The Hunted Read Online Free PDF Page B

sharing his bounty. I wondered if that was going to work to my advantage.
    I had learnt that the characteristics of vân â tors were not that much different to the rest of the animal kingdom: there was always someone a little higher up in the pack order than the other, although neither of these beasts looked like an Alpha or pack leader. An Alpha was larger than a standard vân â tor, and a whole lot meaner. I hadn’t exactly met an alpha before. My field experience was truly limited in that regard, but I was a solid reader, and the texts at the IMI pointed out a few discernible differences between an Alpha and the two wolves I was looking at.
    For one, Alphas were rare. No one ever really saw them, but The Protectors that had, recorded that they were at least twice the size of a standard Vân â tor.
    Two, they were supposedly slightly darker in colour—closer to black than grey. And three, they were really freaking hard to kill, hence why no one had done it yet. The two vân â tors that were with me now were definitely nothing special, but I still was shaking in my boots at the prospect of having to face them.
    I doubted that the leader of the two would leave his kill until he had taken his fill. If they sensed danger, then I hoped he would send the other one to investigate. Separating them seemed to be the only chance I would have at avoiding the razor sharp teeth and long pointed claws.
    I looked around my feet, searching for anything useful, like a rock or piece of broken concrete. There was nothing.
    Damn.
    Then I realised that I had my cell phone on me. I smiled lightly. This would do the trick just nicely.
    I dug into my coat and fished around in the pockets until I found my phone. I kept the blade in my hand, just in case, and then quickly edged my way back around the container, in the direction that I had just come.
    When I got to the end of the row, I used the blade’s reflection once again to check if the coast was clear and then darted across the opening, while sticking to the shadows and trying not to make too much noise. After all, their hearing was exceptionally good.
    When I got to the very end of the row I turned left and dashed as quickly as I could down to the next passage. I stopped at the corner of another container and took a quick second to peer around the edge.
    About seven shipping containers away I could just see the two vân â tors, and thankfully, it appeared that they were too engrossed to notice me, so I made a run for it while the going was good.
    Once I’d cleared the opening, I leant back up against the rear of the next container and listened for any sounds of movement. There was nothing, just the same scent of blood in the air and the distant sound of snapping snouts and tearing flesh. I swallowed down another lump of rising bile.
    Gross.
    I took off at a run again, putting as much distance between me and the Vân â tors as I could.
    When I got to the far end of one container, I grabbed my cell phone again and turned off the silent option, making sure that when it did ring that the tone would be very loud.
    I sent a quick text message to Lucas.
     
    — Lucas, found the targets. In 5 minutes I need you to ring me, don’t hang up until the phone goes to message-bank. Don’t bother trying to text me back either, just do as I say, okay? —
     
    I sent the message. It seemed to take forever with my shaky fingers, but I managed to get it done, and then place the phone on the ground. I had roughly five minutes before that thing was going to go off like a siren, possibly less if Lucas decided to be an ass, ignored my instructions, and called me back straight away.
    I took off in a run again, this time keeping to the rear of the containers so I could put a bit of speed into my step without drawing any attention.
    Stopping at the corner of the passage that led directly to the Vân â tors again, I quickly peered around the corner. They were still quite clearly engrossed in their meal.
    I