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Chapter 16

That there were nopersons reports continued to bothertransients? I had a hard ti that

In wolf form, olves were hunters, like me When presented with a weaker entity, they attacked

They ence, but I'd never known them to be able to pound back the bloodlust

They saw people in the woods and they killed the enough to ask for a resume

I put the thought aside and headed toconcerns

The route into the woods was as fa the tavern and the wail of jazz through the open s

I glanced at o home around here?

I retrieved a spare 22 froun into the waistband of , but I wasn't going anywhere without a silver bullet-firing weapon again I ht on

Dirty, hungry, tired, I needed a shower, food, and bed in that order But before I climbed the steps to my lonely room, I wanted to check behind the Duun had fallen into a hole or so

I was grasping Pretty un while I'd been inside the tavern Of course he'd have to have been watchinga fact I didn't want to examine too closely

As I approached the garbage bin, a fat raccoon shot a glare in h I bet a few of theular visits here as well I wasn't afraid of animals How could I be? But rats made me shudder What ith those hairless tails anyway?

I'd brought the flashlight from my car, and I shone the beam back and forth across the front of the Duround, then behind Not a single gleah I'd have to adun; I didn't want to tell him I'd lost it, too

Kneeling next to the wall, I reached into the crack between the building and the steel container

So skittered out the other side and ran away

"I did not hear that," I assured myself

I continued to feel around but ca

The shriek of a dying aniht into ht into so else Bummer for him

I retrieved my hand, sat back on rowl ruhtened, then turned

"One, two, three, four, five Shitty odds," I un

I didn't kno ht I'd need et from my car to the house?

The wolves advanced, legs stiff, hackles raised My first bullet kicked up dirt in front of the lead animal

His lip curled; then he threw up his head as if laughing at me

I shot a glance toward the staircase that led toas he panted like a great big dog

I could shoot hiet to my apartment, but there were five - I looked back just as several shadows detached the lot - make that ten wolves behind me Thank God none of them hite Still, I was in serious trouble

The main wolf pack was between me and the tavern I could yell for help, but the music was too loud

They'd never hear me

My lance toward Darass That building was the only chance I had

I fired another shot, actually hit one of the flesh and fur, the howi of the dying distracted the others long enough for me to achieve a small lead

I'd take what I could get They were going to catch me There was no way I could outrun close to a dozen wolves Hell, I couldn't outrun one, but I had to try

A chorus of howls rose behind me, so loud I flinched, stumbled, and nearly fell Their footsteps echoed mine The warmth of their breath brushed h the night - a sharp and gamy aroma reminiscent of fear and death

I couldn't recall if I'd locked Damien's door after I'd picked it If I had, I was dead or soon to be furry

Either way, I'd take a few of them with me

I reached for the knob, but the door swung open I smashed into Damien's chest

"Ooht me

My momentum propelled us inside the cabin

"Shut it! Shut it!" I shouted, kicking back,to catch the door with my heel

I tensed, expecting bodies to thud against the other side Glancing at the aited for the shadow, the crash, death

Nothing happened

I pulled free of Dahtened the eastern horizon, threw strea