always been a strong swimmer, even doing a stint as a lifeguard in high school, and right now he was

more determined than he’d ever been in his life. As soon as he reached Hannah, he dug his sharp

fingernails into the trunk and grabbed Hannah around the waist as she began to slip free.

“I’ve got you. Hang on.”

Water filled her mouth and she choked, but at least she was safe from being swept downstream. Only then

did he realize his predicament: there was no way he could hold onto Hannah and climb to the top of the

log at the same time. He was strong, but not that strong.

If he didn’t figure something out soon, they were both dead.

***

Chapter Twenty-Eight

“Give you a hand?” a gruff voice called out to him.

Thrashing his wet hair out of his eyes, Kevin looked up, surprised to find a huge, naked Fenrir balancing

easily on the log. “About time,” he choked out.

Grinning, Fenrir reached down and grabbed them both, dragging them easily from the rushing water.

Hannah was gasping, barely breathing.

Kevin quickly carried her to the riverbank. “Hannah!” he said as he laid her down.

“Is she going to be all right?” Fenrir said with concern.

Kevin turned her head to one side and she choked out river water. After a few moments her eyes blinked

open and she managed to find her voice. “Oh god, Kevin!” she cried and threw her arms around his neck.

“They killed Matthew!” she sobbed against him. “The werewolves killed Matthew!”

“I know, sis, I know,” he said as he held Hannah close and let her cry out all her pain against his

shoulder. And then to Fenrir: “I take it Roman sent you.”

Fenrir stood very still, staring off into the distance as he listened for the pack. “He should be here soon.

But we need to get both of you out of here.”

Kevin bit his trembling lip, shook his head. “I’m not running anymore. If Freki wants a fight, I’m going to

fucking give it to her.”

“If you fight Freki, you’ll die,” Fenrir said, stating the obvious.

“If I run away, I’ll die—and Hannah. And everyone else I give a shit about.” He pinned Fenrir with his

wolf eyes until the other man backed down. “No more. It’s time I face her on my own terms.”

“I guess you really are a Pedigree.”

“No, I’m just tired.” And then Kevin did the most difficult thing he’d ever done and handed Hannah over

to Fenrir for safekeeping.

***

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Kevin waited on the riverbank for Freki and the rest of the pack to catch up to him. It didn’t take very

long. Within minutes he could hear them baying in victory as they raced through the woods. Normally,

werewolves were stealthier than this, but he knew they wanted him to hear them. They wanted him to fear

them. But he didn’t. Not anymore.

Freki stepped out from between the trees first. She was in full wolf form, but she quickly shifted back and

stood up, her sleek human body shining like ice in the moonlight. Her blue eyes were cold and remote.

“Done running, little wolfling?”

“I was done a long time ago.”

The pack gathered around her, shifting to their lumbering half-wolf forms one by one. “What about your

sister?”

“She’s safe. She isn’t in these woods anymore.”

“But you are.” She canted her head to one side. “Why didn’t you go with her?”

Kevin remained stoic.

“I see,” Freki said, picking up on his silent cue. “You want Roman.”

“I’m not leaving without him. Give him to me and I’ll let you all live.”

A dubious smile curled across Anya’s lips before she burst out laughing. “You’re quite amusing, pup, you

know that? I’m older than some mountains, than this forest. Do you honestly think I’d submit so easily to

someone like you?”

“Is that a no?”

She nodded. “That’s a no.”

“Then we have a problem.”

Kevin thought about how brave his words sounded, how strong and brave he was coming on. But in

reality, he was scared to death. He had no idea how he would defeat seven angry werewolves, plus their

queen. Even as a Pedigree, he was outnumbered. And Freki was more a god than a wolf. Then he thought

about Jonah, what Freki had done to him. And to Toby. As the first of Freki’s boys reached him, he let his

anger and outrage fill him. He gave himself over to it, and to the wolf.

He let the wolf off its leash.

The giant creature grabbed him, but as he did, Kevin shifted into his half-wolf form. He grew heads taller

than his opponent. His neck became thick, furry and muscular. His body broadened and his mouth filled

with aching-sharp teeth. The werewolf lost his hold on Kevin, but as he slid down Kevin’s chest, he

grabbed at the thick, lush fur there, and the medallion.

The Wolfsbane burned when it came in contact with his enemy’s hand and the werewolf began to scream.

Kevin grunted, lashed out, knocking the creature away. He flew back ten feet and hit the trunk of a pine

tree, slumping down into unconsciousness. Kevin was surprised by his strength.

Two more werewolves lunged at him as one, but one swipe of Kevin’s massive, clawed hand knocked

them both down with deep, bleeding wounds slashed across their faces and eyes. The wounded creatures

whined pitifully and slunk away, tails between their legs.

The next one was more difficult. He was tall like Kevin, but slender of build, quick and agile. He let out a

primal bay before lashing out at Kevin with teeth and claws. He was unusually fast. Kevin dodged, only

barely averting the giant creature’s snapping jaws, and received a long gouge in his side for his troubles

when the monster raked his savage claws along Kevin’s ribs. Kevin cringed and whined as blood poured

from his wound.

The beast recognized his moment of weakness and lashed out again, but Kevin forced himself to ignore

the pain and met his opponent head on, slashing at his opponent’s soft belly, ripping him wide open and

driving the other werewolf to the ground, panting. In seconds Kevin was upon him, his clawed hands

lashing out and ripping gouges in the creature’s furry chest, his teeth snapping down on the monster’s

throat. The creature gargled on its own blood, then fell still.

Kevin only had seconds to enjoy his victory; suddenly the others were back at him, piling him like a

football player trying to get to the end zone. He yelped as they dragged him down, snapping and biting. He

tried to fight them off using every technique he knew, but just as soon as he was able to lay a blow,

another one sank its teeth into his arm or leg. He felt like the elk he had taken down not so very long ago.

The werewolves were powerful on their own, but stronger still when they worked as a pack. There was

no escape, no mercy, as they dragged him to earth and dog piled him…

Only a deep, bass growl saved him and made the others back off. Kevin sprang up in time to see Roman

standing in full wolf form atop a deadfall. Some of the werewolves cringed; others barked aggressively. It