Wolf Pact: A Wolf Pact Novel by Melissa de La Cruz

She swallowed and held her breath. The room was so still they were frozen. She was conscious of her own pulse, the air around her face, and the temperature of the cave.
    “Four heartbeats,” Lawson whispered. “Inside. Two in the scullery now, the others somewhere around the dioramas.”
    Edon nodded. “Sounds about right. I can’t feel any more.”
    “Reconnaissance team, most likely,” Lawson said. “Hurry. We can outrun them.”
    “Why can’t we jump?” Malcolm asked. “Make the circle?”
    “Youknow why.” Lawson shook his head. “I can’t take that risk again, not when there’s so little time.” He had taken a few steps forward when he turned around and froze. His brothers did the same; the four boys stood with their noses in the air, sniffing like dogs.
    “They’ve found us,” Malcolm said, shaking a little.
    “We can take them,” Lawson said. “Arthur—take Mac and Bliss down to the car. Don’t wait. We’ll meet you at the rendezvous point.”
    He turned to Bliss, held her arm. “Don’t let them touch you,” he warned. “Otherwise you’ll be dragged down to Hell with them.”
    Then Bliss heard the three older boys chanting under their breath and saw a blue crescent appear on their faces; Lawson’s throbbed above his right cheekbone.
    But before they were done, the hellhounds came out of the walls, howling for blood.

E IGHTEEN
     
    A rthur fellfirst. His knee bent at an unnatural angle and he reeled sideways. His torch fell to the ground, still flickering. He moaned and tried to stand, but a dark shadow hit him on the jaw and he doubled over on the ground.
    Lawson was on him in a flash, drawing the hound away.
Come out!
he yelled.
Stop hiding in the dark, cowards!
    All his fault. Edon was right. Romulus had recognized him, of course, and had pinpointed his location; it hadn’t taken them that long once the hounds found the right scent. Or was it Bliss who had led them here? He’d heard Edon accuse her as well. Had she led the hounds to them? He was confused and angry, but there was no time to dwell on mistakes just then.
    Draw them out of the glom, he thought, out of the shadow, where they will have to fight hand to hand. He leapt at the hound but caught nothing but air.
    Hecould hear his brothers doing the same dance, swinging at shadows, fighting phantoms, chasing after specters, Rafe grunting, Edon cursing, while the hounds surrounded them. The biggest one came straight for Lawson, but Lawson saw him coming and feinted left, then struck, holding the hound in a choke hold.
    Where’s Tala?
he demanded.
Where is she? What did you do to her?
    The hound smiled a cruel smile.
The little one? She’s dead, of course. We killed her. But first we made her scream. We made her beg for death at the end. Death was kind after what we did to her. You did this. You killed her. You left her to die. You left her to burn.
    Return to us. Take the whip. The mantle is yours. Romulus will forgive. Bring us your brothers.
    “NO!” Lawson cried, falling back and releasing the hound. They both fell into the glom, where Lawson’s rage transformed him into a wolf. They were all wolves now, Rafe large and black-furred and red-eyed, Edon golden and lean, his teeth sharp as razors—wolves with red markings around their necks, where their collars had once choked them.
    Lawson snarled at the hounds that surrounded them; they had transformed as well, shedding their human aspect for bestial form, with sleek glossy hides, sharp ivory teeth, and long silver claws. He leapt at the nearest one, his teeth bared, seeking blood. Blood and revenge.
    He madequick work of the beasts, breaking the necks of two, smashing the third against the wall. Four. Only one left.
    Where?
he sent.
    Rafe shook his head. Edon paced the stone.
It got away.
    Then he saw it—it was running toward the light, toward the end of the passage, running for the girl. Bliss. Arthur and Malcolm were far ahead, almost at the end. But Bliss was