19

he door to Brian’s private home unlocked, the muffled sound loud enough to draw Evonne’s attention. She kept her eyes closed and pretended to sleep as she heard him enter. The cat meowed and rubbed against his legs, looking like an attempt to knock him down.
“I’m happy to see you, too, Danny. You’ve been watching my guests for me?” he playfully asked.
The cat continued to meow and pranced for the kitchen.
Evonne heard the cabinet door and the sound of a can popping open. The smell that soon hit her nose was unmistakably cat food. The cat began to purr as it ate.
“Any news?” she heard Gabriel say. She didn’t even sense him enter the room, or if he was already sitting at the bar.
“About that,” replied Brian. He turned on the sink and washed out the empty can, then threw it in the trash. He stood on the other side of the bar as he spoke. “The twelve you killed were a hunting party. They were hunting Tamara. She baited them into the haven.” He paused, recalling the painful words he received earlier in the day. “She killed all three of Gregory’s daughters. That was one step from attacking the Alpha himself. I’m sorry you were drug into this, but Charles wishes to speak with you.”
“You told him I was here?”
“They found out themselves. A photo of your wrecked Jeep was emailed to him this morning.”
Gabriel sounded relieved. “So he doesn’t know I’m here?”
“No. I told him that I would keep an eye out for you. But the scene there was described as something other than a random accident. Someone heard that the FBI was involved.”
“Shit.”
“What? Is it the other group?”
“I need to go back to the haven. I left some things there.”
Brian opened the refrigerator as he offered, “I have weapons if you need them.”
“Evonne will need a gun.”
Grabbing the milk, he retrieved a glass by the sink and filled it. “I can drive you there.”
“I don’t want to drag you into my mess.”
Brian answered after taking a drink. “You involved me when you killed twelve of my pack members. Charles is looking for someone to blame. If it was Jacob’s plan to send Tamara, then we’re gearing up for a war here. And that haven is smack-dab in the middle of the neutral zone. Tonight might not be the best time to go back there.”
“I have no other choice. If I don’t go there tonight, I’ll never go back. I’m also afraid that SEVEN will be watching the place.”
“Then why chance it?”
“I don’t like the thought of them going through my things,” Gabriel admitted. He turned around in his seat and spoke to Evonne. “You can get up now. No sense in pretending to sleep.”
Evonne cringed. How did he always know? She was careful not to move or draw attention to herself. Deciding to get up, she left the sofa and took a seat at the bar.
Brian shook his head at her. “I think I have some clothes that will suit you better than those old things.” He headed into the back bedroom and returned a minute later with a dark brown shirt and earthy-green pants. “These were left here by my ex-girlfriend. This seems like the perfect time to get rid of them. The pants are drawstring, so you don’t have to worry if they fit or not.” He handed her the clothes.
Looking through them, Evonne wasn’t sure if she wanted to change. But the jeans she now wore were too loose in the waist. Even when she walked over the bar, they almost fell off.
Evonne smiled at Brian and said, “Thank you,” then left the bar as she went to the bathroom to change. The pants fit her fine, but the shirt was a size too big. Regardless of the wrong size, she felt more feminine in these clothes, though she would never admit it out loud.
Returning to the bar, Evonne sat the other clothes on the seat beside her.
“Much better,” Brian commented as he gave her a quick glance. “I bet you’re hungry.” He went to the refrigerator and removed a quart sized, plastic bottle, setting it on the bar between her and Gabriel.
Gabriel scrunched his nose at the white bottle and pushed it closer to Evonne.
“What is it?” she asked, looking from him, to the bottle, and to Brian. When they didn’t answer, she unscrewed the lid and peered inside. A dark liquid filled the bottle, spilling out the bitter scent of old blood.
“Try it,” Brian dared.
Evonne gave Gabriel a worried look. “What is it?”
He nodded at the bottle. “Taste it.”
Looking at them once more, she felt the pressure of their stares. She slowly raised the bottle and took a small drink. The taste was blood, but as the cold liquid collided into the remaining warmth of her body, it was nothing her body wanted. She squirmed as she fought to take a second drink. Enough was enough. Setting the bottle on the bar, Evonne suppressed her instinct to gag. She compared it to eating her favorite human food, pizza, but eating it frozen.
“Bleh, that’s nasty,” she said, shuddering. “Why not heat it up in the microwave or something?”
“Heating it up will only cook it,” explained Gabriel, “and drinking it that way will be like eating human food. Our bodies won’t accept it.”
“I can hardly keep it down now.” She replaced the lid and handed it to Brian. “Why do you have it?”
He returned the bottle to the refrigerator. “It’s pig’s blood. I use it for cooking. The local butcher here sells it.”
“You cook with it?” The idea seemed disgusting to Evonne.
“It’s been used in cooking by many different cultures. I also have a few hearts, a liver, and cow’s tongue. That’s some nice eating right there.”
The cold blood chilled Evonne’s body further, aching her muscles. The only thing the blood awakened was her hunger. She shuddered again.
“I’m ready to go now if you are,” said Gabriel, picking up his knife from the bar.
“All right. Let me get my keys.” Brian headed for his bedroom.
“We’re leaving so soon?” Evonne whispered. “I can still feel the sun.”
“We’ll be fine,” he said as Brian returned, handing Evonne a gun—a Ruger 9mm.
She carefully took the gun and placed it behind her back, within the waist of her pants. Though she wanted to stay here while they went to the haven, the curiosity about seeing the massacre left behind was too great. And there was the chance she may find the necklace.
Before leaving the concealed house, Gabriel grabbed a blanket from the guest bedroom and covered Evonne as they headed upstairs to the garage. In the two car garage, a red, 1972 Pontiac Firebird sat. The car wasn’t what Evonne had expected. Out of all the new things his underground home sported, the sports car was the oldest of his possessions, not including the funeral home.
Brian opened the trunk and removed the few boxes he had stashed inside, along with the spare tire.
“We’re riding in there?” Evonne said, pulling the blanket off of her head.
“It’s safer than the back seat,” replied Gabriel. He took her hand and helped her inside, before climbing in himself. The trunk wasn’t meant for carrying anything large, but they squeezed inside. Brian closed the trunk.
This was the closest Evonne had come to staying in a coffin. She couldn’t imagine sleeping in such a confined area day after day. She needed a soft bed and a pillow. Working the blanket off her body, she used half of it to make a pillow.
“It’s going to be a long trip,” she said, adjusting the blanket. “I want to get as comfortable as I can.”
“You’ll be asleep soon enough,” said Gabriel.
Evonne moved closer to him, her stomach against his back. “Where are we going after this?”
“I haven’t thought that far ahead.”
The car started and rolled out of the garage.
“Do you know anyone out west?” Evonne asked.
“I know of a few places. I’ll need to get a new car first.”
She buried her head into his hair. “I’m so sorry I wrecked the Jeep.”
“It’s all right. It can be replaced. Look at the bright side; you get to help me pick out a new one.”
“Chevy Tahoe looks nice.”
“I’m partial to the Jeep brand.”
“Oh. How about a Grand Cherokee?”
“I’ve had one of those before. I don’t feel like downsizing.”
“Come on. Give Chevy a chance. You’ll never know until you test drive. Speaking of which, how do you go about buying a car? Aren’t dealership hours during the daytime? Wait a minute. I already know the answer. You know a guy, right?”
“Having connections in this day and age is vital.”
“So I see.”
As the car move through the streets, the evening sun heated the trunk. This, added with the sun’s looming presence, pushed Evonne into sleep. It was a blessing to her. She didn’t know how long a conversation about car colors, interiors, and other options would last, certainly not the three hours it took to drive north. Though it was never truly needed, she could see how sleep was used to pass the time.

The Firebird’s rumbling engine turned off. Evonne pulled herself awake as she heard the jingling of keys and the trunk unlock. Climbing out, she saw the empty, underground parking lot. By the entrance, two, large masses of fur lay lifeless. The phantom echoes of gunshots rang in Evonne’s ears. These two were friends—pack mates—of Brian’s, and she shot them without a second thought.
Evonne looked at Brian as his eyes landed on the dead wolves. He paused, unable to will himself forward. Gabriel waited until he was ready. Taking in a deep breath, Brian finally crossed the lot to the bodies and kneeled by them.
“Gregory and Edwin,” he said, fighting off his emotions.
Evonne noticed her own blood near the bodies and knew he could smell it and smell the truth behind their killings. She found herself drawing closer to Gabriel, holding onto his arm. “I’m sorry,” she whispered before Brian had the chance to speak. “I’m sorry. I had no other choice. They were going to kill me. I was trying to leave and they—”
“You don’t have to apologize,” he said as he placed a hand to Gregory’s shoulder. “It’s survival. If you didn’t act, they would have killed you.” Brian looked at the wolf a moment longer. “Requiescat in pace, my friend.”
Gabriel stepped around the bodies as he headed for the door. He wanted to honor Brian’s grieving but the longer they stayed, the greater the chance they would be found.
As Brian finally caught up to them, they were already in the stairwell, moving fast toward the lowest level. Evonne stopped in her tracks as she saw the hallway. The ten remaining bodies lay strewn throughout the hall, their forms locked within fur.
Brain grabbed Gabriel’s arm, stopping him. “You don’t smell it?”
“What?” he asked, testing the air.
“You must be really weak,” he pointed out. “Humans have been here. Recently, too.”
In the rush to get their things and get out of there, Gabriel failed to pick up on the distinctive scent of humans. The scent was common in most havens and easily overlooked. He should’ve sensed it.
Gabriel moved fast as he headed into the bedroom. Evonne went to her bags and found them out of place.
“Someone’s been through my bag,” she said.
“Mine, too,” replied Gabriel, removing a couple more guns.
“We can play Goldilocks and the Three Bears later,” Brian called out from the hall. “I think we have company.” He placed his hand to the wall, feeling the vibrations from the ground. His ears also picked up the sound of engines. “Three, maybe four cars are heading this way.”
Evonne grabbed her bag and followed Gabriel and Brian to the stairwell and to the parking lot. She climbed into the back seat while Gabriel threw their bags in the trunk. The whole time she tried to sense what spooked Brian.
As Gabriel got in the passenger side, Brian floored the gas pedal, whipping the car around the lot and speeding for the exit. Before reaching the surface, he switched off the headlights.
The red car tore into the open. Brian switched gears like a professional race car driver, his eyes holding steady on the road. He slammed on the brakes. The car’s tires squealed as the cab was filled with light.
Evonne looked around to see four sets of headlights lined up, sealing their escape.
“Get down!” Gabriel yelled.
Evonne threw herself onto the floorboard as the sound of gunshots poured all around them. She looked up to see Gabriel covering Brian with his body, protecting him from the spray of silver bullets. The barrage lasted for a solid thirty seconds, with most of the concentration on the cab. The car rocked a couple of times as the wheels were blown out. The gunshots stopped. The only sound finding Evonne’s ears was the heavy breathing coming from Brian.
From within the surrounding woods, a deep howl rose forth, catching those by the SUVs off guard. They lowered their guns and gave each other worried glances. The another howl began.
Brian growled from underneath Gabriel. “Lancaster.”
“Get us back to the haven,” said Gabriel, moving from him. “I know of another way we can escape.”
Still hunkering down, Brian threw the car into reverse and blindly spun the car around. Quickly shifting gears, he drove the car back into the tunnel, its engine threatening to give out under the damage from the bullets.
In the parking lot once more, Brian helped Gabriel with the bags as they entered the haven. Before they could reach the stairwell, a loud growling filled the hall. A large wolf bounded from the shadows.
Gabriel aimed his gun and hurriedly called out to Brian, “Is he on your side?”
“No.”
He fired. The wolf dropped to the floor, clawing at the bullet within his head until he ceased all movement.
Brian’s eyes became transfixed by the dark hallway. He dropped the bags he was carrying and growled into the darkness. Leaving Gabriel’s side, he began to remove his clothes, his body already beginning to change shape.
“Brian!” Gabriel yelled. “We don’t have time for this.”
“This one’s mine,” he growled.
Evonne watched as Brian threw off the last of his clothes and ran toward the other wolf. Their bodies collided, teeth and claws ripping at each other. A third wolf entered the hall and charged for the fight.
Gabriel fired again, killing this one as quick as the first.
Brian raised his head, his muzzle covered in blood. He sniffed the air and found more fun waiting for him down the hall. He ran toward the intruders.
“Dammit,” scolded Gabriel as he dropped the bag he carried. He grabbed Evonne’s hand and ran after Brian. They found him in the large common room, finishing another kill.
These wolves didn’t enter to seek out a fight, they were running from the gunshots outside. They were running from SEVEN.
The front door to the haven opened. Six hunters moved in, rifles and handguns ready as they shone their flashlights around the first room. Gabriel and Evonne darted behind one sofa as Brian slunk around the corner, looking for place to hide.
This is it, Evonne thought. No more running. Trapping on a sinking ship.
She sensed Gabriel leave her side. She dared not to move. Finally looking down, she found his gun on the floor. He left his gun?
The hunters began to fire, some of them calling out amidst the gunshots.
Evonne saw Brian’s head rising from behind a sofa, his ears standing high as he watched the hunters scramble. The sound of fighting descended into silence. Brian stood and walked into the open. Evonne grabbed Gabriel’s gun and did the same.
By the door, five humans lay dead, some with this necks slashed and other with large wounds to their abdomens, intestines and organs spilling free. Gabriel stood by the door, the sixth man in his arms as he fed. His bloodied hands told of the ferociousness in which he attacked, relying solely on his remaining strength. Even with his weakened body, he was able to take out six hunters without much trouble.
As Gabriel dropped the human in his arms, he turned around, showing the extent of his own injuries. He had been shot several times, with two silver stakes protruding from his chest, one striking high, and the other below his ribs. He ripped them from his body.
Another deep howl rolled forth from outside.
Brian’s head perked up. “Charles is here,” he informed, his voice gravely in his beast form. “The humans have no idea what they’re walking into.”
Gabriel took the gun from Evonne.
“The humans are closing in,” Brian said, lowering himself to the floor. “Their weakest area is beyond this door. We can take them out.”
“How many?” asked Gabriel. His senses rebounded slowly, but he was still unable to pinpoint the movement of the humans.
“Sixteen around us; five out front.”
“Let’s clear the area.”
“What about Lancaster?”
“Fall back when they arrive,” ordered Gabriel. He looked at Evonne and added, “Kill as many as you can, and don’t forget to protect your heart. Ready?”
Retrieving the gun given to her by Brian, she nodded.
Gabriel ran out the front door first, drawing the first rounds from the hunters. Brian used the distraction as he leapt through the door, running full speed at the hunters. Evonne waited a moment longer, her grip on the gun tightening. She calmed herself, using all of her strength to fortify her senses. She listened to the fighting taking place and the humans shouting for help. Her mind screamed at her legs as she begged them to move. Finally, she willed her body into motion and ran down the steps, her eyes searching for any hunter to kill. She found Brian on top of one human, his teeth tearing at her neck. The woman stopped screaming.
Gabriel was nowhere to be seen.
A series of bullets ripped into Evonne’s chest. Stunned, she pushed through the pain as she found the hunter who continued to fire at her. A well-aimed bullet smashed into her hand. Evonne yelled out as she abandoned the gun and went after the human. As the hunter readied the rifle to take aim at her heart, Evonne threw her body into his. Before he could fall to the ground, she caught him, her teeth aching to spill his blood. She forced his head to the side and discovered the heavy, steel collar around his neck. It was an optional accessory to the hunter’s gear. Most chose to forego the cumbersome item. This hunter was new to SEVEN. His body shook in fear within Evonne’s grip. She closed her mouth, not sure if she could kill him.
The slight hesitation gave the hunter a burst of courage. He brought the rifle up, ramming it into Evonne’s face. She let go, staggering back and cradling her face. She looked up and saw the hunter taking aim.
A muffled thud came from the hunter. His finger relaxed on the trigger as his eyes dropped to his chest, staring wide-eyed at the strange object sticking from the left side of his body. The blood-covered hand twisted, then retreated. The hunter’s body fell to the ground.
Evonne looked upon the vampire who saved her, her own eyes staring in disbelief.
“David?”
A human screamed near the haven, drawing Evonne’s attention. As she looked back, David was gone.
The hunter writhed in agony, the blood filling his lungs and exiting his mouth and nose. He fought his death with every push and pull of his muscles. Evonne dropped to his side and worked the collar free. She felt the hunter’s hands on her body in an attempt to keep her away. Ignoring his protests, her body took over, fangs opening his neck and mouth pulling at his blood. Evonne wanted to bathe in this moment. Her body wanted—needed—every last drop. Within the grass before the haven, she imagined the world fading away. Nothing else existed but the man in her arms.
Bullets pelted Evonne’s back. Furious that she was interrupted, she spun around, searching for her next kill. The hunter approached fast. He wanted this vampire to stand, to present a clean target. Behind him, more hunters followed. Evonne heard herself growling, a low and rasping sound. She charged for them.
A hunter took his shot. The arrow sliced through the air.
Evonne was knocked to the ground by a large beast. The wolf stood over her, head low and snarling at the hunters.
Brian leapt for the hunters, his speed his only defense against the weapons of silver.
A hand grabbed hold of Evonne’s wrist, pulling her to her feet. She found herself running into the woods and away from the haven. Through the whipping branches, she saw David holding her hand. She didn’t know what to do.
Evonne looked back at the carnage in front the haven. The scene disappeared as they continued to flee. A part of her wanted to stop and go back, certain they may need her help. But the urgency within David was strong enough to keep her moving.
Evonne covered her face against the branches and blindly followed him. For a solid ten minutes they ran until they reached the edge of a wide creek. David guided her into the water as they began to run upstream. Throughout the entire run, Evonne remained quiet. Plenty of times she wanted to stop him and demand and explanation, but the curiosity of his actions quieted her tongue. She wanted to see how this played out.