Chapter 185

Jack

He pulled Fiona along behind him, panting through the pain in his arm. She was trying to keep pace, but she couldn’t run as fast as him.

“Go on,” she panted. “I’ll meet you on the roof.”

He didn’t answer. There was no fucking way that was happening. He just tightened his hold on her hand and kept running, his gaze set on the apartment building. They’d reach it together before the wolves came or not at all. He wouldn’t–no, couldn’t–leave her behind.

Howls cut through the air as pink light replaced the dark, lighting the graffiti lined street. Around them, their allies got into position.

He finally reached the front of the building and pulled the door open. The wound on his arm was already screaming at him, but he breathed through the pain. He didn’t have any choice but to do so.

Fiona shut the door behind her and together they jogged up the stairs. He didn’t let go of her hand. He couldn’t bring himself to until they reached their positions.

She propped the roof door open again, and he finally forced himself to move away from her. He grabbed the case from where he’d stashed it and opened it. It took him less than a minute to assemble the gun. He could do it with his eyes closed. The hours he spent being forced to clean and put his guns back together were finally paying off.

“Stay close,” he called, gesturing for Fiona to follow him.

He set the gun up along the lip of the roof, lying down to take aim. Fiona ducked down behind him, so she was hidden from the street. She put her hand on his leg and clutched his jeans. Her hand was shaking.

The wolves hadn’t reached the town yet. His eyes darted around as he took in the scene. Matt and Celeste were back in the church, a few blocks away from him. The apartment was one of the first buildings the wolves would reach if they fell for their trap. Enzo and Nina planned to lead them right into the center of town, where snipers were strategically placed.

If they could take them out from the air, all the better.

He looked over his shoulder at Fiona. “Stay down,” he said. “No matter what.”

“Okay.”

“Okay.”

He turned back around just as the first wolf darted into town. He barely gave himself time to think before he took aim and pulled the trigger. The bullet hit the wolf in the side of the head, and it landed on the ground in a pile of blood. There wasn’t time to dwell on the sight. More wolves were twisting between the buildings, heading toward the church.

Jack methodically lined up each shot, hitting two more within the span of a few minutes. Still, more wolves streamed into the town. Then bullets peppered the side of the apartment building, and he ducked down, breathing heavily.

“Stay down,” he yelled.

Fiona was lying flat on her stomach, her hand still clutching his leg. Bullets flew over them. They weren’t the only ones who thought to use snipers.

A moment later, the barrage of bullets subsided. Growls erupted below and Jack peeked his head up to look down at the street. Wolves were fighting wolves, snarling, and snapping their jaws. He recognized Matt and Celeste running toward the worst of it, and he cursed. A part of him hoped they’d hide up in the church for the duration of the fight.

He should have known better.

He brought the scope to his eye and looked at the buildings across from them. Freddy’s smiling face came into view, crouched on the rooftop across from him, a moment before another bullet flew. He darted to the side, cursing at the bullet that hit the lip of the roof, shattering the stone. Shards of it cut into his skin.

Blood dripped from a burning wound on his face.

Fiona looked up at him with wide eyes.

“Don’t move,” he said, air hissing between his teeth. She stayed down, her hand tightening on him. It grounded him enough that he took a deep breath and fired his gun. He lifted his head, bringing the scope to his eye. Freddy must have ducked down at his first shot, so Jack stopped and waited. The minute the fucker poked his head up, he was dead.

Of course, the Schreibers were in on this somehow. They probably teamed up with the Crescent wolves the minute their pathetic raid didn’t go their way. Freddy obviously thought this was his best way to get to Celeste.

Jack waited, but Freddy didn’t appear. He surveyed the roof but didn’t see him anywhere. Not even a hint of him.

Down on the street, the fighting had descended into chaos. Wolves ripped into each other, blood flying across the pavement. He saw Matt with a gun in his hand. He put the gun to a wolf’s head and pulled the trigger, just as another one leaped for him. Jack braced himself. This was it. He was about to see his best friend die, but before the wolf could get his claws in him, a big brown wolf slammed into it.

Celeste.

She had the wolf’s throat in her mouth and a moment later, it went limp. Matt wasted no time shifting.

Jack kept him in his sights. A gray wolf dove for him the moment Matt’s shift ended. He was too distracted to notice before the wolf got its jaws around his neck. Jack lined up the shot and let out a breath. He pulled the trigger, and the wolf slumped to the ground, releasing Matt.

Matt glanced towards the building and nodded his enormous head. Then he jumped back into the fray.

“Watch out!” Fiona screamed.

Jack turned, his gaze lifting to his cousin. In the time he’d been distracted, Freddy must have crossed the street and snuck up through the building. He was never on that other roof. The whole time Jack was waiting for him to pop up, he was making his way here.

He held a handgun, pointed at Jack’s face.

“Hello, cousin,” Freddy said, grinning. He had blood on his face. “I’m going to enjoy this.”

“Fuck you,” Jack spat. He had a handgun holstered at his belt, but he knew if he made a move, he was dead.

“I’m going to enjoy this, you know. I’ve been waiting a long time to get my hands on you.” His gaze flicked over to Fiona, and his grin widened. “You too, sweetheart.”

“You don’t know me,” she seethed.

“Oh, I know all about you. The human best friend. I really don’t know what you’re doing here, but if this is what you want to give your life for, more power to you.”

“Leave her alone,” Jack snarled.

Freddy laughed. “God, this is even better than I’d hoped. You like her, don’t you, cousin? She’s somehow managed to warm your cruel, Schreiber heart.”

“He’s nothing like you,” Fiona spat.

“Isn’t he?” He gave them a look of absolute glee. Jack wanted to tear it off his face. “I don’t think you know him as well as you think you do.”

Fiona didn’t answer.

Freddy glanced around. “Well, no point in stalling.” He pointed the gun at Fiona at the last second, turning to give Jack a wicked grin.

Before Jack could move, before he could do something to help her, a shot rang out.