Howl For It
Page 64

Lyle wasnt heading toward the cage. He walked right up to the video camera. Smiled into the lens. Then Jonah heard the boss say, I got this, right before the lead hunter reached upand yanked out the video and audio surveillance system.
The screen immediately went blank. What the hell? This wasnt protocol. All interrogations were to be monitored. Those were orders that came straight down from the federal government. All of em had to be recorded. And with his sister involved . . .
Jonah spun on his heel, but Travis grabbed him and pulled him back. Sorry, man, Travis said, with a shake of his blond head. But Ive got ordersand youre not leaving this room.
The door opened. Two more hunters entered the surveillance area.
When familys involved, hell, its just a bitch. Travis exhaled as he shook his head again. You just sit tight, and this will all be over soon.
The hell it would.
What are you doing, Lyle? Kayla demanded, grabbing at the bars with white-knuckled fists. You cantthat camera is always supposed to stay on!
Gage realized that his little hunter sounded furious.
She didnt realize what was happening.
Gage stood in the middle of the cagehe hated cagesand watched silently as the one shed called Lyle turned to face them. What the guy was doing was pretty obvious.
He was making sure he didnt have an audience for this little party.
And Gage knew exactly why.
Laughter pulled from him. Deep. Mocking. Did the hunters even realize what was happening?
Lyle smiled, flashing white and very sharp teeth.
You know . . . for a hunter . . . Gage kept his voice bland. You sure as shit smell like a shifter.
Because there was no mistaking that scent. Wild. Woodsy. Animal.
It was a little bonus that Mother Nature had given the supernaturals. They could always recognize their own kind. Demons could always see right through the glamour and find their brethren. Witches could feel the pull of magic exerted by others like them.
As for shifters . . . one smell was all it took to recognize another animal.
Kaylas shoulders stiffened. She was still staring at Lyle, but the tension in her body was screaming right then.
Only she wasnt screaming. When she spoke, her words were soft. Youre wrong. Lyle McKennis is the lead hunter in the area. He cant be a shifter.
Why? Gage asked as Lyle kept the smile on his face. Because hes the big, bad boss whos sent you out to kill the shifters in this town? Sorry, sweetheart, but our kind has a long and vicious history of turning on each other.
Only Lyle had gotten smart. The jerk didnt have a pack of hisown, so hed tricked humans into killing for him.
Shifters truly were very good at lying.
Lyle was almost at the cage now.
Thats not true, Kayla said and gave a fast, negative shake of her head. Hes the one who found me and Lyle afterafter our parents were killed. He saved us, got us help
Fast as a striking snake, Lyles hand shot through the cage bars. His claws were out, and they shoved right against Kaylas throat. And Im the one whos gonna kill you, too, if you dont do exactly what I say.
He was a dead man.
Gage rolled his shoulders. He let his own claws break from his fingertips. Im guessing you dont want to die easily, he said in a considering way as he studied the other shifter. You want me to take my time with things. Strip away your flesh. Make you beg and scream before I give you that fucking sweet release of death. The guy had to want thator else he wouldnt be touching Kayla.
Lyles green eyes narrowed. He was staring at Kayla, not Gage. And the bastard needed to move those damn claws away from her.
Gages nostrils widened. A new scent had hit the air. Blood. Kaylas blood.
A snarl sprang from his lips, and he leapt those few feet that would take him to the side of the cage. He slashed out with his own claws, and if Lyle had moved even one second slower, he would have cut the guys hand off.
Dont fucking touch her. Gages lethal order was the growl of a beast. His wolf wanted out.
Sure, wolves liked the scent of blood just as much as any shifter, but not when that scent belonged to a mate.
And Kayla was most definitely his.
When the blood scent came from a mate, the wolf within just wanted to destroy any threat near her.
Lyle had backed up and made sure to get clear of the cage. His cocky smile was back. I thought it might be like that. I mean . . . I knew the truth about her for years. I figured if I just put her in the right wolf s path . . .
Gage pulled Kayla away from the bars. He looked at her throat and lightly touched the flesh. Just scratches, but he understood the point Lyle had wanted to make.
I can kill her. You can watch.
Screw that.
This Lyle asshole could watch while Gage cut him open.
What truth? Kayla demanded as he pushed Gages hands away.
It was Lyles turn to laugh now. Why, exactly, do you think your wolf married you? Because he took one look at youand fell in love? His voice mocked her.
How could they get out of the cage? How could he shut that jerks mouth?
Kaylas breath heaved. I dont