Chapter 19 · Moon Hunt Trap

The arrow came out of nowhere.

I shoved Cade sideways. Hard. The shaft buried itself in the oak behind us with a solid thunk that made my teeth ache.

"Down!" I didn't wait for him to listen. I grabbed his jacket and yanked him behind the tree trunk. My ribs screamed where the mine collapse had cracked them two days ago. I ignored it.

Cade's eyes flashed gold. Alpha rage, instant and lethal. "How many?"

"Don't know." I pressed my back against the bark, scanning the dark forest. The Moon Hunt was supposed to be ceremonial. Just the Alpha and Luna running the northern border under the full moon, renewing the pack's claim to the territory. No weapons. No guards. Definitely no assassins.

Another arrow whistled past. This one came from the east.

"Two shooters. Maybe three." Cade's voice dropped into that combat register I'd heard in the mine. Cold. Focused. He wasn't scared. He was calculating.

I should let them kill him. The thought hit me like ice water. This was it. The perfect out.