Page 60 of Wolf's Whisper

The second wave of men was easily much more skilled and even JP was having a hard time. Beads of sweat were pearling on his forehead and his glasses were fogging over. Darren had resorted to using his dagger and I could tell he had finally got serious. He was fighting for his life. They all were. And not just for their lives. For mine and Aspen's as well.

And all I could do was sit in the mud and cower in fear. Watching as the people I had started to love were defending me with everything they had.

The glint of a knife temporarily blinded me and warm drops hit my cheek. With trembling fingers, I swiped my face. Blood. I wasn't sure whose, but as I checked my friends for any new wounds, one thing became very clear. We were losing. And I was letting it happen.

Frantically, I racked my brains, trying to figure out what I could do to help. The ground around me was empty and I'd already proved how utterly useless I was with a blade. Was there anything I could do?

I helplessly looked at my companions, but they couldn't help me any more than I could help myself. The only one who could make a difference was shaking in my arms, caught in his own mind.

But that gave me an idea. If I could draw out Aspen's Alpha and let him release all his anger onto our enemies, maybe he would go back to sleep. Maybe.

I knew it was a gamble. A big risk. If this didn't work, I'd have just condemned Aspen to his own personal brand of hell. But if I didn't try, we could all be dead meat before the sun rose again. Maybe if I just waited a little longer...

Another splatter of blood hit my face and this time I did see where it came from. Ashleigh. Someone had badly cut her thigh and as she sank to the ground, that same blinding rage shot through my chest. No one was allowed to hurt my mate. Either of my mates.

I drew my wolf as close to the surface as the shackles of my curse let it happen and called out to Aspen. But not to his human form. To his wolf. My mate. My Alpha mate. I drew him to me, begging for his help. For him to save his human, to save his mate.

And unexpectedly, the Alpha complied. A chill vibrated through the air as suddenly Aspen surged with unlimited amounts of raw power. Wolf or not, nobody would be able to resist a force like that.

I had been right.

The loud screams and fight noises suddenly stopped as our enemy stopped. With dull thuds, their weapons fell to the ground as they cowered underneath Aspen's command. Under my command.

Without any sign of exhaustion or hesitation left, he veered up from the ground. With his eyes dark and frightening, he walked around the circle of men. His arms stretched wide as he instilled fear in the hearts of our enemies. His whole body trembling with energy so pure it made me uneasy. I could almost see the ancient magic dance and swirl around his naked chest, but that was impossible.

Bound under his spell, all the attackers hesitated for a brief moment. That moment was enough. It was all I needed. With a simple nod from me, both JP and Darren expertly slit every throat and in less than thirty seconds, the men followed their weapons as they fell to the ground. Their blood spilling into the once white snow as it soiled the earth beneath, the forest returning to its usual quiet interior.

The fight was over.

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