His voice suddenly cut off. His eyes narrowed and his nostrils flared.

At the same time, that sensation of ice water dripping along Lola’s spine suddenly flared up again. It was still a fainter sensation but she couldn’t deny its presence any longer. Something was up with her. But she had no idea what it was or why it was happening.

“We need to go,” Russel suddenly said, grabbing her arm and trying to take off running with her in tow.

The sensation across her spine intensified sharply. Lola gasped.

Something started coming out of the scant trees up ahead, mostly obscured by the grayness of the day and the shadows.

Not something, Lola realized with dawning horror. Somethings. Plural. Four to be exact.

As they continued walking, each one started to gain definition. They looked human but Lola knew they weren’t. They were werewolves. She had no doubt in her mind.

“No need for all that,” one of them said. He was taller than the others but slender. His face looked oddly familiar too. “Tell me, what did you think you were going to accomplish here…”

He paused, a smirk growing on his face like an evil fungus.

“Brother.”

Lola looked between the four and then to Russel. That explained why he looked familiar even though she had never seen his face before. It was a family resemblance.

“Russel,” Lola said, looking at him inquiringly. “Are they…”

His jaw clenched tightly and his eyes never strayed from the four werewolves.

“Yes,” he said simply, his voice hard and steely. “They’re my brothers.”

“Ah,” another one said. He was easily the shortest and exceptionally hairy. His arms were covered in thick, black hairs and a big, bushy beard covered most of his face. “That’s her, ain’t she Russel.”

Russel took a few steps in front of Lola, pushing her behind him so that he could shield her if necessary.

“What’s the matter?” she asked. “They’re your brothers. Aren’t they here to help?”

The four of them stared at each other for a moment and then each one burst out laughing. Lola watched, confused. What was happening here? Russel said she would be safe in Oclan but his brothers were acting completely contrary to that.

“Us? Help you?” another one asked, still laughing. He was even clutching his pretty expansive gut as he did. Then his face went deadly serious and he stared menacingly at Lola. There was a hunger burning in his eyes she had seen in only one other.

Russel when he had given himself over to the wolf.

Was this one that far gone too? She didn’t think so. There were still traces of humanity left in him but she wasn’t sure how much. In fact, as she looked at the four of them, they all seemed to have that quality about them. A hunger. They looked at her like she was prey.

“Back the fuck off, Ray,” Russel snapped at the heavy-set brother. “I swear I will rip your throat out if you get any closer.”

The first one that had come out of the wooded area, the tall and slender one, stepped forward with both of his arms out wide. There was a cocky, self-assured smile on his face that Lola instantly detested.

“Now, now, brother,” the man said. “There’s honestly no need for all that…unpleasant business. We can resolve all this nastiness easily. Just hand the girl over.”

Russel’s entire body stiffened.

“Go to hell, Ro. I am invoking my rights as prince now. I have offered this human woman, Lola Tarnvol, sanctuary. She is to remain here, unharmed and unmolested.” His lip curled into a snarl as he spoke. “By my decree.”

The four of them looked among each other but didn’t stop advancing. In fact, the hunger in their eyes had switched to something more unpleasant.

Eagerness.

They were preparing to fight.

Ro looked between Russel and Lola, saw the confusion on her face, and his sinister smile spread even wider as realization dawned on him. He took a step forward and pointed a finger at Lola.

“Your rights as prince are denied, Russel,” he said. “Because this woman has been ordered to be killed by our father.”

He paused, a spark of gleeful satisfaction in his eyes.

“By you, Russel. And since you have failed in your duties, you can die right along with her.”