Page 96 of Moonlight & Mayhem

“They are safe,” the man said.

“Howler?” Moon asked.

The Silverfang Prez stepped forward. “Yeah?”

“Find them,” Moon ordered. The elder lifted a hand, and wolves appeared on the rooftops. There were dozens of them with their guns raised. Tempest laughed, and Moon looked at her.

Her Prez shook her head. “You people really have no idea who you invited into your valley.”

The elder looked at Tempest. “And who are you?”

“Her Prez.” His gaze moved over the Dark Chaos patch.

“A woman leading wolves is ridiculous,” he said as though the thought of such a thing disgusted him.

Tempest smiled. “Oh, you're going to regret that sentence.” Howler chuckled, and the elder lifted his hand higher.

Morrigan stepped between them. “Stop.”

He looked at her. “You failed.”

“No,” Morrigan said.

“You were told to retrieve the healer,” the elder said.

“I brought her to you,” she said, nodding to Moon. She stared at Morrigan, and Mayhem moved in front of her.

“I fucking knew it,” Mayhem growled.

Morrigan turned. “Listen⁠—”

“No.” Mayhem’s claws emerged. “You brought us into a trap.”

“I brought her where she needed to be,” Morrigan said.

Moon’s stomach dropped. “Morrigan.” The older woman looked at her. “You betrayed us.” Mayhem lunged, and everything happened at once. Gunfire rang out around them as people shifted into wolves. Tempest knocked Moon sideways as a bullet tore through the place she'd been standing. Mayhem roared when Moon hit the ground.

“Mayhem!” He was on his knees. The black veins exploded across his throat. “No!” Moon crawled toward him. Someone grabbed her from behind and screamed.

Mayhem tried to stand, but his body seized. “Moon!” A man lunged for her and Moon threw her elbow back and connected with his face. He cursed, and she twisted around as a man grabbed her arm. Moon bit him hard, and he screamed. She kicked another wolf between the legs.

Tempest was fighting two men near the church steps, and Howler had shifted. Red and Blue were firing toward the rooftops. Christmas was running toward the church with Chrome behind her. The vision—the seal. Moon seemed to understand.

“CHRIS!” Christmas looked back at her. “The church!” Chris nodded and then disappeared through the doors.

Moon turned toward Mayhem. He was still on the ground, shaking. “Mayhem!” She fought her way to him. Someone grabbed her hair, and Moon spun and drove her elbow into his throat. A gun fired, and the man dropped. Mayhem was barely able to hold the weapon, but he took the guy down.

“Get your hands off my mate,” he growled.

Moon reached him, dropped to her knees, grabbing his face in her hands. “Look at me.”

“Can't—” he breathed.

“Yes, you can,” she insisted.

“Moon—” he whispered. His eyes were almost black, not from his wolf, but from the night root.

“No.” She pressed both hands against him, but nothing happened. The veins didn't retreat. “Mayhem.”