Chapter 280

Chapter 280

CAS SANDRA

It had been five years since I’d been in my wolf form.

It was strange, this feeling of pure, primal instinct, and yet it was still so familiar.

I thought I would forget how to run and how to fight, but on the contrary, I remembered them quite well. The muscle memories, along with the fighting skills my father Darrin and my brother Ector had once taught me were still so clear in my mind.

As my claws dug into the damp earth beneath me, a shiver ran down my spine. I could feel the power flowing through me, electric and tense. It was exhilarating but admittedly a little scary since I wasn’t used to this sensation.

I lowered my head and growled, glaring at the wolves circling me. Kaleb’s guards, no doubt, each ready to take me on. I attempted to count them all but soon lost track. Of course, I didn’t care all that much about how many adversaries stood against me. My wolf instincts had kicked in and taken control of my very being.

These wolves could try to fight against me all they wanted. They would pay dearly for that mistake, likely with their lives.

As strange as it was to admit, I yearned for a good fight. The power that Emmett had left in my body made me feel capable and strong. I had never learned how to wield magic, and yet, when I’d left the main building, all I’d had to do was think about deflecting the bullets and arrows that had come my way. The magic did the rest of the work.

I was more in control than I’d been in years and I was thrilled and fascinated by this magic feeling. I wasn’t powerless or weak anymore. I was a fighter.

With a roar, one of Kaleb’s wolves lept toward me and bared its long canines. Saliva dripped from its mouth and spilled onto the grass, and then it lunged forward and tried to swipe at my chest. Before it could make contact, I shifted aside swiftly and ducked behind its back in one fluid motion. Once I was in position, I sprang forward and buried my teeth in its neck.

Blood gushed from the wolf and after it let out a pained cry, it collapsed to the ground.

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Chapter 280

All around me, the other wolves let out growls and snarls of agitation, and then they launched their attacks in unison. Each of them was huge and incredibly strong, but their size and bulk didn’t make them more skillful in fighting. I was able to evade and duck deftly without getting a single scratch on me.

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Maybe the soldiers and guards had been relying too much on weapons and forgot how to fight as werewolves. Their movements were clumsy and none of them could even lay a claw on me.

But as I got caught up in the flurry of movement, one wolf stood out among the

crowd.

Kaleb.

The king of Yurene hadn’t jumped into the fray initially. He had stood back and let his men come after me first, simply watching the fight from a safe distance. Then, when I had dealt with half of his pathetic soldiers, he shifted into his wolf form.

I was a little surprised by his appearance. He wasn’t nearly as physically imposing as his men. Sure, his wolf form was larger than mine, as he was a male, but his body was leaner than the others. His muscles were understated, but when he sauntered forward, power radiated from him. His fur was the same golden-brown as his hair was in human form but his eyes were pitch-black. The darkness of his irises was chilling, and as he circled me, his gaze focused on me sharply.

Kaleb moved like lightning.

As we danced around one another, it was as if he could predict my every move. He would react before I could fight back, and he took the opportunity to lunge at me when I was busy dealing with his desperate soldiers.

The Northern king’s claws scraped down my back, leaving a long wound near my spine that stung the moment the cold air hit it. I cried out, pain washing over me as I howled. Dizziness flooded my senses for a moment, but I pushed through the pain and instead focused on the anger swelling in my veins.

I growled and leaped, aiming for his neck as I sprang into the air. But before I could make contact, I was stopped by a group of his soldiers. Their large bodies blocked my path, and I was forced to take a step back. I snarled, irritated by this interruption. These wolves were annoying pests keeping me from my real target.

I decided to deal with them immediately.

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I took on a group of wolves, but as we fought, I soon realized that this deflection had been a part of Kaleb’s strategy. But I discovered the truth far too late. Kaleb’s claws appeared before my left eye. I closed my eyes instinctively, bracing for a great deal of pain and the potential loss of my vision when those claws met the soft membrane, but for some reason, the pain never came.

When I opened my eyes, I saw an arm near my snout.

An arm covered in black marks.

It had been pierced by Kaleb’s sharp claws.

I widened my eyes as I realized Asher was beside me. His brows were furrowed from the pain and his lower lip trembled.

Horror traveled through me. Asher had blocked the Northern king’s attack.

Kaleb moved to strike again, but before he could, Asher’s nails swiftly became claws, and he ripped into the Yurenian’s stomach, leaving a deep wound.

A loud howl of pain escaped Kaleb, and he retreated quickly.

Despite the blood streaming down his arm, Asher held his head up and glared at the king.

“I suppose it’s true what they say about the North,” he called out to him. “There are no gentlemen here. Only a group of cowards would take on a lone lady wolf.”

Kaleb growled lowly, his dark eyes narrowed. He retreated a few steps and

continued to glare. I could tell there was a wide range of emotions within him, but I couldn’t tell what he was thinking.

My gaze turned back to Asher, and when I noticed his arm, I let out a cry. The wound Kaleb had inflicted was deep.

Asher removed his shirt and used his shirt to bind his wound.

“We need to leave right now,” he said urgently, just low enough for me to hear. “Ronald is calling an army to come, so there’s surely going to be a battle here. I might not be able to stay conscious for long. I can feel the stiffness within my body. Cas sandra, we need to get out of this place before the disease gets me.”

Tears welled up in my eyes but I forced myself to remain strong.

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“I’ll take Finnick before I shift into my wolf form,” he said, and after I nodded, he reached out, stroked my shoulder, and then began to change.

Asher’s wolf form was more intimidating than I remembered. His fur was a deep, rich black, and his gray eyes He was tall and strong and

turned a brilliant silver

radiated power.

人

All of the remaining soldiers moved backward once he was done shifting. It was clear from their eyes that they were afraid he was going to join the fight.

But instead, Asher stepped toward Finnick and then lowered himself down so our son could climb on his back. Once Finnick was seated, Asher eyed nodded in his direction again.

and I

I spotted Erika not too far away and rushed over to her. My maid seemed to understand my intention and quickly shifted too, taking on the form of a smaller, sandy-colored wolf. Her eyes met mine, and after we glanced at Asher, we took off in the direction of the gate. We needed to move and we needed to move back.

As we ran, I heard Raven screaming behind me.

“Don’t let her get away!” she cried to Kaleb’s soldiers. “Get her!”

I remembered my original mission and made a split-second decision to turn around. Erika continued toward the gate, but I rushed to Raven. Just as the sorceress’ blue-green eyes widened in surprise, I knocked her to the ground, and as she lost consciousness, I mannered her onto my back. Once I was sure she was secure, I ran and joined Asher.

Movement and commotion began behind us, but I didn’t care. I thought I heard Ronald’s voice and the sound of firing guns, but I didn’t stop and I didn’t look

back.

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