She looked up. “I can’t reach—”
Dahy braided his fingers together and offered her a step. “Get up, Myka.” He hadn’t meant to sound so harsh, but they didn’t have time to hesitate.
“I’m heavy and—”
“For fuck’s sake, get up! They’re coming. You’re not heavy, and I’m stronger than I look. What would Roan tell you to do?”
She nodded, put her foot in his hands, and used the trunk as support as she heaved herself up. Her fingers barely reached the lowest branch, but she managed to get a grip. Dahy changed his hold and pushed at her feet. When she got her arms over the branch, there was a bang, like a starting shot. Very Hunger Games-inspired. Dahy would’ve snorted hadn’t fear stolen his breath.
He didn’t want to die as a plaything for a bunch of wolves.
“Up!”
Myka made a sound somewhere between a curse and a sob but pulled herself up on the branch. Dahy shifted into squirrel and hurried past her. He then jumped onto the branches he thought were best for her to reach for next, and she followed his instructions with a nod. The higher they climbed, the thinner the branches got.
“It’s starting to sway.”
He chattered a reply. Swaying was good. Wolves were heavy, much heavier than Myka. If it was hard for her, it would be near impossible for them. He urged her on.
“I don’t know if I can go any higher, Dahy.”
A howl cut through the air; way too close for Dahy’s comfort. Myka stilled. Dahy wanted to tell her not to look down, but he was looking down too. A dark form circled the tree below. A wolf. Fuck.
Chapter 21
Jyran dropped from the sky, more or less, and shifted back into human only to take a swaying step. Had Konrad been in human form, he’d have winced. Too many shifts in too little time. He didn’t know if it took less effort when you were a smaller animal, but he doubted it.
“Found Farris. He’s right in the middle, so I don’t know how we’ll be able to break the chain.” He panted. “I guess we can run past him, and then have everyone chase us. Can they take out four wolves, two squirrels, and one human without getting in some kind of trouble?” Jyran looked around the group.
Konrad didn’t know. If Varg killed him, the Doson pack would belong to him. He shifted back into human form. “I’ll go. If I die, you’ll belong to the Ordbury pack, but they can’t blame you for anything going down here tonight.”
Roan snorted and Jyran chuckled. “Oh, you’re cute. It’s not your call.”
“I’m the alpha. I decide—”
“Not my alpha. Squirrels don’t have alphas, but do you know what we do have?”
Konrad stared at Jyran.
“Cousins. We have cousins, and they’re few and far between. And since I’m going in there, Gideon will follow. Since Myka is in there, Roan will follow too. Your best bet of talking someone out of going is Amir, but—” Jyran shrugged. “—he has this weird fascination with squirrels, so I don’t think he’s gonna let this one go.”
Amir made a confirming sound.
Idiots. Konrad was surrounded by idiots. Loyal, lovely idiots. “Okay, we go. Show the way to Farris.”
With a nod, Jyran melted back into a squirrel, and Konrad feared he wouldn’t be able to change back into human for several hours should he want to. He glanced Gideon’s way, reading tension and worry in his eyes.
They ran through the woods. It wasn’t far, but it felt as if they ran for hours, especially when there was a loud bang of a gun followed by cheers. The hunt was on.
A growl emanated from Roan, but luckily it was drowned out by the rally around them. They ran for a few more seconds, then Farris’ wide back came into view. Jyran slowed his steps, but Konrad burst past him. Farris turned around when they only were a few steps away from him. He didn’t look surprised in the least. Instead, he moved fast toward his neighbor and buried his claws in his throat. A gurgling sounded, but Konrad didn’t slow, he ran forth.
A howl cut through the night ahead of them at the same time as there was another gurgle of a ripped throat behind them. Farris must have taken out both his neighbors in the chain. It wouldn’t help. The next one in line would soon sound an alarm.
Roan sped up and ran shoulder to shoulder with Konrad, Gideon flanked Roan, and Amir ran behind Konrad. Boot-covered steps sounded behind them, and Konrad guessed Farris was running in human form. Up in the trees, Jyran was moving at an impressive speed.
There was a growl to their right, but before the wolf could attack, Amir was on him. Konrad kept running. Farris would come to Amir’s aid, should he need it.
A female cry flew over the night sky, and Jyran changed his direction a fraction. Konrad sped toward the sound, and soon they reached a tree with two wolves circling around the trunk and one having shifted back into human form and was climbing. He was halfway up the tree, and Myka and Dahy were at the top.
