Nocturnal by Jami Lynn Saunders

to have to tell them to hit the road.”
    â€œYou have every right not to trust them,” Salvatore said, his voice unsteady.
    â€œYou got something to tell me, boy?”
    â€œIt’s my fault,” Salvatore said. “My pack has been following me since the day we found Pippa near New York. We knew who she was, we had spies in their library and knew about the plans to send her west. We’ve been following her since she left. My pack wanted to migrate, to find a better home, so they’ve been tracking my scent all this time, knowing I could slip into Pippa’s group. But they didn’t count on me finding real friends. Now they know about Pippa and Abby, and they’re planning to kidnap them tonight to demand control of the safehold.”
    Rathbone glanced at Rebecka, and she went to alert the troops.
    â€œI’m sorry, I never meant for this to happen,” Salvatore said. “I don’t want anything to happen to my friends. I never—”
    At that moment, the hyenas began to emerge from the woods. Rathbone’s soldiers raised their weapons and faced them.
    â€œYou got one choice,” Rathbone said to the alpha leader. “You can turn back south or east and live, or all those little red dots that are shining on your people will turn into bullet holes.”
    The hyenas glanced at their chests and saw the laser dots on their chests. The alpha leader turned to his pack and released a sinister laugh. Then he turned south and led his pack away from the convoy.
    â€œThank you,” Salvatore said to Rathbone, but the big man shot him a withering glance.
    â€œYou have to leave,” Rathbone said.
    â€œBut why? I told you the truth. I did it to protect you and your people, and my friends.”
    â€œDamn good thing you did, but you’re still a traitor.”
    â€œI tried to do the right thing.”
    â€œI don’t trust you. You have to leave, and you have to leave now. I suggest you head east, since your pack is going south. Now get going before I blow your brains out myself.”
    Without another word, Salvatore turned east and disappeared into the woods.
    When Abby learned from Rathbone what had happened, the news nearly sent her back to a rabid state. She didn’t know who she hated most, Rathbone for forcing Salvatore to leave or Salvatore for his betrayal.
    The convoy was soon back on the road. Rathbone and Rebecka rode together behind the flatbed, while the others stayed with the doctor. Rebecka wanted to be with Jack, but as the future leader, she knew her place was with the troops. Her duty was to protect her people.
    The convoy left Highway 5 and worked its way into the mountains on back roads. They covered their trail with teargas and smoke bombs that could mask any scent.
    Jack was unconscious, his skin as red as fire, his body covered in sweat. One curious guard bent down to check on him, and Jack morphed and bit the guard’s neck. The man screamed as blood poured from his jugular. Aiden, Piper, Pippa, and Abby fought to rescue the guard, but it was useless. Jack didn’t let go until he was finished.
    The guard lay on the bed of the truck, convulsing until he went limp. Seconds later, he opened eyes that were pure black. He began hissing and screaming. Aiden silenced him with a tranquilizer gun.
    Jack was shrieking and struggling against his restraints. When he snapped one, Aiden morphed and pinned his hand with his reptilian claw. He remembered the words of the three beings who had saved Jack’s life. Aiden’s mission was to protect the doctor.
    Jack stared at him and finally relaxed. “I understand now,” he whispered.
    Aiden knew the doctor’s transformation was over. He released his grip from the doctor’s wrist and unlocked the remaining restraints.

“You better watch your back,” Jack said as Rathbone laid his plans out before them all, concealing the fact that he planned to shake the