Twins of Prey by W.C. Hoffman Read Free Book Online Page B

fallen leaves and gravel from the cleared trail allowed Drake a silent approach. Ignoring the clouds of mosquitoes whirling around his head and humming in his ears he dropped to the ground at 30 yards.
    Crawling hand by hand, he was now at 10 yards. With the constant light show put on by the green illuminated fireflies, his darkness-adjusted eyes combined with the flickering glow of what was left of the fire made it bright as daylight to him. This was the point of no return and Drake had to decide whether to step over the sleeping deputies to get close enough to the wolf or to work his way around the outside of the still-sleeping pack. Working his way around the outside meant leaving the hard packed trail and the possibility of waking the pack as his steps crunched on the forest floor. Knowing that if even a single wolf was to wake up, he would be in trouble. Drake chose the riskier but silent route.
    The fire sat aglow with embers as Drake approached the first bag. Thankfully, the smoke from the fire had removed most of the mosquitoes from the camp area and Drake could utilize his full concentration without being bothered. Sleeping on his back with a monstrous snoring roar, Drake approached the sleeping bag of what looked to be a giant. Compared to his 16-year-old frame, Drake had never seen a man of Deputy Coleman's size. He also could not believe the others somehow remained asleep through the sound of the snoring giant. While stepping over Coleman's wide waist, he could not help but giggle to himself as the deputy did his best impersonation of a black bear's mating roar. Two more bags of sleeping enemies stood between Drake and Aurora.
    Henderson on her side was a quick hop over and much easier to get by than the previous bear he had just passed due to the sheer size difference between the two. Looking back to ensure the pack was still asleep he stood over Henderson. Something was different. Not only did Drake recognize the body as being smaller but there was something else. There was something about her face that drew him in.
    What was it, he wondered. Why was this human different? He quickly realized as he got closer and closer, now down on one knee. Henderson is a woman. Of course Uncle had warned them about the dangers of these creatures, but Drake had secretly always disagreed with Uncle on this aspect of human nature. Drake remembered clearly the only woman he had ever talked to. The only dark-skinned person he had ever seen besides himself and Tomek. The nurse from all those years ago. Something about Henderson reminded him of the nurse. While he could not explain his instant infatuation he was excited to tell Tomek about it upon his return.
    Still waiting, Tomek watching from his perch had an arrow knocked and instantly grew angry with his brother who was now six feet from the sleeping wolf and down on his knee staring into the face of a sleeping target.
    “ What is he doing ?”
    Tomek’s anger began to boil. Growing impatient with his brother's sudden enchantment, Tomek drew his bow, feeling the tension in his back as he held the string at full draw he aimed directly over his brother’s shoulder. Tomek saw his brother draw in closer to Henderson and his decision was made. Releasing the grip on his fingers holding back the string, it drug across his bare cheek propelling the arrow downrange, where it directly impacted the middle of the fire pit.
    With sparks and embers flying into the air from the arrow’s thud-like landing, Drake jumped up and peered into the darkness. At that moment two thoughts crossed his mind: “ What in the hell is Tomek doing shooting at me? ” and “ Where in the hell is he ?”
    Both thoughts continually ran through his mind as he stared into the darkness. He knew that if not for the wolf being present, their original plan would have worked perfectly. All five of the targets would have been eliminated easily from the darkness if not for the wolf. Even knowing what tree Tomek was in,