said. There was worry in his gaze but determination, too.
Blake wouldn’t kill Michelle. He’d had her for four years. He wanted her back for her premonitions. But, I wouldn’t let him have her.
Curling my hands into fists, I inhaled, ignoring the sting of chlorine. I took off running again, following the scent of Michelle’s blood. Dark drops dotted the carpet here and there as I ran toward the far exit. Just outside, the heavy scent of exhaust clouded the air. Whoever had taken her had used a car.
I inhaled deeply again, searching for Michelle’s trail. It would have been impossible to follow, but I caught the scent of her blood again, mingling lightly with the exhaust.
Growling, I sprinted down the street, uncaring who might see me. Only Michelle mattered.
Her scent crossed side streets then turned onto a main thoroughfare. I slowed, having a harder time following her trail. Then I lost her scent completely at an intersection with another main road.
“No,” I growled, looking around in panic.
“Easy, Emmitt,” Grey said. “He came from this way.” He pointed behind us. “With three of us, we can split up and try to pick up her scent in each direction. We’ll find something.” He clapped a hand on my shoulder.
I nodded and took off toward the left.
Stay in contact, Grey sent me.
Nothing yet, I reported back.
I moved slower, not because I cared if the humans saw me moving fast, but because I didn’t want to miss Michelle’s scent. Cars zipped by, adding more exhaust to the already contaminated trail. I was starting to panic when I caught a hint of something. Stopping, I inhaled. It was barely there. Ahead was an intersection with lights. I crossed the streets, dodging between cars and ignoring honking horns. On the other side, Michelle’s scent grew stronger.
Got her, I sent Grey, along with the street name.
We’ll be right there.
I took off at a run again. Pockets of her scent kept me moving. Worry ate at my confidence. Her scent trail was breaking apart. How would I find her if I hit another intersection like the last one?
The sun continued its slow descent, and the buildings around me cast longer shadows with each passing minute. In a pocket void of Michelle’s scent, I picked up another scent that slowed my steps. Werewolves.
A man stepped from the shadowed alley between two buildings. He grinned at me before retreating out of sight.
Grey, I found a wolf. He’s luring me into an alley. He brought friends.
So did you. We’re right behind you.
As I stepped toward the alley opening, I controlled a partial shift. My teeth and mouth elongated, and my nails hardened and curved into claws.
The narrow alley was filled with trash bins, cardboard, and other debris. At the end, the space opened up into a small, vacant parking area accessed by a neighboring alley. Three men stood between me and that alley. From a fire escape above, a man dropped into the narrow alley I’d just left. Only a few feet separated us, and I turned to face him.
“You shouldn’t have come,” he said. “She’s not yours.”
“That’s my line,” I said a second before I threw my first punch.
He moved fast, ducking under the punch. But, not fast enough to avoid my left swing. He grunted and faltered a step as my fist met his cheek. Behind me, the other three moved in. One caught me in the ribs with a fist, and another wrapped an arm around my neck. I stepped back into him and used his weight and my momentum to bring him forward, over my shoulder, to crash into one of his friends. As the two tumbled to the ground, one of the other mutts wrapped his arms around mine, pinning them behind me. His partner laughed and showed his claws. I jumped up and kicked out, planting my feet in his chest. He staggered back, as did the man holding me. I wrenched an arm free and grabbed a handful of hair of the man still gripping my arm.
Yanking his head down, I brought my knee up to meet it. His nose crunched and he fell to the ground.
Claws raked my ribs, and I spun with an outward kick that missed my attacker. The other two were up and circling me as well. They moved as one, coming at me. A fist crashed into my jaw as I blocked claws from my gut.
Carlos burst into the fight, blocking a kick one of them had directed between