I back up, not daring to take my eyes off them as they approach. And just as suddenly as they come for me, they turn, and all four of them attack the stag.
I scream.
They ignore me. It takes a few seconds, and then all that’s left of the amazing creature is a bloodstained corpse on the ground and its antlers.
My blood turns hot and then cold. My fury spreads through me. That thing inside me that broke is moving and shrugging off the chains that kept me hobbled. The same fire I felt while I was being carried in the beta’s arms. It’s familiar and yet foreign.
I burn. My body tingles, but I slam into it, chasing the rage, and then I’m taller and stronger, and when I snarl, it echoes around the city like thunder.
I shake, and my fur goes flying. When I take a step, I flex claws and leave grooves in concrete.
They come at me in one group, but I’m ready. I duck and then leap over them, twisting in midair, raking my claws down one unfortunate creature's back, opening it up to the bone. I snap my jaws on a hind leg and bite down until I can taste blood.
The creature screams its pain for the whole world to hear. I toss him away, and his body slams into the side of a wall hard enough that his neck snaps.
I turn back to the other three, who are rapidly backing up, trying to get away from me.
I stalk stiffly towards them, furious and enraged.
They run. I lift my head and howl.
It’s echoed by Cadel, Mordecai, and Jarek. I look at them as I sing, three wolves. Two black and one red like fire.
The Ravage Wolf is gone, but I don’t care. I can’t take my eyes off these alphas. I watch Cadel as he changes back into the shape of a man.
He waits while I stalk towards him, then wraps his arms around my neck and holds me tight, his fingers lock in my fur, and he tugs me towards him.
“You are the most beautiful wolf I have ever seen.”
I flick my ears as he strokes me, but Jarek bumps in between us, letting out a whine, and shoves me towards the street.
My easy movements take me towards the spire. They trot at my side.
We won tonight, but the Beta’s Path have always got tricks to destroy us.
We need to get out of here, or everyone is going to be slaughtered just like that stag.
I glance at Cadel. At my Anarchy Wolf.
What has he done to us?
Chapter 40
My mother's message
One minute, I’m a giant wolf, the next, I’m not. I stumble and catch myself before I face plant into a sheet of rusted metal. Still, I end up on my knees with legs unable to support me. A tremor runs up my body, and the wonder of being a wolf fades as anger takes its place. I stare down at my hands, which are hands, and my stomach lurches violently. I get unsteadily to my feet and whirl on them and just stare.
“I can explain,” Cadel says quickly in a defensive growl that has me stalking towards him, ready to rake my fingernails down his face.
I glower, my chest rising and falling as anger suffuses my entire body in a way that leaves everything blindingly clear.
“How do you explain what just happened?” I ask slowly.
Jarek and Mordecai exchange a look that has my ire focusing and drawing them into it as well. They straighten their shoulders and brace.
“Magic?” Cadel says after a long moment in a hopeful voice.
I narrow my eyes, spin on my heel, and stomp away, leaving them there. Ready to leave them completely, for a couple of minutes, anyway. I duck under the awning of a building and glower around me. These buildings are some of the tallest in the city. If I count the struts, I think we’re looking at over thirty floors.
