Page 96 of Eclipsed Heart

Bodey pressed the unlock button as the wolves ran full speed, their attention locked on Sybil. My heart thundered as I realized that she couldn’t run as fast as the rest of us.

The car was now closer than the front door to the office. We wouldn’t make it to either before the wolves reached us. We should’ve stayed inside.

I’m on my way,Theo linked back.I’ll be there soon.

And so will we,Miles replied.

I hated to take them away from the fight, but we needed help to get Sybil into the car.

The rival wolves barreled toward us as Bodey and Samuel opened the car doors and waved us in as if we weren’t trying to get there as quickly as we could.

As I tugged on her arm, Sybil lost her footing and stumbled. I reached down to catch her as the two wolves leading the ten reached us. The dark-brown wolf lunged at Sybil as the off-white wolf went for my arm.

Desperate to keep Sybil safe, I pivoted toward her just as she lifted her hands and yelled, “Push them away.” A wind picked up, pushing the dark-brown wolf and causing him to fall on his back, but the off-white wolf pivoted around the wind and struck.

He smashed into the side of my body, his teeth sinking into my left arm. Instinct kicked in, and I punched the mutt in the face with my right hand. The wolf released my arm and landed on all four legs as Sybil focused on the other wolf, which kept trying to push through the wind barrier.

Fuck,Bodey linked as his fear and anger wound together.

Bodey and Samuel ran toward the eight other oncoming wolves as Jasmine and Zeke placed themselves as a barrier between the enemies and Sybil and me.

Linking to just me, Bodey said,Get Sybil in the car and guard her. Don’t shift. We don’t have the time or luxury.

The bite on my arm throbbed, and the stench of copper hung heavy in the air. The sleeve of my shirt was shredded, and blood poured from the wound onto the grass. I tried to push through the pain, reminding myself that I’d been through worse.

The off-white wolf shook his head and bared his teeth at me. He snarled and then lowered his head like he planned to knock my feet out from under me. I jerked to the right, barely getting out of the way as the wolf ran past where I’d been standing a mere moment ago.

I wanted to shift, but I didn’t have time for that, and I noticed that Sybil’s hands were shaking as she shot spell after spell at the dark-brown wolf.

I glanced at the other wolves descending upon us as two of them peeled off to fight Bodey and Samuel, and the other six barreled toward Sybil.

Zeke removed two knives from his sides, ready to fight.

Give Jasmine one of the knives,I commanded, wanting Jasmine to have a way to protect herself. I’d been foolish not to bring anything with me. I would never again be so unprepared if I survived this.

Zeke’s nostrils flared, but he tossed a knife at Jasmine’s feet and then struck the first wolf running past him. When Jasmine picked up the weapon, a little bit of my concern eased, and I focused back on Sybil.

Getting her to the car wasn’t going to be easy, thanks to their determination to reach her. I’d expected more to target Bodey and Samuel, but today, Sybil seemed to be their goal. I didn’t care about her the same way I did the others, so why would they be focused on her? Unless Queen Kel thought that Sybil could provide answers the queen didn’t want me to have.

“Run,” I wheezed as the off-white wolf pivoted to attack Sybil while she was distracted.

Sybil’s forehead beaded with sweat as she kept her focus on the dark-brown wolf. She didn’t see the off-white one charge toward her.

“Watch out,” I shouted, moving but unsure if I could reach her in time. The wolf was faster than I was in my human form.

Sybil turned, and her wind hit me and blasted me back several feet before she turned her magic onto the off-white wolf, leaving the other wolf open to attack.

The six wolves circled us as the wind she was controlling faltered.

Sybil croaked, “I can’t use any more magic. I’m out.”

A part of me hoped it was a ploy, but there was no scent of a lie. Between the attack at Lynerd’s and whatever magic she’d used on me, she must have been running low already.

We’re here,Jack linked, and I saw a flash of blond fur racing toward us.

Help had arrived, but we had to survive until they reached us.

Using as much leg strength as I could muster, I jumped, tackling the dark-brown wolf with my body. She hit the ground first, protecting me from the brunt of the landing, but then she rolled over and pinned me to the ground. Her light-yellow eyes flashed with hatred, but she didn’t go for the kill.

---