Page 10 of Wolves Always Bite

“Youstole that magic,”Isaid asIpushed her off and tried to get around the truck to the driver’s door. “You’reluckyIeven left you the moneyIdid.”

“It’smine, thief,” she shouted as she came at me again. “You’rea thief.”

Withthe way she was carrying on, it was like she was intentionally trying to attract attention and expose all these people to magic.Icouldn’t let that happen.Ihad to get away from her.

Ihad my hand on the door handle when she caught up to me.Shedug her claws into my calf, andIstaggered.StupidAchillesheel.Icursed asIdropped to my knees.Clawstore at my back as she climbed me like a tree.Damnit, she was going for my throat.Awerewolf was able to survive a lot of injuries and, thanks to the dealImade withGage, my life expectancy was a hell of a lot longer than a normal shifter’s.Butif she tore out my throat, well,Iwouldn’t come back from that.Notmany supes would.

Butto be taken down by a goblin?I’dnever hear the end of it.Myteam would probably begTeagueto summon my ghost so they could laugh in my face.

Wherethe hell wasIsaac?Hewas supposed to be my backup here.

Istaggered to my feet and crashed against the truck, slamming the goblin between my body and the driver’s side door.Metalgroaned and buckled under the force.Sonof a banshee.I’djust gotten my truck painted.ButBabette’sgrip on me slipped, soIdid it again.

Shefell to the ground.Ilifted my foot to stamp on her, but she rolled under the truck.It’donly be a few seconds before she’d be back.Iseized the moment of reprieve to shift into myAnubisform.Ididn’t want to go full on wolf—Istill needed to get into the truck, and my full wolf form wouldn’t be able to work the door handle—but with the claws and head of my wolf and the body of a man,I’dbe able to deal with the goblin more efficiently.Ishould have shifted before now, butIhadn’t wanted to scareJeremyany more than he already was.

Somuch for that idea.Therewas no shielding the guy from the supernatural world now.

Ahulking old motorhome towing a battered utility trailer rumbled up the aisle of the grassy parking lot.Thered paint on the monstrosity had long ago faded to pink, but the chrome gleamed.Brakeshissed as the beast of a machine stopped in front of my truck.Theclunk of the door opening came next, followed by a surge of energy pouring into the air, making it heavy with the presence of something powerful.Loudfootsteps thumped down the metal steps.

“Abouttime,”Imuttered.Mostof my injuries were healing, but the deeper ones, like that one to my leg, would take a bit of time.

Gagelifted an eyebrow at me as he stepped down to the grass.Lightcaught the demon’s charcoal-colored horns.Theiriridescent sheen always reminded me of spilled oil.Insidethe truck,Jeremylet out an aborted shriek.AsGage’sgaze flicked toward the truck, his eyes turned crimson as he assessed the human.Whateverhe found didn’t worry him because he turned back to me after a few seconds. “Youlet a goblin do that to you?”

“Fuckoff,Ididn’tlether do anything.”

“Whereis she?”

“Sherolled under the—"Movementcaught my eye a few cars down. “Nope.She’sover there.Runningtoward the market.”

Babettewas hauling ass.Herlittle goblin arms were pumping as she ducked between two cars and out of sight.

“I’dhoped to grab her, but we can’t risk any more exposure.”Gage’smouth flattened into a tight line. “Whatabout the human?”

“Wecan’t leave him here withBabette.”

“Fine.”Gagenodded sharply. “Let’sgo.Beforeanything else happens.Canyou drive like that?”

“I’llmanage.”Igritted my teeth. “I’mnot lettingIsaacdrive my truck.”

“Hey,”Isaacshouted in protest as he trotted into view with a wide smile.I’dnever met a man who liked to jog as much asIsaac;Ifigured it was because he was a centaur.Inhis fist wasBabette’slittle cash box. “I’mnot that bad of a driver.”

Afew snickers of laughter from the others inside the motorhome followed.

“Let’sget out of here,”Gagesaid. “We’llstop in an hour to regroup and debrief.”

“Itook out her tires, so that should slow her down if she decides to follow us.”

Gagegrunted, before disappearing into the motorhome.Isaacfollowed at his heels.Idropped myAnubisform and turned toward the truck.Iwinced at the massive indent in my door.ThenIlooked up, sawJeremy, and winced again.Theguy stared at me with wide eyes.I’dhonestly never seen so much white around someone’s irises before.Heclutched his backpack in his lap like it was a life preserver.TheJahallerwas on the bench seat beside him.Atleast the little guy was face up.Itried for a smile asImotioned forJeremyto open the door.Tomy surprise,Jeremycomplied without any other coaxing.

“Hey,Gage, hold up a minute,”Ishouted over my shoulder asIopened the door.

Igrabbed theJahaller.He’dbe safer withGageand the others.They’dbe able to supply him with more magic thanIcould at the moment.Ihobbled to the motorhome.Mycalf still hurt like a motherfucker, but it was healing.Slowly.

“Here.Ifound him atBabette’sstall,”Isaid asIpassed theJahallertoGage.

Gagecradled the little creature in his hands and grimaced.Hescanned the parking lot again. “Sheneeds to be punished for this.”

“Areyou saying we should go back in there?”Mybody still had a lot of open wounds, butI’drally if needed.