Page 68 of Wolf Crowned

She held her hand out like she wanted to touch me but then dropped it back to her side.

I reached out to her with trembling fingers. “Here I can do it myself.”

Willa gave me a wide eyed look. “I’m not sure that's a good idea. Are you sure you can?”

I grabbed the needle carefully so I didn’t poke her. I took a few deep breaths and steadied my hand. Willa reached out for me like she might stop me but then dropped her hands back to her sides. I pointed the sharp point towards my chest and then plunged it in, pressing the depressor and shooting the liquid in to my chest.

It was cold and then hot but otherwise I felt nothing. Until...bam. My body lurched. My heart kicked up a few notches. I scrambled to my feet grabbed the bag, clutching it against me.

Willa gasped and shot to her feet, but she wasn’t fast enough. “Sawyer, what are you doing? You can’t. This is crazy. That could kill you.”

I grabbed a few more syringes out before pushing the bag back at her. “I’ll tell Sloane you tried to stop me. You did your part and I’m doing what I have to do.” I nodded at her. “Go back to the cars Willa. Please don’t get hurt or killed chasing after me.”

I took a few steps back, holding my hands up. “I can make a difference, Willa. I know I can. Go back to the cars and do whatever you were supposed to do once you got there. Do you understand me?”

Willa shook her head. “Sawyer, please.”

I took a wobbly step towards the cave entrance. “Please do what you were supposed to do with me. I want to know that you’re safe. I appreciate everything that you’ve done, but I have to go help Lincoln and Sloane.”

She opened her mouth, but only a croak came out. She nodded instead before bursting into tears. I took that as my queue to go and darted for the entrance and out towards the fight.

Twenty-Four

Sloane

I sprinted through the woods. My heart hammered in my chest. My lungs burned. I didn’t care. Nothing could stop me now.

I led the charge through the trees. Wildlife scrambled out of my way. Brush whipped against my skin, stinging and biting into my flesh, but I pushed myself faster. We needed to release the prisoners before Alpha Dane realized we’d led him a few miles in the wrong direction.

Lincoln and a few others were right on my tail. Their footfalls pounded the grounded in time with the rapid racing of my pulse.

The crackle of gunfire ceased a moment ago. I said a silent prayer for Sheriff Adam, hoping he hightailed it out of here and didn’t stick around. He was handy with a gun, but I wasn’t sure how many men Alpha Dane might send after him.

If anything happened to him, it would be on me. Guilt clawed at my belly. I shook the thought away. He’d asked to help, and he’d known the risks.

I needed to focus on the fight to come. One wrong move and not only could it cost me my life, but everyone else’s. I huffed and narrowed my eyes.

Howls and screams echoed through the trees. I glanced over my shoulder. Brandon gave me a thumbs up before darting his gaze back to the phone in his other hand.

The sprinklers were running, spraying any unfortunate wolf with wolfsbane tainted water. I almost felt bad for them. It had to burn like hell. But it was a necessary evil.

Our plan had worked at least so far. Now we just need things to keep going our way.

I lifted my arm and held up my fist up for everyone to see. I slowed my pace to a walk before stopping altogether in front of a fallen tree. I scanned the trees and bushes, cocking my head to the side, listening and watching. There was no movement. The woods ahead were eerily silent. Between the gunfire and us trampling through them, the wildlife had all run off. And it was too silent for any enforcers to be hiding, either.

I squatted behind the brush. We had about a quarter mile until we reached the pack house.

I waited for the rest of the pack to fall in. They crouched around me, watching, waiting for me to give my next instructions.

The nausea was back. It swirled in my stomach like soured milk. They were all willing to follow me into battle, knowing this could be their last few minutes. For some of them, it would be. There was no turning back now. I could only hope that our losses would not be significant.

I glanced at all of them. They’d already split themselves into their respective groups. Bless them for making this easier on me.

I licked my too dry lips. “Once we continue on, we will be in full battle mode. We are seeing this through until Alpha Dane and his men either surrender or perish.” I kept my voice to a whisper. “Alpha Dane is our main target. Remember, he has forced most of these men to call him alpha. There is no telling what will happen once his hold is released.”

It would be too easy to think they would give up, but a girl could hope.

The pack nodded, murmuring as they watched me.

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