you like. She took off at a lope through the forest.
This was our best speed. Not a sprint as I would have assumed prior. We could keep up this loping pace for weeks on end if our tummy was full. Nothing in the world could rival our stamina.
Nothing could outlast us.
I focused on our senses, relying on memory of the grid. There’s a sensor to the left. There’s no way it missed our shift.
I’m glad for you.
Okay, let’s go back. I need to be by my walkie.
I think not.
I blinked. Now is not the time to go off on a vendetta. If you attack Greyson, my pack comes to harm.
If any are near, they will only see a wolf attacking another wolf.
And you think the Luthers will just allow that to happen? I rely on their secrecy.
Human politics.
Politics that keep me safe.
Greyson must die.
Then I hope you enjoy watching Sascha die too, I snapped.
She shrugged, and I focused on forcing us back to human form. What was I meant to do? Imagine my human legs. My ears… and… Where are we going?
I’m drawing him out.
Of course. He could feel where we were. You have access to my memories and knowledge then?
No, those I must earn in time, as you must earn mine. I listened to your conversation with my Sascha this morning. It is bothersome that I can’t also feel where he is.
My wolf circled around the north and south team. I could smell the barricade of their human bodies and knew the tribe were holding strong.
If I didn’t fuck it up, we may have another grid in thirty minutes.
It is time, she announced.
Time for what?
Resting on her haunches, she bared our throat to the waning moon and howled.
I shrivelled and died inside. You didn’t!
She did it again, and I caught Sascha’s hypnotic scent. It stood out from the chaotic smells of his pack like a red flag in a sea of black.
He can’t get to us, she cackled. He’s stuck.
Another howl burst from our snout. This one was filled with glee.
Don’t forget my pack will hear that and try to take you out. I smelled for company and located a small group advancing from the north.
We took off south, settling our pace after a brief sprint. My wolf howled again, laughing as Sascha’s smell remained within the gulley to our right.
Greyson is listening to Sascha, she scoffed. He’s trying to do what’s right for the pack. Loser.
It’s nice to know that’s possible, I scowled. This isn’t funny. I need my clothes and to direct my team. You want to kill Greyson, that’s fine by me. We’re meeting him in two days. Let’s do it then.
They’ll lose another point if he shifts.
Not everything is about points, I said angrily. It’s about winning the game, not the battle. It’s about keeping what we are a secret.
This will get him out.
She yelped, injecting pain into a short howl.
My jaw dropped. You faker!
I inhaled. His scent was growing stronger. Fast.
For fuck’s sake. He’s coming.
Yes, my enemy is coming to die, and he’s not alone. Four wolves.
Despite myself, I couldn’t help tallying the points they’d lose.
Boom. The final cannon exploded.
In control of our body, she took off at full speed south. Without her speaking, I knew we were looking for high ground. An ideal place to fight.
We were small but very quick.
I studied the forest. We’re approaching one of the Luther’s entry points.
I want his people to watch him die.
Oh, was that all? Her Greyson hate was nice and all, but it didn’t gel with her girl crush on Sascha. I’m not sure I’m down with the public death thing.
I really wasn’t sure killing was my thing at all.
We left the last frequency generator behind, and less than ten seconds after we’d sprinted past, the distinct tread of four wolves reached our ears.
One was lighter than the others, fast like me.
We found a narrow path between two rock faces and my wolf turned.
This is crazy, I hissed. His pack won’t let you eat his damn heart.
They won’t have a choice. The stronger wolf will lead. This could end all your problems.
I stopped at that. That’s ludicrous.
Is it? You lead one pack. Why not two?
We stopped bickering as the largest damn wolf I’d ever seen padded into sight. It was the third time I’d seen him.
Greyson.
His luscious dark brown coat had thinned for summer. Honey eyes blazed into mine from across the space. He was a strong wolf. Able-bodied. Sharp teeth. Powerful contender for breeding.
You’re