And, as if on perfect cue, a series of howls filled the night. Bloodcurdling, fierce, terrifying.

The men—vampires—began to edge back toward the waiting SUVs.

“Want to see who wins in this fight?” Alerac asked, the words a dark taunt. “Because I’m betting my wolves can take out you and your new bloods in less than five minutes.”

She peered around Alerac. The, ah, new bloods, were definitely backing up. Some had already jumped into the SUVs.

But that one man—the guy who seemed to be the leader—he hadn’t moved. He was still standing there, aiming his gun at Alerac.

“I’m not supposed to return without her.” She could see more of his face now. Hard edges, but a weak jaw. His hair was thick, pushed back from his high forehead. His gaze—it looked as dark as the night—turned to her. He stared at her, then said, “Attack.”

The word was low, and it took her a few seconds to realize that the British guy—the guy who Heath had said was there to help—had actually just given the order for his men to attack her.

Lucky for her, only half of the men attacked. Half ran. The running half jumped into the SUV, the one already occupied by Heath, and they tore out of there.

Alerac spun toward her. He wrapped his arms around her and shielded her with his body. The bullets started flying. Jane could smell his blood. Could hear the impact as the bullets hit him. Sank into him.

“Wooden,” he muttered. “SOBs were plannin’ to use wooden bullets on you.”

And she also heard growls. Howls. The fast thud of—of—

Alerac released her as men screamed.

She looked over and saw that the vampires were under attack. Wolves, giant, hulking wolves, had gone after the vampires.

Even as his blood dripped onto the ground, Alerac headed into that fray. “You’re dying, vampire.”

As she watched, Alerac fell to the ground. But when his hands hit the pavement, they weren’t hands any longer.

They were paws. Long, dark, sharp claws sprang from those paws.

Bones snapped and popped.

The vampire leader tried to fire at Jane again, but his gun just clicked. The vamp spun away, rushing for the closest SUV, but he never made it.

A big, snarling black wolf launched at him.

The vamp screamed.

The sound was cut off.

More howls filled the air.

She wanted to cover her ears. Wanted to pretend that a massacre wasn’t happening just feet away from her.

Humans had to be close enough to hear those sounds. Those howls. The screams. The police would come. Right?

She stumbled back. Her hip hit the metal of her truck. Get in. Get away. She started to climb inside.

“Sorry, love, but you aren’t leaving him again.”

Another man was there—another man who’d moved too dang quietly. He grabbed her arms, pulled her close. Thanks to her enhanced senses, she could see him clearly in the darkness. She stared into his eyes. Golden. Angry. “He’s killing for you. The least you can do is hang around and watch the blood.” His smile was cruel. “I thought your kind liked the blood.”

Her stomach was cramping. Nausea rising in her throat. No, she didn’t like the blood. She hated it. The first time she’d actually tried to drink it, she’d vomited. She craved the blood and despised it at the same time.

Yes, she was screwed up. She knew it.

“Please,” Jane whispered. “I just want to go home.”

His eyelids flickered. The man before her was handsome, far too perfect, with even features. He had thick brown hair and angry eyes. Such incredibly angry eyes. His rage seemed completely directed at her. He scared her. They all did.

What was new?

She was a vampire. She should have been able to make others fear. She couldn’t.

“Don’t worry. He’ll take you home.”

The words sounded like a threat.

Probably because they were.

There were no more screams then. The silence penetrated her awareness. She looked back over her shoulder.

The wolves bent over their fallen prey. The vampires were dead. So much blood soaked the pavement.

And the black wolf, the biggest beast there, was stalking toward her. His green eyes glowed—glowed with that same startling intensity that she’d seen back at the old bar.

She shook her head.

The wolf began to shift. It wasn’t some instant process. The fur seemed to melt from him. His bones snapped and reshaped. The paws on the ground became tanned hands. He rose slowly, lifting his head so that his shining eyes met hers.

Jane realized she’d forgotten to breathe.

He was naked. The muscles of his chest rippled. And as he continued to advance, her gaze dropped over him. She frowned when she saw the markings on his chest. A tattoo. One with intricate lines that covered the flesh right over his heart. Flesh that should have been sliced open from Heath’s attack. Yet the flesh appeared completely healed.

Her gaze wanted to drop even more. She wouldn’t let it. Instead, Jane made her eyes rise, and she held that glowing stare as he closed in on her.

Alerac stopped just in front of her. “You’re welcome.”

Her lips parted.

His head lowered toward hers. “That’s twice that I’ve let you run. Don’t try for a third time.”

The words were a rumbled whisper of menace.

“You won’t like the punishment I give if you flee from me again.”

Then he was taking her arm. Her body brushed against his naked flesh. She gasped at the contact and tried to pull away.

Yeah, that wasn’t happening. The wolf had a strength she’d never seen before.

Or, if she had, Jane didn’t remember it.

But then, I don’t remember anything before that swamp. Six months. That was as far back as her memory went.

Six short months.

“Don’t run,” he said softly.

Her gaze flew to the street. To the pile of bodies. She flinched.

Alerac’s hold tightened on her. “I get that you don’t remember, okay? Let me help you out. That prick vampire? All of his men? They were here to get you, to force you to come back with them. They’re working for a guy named Lorcan.”

The name meant nothing to her.

“He’s a master vampire,” Alerac said in that deep, rumbling voice of his. “He’s also a sadistic bastard who wants to make you suffer.” He pulled in a deep breath. “I’m not about to let him get his hands on you again.”