Alpha Omega 02 - Hunting Ground

urgent—and as soon as she heard it she felt him running through the dark streets. Felt his panic and the rising rage behind it like a dark tide of violence.
    â€œI’m fine,” she told him—though after she said it, she wasn’t entirely sure that was true. In the heat of battle nothing had hurt—but she’d caught a few good punches and given a few, too. She didn’t remember it, really. But her knuckles were sore, and so was her right shoulder. And her stomach wasn’t too happy with her either. Fortunately, she hadn’t taken stock until after she’d told him.
    â€œAngus’s healer called Angus to tell him he’d been summoned to our hotel room,” Charles said. “Just after I felt your need.”
    Anna remembered the power she’d summoned to shut Tom up—and his conviction that Charles would feel it. Leah, the Marrok’s mate, sometimes used Bran’s clout when Bran wasn’t even there. Evidently, Anna could do the same thing.
    â€œYes, well.” Anna looked around and took in a deep breath. That secrecy spell, the one the vampires used, had some odd effects on the combatants, too, she remembered, enforcing the need for secrecy. She should have called Charles right away.
    â€œI’d like it if you’d come here, too.” She’d like it a lot. “Maybe Angus—but no one else. Tom’s been hurt pretty badly.”
    â€œBadly enough the rest of his pack needs to stay away,” said Charles coolly. Her sense of him had faded with his urgency, and she wasn’t sure she should trust that coolness. The drop from violence to calm had been too fast.
    â€œRight,” she answered, though it hadn’t been a real question. “Moira and I got him back here—but I didn’t realize how badly he was bleeding. There’s probably a blood trail—”
    â€œNo,” said Moira firmly, though she was as white as the sheet she was sitting on—as white as it was because they were both covered in blood. “I took care of the blood.”
    Anna had learned enough about witchcraft to know that she didn’t want to know any more. The alert beast inside her accepted, provisionally, that they were safe.
    â€œYou heard that?”
    â€œI did.”
    â€œSo we’re safe in the room. Tom’s not mortally wounded—I don’t think . . .” The room abruptly smelled different. “He’s changing.”
    â€œBest thing for him to do, if he can,” said Charles. “You stay back from him. Moira should keep him calm enough that he’s safe to be around. I’m coming—and I’ll call Angus and tell him that if he values his second, he’ll call off the rest of the pack. I’ll be there in a couple of minutes, and you can give me the whole story then.” Her phone stopped making noise, so she decided that he must have ended the call.
    â€œHave you been around Tom when he changes before?” Anna asked Moira softly.
    â€œYes,” said the witch.
    â€œGood.” She let herself sink into the chair opposite the bed. “Just sit still. It’ll take a while longer this time—and changing when you hurt really sucks. He’ll be vile-tempered when he comes out of it. Maybe not really himself, not for a while. Give him a little time before you touch him. He’ll probably let you know when he can bear it.”
    â€œThey almost killed us,” Moira said. “If I could have seen them—”
    â€œThat blast of sunlight was impressive,” Anna told her. “Next time we’re attacked by vampires, I’ll cower behind you and shout what they are into your ear.” She paused. “It’s a good thing you were with us. We’d have lost on our own. Someone knew a great deal about Tom.” She remembered the dog pile of vampires who’d been trying to kill him—virtually ignoring her and Moira. “But they discounted you.”
    â€œWhy would vampires attack us?” asked Moira. “Oh, I know they aren’t friendly—but they are practical. Attacking Charles’s mate is anything but practical.”
    â€œSomeone paid them, I expect,” Anna said tiredly. “Someone they were pretty certain could and would keep Charles away from them. Someone who knew we’d be out shopping today.” She looked down at her hands as Tom growled and wheezed with the difficulty of the