knew if I hoped to be successful, I’d have to somehow maneuver so the silver was stuck in his back, somewhere he couldn’t easily remove it on his own, or even with help. His eyes widened and I could see the panic, but he was so busy trying to breathe, he wasn’t able to stop me. In fact, he inadvertently made my task easier. Rolling over, he obviously hoped getting to his feet would enable him to get away. Instead, I positioned the sliver between my teeth and jabbed it into his shoulder. He whimpered loudly as his body reacted, shifting into human form thanks to the metal embedded in him. He struggled, grabbing at his neck to find the thong in an effort to remove the sliver. I quickly realized my mistake and shifted too. By leaving it attached to the necklace, he could easily remove it despite the location.

Already he’d found the leather thong and grasped it with his fingers, but I’d laid my hand over the wound. My other hand felt around on the ground for something hard, anything I could use to my advantage. Soon, my fingers closed around a rock. I gritted my teeth together as I slammed I raised it over my head and slammed it down on him, shoving the silver deeper into his skin, but I knew even that wouldn’t be enough. Somehow, they’d managed to get the piece they’d left in Dallas off the necklace. Picturing the sliver in my mind, I knew what they’d done.

As the Malvaggio struggled to yank the thong, I angled the stone and slammed it against his skin and the embedded sliver, bending it until I heard the snap and felt the metal give. I grinned. It had snapped off just like the piece I’d found in Dallas. Success. I leaned close so he had to look at me. I dropped the stone and patted his wound. “Have fun getting that out.” He eyes darted around and from the way his jaw was set, I could tell he struggled to hide the pain. Part of me felt sorry for him, but mostly, I knew he’d have done this to me without hesitation, and without an ounce of remorse. He’d live.

Meanwhile, I’d bought us some time and we were down to one bad guy. I shifted and rushed out from behind the boulder. Dallas had flown by me seconds before. No doubt James wasn’t too far back.

Run, Dallas! I urged him on.

Alpha! I thought… He choked and I realized how much the Malvaggios scared him.

I’d never leave a member of the Phoenix Pack. Go on. We’re so close now. Even as I spoke, I could see him slowing down. I understood. This part of the mountain was particularly steep. He hadn’t even had the time he needed to heal and recover.

Go on without me. I deserve whatever happens. He panted.

You think you’re giving up? I laughed. You don’t get to give up. Stop being a little bitch. You’re supposed to be better than this. Show me.

Dallas whined.

I ran up behind him and began to snap at his heels. I’ll nip you. You know I will. Then you’ll have one more thing to complain about. Move your furry ass! My jaws closed again, loudly, viciously, and I caught some of his fur in my teeth, but took no pleasure in it.

Obviously, Dallas felt it. He yipped and picked up the pace. We really were near our destination. If we could make it another fifteen feet, we’d reach the plateau and the opening to the mines. All these years, we’d relied on natural camouflage and respect to protect our main source of income. Only, the Malvaggios had proven they had no sense of boundaries. They’d been on our land. I’d seen them. They’d probably already been here. Hell, Dallas may have even helped them find the place.

So, we’re going left, correct? My mind as raced as I tried to figure out how we were going to delay James long enough to disappear into the tunnel without him seeing, which would put our entire pack at risk.

Yes, Alpha. Dallas whined. I’ll hold him off. You go on without me.

I growled angrily. Right. Sacrificing yourself would be the easy way out, Dallas. I thought I’d been clear. You’re going to tell me everything. There’s no dying in your near future, not until I have my answers. Got it?

His head drooped. I understood then, at some level, he feared me or having to disclose the depth of his treachery to me. I didn’t feel better. I didn’t feel worse. I was numb to this. Being outside in the night had created a more pressing concern. The moon above was doing a number on me. Inside, I ached, I burned. I needed Quinn. Apparently even being in a life or death situation wasn’t enough to distract my wolf from the mate who had refused her.

A second later, Dallas clawed his way to the top of the plateau. I followed, slightly faster. Then he darted around what was supposed to look like a landslide, but was actually a carefully crafted mine entrance. I followed and we raced down the main shaft, straight toward the fork. No one was around this late, which was part of the beauty of leading James here. Dallas darted down the left fork.

Already, I could hear James behind us, his every move echoing in the chamber. Fear gnawed at me, but I refused to be scared on my own property, in my own mine. I puffed out my chest and tried to think of a way to buy us more time. Outside, a summer storm brewed again. In the mountains, they came out of nowhere with an unexpected fury. This time was no different. Behind me, there was a flash of lightning. Then an almost immediate clap of thunder. As the mine shook, and dirt began to rain down from the sides and overhead, I started to reconsider my stance on fear. Maybe a little fear was healthy. Maybe a little fear could keep us alive. Most of all, I was tortured by my greatest fear: maybe I’d never see Quinn again.

Great. Now what? I growled as I scanned the area, determined to find a way out of this. As the Alpha, that was my job.

Here! Dallas stood over the almost indiscernible hatch to the tunnel. Stand here. I have an idea.

James had heard him and saw us plotting. While he’d held back until now, confident there was no way past him, he suddenly came rushing toward me, snarling. His teeth were exposed and he looked every bit the vicious killer I imagined him to be. I’m coming for you, Savvy. Dallas will be no challenge at all once you’re dead.

I laughed. I hate to disappoint you, but I have no plans to die today.

He chuckled. Does anyone ever plan to die?

From the corner of my eye, I saw Dallas rushing toward the wall of the mine. Before I had a chance to question what he thought he was doing, he rammed into one of the supports. There was a loud cracking sound of the wood splitting. Then he bounced off, landed on his fuzzy butt, and skidded to a stop several feet away from me.

James laughed harder. Pathetic.

The cracking sound gave way to a rumble. I glanced up at the ceiling of the mine as a beam gave way directly above me. I dove out of the way, deeper into the mine, while dirt and stones came crashing down closer and closer to where we stood. I nudged Dallas and we scuttled deeper down the shaft. Even after the cave in ended, it took several minutes for all the dust to clear so we could assess our situation.

Dallas and I shifted so we could check our bodies for injuries. “I’m still healing from the other day, but my only new injury is the shoulder I used to cause this.” He gestured to the mess behind him.

“I’m fine.” I stared at the passage, which was now completely blocked. “And that’s awesome. Fuck.”

“Hey, James can’t get to us.” Dallas grinned proudly.

I sighed. “Yeah. Of course, he’s no longer a threat anyway.”

“Why not?” Dallas frowned.

“Well, mostly because he’s dead.” I pointed to the hand sticking out from under the rocks and dirt. “Obviously dead. He’s in human form.”

Dallas swallowed hard. “I didn’t mean to kill him. I didn’t think…”

“You can stop right there. I’m pretty sure all of the ‘not thinking’ you’ve been doing is precisely how all of this mess began.” I sighed.

He rushed over to the rubble, hands poised to dig. “They’ll come rescue us, right?” He bent down and brushed aside some small rocks and a layer of dirt. “The tunnel is about three feet that direction.” He started to move some rocks, but everything was so unstable that the more he moved, the more fell in.

My frustration was mounting because the likelihood of my worst fear coming true seemed more and more plausible. “Step away from there before you kill yourself.” I crossed an arm around my body and pressed the back of my hand to my mouth, my classic thinking stance. Slowly, sadly, Dallas backed away. Then I laid out my thoughts so he understood our situation. “No one would recognize the sound of the cave in over the storm.” I watched as his shoulders sank. “Oh, and no one knows we’re here. Tanner last saw us at the old guard hut.”

Dallas raked his hands over his face. “So, you think…”

“Yeah. I’m confident we’re on our own.” I smoothed my hair back from my face and wished I had a hair tie. “Let’s talk about our options. We need to find a way to get the fuck out of here. There’s no ventilation in this shaft. We’ll be out of air before we can be rescued.”