Page 115 of The Pack

Callum was close to me now, his gray eyes glinting with rage as he swung his blade at a creature lunging for my side.

“Keep behind me!” he shouted, his voice rough with exertion.

“I’m trying!” I yelled back, clutching my knife as another beast barreled toward us.

This one was larger than the others, its grotesque muscles rippling beneath its leathery skin. Its snarls were deeper, its movements slower, but somehow still intelligent.

“Zara, move!” Magnus’s voice cut through the chaos.

I dove to the side just as the creature lunged, its claws scraping against the pavement where I’d been standing. Callum lunged forward, driving his blade into its side, but the beast roared, its massive claws knocking him backward.

I scrambled to my feet, my knife raised as the creature turned its glowing eyes on me. My heart thundered in my chest, the air thick with the scent of blood.

Before it could reach me, Thorne slammed into its side, his wolf a blur of motion as he sank his teeth into its shoulder. The creature let out a guttural roar, swiping wildly at Thorne, but he held on, his powerful jaws locking onto its flesh.

Killian darted in from the other side, his body smeared with blood as he slashed at the creature’s exposed flank.

“Come on, you ugly bastard!” he shouted, his blade glinting in the dim light.

The beast bucked and roared, its claws raking at the air, but Magnus was there in an instant, his silver wolf form lunging for its throat. The three of them moved together as one, and within moments, the creature collapsed, its gigantic body crashing to the ground.

I barely had time to catch my breath before another beast lunged at me, its jagged teeth snapping inches from my face.

“Zara!” Callum shouted, his voice filled with panic as he scrambled toward me.

Trying to retreat, I stumbled back, gripping my knife with trembling hands.

Before the creature could strike, a huge wolf barreled out of the shadows, its dark coat streaked with silver. The beast turned almost in time to meet the wolf’s snarling charge, but it wasn’t fast enough. The wolf slammed into it, teeth sinking into the creature’s neck with brutal precision.

The mutated beast thrashed wildly, its claws scraping at the ground as it tried to shake off the wolf. But the wolf was relentless, its jaws tightening as it dragged the creature down. With a final, gurgling roar, the beast collapsed, its body going still beneath the wolf’s weight.

My heart raced as I stared at the new wolf. Its glowing eyes locked onto mine, and I stared back at it, trying not to panic.

“Who…” I started, my voice trembling.

The wolf tilted its head slightly before stepping back from the dead beast. Then, with a low growl that sent a shiver down my spine, it began to shift.

Bones cracked and reshaped, the dark fur melting away to reveal smooth skin. The transformation was quick, fluid, and when it was over, a tall figure stood in the wolf’s place.

Logan.

“Hey there, sis,” he said softly.

His dark hair was streaked with dirt. His chest rose and fell with each heavy breath, and his dark eyes scanned the clearing, taking in the chaos around us.

“Logan…” I whispered, my voice breaking.

He looked at me, his familiar grin the sweetest thing I’d ever seen. His expression softened for just a moment before he turned back to the courtyard, motioning with one hand.

Behind him, four more wolves emerged from the shadows, their glowing eyes reflecting the fading sunlight as they moved into the square.

Logan’s smirk widened as he turned back to me, his voice calm, but fierce.

“Looked like you could use a hand.”

CHAPTER 25

Zara

---