Page 5 of Alphas Never Hide

Myheart pounded asIglanced around at the woods again.Istill didn’t scent another supe, but this had to be a trap.AndIwas the dipshit who’d walked right into it.

“Whatare you waiting for?Idon’t have all night.”

“Whereis he?”Iasked warily, scanning the woods. “Comeon out,Robbie.Let’stalk.”

“Myname’s notRobbie, asshole.Whichyou would know if you’d asked me,” the man said. “I’mRyley.Andcould you quit yelling?Fuckonly knows what you’ll attract with all that racket.”

Iwaited.Noone charged at me from the shadows.Iwaited a little longer.Robbiehad never been a patient guy.Hemust not be here.So, what did that mean?WasthisRyleyguy another ofRobbie’sprisoners?Hadhe escaped?

Ifmy suspicions were true, he was the best leadI’dcome across.

Finally.

TheEternalMagicherself had delivered him right to me.Ifshe expected an apology for all the bitching andcomplainingI’dbeen doing tonight, she’d have to wait.First,Ineeded to get this guy away from here and to safety as soon as possible.Ishifted into my human form asIdarted forward.Theguy’s legs twitched again.Ididn’t have a first aid kit with me, butIcould strip off myT-shirt and use it to bind his ankle.

Ireached for the foot he said was injured?—

Thesupe’s foot shot out, aiming straight for my eye.Idodged, but not quick enough to avoid it completely.

Thump.Thump.Thump.

Hiscloven hoof battered my face three times beforeIfell backward.AsIcollapsed, the back of my head struck a tree trunk.Fantastic.Thatwas just whatIneeded after getting a hoof to the face.

“Watchwhere you put that thing.Youcould have blinded me.”Islid my fingers over my cheek.Theycame away wet and bloody.Thetwo points on his hoof were as sharp as knife blades. “Areyou having a seizure?”

“You’restill alive?Damnit.Youmust have a thick skull.”

“You’retrying to kill me?”Mywords were barely discernable through my growl.Iblinked at the murderous stranger. “Whatthe fuck, man?”

Ryleyhad grabbed onto a low hanging tree branch and was hauling himself to his feet.Hedidn’t seem capable of putting weight on one of his feet, so he hadn’t been lying about his injured ankle.Whenhe got upright, he swayed and almost fell again.Whenhe was finally steady, he scowled at me.Ifhe had any kind of kinetic magic, like the kind humans gave their fictional superheroes,I’dbe dead.

“Oh, don’t sound so surprised.I’mnot falling for it.AndI’mnot going back with you.”Heraised his hands in the air and lifted his injured leg in a bizarre pose that reminded me of a praying mantis.Ishouldn’t think he looked cute like that.Likea little pup, trying to be all mean and menacing, while striking the strangest poseI’dever seen.Yeah.Idefinitely wasn’t thinking clearly.Iprobably had a brain injury. “Ifyou try to make me,I’llgo allKarateKidon your ass.”

“Huh?”Mythoughts churned sluggishly through my throbbing head, but it didn’t take much to figure out what the problem was. “I’mnot one of those wolves.”

Hehuffed. “Right.LikeI’mgoing to believe that.”

“I’mserious.”

“So, what are you saying?You’rejust some rando wolf out for a stroll?”Helowered his arms and leg, then hobbled toward me.Iinched away from him.Ihad no desire to be on the business end of those hooves again, soIfigured my best plan was to stay out of kicking range.

Istared at his vicious hoof for a minute untilIwas sure he wouldn’t strike me again.Thenmy gaze wandered up his body.NowthatIsaw him standing, he was taller thanI’dfirst thought.Healso reminded me of something or someone, but my head ached too much for me to figure it out right now.Wasit from a movie or aTVshow?

Evenin my human form, my senses were strong enough to pick out a few details about him in the darkness of the forest.Beige-colored fur covered everything south of his waist.Ididn’t let my gaze linger down there, though.Ididn’t want him thinkingIwas trying to check out what he was packing between his legs, even ifIcouldn’t see anything because of his fur.

Inmy quick glance,Inoted how his bottom half was more animal-like, from the shape of his short legs to the hooves and his little stubby tail.Hisupper half was human, with two notable exceptions: those little stump-like horns sticking out through his brown hair, and eyes with creepy rectangular-shaped pupils.

“No, you’re right.I’mnot randomly strolling around,”Isaid. “I’mlooking for the wolves who captured you.Whateveryou can tell me about them will help.”

“Nope.I’mnot falling for that.Whyare you really here?You’rejust trying to distract me until they catch up, aren’t you?DoIlook gullible?And, while we’re being all honest and shit,Ishould let you know you aren’t taking me anywhere.Never.”

“I’mnot with them.Ican help.”

Hesneered in disbelief. “Ifyou aren’t with those prick-crickets, how did you knowI’dbeen captured, huh?Yousmell like you haven’t had a bath in weeks, just like they do.Ihaven’t had a shower in weeks, andIstill smell better than you.Doyou really thinkI’mgoing to fall for your lies?”

Hisvoice had gotten louder and louder the longer he talked until he nearly shouted the last question.Andprick-crickets?Whatin the name ofMagicwas a prick-cricket?Thisguy’s swearing was truly bizarre.Itwas like he thought if he pushed a bunch of words together, that was enough, even if they didn’t make sense.

“Idon’t smell that bad.”Ichecked my pits again.Hehad a fair point.Iwas a little ranker thanI’dthought.AndmyT-shirt had at least three oil stains, and my ripped jeans had more.Isighed and lifted my hands in a placatinggesture. “Fine.Ican see why you might be confused about me, butIswearI’mnot with them.I’mthe…”Iswallowed.Nope.Icouldn’t sayIwas theAlphaof theWillowLakepack.Lieswould get me nowhere. “Ilive inWillowLake.We’retrying to catch those wolves and bring them to justice.”