Wolf Hunt (Book 2) by Jeff Strand Read Free Book Online Page A

snowplow continued on its merry way past the house. Really? The guy wasn't going to stop to see if everything was okay? What a dick.
    George looked around for something he could throw at Ally. Nothing was available except maybe a handful of safety glass.
    Screw it. George scooped up a handful of glass and threw it into Ally's face. It was a damned good throw. He wasn't sure if he actually got her in the eyes, but she turned her head and stopped moving toward him.
    That wouldn't keep her away for long.
    Should he continue trying to reason with her, or did that just make him look stupid? Could he look any stupider at this point?
    Ally suddenly seemed to realize that the windows were broken. She scurried over to one and poked her head outside.
    Crap. If she tried to squeeze through, she could probably make it. Then he'd have a crazed werewolf on the loose, possibly one that might go on a killing spree. Again.
    "Hey!" he shouted. She ignored him and continued to push through the window, apparently not bothered by the glass on the edges of the frame. George's first instinct was to lunge forward and try to grab her leg...but was that the best idea, looking at the big picture? How many innocent lives would he save by getting mauled to death before she escaped?
    Better plan: get the dart, get the gun, shoot the wolf.
    In his current state of agony, George would have preferred moving at a leisurely pace, like that of a ninety-seven-year-old invalid, but the situation didn't permit that, so he climbed halfway into the passenger seat and grabbed the dart out of the glove compartment as fast as he could. Oh, yeah, he'd definitely be paying for that in the morning.
    Ally was halfway out of the window. It would've been convenient and hilarious if she got stuck, but she was making fairly rapid progress.
    And then she was through.
    Shit, shit, shit, and shit.
    George scrambled into the back and picked up the gun. He frantically loaded the second dart.
    Please don't start slaughtering people. Please don't start slaughtering people. Please don't start slaughtering people.
    Two cars being in the driveway didn't bode well for nobody being home. And the snowman was even scarier.
    He slid open the van door and got out. Two cars had parked on the side of the road, and one of the drivers was already out of his vehicle. Ally wasn't running toward him. Nor was she running toward the open front door, where a woman and a young boy stood. She'd dropped to all fours and was running toward the woods behind the house.
    If she made it past the trees, he'd never catch her. Not a chance in hell.
    "Animal control!" he shouted, waving the gun in the air. "Everybody stay back!"
    The woman ushered the boy back inside and closed the door.
    George extended his arm and took careful aim. He'd never fired a tranquilizer dart before the one that hit Lou, and he doubted it was anywhere near as accurate as a bullet. On the plus side, Ally didn't seem acclimated to her new form and her gait was kind of awkward.
    Behind him, a woman screamed. George didn't let that distract him. Focus...focus...
    He squeezed the trigger.
    Ally let out a soft yelp.
    Holy crap! He'd done it!
    She kept running, but her pace slowed. Then she disappeared into the woods.
    George turned around. "I need you to clear the area!" he said, trying to sound like somebody in a position of authority. There were two people walking toward him and a couple more cars had parked. "It's too dangerous to be here. Please return to your vehicles."
    "What the hell was that thing?" a woman asked.
    "It's rabid," said George, not really answering her question. "I need you to vacate the premises. Seriously. It's for your own safety."
    A man had taken out his cell phone. Surprisingly, he seemed to be making an actual call instead of taking a picture.
    "Sir? There's no need to contact anybody. I have this under control."
    "Under control? That thing ran into the woods!"
    "I understand that. But there's a serious financial