Page 88 of The Wolf Slayer

Niev’s legs suddenly felt as if they would give in at any second. She reached behind her and clinched on to the countertop for support.

“You see, you not only took my eye, but you also robbed me of my pride and my status within the pack. If you’d been a wolf, my injuries would’ve been a sign of bravery but since you’re nothing less than a woman, they are my stamp of shame.”

Instinctively she reached for her stomach. She knew he was here to hurt her and this time she wasn’t sure if her babies would survive his attack. He was in rage, and she could see pure anger flickering in his remaining eye.

“Oh, my sweet dear, that baby won’t help you. This time, I’ll make sure you both die,” he purred, madness vibrating in his tone and a dark smirk twitching on his lips.

Truly terrified, she needed Blake by her side so desperately. Then another of Layla’s screams echoed through the house. The smirk on his face turned to an evil grin. She realized he wouldn’t stop with her. He wouldn’t rest until everyone in the house–or even the village–was dead. Courage started to form in her chest. She had to protect Mayra, Alizia, Darron, Layla, and Layla’s baby, and she would do so at any cost.

‘Blake, I need you.’

She knew he couldn’t hear her. He was miles away, but she’d never wanted and needed him so much. Another scream echoed through the house, her courage growing even stronger. She started to grab behind her into the sink where she’d seen a long, sharp knife. With her other hand she held her belly, she knew what would happen. She fought back the tears. Her babies would die. There was no way they would survive his attack, or her fight with this mad man.

“First, I’ll make you watch as I rip your child out of you. Then I’ll slowly break each bone in your useless body.” His remaining eye filled with joy as he spoke.

Another scream filled the air, and her courage grew even more. Her babies would die no matter what she did. He wouldn’t show mercy. She wasn’t able to run from him and she couldn’t hide either. All she could do now was to save the other lives in the house. Layla’s screams got more intense and Niev’s courage had grown to a force. Her hand found the knife right as she saw his silhouette blur just like Blake’s did when he shifted. She only had mere seconds before an enormous wolf would stand before her, and she knew she stood no chance against him.

‘Forgive me!’

That was her last thought before she jumped forward, knife pointing directly at the spot where his heart was.She saw him shift, heard his bones crack, felt his fur, and his huge body pushing her back as he shifted. She plunged the knife inside of him where just seconds ago his heart was beating. His shifting wolf form pressed her back. Losing her balance, she fell backwards hitting her head on something hard. It felt as if her head exploded, and darkness wrapped around her once again.

Blake was running through the woods, his paws moving as fast as they could. He needed to reach his position before the attack launched. He was leading a small pack of warriors around the Skadu Pack’s campsite to attack from behind.He was late because he’d taken Niev to the main house where she would be safe and well taken care of by his mother and Lyliann. She’d healed the men until she’d exhausted herself.

She’d made sure each warrior had been healed for the attack. She’d been braver and stronger than anyone ever would’ve thought. Even his father had been surprised at how far she’d gone. Niev won over the men’s trust with the way she’d treated each one of them. She’d been kind and showed patience to the men who had been nervous and afraid.His thoughts were interrupted by Seth’s mind pushing against his own.

‘We are set.’

Blake broke through a bush and saw his troop of warriors. They all stood ready in formation, few even slightly bowed their heads as he approached. It was something Blake wasn’t used to. Usually, they only did that for his father and his brother, the true heir to the alpha title. During the last day, he’d noticed that the respect for him had increased. He assumed it was one part due to his fight with the three wolves and another part due to his mate’s bravery. Choosing a good mate was respected amongst wolves.

Tristan led the formation in Blake’s absence and was now making room for Blake. He’d never been a warrior, even though he’d always trained by Blake’s side. If Blake would’ve been the first-born son, Tristan would’ve been his beta, his right hand, and advisor. He was kind and always made the wiser decisions. Thanks to Niev, Tristan had fully recovered from his injuries, and his bravery during that fight had given him respect amongst the warriors.

‘We are ready,’Blake let Seth know.

‘Move out,’ was his brother’s short response.

Blake signaled his troop to move and led them in a wide circle around the camp. They moved quickly, but silently. The camp was on a small clearing, tents set up and not guarded by anyone on their side of the clearing. His brother and father would take out the guards on their side as soon as Blake and his men were in place. As Blake looked closer, he could see a few women walking around the camp.

He sent out his mind in search of his father. ‘There are women here.’

His father’s response was to everyone. ‘Women and children are not to be harmed, find me Alpha Loren.’

Blake dug down and started crawling closer to the tree line surrounding the camp. His warriors copied his actions and quietly followed him. They laid low until they heard his father’s and Seth’s troops breach, entering the camp and attacking every wolf they came across. Screams and growls began to echo through the clearing as Blake got on his paws and breached the tree line himself. Women and children started running toward them trying to escape the fights.

‘Let them pass if they wish,’Blake commanded his warriors.

The women stopped in their tracks as soon as they saw the wolves step out of the forest. Blake’s instructions during the attack were to make sure no Skadu Wolves could flee into the woods, while his father and Seth’s troops led the actual fight. It was crucial that they found Alpha Loren and his heir. His father’s plan was to defeat Alpha Loren and force him to end the attack.

More women and children fled the fight and accumulated in front of Blake and his warriors. His father had made it clear none of them were to be harmed, so Blake stepped aside giving them an exit. He nodded toward the large gap between him and Tristan and one by one they escaped into the woods.

‘Close the circle,’his father commanded them.

Blake and his wolves followed suit and walked closer toward the fight. Blake stepped over and crushed the tents under his paws, wolves fighting all over the clearing. He saw Seth fighting against two wolves and had to contain his anger. Fighting not to run toward him and kill the wolves himself. He had strict instructions not to break the line, no matter what. His father’s large, black wolf was on the other side of the clearing, opposite of Blake, with Bill fighting by his side. A brown wolf approached him from behind, injuring and even killing a wolf that came between him and his father.

Blake searched for his father’s mind. ‘Alpha Loren approaching from behind.’

His father turned around right in time to dodge Alpha Loren’s attack. They circled each other, growling, and showing their canines. Now it was an alphas fight. They challenged each other, and no one dared to go between them. They launched at each other at the same time, Alpha Loren trying to attack his father’s neck.

Blake’s gaze was pulled away from the fight as he was approached by two wolves himself. He was able to avoid one while he sunk his teeth in the other. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see that Tristan took care of the first wolf. Blake tugged on his opponent, turning him on the ground, throat up.

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