Hunting Human - Amanda E. Alvarez [40]
Alek’s legs jerked in toward his body. His hamstrings flexed and shortened into hindquarters. Hair sprouted, first all the way along his back and spine, then raced down his arms and legs. Finally, as he opened his mouth to scream, his face shifted, lengthened and honed into a snout. A howling wolf sprung from where moments before a man had crouched.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Texas panic and run toward the parked vans. He didn’t take four steps before the wolf was on him, bearing him to the ground.
“No! No… Please!” The wolf pinned him, facedown in the dirt, jaws spread across the back of his neck. The slightest pressure would be lethal.
“Oh my God, Lizzy…” Rachel’s fingers clawed into Liz’s sweater.
“Don’t look, Rachel,” Liz whispered, relieved as Rachel pushed her face into her shoulder. “Don’t look.”
“Let him up, Aleksander.” Markko strode, fully naked, toward where the wolf—where Aleksander—had Texas pinned. When he didn’t immediately back off, Markko barked, “Aleksander!”
Alek paced back, his teeth bared and allowed Texas to push himself up.
“Now, now, no running.” Markko tsked. “You’re getting ahead of the game,” he said, glancing around the clearing, a smile on his face. “We haven’t discussed the rules yet.”
“First…” Markko waved toward the other two men, who instantly transformed from men to wolves. It happened so quickly that Liz wondered if Alek had drawn out his shift for the sheer pleasure of seeing everyone react. “Right. Rules. First, to ensure that this is sporting for us, you’ll be given until moonrise, at which time our hunt will begin.” The three wolves prowled the group in ever tightening circles, each moving toward a group of hostages.
“You may head toward the trees and into the woods. If you’re caught circling back to the cars, you’ll have spoiled our fun.” Markko’s voice hardened. “We would be most disappointed.” He let the threat hang in the air.
Screaming erupted. One of the wolves circled the older couple, snarling and snapping, occasionally leaning in and sniffing at their legs. A bulky, brown one Liz thought might be Alek headed toward the two single women, hackles raised and teeth barred. The third wolf prowled their way. Grabbing Rachel’s hand, she pulled her in tight against her back.
The wolf circled them twice, tightening in closer each time, snout pressed to the ground. As he passed behind them he dodged in, snapping at Rachel’s ankles. Screaming, Rachel panicked and jerked away.
“No!” Liz curled her fingers into Rachel’s arm and yanked her back. “We stay together.”
The wolf circled around and stopped in front of Liz. Eerie, intelligent eyes inspected her as he approached. Liz squealed and jumped, but managed to hold her ground as the wolf pressed his snout hard against the crotch of her jeans and sniffed.
Bile burned in the back of her throat and Liz stumbled back a step, horrified when his long tongue licked the denim covering the inside of her thigh before he backed off.
“Everyone ready?” Markko stood in front of her again. “You have her scent, Ivan?”
The wolf behind her brushed up against her legs as he withdrew.
“Good.” Markko leaned into Liz, pressing his mouth against her ear and took a long, deep breath. “So do I.”
“Go!”
At first, no one moved, but then, the wolves gathered, snarling and barking as they tightened their circle and herded everyone toward the tree line. Liz reached behind her and jerked Rachel forward, forcing her to walk in front of her.
“I can’t.” Rachel pressed closer to Liz’s side and sobbed out, “I can’t do this. I can’t.”
Liz twisted out of her grasp and shook her. “Yes, you can. We’re going.”
“Go where?” Panic choked her words. “Where are we going to go?”
Liz stumbled as Rachel was pulled away from her. “Shut up!”
The young woman from earlier had a solid grip around Rachel’s arm and started hauling her toward the trees. “Your dramatics are going to get the both of you killed. Is that what you want?”
“No.” Rachel