Waking Up Dead (The Western Werewolf Legend #1) Read Online Free Page B

mark.
    ***
    A contained rage drove Ty forward.
Ever since Hortence had told him of a prisoner of war camp in the
vicinity, he’d planned for his men’s rescue. He couldn’t sleep
without visions of the awful place being his men’s last resting
place on the earth. His men had gone through hell with him.
Discovering only days before, a vampire pit disguised as a prisoner
of war camp and ran by Perkins made his blood boil. The knowledge
ate at his insides until he’d have walked through fire to set them
free. They didn’t deserve to die at the hands of vampires. He’d do
anything he could to save them.
    Being a werewolf provided a benefit in
dealing with the bloodsuckers. Strength like he’d never known
before allowing him to travel great distances without the need for
rest. His body restored itself in record time. A heightened sense
of sight and smell beyond anything he’d experienced in his life
came with the gift. On the other hand, his temper required a
certain amount of control, which he still didn’t possess. He would
speak again with the Guardian concerning the problem. What to do
about Sonja as a werewolf was a situation of much greater
magnitude.
    She’d wanted to accompany him in the
search for his men. Confident she could help, she couldn’t
understand his concern over her safety. The Guardian had warned him
her blood was coveted by the vampires. “She carries the blood,”
he’d said.
    “ How much further, Abram?”
Ty halted to allow his slower companion to catch up.
    Abram Clemens, the Confederate who’d
stumbled upon the horrid encampment, strained to keep up with Ty’s
accelerated pace.
    Bending over, Abram grabbed both knees
with his hands. The struggle to breath prevented his answering
right away. “If we could just rest a minute, Lieutenant, I’d be
able to finish tellin’ ya what the monster said when I came upon
him. He drew in air before meeting Ty’s gaze. “They know about
Sonja. The monster said the blood of werewolf-gods allowed the
vampires to walk in the daylight. He said she carries the
blood.”
    Ty peered at his companion with
narrowed eyes. How could Abram be speaking anything but the truth?
“We don’t have time to rest. If you can’t keep up, go back, and
stand guard for Sonja.”
    Abram straightened. “How you gonna
find this here place without me? I’m the only one who knows where
it is.” His hands settled on his hips. “Peers to me, you need my
information more than you’re lettin’ on.” He spit and glared at Ty.
“You’re moving so fast, I can hardly keep up.” Waving a hand to
brush away Ty’s concern, Abram went on, “I’ll manage, but you need
to listen to what I got to say.” Huffing out another impatient
breath, Abram struggled to keep up with Ty as he bound off down the
dim trail once more. Stumbling yet again, Abram growled and yanked
hard at his boot. “Confounded briars.”
    Abram’s comment reminded Ty of
something vague he’d managed to discard from his collection of
thoughts. The remembrance centered on these wooded glades. The
undergrowth seemed alive, not in the sense of springing forth and
multiplying as nature had intended. No, the phenomenon proved more
otherworldly. Small vines moved without provocation and followed a
person’s movements. If danger lurked nearby, tiny sounds went up as
the warning call echoed throughout the forest. Reasoning the things
he’d witnessed nothing more than an overactive imagination brought
on stress, Ty tried ignoring his apprehensions. Yet, his movements
had been hampered in a solid attack. There was no denying the fact.
The vegetation could capture an unassuming traveler by winding
their sticky little feet around the victim. He’d discovered this
all too well on his last attempt at making it through these
woods.
    A frown creased his brow. If the
events of the past several weeks had taught him anything, it was
the fact that another universe suspended precariously under the
reality he’d known all