8. THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE

CHAPTER 8- The Ultimate Sacrifice

Killian didn’t even make it out of the building when he shifted into his wolf form, the action causing his clothes to tear into mere rags, into shreds.

He dashed off, heading into the forests, a shortcut that would take him straight to the pack borders.

Back at the grand hall, Kendra was cursing the Alpha,

In her head, of course.

She had barely managed to bark the words Wait, we need to plan first, when the infuriating beast had burst out of the grand hall, heading for the borders.

Kendra knew how important the pack was to the Alpha… he was as possessive of it as a mother wolf was of her cubs, but he didn’t know how many of the curers were out there, and granted… he was a very powerful wolf, but a few Silver weapons too many, and he would be just like a normal human being— completely mortal and at the mercy of the evil humans.

Now a little background on the origin of the werewolf curse.

The werewolf curse had infected a select few about a century ago, around the 1500s.

At first, when the plague struck, doctors and medical practitioners had tried every trick up their sleeves to address it… from bloodletting, to splitting skulls open and whatnot, but as the days went by the patients became stronger and stronger, until the full moon came and their morphing was complete.

You can imagine how surprised the normal Ton had been to see such spectacular feat.

The period of enlightenment by then, was a whooping two centuries away, and so naiveté and superstitious beliefs had been the order of the day.

All people who had been infected were proclaimed cursed by Royal decree and the verdict had been simple:

Death.

People with the curse had been on the run since, and they had found solace in each other, forming packs and associations because there was safety in numbers.

The Silver Crest Pack had been one such pack.

The Curers, with the full backing of the Queen had brutally annihilated countless wolves, extending their crusade into other countries that had sought out their help.

Over a hundred years and over, and they were still going strong.

And honestly, Kendra Sullivan had had enough.

She mind-linked the warriors of the pack who weren’t on duty that day, ordering them to meet the Alpha at the Pack borders, and then, grabbing a fork and a flute of champagne, she signaled for the musicians to stop playing.

Kendra then headed for the podium and beat the fork against the glass loudly to get everyone’s attention. “Sorry to ruin the fun, folks… but the time we have all been training for is finally here. The Curers have found Silver Crest—”

She was interrupted by loud gasps and the occasional wail, but she did her best to calm everybody down. “This is why we have been training, guys… we are not just going to sit here and watch them take away our homes, watch them take our lives from us.” Her gaze shot across the crowd confidently, and her eyes danced with fury. “No. We’re not giving them that satisfaction. We’re not giving up without a fucking fight! Now everyone get yourself armed and let’s head to the borders.”

A chant of vigor slowly rose out of the crowd, and Kendra felt her eyes change color as her wolf fought her for dominance. “Even if we die tonight, folks… let us know that we died with honor and valor, now come on… LET’S MOVE!!!”

Hundreds of people followed her out of the grand hall. Her ball gown had long been ripped into a short skirt to aid her movement.

She could see the look of pride on Tyrone’s face as they raced towards the borders and her heart warmed at the sight. “That was a very excellent speech, Beta Sullivan.”

But she couldn't even bask in the glory of the praise,

All she could think about was Killian and if he was safe.

*****

Killian’s wolf howled in contentment each time he brought another Curer to his knees.

He was going to do everything to save his pack, even if it meant dying to do it.

Honestly speaking, it was why he had dashed off into the woods without waiting for backup. For him, it was a suicide mission of some sort, to rid him off the curse and save his pack while he was at it, but for some reason, he was still alive.

You see, Killian had been shot with as many silver bullets and arrows as could out maneuver his sharp reflexes, but he was still going strong, still attacking more curers.

Killian knew that he should have been dead by now, because he could feel the poison coursing through his veins, but rather than feel faint, he felt even more invigorated than ever.

“RETREAT!!! WE NEED TO RETREAT! THIS ONE’S IMMUNE TO SILVER!!! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES, SAVE YOURSELVES!!!” Someone shouted, but his words didn’t even end when Killian’s vicious jaws clamped down on his throat, ripping out his innards in a gory, bloody fashion.

The rest of the curers –first about 200, now, just a mere 80– fled for their lives, but it was too late for them, Kendra and the rest of the warriors charged in on them, striking everyone who was left in a vengeful fury.

By the time the mini battle had ended, not a single Curer was left alive, it was a complete obliteration.

Kendra’s gaze sought out Killian in through the crowd, and her heart sank at the sight of so many silver arrows sticking out of his jet black fur. “Killian!!!”

She was by his side in a minute, tears already making its way into her eyes. “Oh, Kill… what have you done?”

His wolf whined softly and licked her face, its frightening gray eyes shining with unshed tears.

Kendra felt his fur ripple underneath her touch, and then she heard bones crack and shift, then the Alpha was human again.

She quickly flung her cloak off her shoulder and covered him with it to shield his nakedness, being careful not to touch the arrows still sticking out of his body.

Seeing her look of concern, Killian chuckled in humor, blood spurting out of his lips at the action.

Kendra observed him in horror.

It seemed the poison was slowly putting him in a state of delirium.

“You’re badly injured, Kill. Your body is totally covered in silver bullets and arrows.”

“Come on. What are you talking about? I’m perfectly fine, Ken… see?” He whispered. “Sometimes, you worry too damn much.”

Those were his last words before the darkness swallowed him completely.