No way. I worked him down to size already. This one is my kill.Brody turned to face Chasen. The hound was barely standing. All that was left was the finishing blow.
SNAP
Chasen and Brody looked up to see Grayson’s bear's jaws clamped around the hellhound’s neck.
That makes four to me. How many have you two taken down?Grayson dropped the lifeless hellhound from his mouthand walked up to the two bears, who were looking at him in shock.
Uncle Grayson, that one was mine!Brody snarled.
Go get yourself another one, little cub. How many have you each taken down?
That would have been my second,Chasen growled.
No, that was going to be my second,Brody growled back.
Well, little cubs, that one was MY fourth. Slackers,Grayson gloated.
The bears looked over the battlefield. It felt never-ending. They were all exhausted and injured, yet there was no relief to be found.
Chasen looked toward where Hunter was fighting, and through the madness, he could see a familiar brown wolf lying on the ground. Brody took a step in shock.
No …Grayson said in disbelief. His bear roared loudly in sorrow. He couldn’t believe it as he looked at the unmoving wolf. In a new rage, the three bears dove back into the demon army, their hearts full of pain. They lashed out, releasing their anger, spilling the blood of the demons. They knew there would be casualties, but the reality of it actually happening was painful.
Caden’s brown wolf lay motionless on the ground. He had taken the spear right through his chest. Sam’s wolf made his way to the body of his father. He gently nudged his father’s nose, whimpering when he didn’t elicit a response. Caden’s blood was pooling around him on the ground, and his heartbeat was growing faint. Sam whined and began whimpering loudly. This was his father, and he was the best damn father he could have ever asked for. He was their family’s rock and anchor throughthe storms. He looked at his father’s closed eyes and blood-soaked fur. It was painful. He shook his head. This couldn’t be happening. He felt helpless, but there was nothing he could do for him. All he could do was use his rage and kill. He leaned his head into his father one last time and turned a vicious eye upward, toward the incoming demons. Ember had taken a protective stance in front of Caden’s body, not allowing the demons to get closer. She wouldn’t have his body trampled by their filth.
Ciana swooped in, roaring loudly at the demons surrounding them. She sent a wave of energy toward them, forcing them backward.
“I’m sorry,” Ciana said quietly. His heartbeat was very faint, and he was already taking his last breaths. She nodded to Sam. “I’ll get his body out of here.” She eased her feet around him and grabbed onto Caden’s wolf, flying him out of the area. His life was too far gone for her to be able to heal him. She could at least take him away to die in peace.
She flew him out and toward the back of the lines, where she gently lowered him to the ground and stayed by his side. She could at least give him the comfort of having someone near him during his last moments.
Mira raced to the back of the battle lines and shifted into Lita. She skidded into the brown wolf's side and held onto his paw, which was growing cold as life drained from his body. He was her first friend when she left her father’s pack. Even before Asher, Caden became someone close to her. She wrapped her arms around his body and began sobbing into his fur.
“Caden!” she wailed out in an ear-piercing sob.
Asher went into a rage. After seeing his friend’s lifeless body being carried in the air, he fought against the demons furiously. His chest squeezed in pain as the memories of his friend flashed through his mind. His beta, his best friend, the man who he’d always depended on. He’d never thanked him enough. He’d never told him how much he meant to him. They’d been through so many battles together, and Caden had deserved to have a peaceful life. Caden … Bo’s eyes watered, thinking of his pack member. His vision blurred and he had to blink the tears away. This pain he was feeling was fueling his desire to kill the demons. But he needed more strength. He needed more power.
Do you want more power? I can help you,a deep voice asked in Asher’s head.
Who are you?Asher asked as Bo savagely ripped a demon’s limbs from its body. The blood gushed out and splattered over his snarling muzzle as another demon’s body fell lifeless to the ground.
I am the earth separator and the tsunami bringer. I am the Kraken, and I will be your summon for this war only. Now, bind yourself to me as I will to you. Just as you breathe the air for me, I shall now breathe the water for you.
Bo snarled as the swarm of demons closed in on him.
Why? What’s the price for this?
My freedom for me, and life for you. Binding myself to you allows me to leave the sea and once again take human form on land. It will allow me to aid against the demons for you.
Why were you imprisoned? What are you?Asher felt hesitant hearing this. Though this wasn’t the time to be rational. Was it?
I am a cursed deity. Because of mistakes in my past, I was made an outcast and forced to remain bound to the sea. But if I bind my life to yours, I can once again walk upon the earth. I can break the curse the other deities set in place. I will remain bound to you until the curse is broken but will not remain your summon.
There really wasn’t time to think this over. The demons were relentless, and they were all exhausted. He had witnessed the lifeless body of one of his very best friends being carried in the sky. Who else would they lose?
Deal.Asher answered the Kraken and immediately felt something unlock in his body. It was as if his lungs had filled with water, and a strange drowning sensation came over him. At the same time, a strength surged through his body.
Blaze sunk his teeth into the flesh of the demon Leoric, and a thick black liquid oozed from his body, his blood so tainted that it was no longer red. Leoric slashed against Blaze’s neck in retaliation. Red splattered over the ground as the Alpha King was knocked to the ground. He was immediately back on his feet, charging back into the fight.
