Page 5 of The Powerless Witch

I made a quick swerve, jumping between two of the trees that rose close to each other. Its massive body slammed into them, the wood groaning while they bent and cracked. The bear tried to push through, but when the trunks held, it withdrew in search of another passage.

I slowed down as the forest gave way to a small clearing with a wide stream cutting through it. The waters were fast, too fast to swim through, and too wide to jump over. I either had to fight it here or run upstream in search of another place to cross—if I was lucky to find it before that monstrosity caught up to us. The second option was smarter, but that would mean doing it with Celeste on my back and that was…

An approaching roar made me snarl in frustration, reaching with my paw toward the rope rubbing against my chest. I slid my nail through it, cutting it with ease, and Celeste’s body tilted to the side until she hung in the air, held up only by her bound hands wrapped around my neck. I set her on the ground by one of the trees, then stepped away just as the bear emerged from the forest, sending bark and branches flying everywhere. Saliva dripped from its maw, teeth gleaming in the dim sunlight that barely penetrated the clouds.

We lunged at the same time, sending pebbles and earth flying everywhere. The world faded into the background, teeth and nails and fur filling my vision as I sunk my claws into its shoulders, digging as deep as they could go. Its jaw snapped right next to my neck, missing my throat more by chance than my skill, before the monster forced me back with sheer strength.

I twisted my body, allowing its massive weight to drag it forward. The bear landed on all fours, so I took my chance. Retreating a few steps to give myself more running space, I lunged on its back, aiming one more time for its shoulder. Blood invaded my mouth, warm and sour and wrong. Tearing flesh and fur, I yanked my teeth free, leaving a huge gaping wound behind.

The bear roared again, tossing its body left and right until I lost my hold. I collided with one of the trees, cracking the trunk in half, but swiftly rolled to my feet. I was ready to leap when I noticed the bear changing direction…to where I had left Celeste’s body.

Panic gripped my throat, propelling me forward. The bear moved quickly, but the wound on its shoulder was making it limp. I, on the other side, was now without the added extra weight pulling me down.

I flew past the beast, positioning myself in its way. It snarled in frustration when it noticed me, but didn’t even slow down. Swiping with its giant paw, it dragged its nails over the bark of the tree when I ducked.

I realized my mistake the moment my eyes landed on the woman falling lifelessly to the side. Her blood permeated the air, and I stared with horror while it poured from the gash on her shoulder, soaking her jacket. My distraction cost me.

The bear ran its claws over my chest and, as the ache spread through my body like wildfire, I answered it with a pained howl. Dodging the next attack, I bit into its side, where the fur was already matted with dark blood. When I couldn’t hold on any longer, I rammed my shoulder into the wound, pushing back. The beast staggered, flailing its front limbs, while I kept pushing it further and further away from Celeste.

More pain exploded in my back. I pushed. The pebbles beneath my feet rolled, almost sending me to the ground, but I kept pushing.

A loud, long sound echoed through the forest, and for a moment I thought it was the bear roaring, infuriated that I was holding it back from its chosen prey, but then I recognized it.

A howl. Awolf’showl.

Before I could find the source of the familiar call, something slammed into my side, sending both me and the beast to the ground. I finally let go, rolling to the side and jumping on my feet. The bank of the stream had turned red from our blood, the grass and trees broken and marked with the traces of the fight.

The bear got up a few steps away, but now another animal stood in my way. Or rather, stood initsway. The wolf was with his back to me, black fur covering a powerful torso and long, muscular legs. The power emanating from him was palpable, similar to the presence that most males had after reaching full strength.

A low, warning growl rippled through the black alpha, and the bear bared its teeth. I caught a movement from the corner of my eyes as several more wolves stepped out of the trees, closing the circle around the wounded animal.

I let out a sigh of relief, seeing how nobody attacked me when I sawhim. One of the wolves stopped where Celeste was lying, sniffing her. I was on the move before he reached her, ready to attack if he so much as touched her.

One of the others must have warned him because he jumped out of my way, baring his teeth as I landed over her, covering her with my body. The smell of blood grew stronger, but her warm breath against my fur and her racing heart drumming in my ears were enough to calm me.

She was alive.

The heavy steps of the bear thundered in the forest and when I glanced toward the stream, the beast was gone. The wolves turned their attention to me, keeping their distance even though some of them looked ready to charge.

The black alpha walked closer, his head rising above the others as the wolf stopped a few steps away. A sharp nudge at the back of my mind made me grit my teeth.

I considered resisting the invasion—mindlinking strangers could be dangerous—but then relented and put down my mental shields. Their voices flooded my mind, excited and suspicious, but not hostile. Except for the one I had almost tackled to the ground.

‘Who are you?’a female voice demanded, and the others instantly quieted. I raised my eyes to the black wolf, staring with disbelief when I realized their Alpha was a woman. Her wolf form was even bigger than mine, and I was larger than both Kai and Daniel. I had been so immersed in the battle and protecting Celeste that I hadn’t recognized her scent.

I struggled to find the words, my mind still on the fight and the panic gripping my throat. I wanted to check on Celeste, make sure the wound hadn’t been more than a graze, but I dared not look away.

‘My name is Isaac Linwood and I’m the Alpha of the Bloodclaw Pack,’I said when I collected myself.‘I come in peace.’

There was a soft murmur in my mind, but I kept my eyes on the Alpha, trying to determine what she was thinking. Unfortunately, not a single thought moved past her mental shield despite holding the connection between us.

‘My name is Georgia Briggs, Alpha of the Blacktooth Pack. What reason do you have to trespass into our territory, Isaac Linwood? Where is the rest of your pack?’

I swallowed, allowing myself to rise just a bit—I could feel Celeste’s chest brush against mine when she breathed and I was afraid I might suffocate her. Two of the wolves closest to me snarled in warning and I froze.

‘I’m alone. I came to seek help from the witches,’I replied, and another wave of murmurs washed through the mindlink. Their eyes moved to Celeste’s unconscious figure while Georgia tilted her giant head.

‘For your human?’

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