“Run!” Talon commands, gripping me by the arm and pulling me with his vampire speed out of the way as the werewolf is joined by two others and headed right in our direction.
Chapter 14
Matchbox
The wolves are hot on our heels, chasing us deeper into the woods. Howls reverberating off the trees, getting closer with each moment that passes.
“What the fuck? Aren’t you in control of all the creatures here?” Olivia asks Talon as we make a dash for it.
“Not the werewolves.” He answers, taking a sharp left. I realize he’s headed to one of the summer cabins. A chance to shelter and grab weapons.
From what I know, the werewolves snubbed Talon’s invitation to live amongst the monsters, choosing instead to hunt us, making the entire place their chosen nemesis. Feasting on anyone that was unlucky enough to cross their paths. No matter how many times Talon and his host of vampires had chased them off, they always came back. Picking apart our numbers for sport.
Legend is that the leader of the werewolves’ pack had his mate killed by Talon, and from that point on they’d sworn to be the end of anyone associated with Talon. Meaning this place was at the top of their kill list, though it’d been weeks since there’d been a werewolf sighting. The full moon must have drawn them out.
“Through here.” Talon commands, ducking into a graveyard. I haven’t been this way before, and trip over one of the graves. The place is a mess of crumbling stones covered in moss and sinking into the soft earth. The graves look so old and decrepit that the names etched in are barely legible.
“Don’t disturb the dirt here.” Talon warns, slowing down to carefully guide us through, sidestepping a pile of leaves.
“Why not?” Olivia asks, gripping his arm and stumbling over her own bare feet. As she does, the ground shakes.
“Fuck. That’s why.” Talon says, pointing to a decaying hand emerging through the ground.
She looks down and sees the zombie pulling themselves out from the dirt, smelling rife with decay and moldy earth.
The werewolves spot us, and prowl into the graveyard, growling the closer they get.
“Now would be a great time to do something.” Olivia says, eyes as wide as saucers.
“I got it.” Grabbing the lighter in my pocket, I hurriedly light it between my fingers, throwing the flame at the pile of leaves. It goes up in a blaze of fire, licking across the dry ground, eating the dead foliage in seconds. The flames follow my command as it aims for the pack of werewolves, who snarl in defeat. Though one of the members seems to break away, jumping over the wall of fire I’ve created.
“Shit.” Phantom declares, moving to intercept the threat. He disappears, using his stealth to attack the lone werewolf from the side. I can tell the moment Phantom collides with his body, as the werewolf swipes at the air, trying and failing to stop the invisible assailant. It gives Talon enough time to come in from the other side.
My flames hold steady, keeping the other werewolves at bay, but it’s a temporary fix. I’ve expelled a lot of energy tonight,having spent most of it fucking my dream girl. I don’t regret it for a second. It was the single hottest moment of my undead life.
Normally, I’d light the rest of the werewolves on fire, but experience has told me that would do more harm than good. They’re already pissed at us but murdering more of their kind would bring down not just their pack, but others as well.
Olivia screams as one of the zombies grabs at her, bringing her into their grave. Her waist is halfway in the ground before I can get to her. As soon as I leave my post, the flames extinguish. A fact that the werewolves are quick to exploit.
They head straight at Talon, who thankfully transforms into his bat form just in time. Flying just out of their reach.
“Come on.” I urge Olivia, seeing the cabin off in the distance. Phantom holds off the one werewolf, but I can’t see where the other two went. She slides her small hand into mine while we make a run for it. Getting her to safety is my priority. I know that Talon and Phantom are more than capable of fending for themselves.
Just as we’re about to get to the cabin door, one of the werewolves jumps out of the shadows, tackling Olivia to the ground.
“What’s this?” They growl, sniffing at her face with their long snout. Drool drops onto her face as she tries to get out of their grip.
“Get off her.” I make to lunge at them, but they swipe out at me. Their strong muscular arm knocking me easily to the ground.
If my ribs aren’t broken, they’re most definitely bruised from the impact. Fuck, that hurts.
Blinking hard through the pain, I note there’s a discarded axe over by a pile of chopped wood. If I can just make it there in time.
Spitting out a wad of blood from my mouth, I heave myself to standing and dash as quickly as my feet will carry me to where the axe sits embedded in a thick piece of wood.
“Killing you will bring my pack justice. A mate for a mate.” The werewolf snarls, baring his teeth in Olivia’s face. Tears stream down her beautiful, dirt-stained face.
Yanking the axe free, I barrel towards the creature, arms raised above my head. They won’t take Olivia. I won’t let them.
