1
They can smell panic.
I knew the truth of it down in my very soul, but I couldn’t get my heart to stop racing. Hiding my sweaty hands in my pockets, I kept my pace steady and my chin tucked enough that none of my adversaries would think I was looking for a fight.
One of the pack swerved too near me, but the surrounding horde didn’t leave me any room to dodge. A letterman-clad monster rammed into my shoulder.
I stumbled, pulling my hands out of my pockets to save my balance.
“Dude, what the hell happened?” The letterman’s beta grabbed my wrist, pulling my hand closer so he could get a better look at the charcoal-colored lines that traced my veins and the angry burn that splatted over the black web.
“Cooking accident.” I wrenched my wrist free and shoved my hands back into my pockets
