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The moon, almost full, cast sprays of light into the trees, causing shadows. At first she got nothing, then it hit. The musky scent of were, more than one. Knowing the dangers of confronting a were this close to a full moon, she decided to just fly by. If they looked suspicious she’d give Burnett a ring.
See, Burnett? I am careful!
Darting a little lower, the scents grew stronger, and familiar. But because she hadn’t fully paid attention to the scents at the jewelry store, she wasn’t sure if the trace came from the guys she’d seen earlier. She needed to see the guys to confirm.
Before she spotted the weres, she spotted someone else. A girl. A human girl, if Della’s nose was right. She was running, sweating, fear seeping out of her pores. Della lost the visual as another thick clump of pine trees rose from the ground. But what she didn’t lose was the sound of the girl’s scream. It rose up and the sheer terror in it sent a shiver down Della’s spine.
Well, crap. Careful had just gone out the window.
She started down.
When she got past one cluster of trees, she saw the blond girl, probably no more than fifteen, surrounded by weres. Oddly, their scents weren’t very strong, so maybe not full weres. Which would mean they may not have full strength, either.
“I called the cops, you idiots, and they’re coming,” the girl screamed, sounding brave, but the shakiness in her voice gave her away.
Della counted four of them. Confident, or almost confident, she could handle all four—depending on just how much lunar strength they had—she headed down. Feeling her eyes grow hot, and her front teeth lengthen, she landed to the right of their little circle.
They knew when she’d landed, or probably a second before, because they turned away from the girl to face her. No doubt their dislike of vampires made her the more attractive victim. These were not the boys she’d seen earlier. She couldn’t be positive if they were the ones she’d halfway smelled at the jewelry store. But they were still being bad boys.
In the corner of her eye, Della saw the girl running away and felt some relief that she wouldn’t have to worry about her.
“Sorry to intrude,” she smarted off while assessing her situation. She knew she’d be fine if she could just keep her distance, and their attention, without them getting their dirty paws on her. She tuned her ears to listen to the girl, judging her distance. When the girl got to freedom, or arrived in a public place where the weres wouldn’t attack, she could simply fly out of there and leave these rogue dogs grounded without even breaking a nail. Then she’d call Burnett.
Such a good plan. And one that would have worked if her ears hadn’t been so tuned in to the girl that she missed the two weres who’d come up behind her. Each grabbed an arm.
Definitely half weres, because their scents weren’t that strong either.
Oh, shit. She felt a fist slam into her ribs and she gasped for air. She had one moment of concern that it might not just be a nail that she broke. Not that she was going to make it easy on them … or let them win.
She was just going to have to open up another can of whoop ass.
“Oh, so ya’ll wanna fight, do ya? Why didn’t you tell me that?”
Yanking out of one of the dog’s clutches, she coldcocked the other who came up to confront her. He dropped to the ground.
Another rushed in front of her, his fist drawn. She kicked that bastard right in the gonads. He yelped like a young pup.
Then she used the creep still holding on to her as a bowling pin to down the two others coming at her.
She was preparing to fly when two others jumped her from behind.
Damn. She swung a fist.
Damn. She started kicking.
Damn. She took a hard punch to her stomach.
* * *
Chase landed to the side of the strip center, still decorated with yellow crime scene tape. He drew in a deep breath. The tiniest bit of were scent lingered but not nearly enough to be able to identify it as one he’d gotten earlier. Looking north toward Della’s house, the temptation bit. Bit hard.
Had Burnett told Della about him?
Was she thrilled, nonchalant, pissed?
Damn, he wanted to see her.
He almost took off toward her house, but heard Burnett’s warning. You said you wanted to earn my respect. So start earning it by listening.