Prey for Me

Prologue

Jay

Before the attack on Bloodhound, prior to Alaina being captured

Idid something terrible. Had to. Maybe in a past life or something. Regardless, the big bitch in the sky is punishing me for it. I don’t know what I did to Her, but whatever it was, I am so sorry.

If I had to guess why she hates me, I think that, once you’re an outcast from your pack, you become the equivalent of a fallen angel.

As if independence is a rebellion against the Moon Goddess and not contributing to a pack was a sin.

And on the topic of sins, rogues tend to be viewed as the vilest, as we are known to only help ourselves.

But I didn’t choose this life so why am I being punished for it?

Colin’s instructions were clear: kill anybody who tries to stand in the way of capturing his mate. I’ve never seen Colin take such an interest in anyone quite like he does with her.

I didn’t know vampires had mates. I always thought they just had bonds, but the Moon Goddess works in mysterious ways.

And picks favorites.

Newborn vampires and rogues are not among her list of saints. Instead of identity seekers, we’re considered self-serving because we aren’t contributing to society with whatever role has been chosen for us.

Rogues and vampires may seem like an unlikely pairing, and it is. We don’t even enjoy the same food. Our reasons for not belonging to a clan or pack are all different, but we’re all wanting to survive in peace. I call us a herd, not a team because we live together for a common, self-serving goal.

But it’s how we survive . . . and we owe it all to Colin.

Without him, I doubt any of us would’ve found our way.

Never once has he asked anything of us, so when he sought help in securing Alaina, no one could decline.

Nothing mattered to him more than her. Enlisting Olivia only confirmed my suspicions about his devotion—he hadn’t spoken to his sister in ages.

When you find the person you want to spend your life with, pride fades. Because here we are in the bushes, waiting for Olivia’s signal to attack. Colin was specific about wanting Alaina and some guy named Caleb alive. Colin said this Caleb guy was someone of importance to Alaina.

We don’t want this to be a bloodbath, just Alaina. I’m hoping she can give him a chance. After all, Colin deserves happiness.

***

It’s a bloodbath but not because of me. So far, I’ve successfully avoided killing anyone. I don’t need to add to the bloodshed. I just want to get Alaina and get out. Then all of this can stop.

Here and there, I’m throwing wolves off of my comrades’ backs, but I scan the battlefield, searching for her, but I don’t see her.

Loud pounding catches my attention, and I spot Jeff in his wolf form throwing his body repeatedly into a steel door. And there could only be one reason he’s so determined.

So, I sprint to aid him, heaving against the door, and it starts to give. One final blow, and it’s blown off its hinges, revealing an infirmary. Jeff and I foam at the mouth.

Miss Alaina Grove.

Eager for the violence to end, I charge at her first, with Jeff close behind.

Alaina avoids my lunge and kicks Jeff in the snout, eliciting a whimper from him. She stumbles, almost losing her footing, but her leg is injured. She does her best to hide it, but it’s too late. I have a knack for finding an opponent’s weakness.

Jeff recovers. He slams his weight into Alaina, knocking her into a steel cart. A scalpel falls from the trolley and lodges itself into her foot. She cries as blood seeps from the wound.

She can’t fight in her current state. At least not well enough to beat me.

Especially not with a scalpel sticking out of her.

Just when I thought she would give up, she grasps the handle and yanks the blade out.

More blood trickles from the wound. Alaina throws it, and it clatters against the floor, releasing a sigh of relief.

A loud thump catches my attention. A man lies on the floor, clutching his shoulder. His face is twisted in agony.

And Alaina looks pissed.

Having been the one to throw him, Jeff anticipates her attack and tumbles toward her, but Alaina is ready for him.

She rolls to the side, causing Jeff to smash his snout into a bench. Alaina climbs on top of him, clawing at his back, tearing into his flesh.

Between whimpers, Jeff snaps his jaw at Alaina and tries to throw her off.

She wraps her arms around his neck and squeezes.

He can’t breathe, and she won’t let go.

I’m holding out, waiting to see if Jeff can handle it. I wouldn’t want to step on his toes for fear he might get mad I stepped in.

He’s done that before.

Jeff throws his weight at anything he can to get her off of his back, but she stays locked in. It isn’t until Jeff’s front paws bend that I truly believe Jeff can’t handle this alone. He needs my help.

I fly at Alaina, chomping down on her shoulder and tossing her off Jeff. She rolls outside of the infirmary, onto the grass—directly into Olivia’s hands.

Great, now this can all be over.

But Jeff doesn’t seem to have the same agenda. He circles the male, and I circle with him to stay in his eyeline, trying to capture his attention.

Why is he still going? We got what we came for, we should leave.

I growl and bark to get his attention, but Jeff stays locked in on the guy.

What is he doing?

He lunges for the man, and their scuffle quickly becomes deadly . . . for Jeff.

He won’t stop, despite my barking. I try to separate them, and it’s just as dangerous as it sounds. They’re fighting to the death, and the idea that he might be taken from Casey is just too much to handle.

I see red.

It’s happening.

I bark, desperate for Jeff to escape, and he turns, leaving his neck exposed. The man shifts into a reddish-brown wolf in an instant. Even with an injured limb, he snaps his jaws and clamps onto Jeff’s throat.

Jeff yelps and whimpers, and his eyes glaze over.

And a familiar beast surfaces I’ve left behind in a cage years ago.

I circle and prepare for my kill.

***

I come to, and my vision clears. The man’s body comes into view. Mangled and matted.

What have I done?

Jeff is standing in his human form. My mouth is open, and I’m speechless. But Jeff doesn’t look as horrified as I feel. In fact, he seems proud.

Proud of such a monstrous killer.

“Do you know who that was?” Jeff asks, astonished.

I stare back at him. The only certainty was that they would kill us if we didn’t act. Alaina choked Jeff to near unconsciousness. I didn’t want his daughter Casey orphaned like I was. Taking it out on Alaina wasn’t an option. Colin’s instructions were clear: keep her alive.

I gaze at the mangled body of an innocent man. He didn’t deserve this. He wasn’t even fighting back.

“You just killed the alpha,” Jeff says. “We’ve gotta get out of here. Come on!”

He grabs my arm, and we sprint for safety.

“Don’t look back!”

And while I don’t, I won’t ever forgive myself.