Page 202 of The Delta's Rogue
Nolan and Cassandra freeze. The other pack members stop what they’re doing as well, their activities forgotten. All watch in disbelief as Cavalier tears into the werewolf with no restraint. Reid, Harrison, and Sebastian all burst into laughter, and I can’t help but join in with them. Wesley’s shoulders sag, and he shakes his head, his expression torn between amusement and fear.
“Are you sure you don’t want his help?” Maddie asks.
“Haven will kill me if he gets hurt,” he says through gritted teeth.
Our amusement at Cav’s perfect defense of two of his favorite Crescent Lake pack members is short lived. Across the expansive tree line, more werewolves—both shifted and not—appear, slipping out of the forest and into the wide-open space surrounding the lake.
Panic erupts on the grounds as the werewolves race towards the scattered pack members, who all still stare at Cav and the black werewolf he took down. But everyone bursts into action, jumping to their feet or sprinting away from the large group heading towards them.
The mass of attackers splits into smaller clumps, each following a group of Crescent Lake members. They run, weaving through the buildings, all heading in separate directions and staying just out of reach of the werewolves chasing them.
Cassandra and Nolan sprint towards the packhouse. Cav, once he’s certain the black werewolf is down, chases after them, his tongue hanging out and his mouth in what I can only describe as a proud, wolf-husky smile.
“Don’t shift unless you absolutely have to,” Wesley reminds Sebastian and me—not that we need it. “If they see your golden eyes, they’ll know we have the royals on our side too. We need to keep our upper hand hidden for as long as we can.”
Sebastian and I both nod our response, but Wesley’s attention is already back on the field, on the pack members racing across the far reaches of the grounds.
The running members slow their steps as each group nears the large buildings they were heading towards.
Sebastian grabs my face and slams his mouth against mine as the pack members running away from the attackers turn and face them, standing their ground and preparing to fight back.
“Te amo, mi reina,”he whispers into my mind as our mouths move as one.
Time slows to almost a stop as Sebastian pulls away from me and our attackers launch themselves into the air, triumph etched into their expressions and gleaming in their eyes.
Just before our enemies land their first hits, we attack.
Warriors pour out ofevery building. They race out the doors and jump through the windows, kept safe from the shards of glass by the combined magic of the witches we have on our side—Maya, Rune, and their mothers.
The traffickers pause their attack, taken aback by the warriors heading towards them—warriors who are prepared for a fight andnotcaught by surprise. But they don’t stop for long. They double down on their tactics and relentlessly focus their energies on the groups we used to separate them. They try to wear them down and get in as many hits as they can before the rest of us join.
I stay close to Sebastian’s side as we head towards Nolan and Cassandra—and Cavalier—who are already deep in the fray, fighting the wolves who followed them towards the packhouse.
“They’re definitely boosted by witches,”Nolan informs everyone through the mindlink as he punches a trafficker in the throat.“Just like Pierce was when Wesley fought him.”
“We need someone to take the witches out,”Wesley replies as we reach them.“A small group. Two or maybe three. They’re probably hiding in the trees.”
“I’ll go,”Dominic volunteers, backing around the edges of the fight, leaving before he gets drawn in too far.
“So will I.”Harrison follows him.
“Maddie, go with them,”Wesley orders, throwing a wolf off his back and to the ground.“Take Cav withyou.”
Maddie glares at Wes, but she doesn’t argue or resist. She lands one final blow on the wolf she’s fighting, and once it’s down, she sprints after her dad and Dominic. She whistles for Cav to follow, and he streaks after her, pausing here and there to bite at the ankles and tails of our enemies.
“Keep your eyes peeled for Amara,”I remind everyone.“Thatputais probably waiting to show her face until we’re weakened, but she won’t stay away for long. She enjoys pain too much.”
“Watch for Nuncio too,”Sebastian adds.“He has a gold tooth. If you see him, save him for Sarina and me.”
The mindlink goes silent, and we all focus on the battle.
The wolves we fight are unyielding, driven by cruelty and the magic boost provided by their witches. But we fight back just as hard, and our driving force—protecting the innocent and putting an end to this once and for all—is stronger than theirs.
The battle becomes a blur of teeth, fur, claws, and blood. Sebastian and I stay in human form as we make our way across the battlefield, leaving destruction and death in our wake. Around us, the combined warriors of Crescent Lake and the royal guard shift in and out of their human and wolf forms as needed, their clothes remaining intact thanks to a potion Rune, Maya, and their moms made for everyone.
I lose count of how many wolves I take out, and I lose track of how much time passes. The sky transitions from sunset to twilight. Stars dot the sky. I’m unsure if it’s been minutes or hours since the fight began. Fear exists at the edge of my conscience, weaving between the primal, bloodthirsty need to exact revenge. It threatens my rhythm, pulsing and then retreating.
It’s the fear that this will end like it began—with me in chains, strapped to a gurney, as they deliver me back to the hellhole that almost killed me.
