Wolf Pact: A Wolf Pact Novel Read Online Free PDF

couldn’t breathe.
    No. No. Not now. No.
    “Lawson!” Tala’s voice snapped him out of his daze. “What’s wrong? Who is it?”
    When he didn’t answer, she pushed him aside to look through the peephole. “Oh no,” she whispered. “Lawson!” she cried. “DO SOMETHING!”
    Her voice shook him into action. “THEY’RE HERE!” Lawson yelled. He could smell the hounds now. They’d be on them in an instant, coming from all directions, ducking through shadows and hiding in trees, making their way toward the house, bringing fire and ash.
    “Make sure Edon doesn’t see!” he said, grabbing Tala’s arm. Lawson began to barricade the door, tossing everything he could find against it—the chairs, the kitchen table. “Get everything we need! We’re not coming back!”
    Tala noddedand ran to secure the treasures of their pack.
    “RAFE!” he cried. “Everyone to the middle, get ready to jump!”
    “I’ve got it!” his brother yelled, hustling Malcolm toward the living room.
    Hellhounds! Here!
    Now!
    He was so frightened he couldn’t think, but he had to concentrate if he was going to get them all out of there, if they were going to survive this.
    “It’ll hold,” Lawson said to Malcolm, who was shaking. “They can’t get in the house.”
    Wordlessly, Tala pointed to the windows, her eyes wide with fright and despair.
    He turned to see. Outside, flames ringed the perimeter. If the hounds couldn’t enter the house, they would burn it to the ground.

F IVE
     
    T he circle offlames was still far enough away that Lawson could see the snow-covered grass in between the fire and the house. But it wouldn’t be long before the fire gained energy and started moving closer. All his planning, all his nights of worry wasted. The first home they’d ever had, about to be destroyed. His biggest fear was upon them, and he hated himself for thinking they’d been safe even for a moment. He slammed a fist hard against the wall.
    Tala grabbed him by the shoulder. “Don’t. We’ll find another home. We built this one together, and we’ll build another.”
    He swallowed hard, kissed her forehead brusquely. Thank god for Tala.
    Thescent of smoke made its way into the living room.
    “Where’s Edon?” Rafe asked.
    Lawson knew where he was. He exchanged anguished looks with Tala. “I’ll get him,” she said.
    “No—let me,” Lawson said.
    He ran to the kitchen.
    Edon stood transfixed at the front door, peering out through the peephole. “You didn’t tell me,” he said without moving; he must have heard Lawson’s footsteps behind him.
    A low, throaty voice whispered from the doorway,
“Come to me, Edon … I’ve missed you so much.”
    “It’s not her,” Lawson said. “Not really. Not anymore. You know that.” He’d seen her eyes, seen how their blue had turned a deep reddish-black. “Ahri’s one of them now.” Ahramin had been turned. She was no longer a wolf; she walked upright; she carried a black sword; she was an extension of Romulus’s will. A Hound of Hell.
    “Edon, open the door so we can be together again …”
    “I have to open it,” Edon said.
    “I can’t let you do that.” Lawson pushed Edon away from the door as Ahramin began pounding on it so hard that it made the walls shake and the light fixtures swing wildly. The pummeling was relentless, and it felt as if not just the door but the whole house would collapse from the fury of her blows.
    The girl’s taunts turned to screams as the door held. “EDON!” she thundered as Lawson pulled his brother back into the living room. “EDON, IF YOU STILL LOVE ME, LET ME IN!”
    Now thatEdon was with them, the circle was complete. Edon sat dazed between Lawson and Rafe, who each held on to him in case he tried to make a run for the door.
    “Can they follow us?” Malcolm asked, his eyes red and nose dripping.
    “The hounds can’t come through the portals,” Lawson assured him. “At least the ones I make, I’m pretty sure.” He