But Huxley recovered quickly and managed to catch Caelan by his tail, yanking it so hard that I heard a snap. It drooped awkwardly behind him, and I knew it was dislocated. But it wouldn’t be enough to slow him down.
He spun and rushed toward Huxley, his powerful jaws catching the alpha’s leg. His sharp canines shredded into the flesh as Huxley yelped, blood pouring from the wound and matting his mud-colored fur as he limped away.
Caelan stalked toward him, snarling as he knocked the alpha on his back. I allowed myself a grim smile.Caelan has him. Huxley will have to forfeit or die.
The ten other wolves from Dark Moon suddenly rushed into the arena, shifting as they sprinted across the sand.
“Caelan!” I screamed as Luna Maty and I jumped from our seats, both staring anxiously at the scene unfolding before us.
Shouts of protest rose from the crowd as the wolves surrounded Caelan, their jaws snapping as they lunged forward.
“We have to help him,” I hissed, stepping away from Luna Maty.
I hurried down the steps, brushing past Taffy and Oliver. The only thing on my mind was getting to Caelan.
Strong hands wrapped around my arms, keeping me from crossing into the battle arena.
“No, you don’t,” Dillon grunted as he held me. “You can’t interfere, Shade. It isn’t allowed.”
“They interfered! We have to stop this, Dillon!” I cried as I struggled against him. “Eleven wolves versus one?! Caelan will be killed! This isn’t what he agreed to!”
“Doesn’t matter, Shade. Caelan accepted the challenge. I can’t let you go out there no matter what. I promised him I’d keep you safe,” he argued, refusing to let me go.
“Then you go help him!” I demanded as I turned to face him. “He’s your friend and alpha. Stop this, Dillon!”
The snarling on the sand reached a fever pitch as the wolves darted forward, trying to take chunks out of Caelan’s fur. He did his best to fend off the multiple attacks, but he was outnumbered.
“I can’t,” Dillon sighed, his shoulders slumping. “If any wolf sets foot on the arena, they’d be undermining Caelan’s status as alpha. We can’t intervene physically. This is up to him. The only way for him to end this is either to win or concede.”
“Don’t you see what’s happening here?” I yelled. “Huxley is trying to kill him so he can get control of me and the pack. He’s not playing by the rules, Dillon. I won’t lose Caelan because of some stupid tradition! He won’t tap out and you know it. He’d rather die than give me up.”
“You don’t think we want to save him, Shade?!” Dillon growled. “That’s my best friend, and there’s nothing I can do to help him. Do you understand me? There’s nothingIcan do.”
Dillon’s eyes widened, trying desperately to tell me something as we both turned back toward the arena.
I stared in horror at the gruesome scene before me. They were pouncing on Caelan, ripping into him as he did his best to defend himself, but it was hopeless. I didn’t know how much longer he could hold out.
Alpha Huxley shuffled forward as his warriors pinned Caelan to the ground, a wolfish smile on his face as he leaned down to wrap his fangs around Caelan’s neck.
“Shade,” Taffy begged as she appeared beside me. “Do something. Please.”
It suddenly clicked. What Dillon had been trying to tell me. We couldn’t set foot in the arena, but I didn’t need to. I could help Caelan in another way.
“Caelan,” I breathed, my voice like a whisper on the wind.
His ears tilted in my direction as the energy began to pulse through me. I thrust the power out, sending it rushing toward him. I felt it embrace Caelan, wrapping him in my ability and feeding his fury.
I gave him all he could take, fueling his rage like some supercharged battery.
A roar broke out from the center of the arena, the raw, primal sound sending fearful shudders through the crowd. Bodies flew back as Caelan rose, his wolf form morphing into something new.
He wasn’t on all fours like a normal wolf anymore. He stood tall, rising above the wolves of Dark Moon on two paws, his mighty limbs longer than they’d been before. He seemed larger somehow, more menacing as his taunt muscles tensed and bulged beneath his skin.
I stared in disbelief. I had never amplified anyone as much as I was doing to Caelan right now, and I wasn’t sure what was happening. No one had ever changed their form before, but I couldn’t risk stopping.
Caelan’s wolf turned, his eyes locking with mine. The burning hunger in them made my breath catch. I knew without a doubt he was coming for me.
He threw his head back and howled, tossing three wolves off him with one powerful swing of his arm. Caelan struck out at another pair that rushed forward, knocking them back with ease as he stalked toward me.
