Fangs of Fire

Pawns and Paws

Riley had faced plenty of messes in her 26 years blown engines, repo men, that one time she’d accidentally set her kitchen on fire with a faulty toaster but nothing topped this. She stood in a clearing surrounded by a dozen pairs of glowing eyes, her cracked camera dangling from its strap, tire iron still gripped like a lifeline. The air stank of wet fur and blood, and Kade Blackthorn’s growl was still ringing in her ears: You’re bait, or you’re dead.

“Fantastic,” she muttered, kicking a pine cone. “From broke to wolf chow in one dumb night.”

Kade loomed nearby, barking orders to his pack because apparently, that’s what they were. Werewolves. Actual, honest-to-God werewolves. The redhead from the fight, Mara, dragged the dead pack member’s body into the trees, her glare slicing through Riley like a blade. The others hulking men and lean women with too-sharp teeth circled the clearing, sniffing the air. Riley’s skin prickled. She was a rabbit in a den of foxes, and they all knew it.

“Move it, human,” Kade snapped, striding toward her. His Henley was torn now, a gash across his chest oozing red before it started knitting itself shut because of course he healed like a superhero. “We’re tracking that rogue before it doubles back.”

Riley planted her boots, crossing her arms. “Oh, I’m sorry, did I miss the part where I signed up for your furry militia? I’m not your dog to heel.”

His amber eyes narrowed, a muscle ticking in his jaw. “You crashed our hunt, sparked that thing off, and got Jace killed. You don’t get to play tourist and walk away.”

“Jace?” She glanced at the trees where the body had vanished. Guilt twisted her gut, but she shoved it down. “I didn’t mean for anyone to die. I was just ” She waved her camera. “ chasing a paycheck. You try living on ramen and duct tape.”

Kade snorted, stepping closer. Too close. His heat rolled off him, a wall of pine and musk that made her head swim. “Cry me a river, sparkplug. You’re in this now. Deal with it.”

“Sparkplug?” She arched a brow, defiance masking the way her pulse jumped. “What’s next, Fido? Gonna fetch me a leash?”

His lips twitched barely but it was enough to piss her off more. “Keep talking,” he said, voice dropping low, “and I’ll tie you to a tree myself. Bait’s better quiet.”

Riley opened her mouth to snap back, but Mara cut in, stalking over with a scowl. “Kade, she’s a liability. Let me rip her throat out and be done with it.” Her nails lengthened, claw-like, and Riley’s stomach lurched.

“Back off, Mara,” Kade growled, his tone sharp enough to make the redhead flinch. “She’s mine to handle.”

“Yours?” Riley sputtered. “I’m not a chew toy, you overgrown ”

“Enough!” He grabbed her arm, hauling her toward the trees. His grip was iron, warm through her jacket, and she stumbled after him, tire iron clanking against her thigh. The pack followed, a silent, eerie procession. “You wanna live? Shut up and move.”

Riley yanked free, rubbing her wrist. “Fine. But if I’m bait, you’d better hope that thing doesn’t like greasy mechanic flavor.”

He smirked, a flash of teeth. “I’ll take my chances.”

They trekked deeper into the woods, the moon slicing through branches like a spotlight. Riley’s boots squelched in mud, her breath puffing white in the chill. The pack spread out, some shifting into wolves fur rippling, bones cracking in a way that made her want to puke. Kade stayed human, his strides long and sure, like he owned the damn forest. Maybe he did.

“So,” she said, breaking the silence because she couldn’t help herself, “what’s the plan? Dangle me like a piñata and hope the rogue RSVP’s?”

He didn’t look at her, eyes scanning the shadows. “Something like that. Your scent’s loud human, clumsy. It’ll draw it out.”

“Gee, thanks. I feel so special.” She tripped over a root, catching herself on a tree. “What’s this rogue deal anyway? Rabies outbreak at werewolf summer camp?”

Kade’s jaw tightened. “It’s old. Strong. Been picking us off for weeks humans too. Doesn’t follow pack law.” He paused, glancing at her. “And it’s fast. Faster than us.”

“Great,” Riley muttered. “So I’m the appetizer for Speedy McFangface.”

He huffed a laugh, maybe? but it died quick. “You’re bait, not a meal. Stay close, and you might survive.”

“Comforting.” She adjusted her backpack, tire iron clinking. “What’s in it for me? Besides not being digested?”

Kade stopped, turning to face her. The pack fanned out ahead, leaving them alone in a pocket of stillness. His eyes bored into hers, intense enough to make her knees wobble. “You live. That’s the deal.”

“Wow, generous. Throw in a pony next time.” She smirked, but her throat was dry. He was too close again, all broad shoulders and coiled power, and she hated how it scrambled her brain.

“Keep pushing, Riley,” he murmured, her name rolling off his tongue like a challenge. “See where it gets you.”

She swallowed, defiance sparking. “Maybe I will.”

A twig snapped behind them. Kade whirled, shoving her back as a shadow lunged Mara, not the rogue, her claws out. “It’s circling,” she hissed. “Caught its scent a mile east.”

Kade nodded, tension rippling through him. “Tighten the perimeter. Riley, with me.”

“Bossy much?” she grumbled, but she fell in step, heart hammering. The woods closed in, thick and dark, and every rustle made her jump. She wasn’t a fighter, wasn’t brave just a mechanic with a camera and a mouth. But Kade’s presence, solid and warm beside her, anchored her. Annoying as he was, he didn’t feel like a guy who’d let her die.

Yet.

They reached a ravine, the pack fanning out along the edge. Kade crouched, sniffing the air, and Riley hovered, tire iron ready. “See anything?” she whispered.

“Yeah,” he said, voice grim. “Trouble.”

Before she could ask, a howl shredded the night close, unhinged. The ro

gue was coming. And Riley was smack in its path.