It’s been a few weeks since Caleb took over Cole’s pack.
In that time, Jaxon has arranged for us to do mixed training with them. It’s something out of my worst nightmare. I’ve seen Caleb here and there over the last few weeks, but we’ve never spoken.
I don’t know why he hasn’t rejected me—or why I haven’t done it either. We can forget and attempt to move on. My wolf is already damaged, what’s a little more? We both know it’s for the best.
Although being around each other is what’s slowly killing me inside, regardless of the fact that I don’t want him, our bond is growing by the day. I feel the pull towards him even when he isn't around. My attempt at not letting it show is impressive, his is even better—that’s if he even feels anything at all.
Now that we’re training together, I have to put on a brave face.
“I’ll take my pack west down the stream,” Caleb clarifies as we stand in the open clearing.
Jaxon nods as his pack disappears through the trees. “I have a plan,” he bellows over us.
After explaining the game we’re going to play, Jaxon tells us his tactics. Friendly competition, they called it. We stand and listen as he details the plan, and I try my hardest to keep up.
A few moments later, we shift and move between the tall trees. My paws pound against the ground as I run to the edge of the woods. Jaxon wants us to patrol the outskirts in case anyone is hiding, so we split up to cover more bases.
I listen carefully to any sound that rings through my ears and ignore my pounding heartbeat. In the distance, I hear sudden wailing and become instantly alert. My legs halt, and I hide behind a thick tree as I peer my head around it.
My eyes narrow as I spot a naked woman struggling against two men. A wave of nausea churns in my stomach as she attempts to fight back, but she’s screaming in pain.
When she turns to face my direction, I freeze the second I realise it’s Zara. There’s a dark bruise forming over her face, and my chest tightens at the sight.
She’s squirming in their arms, but one of the men clamps a hand over her mouth. That’s when they start to wrap her up in silver chains. Her hands are bound behind her back as she struggles. Then they move to wrap her feet together before one of them murmurs something into her ear, and an evil smile stretches across his face. Zara cries out, and the sound is haunting.
There’s a large gash on her leg that’s leaking blood, and trailing across the leaves and rocks on the ground. Tears stain her cheeks, and I can smell her fear from here. Blood pounds in my ears as they begin to drag her away, and my chest heaves.
I need to do something. I can’t just stand and watch. I need to stand up for the women in my life. I’mdonebeing a coward.
I clamp my eyes shut and suck in all the confidence I can muster. Then I emerge from behind the tree and charge towards them, my paws stomping across the forest floor.
Both men turn to face the sound, loosening their grip on Zara as she falls to the ground. I pounce on one of them and send him tumbling backwards as I claw at the other, leaving holes in his clothes that start to leak with blood as he falls on his ass.
Zara is still lying on the floor, and I need to free her of the silver so she can get away. I race towards her and slice through the silver binding her feet. It make my claws tingle in agony, but I don’t have time to react. I turn to the two men to cover our backs. I snap my jaw towards them and snarl as deeply as possible. They’re both still on the ground, startled by my appearance.
I twist my head to find Zara fighting her way out of the silver desperately.
Go.I demand with my eyes.
As our packs haven’t been connected yet, I can’t mindlink with her, but I hope she gets the message. If not to save herself, or at least alert everybody else.
She’s apprehensive at first, but from the silver weakening her system and that large open wound on her leg, she stands no chance of fighting back.
Just as I watch her shift and run away, my fur is pulled from behind roughly, and silver is looped around my neck. A distressed cry leaves my muzzle at the pain, my wolf no longer strong enough to handle it. I try to use my mindlink, but it’s too late, the silver has already invaded my system.
I shift back subconsciously and collapse in a heap. They both pin me down and wrap me so tightly the silver starts to burn through my flesh. I hiss at the contact, but try not to let them take satisfaction in my agony.
“You’re going to pay for what you did,” he grumbles heavily in my ear. “And the damage you’ve caused, you fucking bastard.”
I attempt to fight them off, but the silver is breaking down every part of my nervous system. A fist flies across my face, blood splattering the ground as my nose burns from the hit.
My head hits the ground with a thud, and I groan, tasting copper in my mouth.
“There must be more,” the other man says gruffly.
“Oh, definitely. We’ll come back. We need him; he’s better than nothing.”
“Let’s go.” I hear before I’m tugged onto my feet.
