Snowfall (Arctic Station Bears Book 3) Read Free

and is currently the hostage of recently thawed evil popsicle.” Parker appeared genuinely amused by this.
    “Brace yourselves,” Ben said. “I’m setting her down.”
    The helicopter landed with a thud and I hardly noticed. Parker grinned at me and I realized that he’d seen that I was afraid and had been trying to distract me.
    “Thanks, Parker,” I said. “I appreciate that.”
    He nodded. “Don’t mention it.”
    I stepped off of the helicopter, feeling very proud of myself that I didn’t feel the same urge to fall to my knees and kiss the ground as I did the first time I’d stepped off a helicopter. God, it feels so long since then. But it had been less than two weeks.
    The base was a ghost town. No lights were visible in the windows of the buildings.
    A howl broke the silence as a half-dozen people ran toward us from the darkened buildings.
    They looked human, but…twisted. Half-animal. Some growled and snarled. More frightening were the silent ones. They were trying to surround us.
    Alanna. Liam’s voice was in my head. My neck snapped around to see a building fifty yards away. None of these new additions were between me and the building. I could make a run for it.
    “I know where he is,” I said.
    “Who?” Ben asked.
    “Liam. Calder’s got him over in that building. I can feel it.”
    “You really are fated if you can do that,” Ben said. “I’m amazed.”
    “Hopefully we’re fated to do more than just die here.”
    “Go get him,” Parker said. He ejected the clip from one of his handguns and touched the top bullet, then reloaded the weapon. “We’ll cover you and try to even the odds a little.”
    I didn’t even think. Liam was the only thing on my mind. My pulse was louder than the howling wind as I ran to the building. I was halfway there before I heard the first gunshot.
    P arker
    Parker watched Alanna run. The bestial humans seemed to ignore her completely as they charged toward the helicopter. He pulled out one of his spare handguns and handed it to Ben.
    “In case we need to make a strategically quick escape, it’s probably best if you don’t shift,” Parker said. Ben took the weapon in a shaky hand.
    “You alright?” Parker asked.
    Ben laughed. “Oh sure. We’re about to be torn to pieces by a bunch of monster men. This is a totally normal Friday night for me.”
    The howling things were almost upon them. Parker was suddenly aware of their attire. A few wore fatigues. Two wore white lab coats. These people worked here. They had been fully human until very recently. Shit. They were about to become the victims of people who were victims themselves.
    “I don’t know how good you are with a gun,” Parker said, “but if you can help it, try not to kill them.”

C hapter F our - L iam
    Liam struggled with his bonds as watched Calder transform his hostages. Every inch that he moved made him acutely aware of the silver slug embedded in his shoulder. I’ve got to get the fuck out of here , he thought.
    There was a sound over the howling wind. A helicopter. He could barely hear it.
    Alanna , Liam thought.
    Calder looked toward the ceiling. “Ah,” Calder said. “ Good. They’ve finally arrived.”
    “What are you planning to do?” Liam said.
    “My friends will keep yours busy until Alanna can reach me and then I’ll give her two gifts. The first will be my blood. The second will be your life.”
    “Maybe you can give her that second one early. And take this slug out of my shoulder while you’re at it.”
    Calder laughed. “Yes, I know. You’d very much like to use the gift that Oliver gave you against me. Why do you persist in fighting when I’ve already won?”
    “Just part of my personality, I guess. If you hurt her, I’ll tear you apart. Silver bullet or not.” Liam joked, but he ground his teeth together. His pulse pounded in his ears.
    Calder removed a syringe from a small black case and examined its contents. “Once she has my blood, it won’t matter.