CHAPTER

SANI

There was no rational thought about which direction Sani should go. Pure instinct drove him toward Tereza. It wasn’t just that she’d left him. There was a sense of unease that had turned into fear. It wasn’t his fear. Tereza was terrified.

Run. Run. Run!

He had to get to her. Two feet weren’t fast enough. The change to wolf form happened between one moment and the next and Sani raced over the snowy ground. Four wolf feet barely touched the earth. His body stretched so each step covered as much distance as possible.

Finally the wind carried the sweet, wintry scent of Tereza to his nose. It was accompanied by a stench of ash, decay, and blood. Vampires. Based on the density of the odor, a lot of them.

Sani crested a rise, giving him a panoramic view of the landscape and highway below. Tereza was running from vampires. Her magic sent icicles at them, but her hits barely slowed them.

“I won’t hurt you. Be my companion, Tereza,” once called. “I’ll make you a queen.”

Over my dead body.

“Be careful. Tereza,” the vampire called in a mocking tone. “It’s dangerous on the highway for a woman alone. Especially at night.”

Tereza didn’t seem to hear him as she ran toward the forest.

She’s not alone now. Sani threw his head back and howled a warning to the vampires that would also let his pack know there was danger nearby. Maybe help would come, but there was no time to wait. He raced down the hill.

Tereza paused at the treeline, uncertainty all over her face. Vampires were right behind her.

Get down! Sani bunched his muscles, ready to attack. Get in the car! Her car wouldn’t offer much protection, but at least she would be out of the fight. He didn’t look back to see if she obeyed his order. Sani leapt over Tereza as she dove to the ground. His paws hit a vampire in the chest, knocking him flat.

All fur, fangs, and fury, Sani snapped his jaws closed around the throat of his prey. Here were targets he could use to take out his frustration, rage, and a healthy dose of resentment built up over a lifetime and culminating with Ulf’s high-handed tactics today.

Sani drove the vampires toward the road, snarling and slashing with claws. His speed matched theirs, but there were too many of them. When he attacked one, another blindsided him. Their kicks and punches landed often enough to cause damage. Talons in place of fingernails tore into his flesh.

Icicles struck more accurately, hitting chests and hands, giving him much needed breaks from a constant barrage of blows.

“Gun!” Tereza cried. She sent a storm of sharpened snowflakes at the vampires. They clawed at their faces.

A gleam of metal caught Sani’s eye an instant before the loud bang of gunfire. Pain tire down his flank, but it was from sharp nails, not a bullet. A vampire shrieked and something clattered to the frozen ground. A quick glance revealed a thin shard of ice piercing the gun wielding vampire’s hand.

Sani shook his head, tearing into the throat of his prey.

Two vampires ripped at him with claws, fangs, and a blur of speed. More vampires piled on him, their weight taking him down while another monster leapt toward Tereza.

In a rage that would do any Berserker proud, Sani ignored his pain and dug deep for strength. He contorted and twisted, biting and gouging whatever he came in contact with. He struggled, broke free for a moment, and dove for the vampire taking Tereza down.