Dark Moon Rising (The Revenant Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

this.
    Still, they waited. The world plunged into darkness, the night oppressive in its stillness. Growing restless, Thea turned to the enforcer closest to her, sucking in a breath to demand to know why the hell they were just standing there, but he spoke first.
    “You’re late.”
    He didn’t speak loudly, his volume within the range of polite conversation, and for an odd moment, Thea thought he’d spoken to her. Then, through the towering trees that stood sentinel to the east, a shadowy figure stepped into the clearing and strode toward them.
    In the darkness, she couldn’t make out any distinguishable features, just vague impressions. Tall, broad shoulders, lean waist, narrow hips, muscular arms. Even from the distance, she could scent him, smell the combination of earth, musk, and a hint of something more, something she couldn’t name, but that all werewolves exuded. Not cold and bitter like the guards, but still…dark.
    Lifting his head as he approached, the newcomer stepped into the silvery rays that shone through a part in the clouds. Moonlight glinted off the metal shackle around his neck, and Thea gasped when she noticed the thin, white scars that littered his chest, shoulders, and arms. Beneath the scars, his skin appeared ashen, and as she watched him, she idly wondered when he’d last seen the sun.
    If her captors could do that to one of their own, she didn’t want to imagine what they’d be capable of doing to her or the rest of her group.
    “Alpha Chase would like them bathed and dressed,” the new guy said, his voice deep and masculine, smooth like flowing water down a stream. “I’m to escort them to the cabin.”
    As he spoke, he turned his gaze on her, his eyes wide and his nostrils flared. His shoulders tensed, his body vibrated, and a low, rumbling growl rolled through his chest. The enforcer closest to Thea laughed.
    “I think he likes you, kitten.”
    “Stupid pup,” the ugly bald one added, shaking his head with a derisive snort. “You don’t learn, do you, Rhys?”
    The one he’d called Rhys relaxed his stiff posture, and his stunned expression melted into a look of indifference. “She’s nice to look at,” he said, his tone devoid of inflection. “Been a while since we’ve had any new females around here.”
    “I can’t argue with you there.” The wolf beside her reached out, skimming the back of his hand over her bare arm. “Maybe the alpha will let us have a little fun with her before the Gallows.”
    “Be a waste not to,” the enforcer standing behind Zerrik agreed. “She’s a fighter.”
    “True.” Her personal guard grew bolder, his knuckles brushing over the swell of her breast through her tank top. “I like the fighters.”
    “Then you’ll love this,” Thea muttered, grabbing the hand currently traveling toward her waist and giving it a sharp twist. The satisfying sound of bones snapping echoed like a gunshot through the darkness. “I wouldn’t do that,” she warned the enforcer when he yelled and reached for the button around his neck. “You push that button, and I seize up, I might just snap your whole fucking hand off by accident. We wouldn’t want that, would we?”
    Maybe none of their victims had ever fought back, because several tense seconds passed where none of the wolves seemed quite sure of how to proceed. Unfortunately, maiming and threating one guard didn’t prevent the others from eventually acting. One by one, Cade, Zerrik, and Abby fell to the ground, their bodies convulsing. The shackles—Zerrik’s collar and the humans’ handcuffs—buzzed with electricity, emitting blue sparks that crackled and popped.
    Neither male made a noise other than involuntary grunts, but Abby screamed, the sound agonizing. Her eyes rolled back, her head thrashing in the grass, her elbows locked as her fists pounded rhythmically against her bare thigh.
    “Fuck,” Thea spat, reluctantly releasing the wolf. “Enough,” she said louder, her voice