Nocturnal by Jami Lynn Saunders Read Free Book Online

it,” Rathbone said. “Rebecka, wake the camp. Time for round two.”
    The ferals struck within the hour. Though the beasts were outnumbered, the battle raged for hours. As the sun came up and the nocturnals disappeared, the battle finally wound down. In the end, every feral was killed, but at a cost of seventy humans and werecats. They had won, but Rathbone knew that they couldn’t continue to sustain such losses. If it became a war of attrition, the humans and werecats would eventually lose.
    â€œGood fighting,” the hyena leader said to Rathbone. “Though I apologize for our young one’s cowardice. He should have been out here fighting alongside us.”
    â€œLet me tell you something,” Rathbone replied. “That boydid exactly what he was supposed to do—protect those two girls, who may hold the cure to this feral disease in their blood!”
    Rathbone immediately regretted his words. The hyenas had fought well and had earned the respect and gratitude of his people, but he still didn’t entirely trust them.
    â€œI will apologize for my words, directly to the boy,” the hyena replied. He turned and walked toward the bunker.
    The alpha leader found Salvatore on the flatbed and told him they needed to talk. Salvatore got down, and they found a quiet area. “You’ve done well these months, leading us to a new home,” the alpha leader said. “And it’s even better than we imagined. But tell me—is it true the girls are special?”
    Salvatore nodded.
    â€œGood. Tonight, after the humans have settled, we’ll take the girls and escape. If they want them back, they’ll relinquish control of this new safehold to us. So, prepare yourself for tonight, boy.”
    Salvatore couldn’t hide the resentment he felt.
    â€œYou know the consequences if you deny me, boy.” The alpha leader grabbed Salvatore’s shirt and pulled him close. “You tell Rathbone that you’re running with the pack when we pull out this morning. You need to remember where you came from.”

Rathbone Hayes and his cousin, Rebecka Hayes, organized their people for the next leg of their journey. Rathbone couldn’t stop thinking about his home, his own personal safehold on Neah Bay, situated in the town once known as Port Angeles. His job mostly kept him far from home, and he missed it.
    â€œLet’s hit the road,” he yelled, and his captains echoed his words down the lines of purring vehicles. Rathbone was finally going home for good. “This is it,” he said, smiling at Rebecka. “I’m done, cousin. Once we’re home, I’m retiring, and I’m handing over the reins of my command to you.”
    Salvatore appeared, looking grim. His hyena leader was a few steps behind him. “What’s wrong, Sal?” Rathbone asked.
    Salvatore just shrugged as his leader walked up to stand beside him.
    â€œSalvatore, you need to get on the flatbed with the doc and Aiden. The girls will need your protection.”
    â€œHe’s running with us today,” the alpha leader announced. “It’s been months. If he’s going to stay with your clan, he must at least respect our ways by running with his pack one more time.”
    Rathbone shot Salvatore a quick glance and then addressed the hyena leader. “If that’s Salvatore’s wish, we’ll put someone in his place on the flatbed.”
    â€œI’ll do it,” Piper said. “They’re my girls. I need to be with them.”
    Rathbone nodded. “Fine. Everyone do what you have to do. Now let’s get going.”
    Salvatore left with his pack, all morphing into hyenas as they took to the overgrown brush along the roadside. Following their lead, the line of vehicles began to move away from the old warehouse as its doors closed shut.
    As the convoy proceeded down the road, Rathbone watched running hyenas slip in and out of the woods,