Somewhere in Pennsylvania 

Murphy checked his phone, and his brows drew together. Still no signal.

"I don't think we can wait," said Joshua as if reading his mind.

He stared out the back passenger window. All that could be seen was farmland with a few houses dotted every mile or so. Joshua was right, this secluded part of Pennsylvania was Amish country. Even if one of them happened to witness what was about to happen, who would believe them. They'd have a story of biblical proportions and no proof.

Their only risk was cellular coverage. They were not supposed to attack until they knew Parker had jammed Elise's ability to communicate with her team of butchers.

He reached for the door handle. They couldn't wait. It was now or never. "Let's go."

The plan was simple. Take out as many vehicles as possible. Then take care of the rest. Hopefully, fast enough they didn't have time to transform into their hybrid form. One run in with a Lycan was enough. Something he didn't wish to have a repeat performance of.

The double cab Toyota Tundra raced down the secluded highway as he swung himself into the cargo bed. Joshua reached out and closed the door as soon as he was free.

He reached across and pulled the large green tarp off the large metal boxes carefully positioned on either side of the side tailgates. After unclipping the first, he threw open the lid and pulled out the FIM-92 Stinger, and swung it on his shoulder with the long tube facing behind and the firing unit in front. He switched on the night vision through the scope and checked that everything was in working order. Once that was done, he returned it to the box and repeated the process with the second rocket launcher. They would only have two goes at this.

Satisfied everything was ready, he banged on the roof of the cab and held on to the roll bar. The Toyota turned off its lights and picked up speed. He didn't need to look behind to know the rest of their convoy were doing the same. It wouldn't do for Elise's men to realize they had company before they got within range. However, knowing what he was about to do, they kept a safe distance behind.

In less than ten minutes they had closed the five-mile distance they'd retained throughout the journey.

Shows about to start.

He planted his legs apart to steady his movements. This would be challenging in normal circumstances, but from a moving vehicle would require a little more concentration... and luck. After taking a deep breath, he clipped the battery coolant unit into place and rested his finger on the trigger as he focused on the night vision scope. If the missile were to hit its target, he needed to make sure the infrared seeker tagged the right one.

As soon as the high-pitched beep from the seeker indicated it had locked onto its target, he pulled the trigger. The missile shot out of the launch tube faster than the loud boom, then low hum that followed its path through the air. Within a blink of an eye, the launch engine fell away, and the rocket's engine's lights flared. The tiny ball of light shot through the dark. Even the car's engines couldn't drown out the whine of the thrusters as it sped towards its mark.

Not having the luxury of time, he tossed the now empty tube back into its box and reached for the second. Just as his fingers curled around the cold tube, the first hit its mark, and the pickup exploded in a fiery ball. As expected, the cars in front and behind, were impacted by the force of the explosion and were flung into the air and tossed aside as if they were skittles in a child's game.

The Toyota skidded to a halt, and he again took aim.

Joshua jumped out from the back seat and joined him at the back. "They turning back?"

He nodded and readjusted the weight and focused on the night vision scope.

Three, two, one.

He held his breath and fired, grateful for the infrared seeker. This time the target was the second from the front. It didn't matter Elise's men were now careening off the road turning back towards the explosion. As long as his target had been painted, that's all that mattered. The missile would reach it.

The only question was, had Daniel been right with his assumption at which of the vehicles had been loaded with all the guns and ammunition?

The moment the rocket ejected, the Toyota roared into life and hurtled forward. This was their best chance to deal with the remaining survivors. Before they had a chance to change into the hybrid form.

Joshua held onto the roll cage. "How many do you think are hybrid?" he asked as if reading Murphys' mind.

He shrugged. "Depends on how many survived the initial blasts. We have to assume all of them.

Time now moved at the speed of sound. They jumped off the back before it fully came to a stop. The first car to be hit was still in flames, the two that flanked it were overturned and damaged beyond repair.

A short way off two more were in a similar condition from the second rocket.

Bodies had been tossed from the cars and lay broken in a trail across the road and the paddocks that flanked it. He spotted some survivors who were struggling to stand, blood pouring from open wounds where bone protruded through. A few others, stood still as if in a stupor, staring at the brightly burning flames.

The ones that escaped the force of the blast stopped their attempts to pull the others free and turned to face the new arrivals.

"I don't think they're happy to see us," said Joshua.

Murphy rubbed his bristly jaw. From their enraged expressions he'd have to concur.

One of the injured, a man who had been propped up against a tree with two broken legs and a large piece of glass poking out of his shoulder, squinted at them then pointed. "Bradley, I recognize a few of them, they're Alliance scum."

Bradley, the largest and meanest looking of Elise's mercenaries, let out a growl and narrowed his eyes. "Get them," he bellowed. "I want every one of those half-breeds dead."

At their leader's command, half a dozen raced forward, while the rest tore off their shirts.

He braced himself. Not only for the imminent fight but for the transformation that was about to occur. He quickly dealt with the first of Elise's men that reached him. Before he could help Joshua, and unnatural snarl caught his attention.

His heart smashed against his ribcage when he swung around. At least a dozen Lycan of varying sizes lumbered towards them. Fully enraged and, if their snarls were anything to go by, out for blood.

Joshua incapacitated the Were he was battling with and turned. He hauled in his breath, and his face took on the same pallor as the rest of his team.

It was one thing to be told about the mythical creatures. It was another thing entirely to come face to face with them.

Without taking his eyes off the Lycan, he called out, "Toni, bars."

Toni shook herself out of her stupor and nodded to her teammate. They raced back to the trucks. Within a few seconds, they were back and tossing metal bars out to Murphy and the others.

Experience had shown them they needed something other than their hands to take on this particular enemy. "Spread out," he said gruffly. "Their reach is greater than you think."

One of the Lycan closest to Murphy lunged forward. Across its forehead was a large gaping jagged cut. The same cut he'd seen on Bradley, the leader who'd led the charge.

Murphy easily moved out of the way and continued to keep Bradley in his line of sight. He held on to the metal bar with both hands.

Lycan Bradley swung his arm out, his razor-sharp talons ready to cut through anything it came in contact with. Murphy swung the metal bar with such force it would have exploded a baseball, had he been playing. The bar smashed against what could loosely be described as Lycan Bradley's wrist. The Lycan's arm snapped back and cried out in pain.

Relief flooded his veins. They aren't indestructible, we just need to find their weak spots.

At their friends cry, the other Lycan pushed forward.

Even though Murphy's team outnumbered the Lycan two to one, he was concerned that wouldn't be enough. Before he could take another swing, Bradley swung a backhander at Murphy and caught him off guard. The force of the contact propelled him into the air, and he landed on his back twenty feet away. He was up and back into the fray in a heartbeat.

At first, the battle reminded him of a dance. The Lycan would step forward and take a swing. The Alliance would step back, out of reach, then take their own stab at injuring the Lycan.

Murphy's team had dealt enough blows, but apart from the initial injury he'd made to Bradley, no real damage had been done.

"Shit, this isn't working," said Joshua after narrowly missing the sharp talons of the nearest Lycan.

His answer died on his lips when a sharp scream punched the air.

Dev, one of the youngest in his team, went down, his hands clutched at his stomach, attempting to stem the flow of blood.

Murphy grimaced, the cut had been so deep, Dev was also stopping his innards from ejecting all over the ground.

A blood-curdling shrill howl of victory screeched from one of the Lycan. Murphy's grip tightened on his weapon and rage washed through him. Before he could react another of his team swore out loud. Armand hadn't moved in time, and a shallow nick on his cheek was his punishment.

In less than sixty seconds Armand's nick turned an angry red, then a fine green foam seeped through the tiny cut and spread throughout the side of his face. He screamed out in agony as the poison continued to spread. The veins on his face and neck popping out as it continued its path.

Despite this, he forged on and continued, using whatever energy he had left to fight.

Grunts and metal hitting titanium like bone, was all that anyone could hear as the battle continued. Joshua pulled away to allow Toni to step in and take over attacking the Lycan they had teamed up on. He drew a series of heavy and deep breaths. "We need another plan."

Murphy took another swing at the Lycan nearest him. This one was a bit smaller, and he'd managed to break a kneecap... if that's what you could call it. But it only slowed the creature down, not stop it.

When Dev's body collapsed to the ground, dead, he had to agree with Joshua's assessment. One by one they were losing this battle. Even if they had managed to hold their own so far, it wouldn't last. The Lycan had more strength as well as stamina. It was only a matter of time before fatigue wore him and the others out. Once that happened it would be like shooting fish in a barrel.

He glanced around. They had taken out all of Elise's men who had not transformed. That left twelve Lycan. And, of the thirty-five Weres he had left Philadelphia with, there were only twenty remaining. The odds were not good.

They were dropping too fast. Those that died on the spot were lucky. The rest were lying on the ground in agony as the poison ripped through their bodies. Who knew how long before they could no longer fight it and succumb to death.

Doubt lifted its evil head, and he wondered if he should give what was left of his team a chance to bow out of this fight. He would continue to the bitter end. Elise and her men had killed too many to be allowed to continue. Even if he took out one before he could no longer fight, it was one less that would continue with the killing spree.

He'd been so focused on finding another weak spot on the smaller Lycan, he failed to hear the approaching vehicle until its breaks took exception and locked the tires.

"It's one of ours," Joshua called out.

The grey van skid along the road before coming to a halt near them. The side door slid open, and one of Daniel's enforcers jumped out, holding an oversized garden high-pressure sprayer bottle. The enforcer raced forward, squeezed the trigger and water sprayed over everyone as he began to douse both Elise's Lycan and his team.

The driver raced around the back and pulled out a container similar to the first.

Murphy quickly moved and swung his metal bar on the back of the Lycan as it lunged past him. He let out a sharp breath. It was a narrow miss.

Joshua swore, and all color drained from his face. "Petra?" His voice came out broken.

Murphy stiffened. What the... He swung his gaze back to the van.

Dr. Baghurst stood by the open door of the van. A third container of whatever now coated the area lay at her feet. Her eyes were open wide, and terror had frozen her face as she stared at the battleground.

A splash of water hit him in the eye, and he balked. Another spray and he was wet from head to chest. "What the fuck?" He growled at Daniel's enforcer.

The enforcer dumped what he now realized was water at his feet, and handed the spray nozzle to him. "Here, take this," he said before charging back towards the van. "You need to douse everyone with the stuff." He nodded towards the Lycan who still fought with the others. "Including them."

He frowned. "Why?"

The enforcer picked up the abandoned bottle at Petra's feet and raced back. "She thinks it will counteract the poison."

Murphy sprang into motion and picked up where the enforcer had left off. "How much?" he asked.

"Fucked if I know. Just get us wet and empty everything over the sons of bitches."

In hearing they might have a chance, even if they were wounded, his team pushed forward with renewed energy. After dousing as many Lycan and team members as possible before emptying the container, he retrieved his metal bar and raced to help Joshua.

The smaller Lycan who Murphy had managed to kneecap earlier, screeched out and began to claw at his skin.

Toni and Saul who were nearest it jumped back. Its frenzied movements had become unpredictable. A moment later, the same wail began to erupt from the others.

Murphy watched their erratic movements like a hawk. "What the hell is in that water?"

Daniel's enforcer shrugged. "Beats me, but the CDC Doc turned up at that Aussie's pub, and we weren't about to look a gift horse in the mouth."

Joshua took a step back.

"Joshua..." warned Murphy. "She's in shock. If you want to keep her safe, you need to stay here. Right now you are the wall of safety between them and her. Deal with them first, then go see to your mate."

Indecision and pain erupted across Joshua's face. However, he held fast and refocused on the Lycan.

Murphy turned back and readied himself for another attack. Hope surged when the bones of the smallest began to shift. The movement was slight at first, then more pronounced. When it began to transform, he sent out a silent prayer of thanks. They might come out of this alive after all.

He surged forward. The sooner they deal with the scum, the sooner he could hold Kaitlyn in his arms. He no longer doubted the outcome. Five minutes ago, they were looking at death's door. He took a quick glance at Petra, he was grateful for this miracle. Because of her, they were able to turn the tables. The Lycan, in their weakened state, were no match for the fury that now came crashing down on them. Not that he could blame the others. After what Bradley and his cohorts had done to the other pack, they were now on the receiving end.

How did Kaitlin put it? He smiled. That's right, Karmas a bitch.

Of the twelve, ten transformed back to their human form within minutes, only to be brought to justice in even shorter time.

The largest Lycan, the leader, Bradley, took an unexpected swipe at Joshua, narrowly missing his neck but still managing to hit him with full force, pushing Joshua to his knees. He pulled away and took off towards the cars. Joshua ignored the pain in his shoulder and jumped up.

"Petra!" He screamed out.

Despite his oversized frame, Bradley's Lycan form was fast.

Murphy followed as Joshua tore past him. From the Lycan's path, he was on a collision course with Petra.

They weren't fast enough. Petra broke out of her trancelike state, screamed and turned to run. However, she wasn't fast enough.

Bradley's large arm swiped out and hit her with the back of his forearm. She flew through the air and crashed into the nearest tree, falling to the ground like a limp rag doll.

Bradley ignored his victim and continued to race down the road, disappearing into the darkness.

Joshua's scream was all that could be heard. He raced to Petra and dropped to his knees. Tears streamed down his face as he repeated, "No, no, no," over and over again.

He carefully rolled her over and cradled her in his arms, unaware of anything or anyone around him. Blood seeped through his fingers when he held her head against his chest and began to rock back and forth.

Murphy chanced Joshua's anger at coming so close, and tentatively reached over and placed two fingers against her neck. He waited.

Nothing.

His shoulders sagged, and his heart went out to his friend. He knew what it felt like to lose a mate. Just as he was about to pull back his arm, he stiffened. Sure it was wishful thinking, he readjusted his position. There it was again. It was very faint, but it was there.

In his grief, Joshua was too distraught and had failed to realize she was still clinging to life.

He squeezed Joshua's good shoulder. "Joshua, listen to me. She's alive, but barely. We need to get her to a hospital."

Joshua stopped rocking and looked up. His eyes dried and his brows drew together. He hesitated before bending his head and placing an ear against her chest. The half sob that escaped when he detected her erratic beat was gut reaching.

Murphy quickly took stock of the bodies that littered the remote road. They needed to clear it before any motorists came by. He checked the time. Twenty minutes. What had seemed like a lifetime had only taken twenty minutes. In that time they had lost a lot of good men and women.

He rubbed his forehead.

It didn't escape him that the small woman who clung to life in Joshua's arms was the reason time had turned out in their favor. The question was, how was the rest of the battle faring?

Murphy squared his shoulders. He couldn't control that. However, he could and would control this. They had to get her, and the others, medical help.