Chapter 7 · Fangs and Oaths

Silas had his blade out before I could blink.

Silver. I could smell it from here. My new senses screamed at me to move, but I stayed frozen. Six wolves behind him. All of them staring at my face. At my eyes. At the fangs I couldn't retract.

Kade stepped between us.

"Stand down." His voice came out low. Alpha command. It hit the wolves like a physical force. Silas didn't lower the blade.

"She's a bloodsucker." Silas kept his eyes on me. "She's been lying to us for how long?"

"I said stand down."

"Kade—"

"Now."

Silas's hand shook. He didn't want to obey. But the alpha command wasn't a request. His blade lowered an inch. Then another. He didn't sheathe it.

I couldn't blame him.

The clearing smelled like blood and burnt fur. Three wolves down. The vampire enforcer I'd taken apart was still twitching. I should finish him. But I couldn't move. Couldn't stop staring at the wolves staring at me.

One of them took a step back.

That hurt more than the silver blade that had started this.

"Get the wounded to the med hall." Kade's voice stayed level. In control.