August stumbled towards Spencer, falling down onto his knees by his side. He grabbed Spencer by the shoulders and lifted his upper body from the frozen ground. Wrapping his arm around his shoulders, he pressed his hand hard against Spencer's chest, feeling for a heartbeat, for the rise and fall of breath, for anything.

"Spencer?" he asked, no, begged. "Spence? Come on."

"August..." William's concerned voice came from over his shoulder. August didn't look up. "August..."

"Shut up, Will!" August snapped.

"August!" The concern vanished as fast as it came, and August could hear the rising panic in his voice.

All around them, a rumbling growl was growing by the second. August clutched Spencer's side against his chest, and finally looked around.

Out of the shadows, the rest of the pack was gathering. Whatever sensibilities or self-preservation had kept them out of the fight had been abandoned. Half a dozen pairs of eyes gleamed at them out of the shadows, stars winking off bared fangs.

August gulped.

He carefully climbed to his feet, dragging Spencer's body up with him. He was stronger than a human, sure, but he'd never be able to outrun a wolf while carrying Spencer.

Kaleb and his wife were driving William and Carson closer in, murder in every inch of their canine expressions. August clutched tighter at Spencer and glanced over his shoulder. Edeline was on her side by the quad bike, the small wolf, Priya prowling at her side, protecting her.

The wolves were barking orders to each other. Kaleb was the loudest, and his voice carried a heavier weight. Even August could feel the power of it, though he felt no compulsion to obey. Surprisingly, Carson didn't buckle under the weight of the commands. He stood tall, if scared, facing off with the pack. Behind him, Priya whined and twisted away from the voice of her alpha.

August's lip twitched. He nodded to himself, turning to stand beside William, standing and facing the alpha with Carson.

"Can you drive a quad?" he asked in a breath, nodding behind them.

William followed his gesture and nodded. Adjusting his hold on Spencer, August dragged his unconscious body closer to into their little group.

"Take Spencer and the girl," he breathed. "Get back to the van and go. Don't wait."

"August..."

"Get them to Thomas, and if I'm not back by daybreak, run."

"Daybreak?"

"Get the girl to drive, hire someone and kill them, I don't care, just go!"

He didn't look convinced, but at that moment August didn't care for his concerns or questions. He didn't want to think about how William was the best fighter they had. He was their only chance of keeping Spencer and Edeline on that bike long enough to get back to the van and away. Thomas would heal them. Even if August never saw them again, he would know they were safe.

Waiting a moment, even though he was sure the wolves had heard their plan with their heightened hearing, August clutched Spencer tight against him before handing him off to William.

"Take Priya," he muttered.

William glanced at the small wolf, his eyes widening. He didn't argue, but wrapped an arm tight around Spencer's waist, holding him up by a grip on his jeans, and began creeping back towards the quad. Edeline had pushed herself up, clawing her way up the machine to ease William's work.

"It's me and you, Embrey," August said to the dark wolf at his side. "Ready for a game?"

He'd never been too adept at the expressions of wolves, but he was sure, as their gazes met, that Carson was as terrified as he was. Still, the wolf nodded.

The quad roared behind them, tyres squealing against the ground. Mud splattered up as William twisted the handles, spinning it around. Half of the pack was already running after them.

August lurched as if into the fight, but instead he bent over, grabbing Carson by the neck and bringing his lips to his ear.

"Run!" he ordered.

The wolf's eyes widened in surprise, but he didn't take long to understand. He launched in a powerful spring straight between Kaleb and his wife. He didn't look back as he set off in the opposite direction to the quad.

The wolves remaining around them stopped in shock and confusion. Built up for the fight, they obviously hadn't expected them to bolt. But August didn't wait for them to catch up to the idea. He sprang, darting through the space the wolves chasing the quad had left, running out at a right angle to the quad and Carson.

Every inch of his body screamed against him, but August didn't even dare look behind him to see who the wolves had decided to follow. He ran and ignored the protesting of his body. He ran and prayed William would get Spencer and the others back alive.

He ran. And he swore to both heaven and hell that if Spencer lived, he would never set foot in this godforsaken place again.

***

Carson paused at the bottom of the steps to catch his breath. He took a look around, once again checking that none of the humans in the area were looking out of their windows, or getting into their cars to go to work. He considered himself lucky in that moment that he was so dark as a wolf, and it wouldn't have been the first time a human did a double take upon thinking they saw a giant wolf in the shadows.

Climbing the stairs, his body ached in protest. The wounds Jemima had given him would take a long time to heal, not to mention the miles he had run to get here from the farm. He'd considered going back many times, prowling the roads and looking for the van. Instead, he had kept running, mostly for something other to think about than the idea that he had gotten Priya and Edeline killed. The fact Edeline had been hurt at all tore through him, the thought of her being gone, and all because of him, ached in his heart far worse than any protest of his tired and battered body.

Now, the sense of relief was dull when he'd seen the van parked in the driveway, splintered with pain at the sight of a blood trail leading up to the door.

He scratched at the door with his claws, huffing out his breath that refused to grant any comfort or relief. Carson glanced behind him again, but the dark square was clear. In the depths of winter, with the sun not rising until late, those who had come from their houses huddled against the cold, their gaze on their feet. Even as he'd made his way through the suburbs to the house, nobody had looked at him.

The door opened a crack, a pale face under a large mass of red hair peeking out. She looked down, her eyes widening and a smile breaking out into glee. She opened the door wider.

"There's a wolf here for you!" she said, glancing over her shoulder.

Carson considered her for a moment. He'd seen the girl around the house, but he'd never spoken to her. He wanted to remember that her name was Heather. She practically bounced on her feet as she held the door open for him. Carson padded into the house and waited as she closed the door.

"I still can't get over this. Wolves. It's fabulous!" she chirped happily to herself as she danced up the stairs like a particularly bouncy ballerina. Carson wanted to remark that he couldn't quite get over the vampires either, but he doubted it would have the same cheery effect. Not to mention that she wouldn't understand the growling.

Before he could think too long on it, however, a quiet voice came from the kitchen, and his heart leapt into his throat.

"We're in here, Carson."

All of the lights were on in the kitchen, throwing everything into a bright, fluorescent glow. The vampires were crowded around the kitchen table, and a pair of legs hung over the side, boots to knees dirty with mud and blood. Carson was glad to see August hunched over the other side of the table, his face a mask of concern. The fact the blond vampire was not murdering everyone in sight had to mean Spencer was at least alive on the table. Or, as alive as any vampire was. William followed quiet instructions from the youngest, Thomas, with rapt attention. Thomas did not pause for a single moment.

Edeline sat in a low squashy armchair that must have been difficult to get through the doorway, her trousers ripped away on one leg and heavily wrapped in bandages. When she caught sight of him, she smiled a dreamy, relaxed smile. Her pupils were the size of saucers. She waved him closer.

Priya lay on a blanket on the floor by the back door. He was gladder than he could put thoughts to that she was unhurt, and that William had had the sense to send her away from the fighting. All the years of keeping her at a distance, of dismissing her as a part of his family because it had been Kaleb to take her in, and now he couldn't bear the thought of her in pain.

Yet, he knew she was in pain. She had stood against Kaleb, a man who had treated her like a sister. She had loved him as much as anyone, and Carson had helped take that from her. Before going to Edeline, Carson paused at Priya's side, dipping his head and nuzzling into her neck. She whimpered, returned the pressure with her muzzle, and laid her head back down.

Carson sat back on his haunches by Edeline's side, letting her burrow her fingers into his fur. She deftly avoided his wounds as she stroked from the top of his head and down his spine, fingertips dancing with just enough pressure for him to feel it, not enough to hurt. He wanted to hear everything from her, to be told what was happening now. At the same time, he wanted nothing. He wanted a few more glorious minutes of absence.

She gave it to him.

It wasn't long before the burning began in his stomach. Before Carson could even react, Edeline was leaning across, touching the back of William's leg. He turned and looked down at her.

"The clothes," she said. "It's time."

William nodded and disappeared into the hallway. When he returned, he waved Carson and Priya quietly through the hallway and front room, into a small room with monitors all over one wall. He placed two piles of clothes on a desk, and when Carson and Priya were both inside, he closed the door behind them. Carson was listening to his retreating footsteps when the first bone snapped in his ribs, starting his change.

They returned to the kitchen as soon as they were dressed. Priya went straight to William's side to watch over Spencer. Thomas was still bustling about, going back and forth to a small stash of medical supplies on a side counter. August had not moved, not even to accept the chair that had been put beside him.

Despite the urge to return to Edeline, Carson sat on the blanket where Priya had curled herself in her wolf form, leaning against the back door and staring into nothing. She watched him forlornly for a moment, but soon closed her eyes, turning away from him and slipping further down into the chair. They kept their uneasy silence but for Thomas' hasty footsteps around the table.

Carson focussed on the pain that had not receded after his transformation. He thought about the scratches down his arms and legs. He felt each sear of pain in his ribs when he took a breath. He rubbed his tongue against the roof of his mouth, trying to get the taste of blood from his mouth. Anything to stop from thinking about the absence he'd never felt before, the feeling of being lost, alone.

He couldn't be sure whether Edeline was listening in on him, if she was blocking everyone out and trying to rest, or if she was desperately listening to Spencer for signs of recovery. He wasn't gone, that much Carson knew, but was this something a vampire could recover from? Either way, he didn't want to think about that absence and what it meant. He was sure he already knew, but he wasn't ready to discuss it, or to have anyone—even Edeline—prying in on his grief.

The seconds ticked into minutes, and the minutes into over an hour, and nobody spoke or moved but for Thomas. At one point, he tried to offer Carson medical assistance, but he was swatted away like an annoying fly. Priya, on the other hand, accepted what little assistance she needed without comment or complaint. Even William and August accepted their treatment by a man almost a hundred years their junior without question.

It was a knock at the door that finally broke the quiet, and yet, for a moment, nobody was willing to move. They stared at each other, eyes wide and questioning. Edeline finally turned to Carson.

"It's for you," she whispered. "I'm sorry, Carson."

Carson climbed unsteadily to his feet, bracing himself against the back door before he made the seemingly endless trek to the door. He gripped the handle, taking three long, deep breaths before he opened the door.

He had to admit, he was surprised at the sight on the other side.

Little Zeke stood on the top step, his back straight and his head held high. His copper fringe slicked back over his head like he'd just climbed from the shower, and his usually bright blue eyes were dulled and narrowed.

"What are you doing here?" Carson asked. "Didn't expect you to be the one to come join us."

Zeke sniffed, his nose wrinking.

"I'm not here to join the drainers," Zeke replied. "Or to be their pet attack dog."

"Excuse me?"

Carson gripped the door handle tight, his surprise at Zeke's bravado unnerving him. When Edeline had said it was for him, truthfully, he'd half-expected it to be Kaleb with a gun in his hand. He scanned Zeke up and down, because as soon as the thought came to him, he wondered if Kaleb had sent the boy as some sort of test of loyalty.

"I'm here to deliver a warning," Zeke said, puffing his chest out. "You have until sunset."

"Until sunset? For what?"

"To get as far as you can."

There was silence, and Carson was sure that everyone in the kitchen was listening in. Gods knew he would have been.

"Right," he said.

"My Alpha wanted me to remind you that we always give the horses a head start, we should give the rats the same."

The hollow feeling in Carson's chest exploded into a thousand shards of glass, burrowing through his body from the inside out. It was such a little word, and yet it did more damage than any other. My Alpha. Not our alpha, or even the alpha. Zeke was claiming Kaleb as his Alpha because he knew Carson could no longer do the same. He'd been banished.

He'd expected it. Truthfully, he'd already known the hollow within him was nothing to do with the pain in his body. And yet, hearing Zeke say it threatened to break him in two.

He clung to the door.

"And Priya?" he whispered.

Zeke's expression softened, but only for a second.

"She took no part in the murder," Zeke said. "She would be accepted back, should she bring... a gift."

Carson's eyes narrowed.

"Like my head?"

Zeke shrugged and turned away, heading back down the stairs.

Carson lurched forwards into the doorway.

"Why you, Zeke?" he called. "Why did Kaleb send you, of all people?"

Zeke didn't look back, but he did pause on the bottom step.

"Because I was the only one who wouldn't kill you on sight. My alpha wants that honour for himself, and he's busy burying his son. Your nephew, remember?"

He shoved his hands in his pockets and jumped down the last step, ambling off down the road as if he didn't have a care in the world. Carson stared after him until he rounded the corner and out of sight.

This was it. He had one day, not even that. By sunset, the whole pack would be coming for him. It would be their best hunt ever. 

AUTHOR'S NOTE

I am posting early because, surprise guys, you get two chapters this week. 

Yesterday, I finished the first draft of Blood, which means that, aside from two short stories, this series is done! That's right, you are rolling quickly towards the end of this vampire hack-show. 

I hope you've been enjoying it. You have 7 chapters left to go, the first of which will be posted tomorrow. Then, I will most likely be posting two chapters a week until we're done. 

Are you ready to say goodbye?

Remember, I also have the first book in my sci-fi series free here too, so give that one a read as well.

Chele