Bloody Escape

Jaxon

Carl’s wolf stalked into the room, his paws leaving a trail of blood behind him. His fur was stained with the same crimson liquid, dripping from his jaws.

He was hunting.

And I was his target.

As I faced my oncoming enemy, a sudden pain pulsed in my head.

Carl

I told you, you couldn’t keep me imprisoned forever!

Carl

You should have killed me when you had the chance…

Carl

False Alpha!

Jaxon

I made that mistake once, but I won’t let it happen again.

Carl

All talk, but no action.

Carl

That’ll be your legacy.

Carl

And once I’m finished disposing of you, I’ll do the same to her!

I shot a quick glance at Quinn. Her body was writhing, her moans filled with pain.

Her transformation was far from complete.

In her current state, she was defenseless. Sky, Harper, and the doctor instinctively circled around her, forming a protective barrier. Raphael and Alex were still unconscious.

Seeing her in such pain was tearing me apart. I wanted to hold her, to ease her suffering, but there was nothing I could do.

But as the threat drew closer, my grief was replaced by anger—a raw, unfiltered rage.

The beast within me, the one I kept chained up, was breaking free.

I wouldn’t let anything happen to my Luna. No harm would come to her. Anyone or anything that tried would be dead.

Jaxon

You’re wrong about Father.

Jaxon

It’s not that he abandoned you…he simply saw the monster living inside.

Jaxon

He knew even then that your blood was poisoned!

Jaxon

You were a disgrace in his eyes.

The wolf’s lips curled back, revealing rows of sharp teeth before he threw his head back.

AR-ROOO-OOO!

His howl echoed through the castle.

Soon after, I heard the sound of pounding paws. That’s when I realized his howl wasn’t a cry of anger, but a call to arms.

Five other wolves appeared beside Carl, each as gruesome as the next. They snapped their jaws and barked wildly at us.

They were thirsty for blood.

Another wave of pain pulsed through my head.

Carl

I’ve changed my mind!

Carl

Your Luna dies first!

Carl

And you’re going to watch me kill her!

The sound of bones cracking filled the air, but this time, it wasn’t coming from Quinn… It was coming from me.

Fur sprouted from my skin, my hands morphed into claws. My clothes tore as my body transformed.

My wolf was back.

Fully transformed, I let out a howl of my own.

AR-ROOO-OOO!

A chorus of howls answered my call.

AR-ROOO-OOO!

When I looked back, I saw that Sky, Harper, and the doctor had also transformed. They stood on either side of me. We crouched, baring our teeth at our enemies.

Our Luna’s life was at stake.

With a nod of my head, we charged at the intruders.

Everyone slashed with their claws and snapped their teeth. Fur and blood flew in every direction.

It was chaos.

As the scar-faced wolf approached, I lunged for his throat, but I missed.

He dodged my attack and slipped past me, heading straight for the bed.

Quinn!

I chased after him, snapping at his hind legs.

Another wolf tried to intercept me, but I bit into his throat, forcing him to back off. I didn’t stop.

I pounced on Carl just as he was about to reach Quinn, knocking him to the floor.

When he got back on his feet, he lunged for her again, but I bit into his shoulder. He yelped and pulled away from me.

I could taste his blood in my mouth.

He knew now that he would have to get through me to get to her.

He lunged at me, snapping his jaws, but I dodged him.

He leaped into the air, swiping his claws, but I was too fast for him. Unlike our encounter in the woods, I was ready this time.

I managed to bite him again, this time under his neck, making him bleed even more.

We circled each other, growling and barking, each of us threatening the other.

Jaxon

This isn’t a fight you can win.

Jaxon

I’ll give you one last chance to give up!

Carl

Did you learn nothing by letting me live?

Carl

Your mercy is what makes you weak!

Jaxon

Then you’re undeserving of my mercy.

I attacked him without hesitation.

I let my rage take over as I tore into his flesh. He managed to land a few hits, but they didn’t slow me down. They only fueled my fury.

The more I attacked him, the weaker he became. His body started to shake. There was fear in his eyes.

I was unstoppable.

But in my fury, I forgot to watch my surroundings.

CRUNCH.

A sharp pain shot through my back leg. One of Carl’s minions had bitten me.

I snapped at him, making him let go, but my leg was injured.

The wolf had done some serious damage.

Looking around, I realized I was outnumbered three to one. Harper and Sky were busy with their own fights.

In my rage, I had forgotten the most important rule of being in a pack: working together.

And now, I was alone.

The wolves started to close in.

I tried to stand tall, but the pain was too much, and I was forced to back away. I found myself cornered, trapped in the corner of the room.

My growls and snaps didn’t scare the wolves. Carl licked his lips as he watched me back away.

Another wave of pain pulsed through my head as we mind-linked again.

Carl

You see?

Carl

You never had a chance.

Carl

All the planning and preparations in bringing the packs together…

Carl

It was all for nothing.

Carl

This is how it was always meant to be.

Carl

It was your destiny to fail.

Carl

Goodbye, brother.

The red-eyed wolves lowered their heads, ready to attack. They were about to pounce.

AR-ROOO-OOO!

A howl filled the room, a howl filled with such passion and power that it was unlike any other.

The wolves turned to see a wolf they had never seen before standing tall on the bed.

The wolf was silhouetted by the window, with the moon high above. Its small but powerful body radiated strength. Its fur shimmered under the starlight, giving it a blue glow.

The creature was magnificent.

I recognized the beast by its silver-grey eyes.

~Lupus Paulo!~

Was that really her? I couldn’t believe it.

With everyone’s attention on her, she didn’t waste any time. She launched herself into the fight. She moved so fast, all I saw was a flash of silver-blue.

The trio of wolves surrounding me were taken by surprise, unable to react in time.

CRACK.

A neck snapped, and a rogue wolf fell lifeless.

THWACK.

A body was slammed against a wall.

CRUNCH.

The final blow was delivered, and another neck was broken.

The two wolves tangling with Sky and Harper took off when they saw their comrades fall, leaving only Carl behind.

Quinn turned to him, her ears pinned back, and began to stalk him slowly. A low growl rumbled from her throat.

We all started to close in on Carl.

I could see the fear in his eyes. But before we could fully surround him, he spotted an escape route and bolted out the door.

Sky and Harper took off after him while the doctor shifted back to human form and started tending to Alex and Raphael.

Quinn’s wolf started to follow, but she didn’t make it to the door.

Her momentum started to wane as the rush of energy from her first shift began to ebb—though, the power she held was something else entirely…somehow stronger.

She looked disoriented. Her movements became shaky as she started to lose her balance.

She was crashing.

Hard.

I rushed to her as quickly as my injured leg would allow. I nudged my head under her and gently lowered her to the ground.

Once she was down, she shifted back to her human form, and I did the same.

I wrapped her naked body in a blanket and laid her on the bed in the next room. She opened her eyes and looked around, confused.

“I feel strange…” she murmured. “What happened?”

“You made it through the shift,” I told her. “Do you remember?”

“Sort of... it all happened so quickly.”

I smiled and showered her with so many kisses I lost count.

“Jax,” she gasped between breaths, “I can’t breathe.”

I chuckled.

“Sorry, I’m just relieved you’re okay.”

“I feel sleepy,” she said as her eyes started to close.

“Your body’s just worn out. You’ve been through a lot.”

Sky and Harper entered the room in their wolf forms.

Harper

Alpha, we chased after Carl but we lost him in the forest.

Harper

We’re sorry.

Jaxon

It’s alright.

Jaxon

Check on Raphael and Alex, then send out a search party for Carl.

Jaxon

He can’t have gone far.

Harper

That’s not all…

Harper

Everyone is leaving.

~Oh, shit!~

I pulled on some pants and bolted out the door.

I raced to the top of the stairs, barefoot and shirtless. Looking down, I saw everyone scattering. Panic was etched on their faces.

I’d lost control of the situation.

If I couldn’t convince them to stay, the alliance we’d just formed might crumble.

I had to do something.