Morax Pov. ‘Stay true to your position and stay out of sight. I’m on my way. Be safe.’ I sent out the signal, running as fast as my body would let me. Red fur blazed the trail ahead of me, blood matting both our coats while our paws thudded over the ground. The air was thick with tension tonight, a sense of gravity that tugged at our limbs while we broke the shackles. Just three more. It was so close I could taste it. ‘Are you sure we should be throwing another assault after our last two…? Can we really keep going for so long without rest?’ Green eyes pierced the darkness, and I followed Escha sharply around a corner. ‘Elijah knows where the Copse Alpha is, and as for Zander…well, it appears we don’t have to do anything at all.’ ‘How is that poss—ah…wait, Miqella?’ She said his name with understanding. ‘If anyone can deliver, it’s him.’ I echoed back, and I knew she wouldn’t respond. It went without saying that I trusted him never to fail; he was as stubborn as he was loyal. L
Elijah Pov. “You mind tellin’ me what the hell is going on now?” Malika shot me a look from the other side of her father’s shoulders, but honestly, I was as freakin’ clueless as she was. I gave her a half-assed shrug, looking back at Morax. The dude was stopped dead in the center of the alley looking like someone slapped his mother. I could feel his aura spilling out, and it brought back memories of pain pretty damn quickly. I think it was safe to assume whoever he ran into wasn’t a buddy of ours. “I’m not sure, but stay here. I’ll get a closer look.” I promised, gently handing her father over to her the rest of the way. She heaved slightly under his weight, but once she was settled she gave me the go-ahead. I could see from where I was that there were people on the other side of the alley. There was a red-headed chick I’d never seen before and my comrades. But that wasn’t what had Morax’s attention. So I stepped closer, sniffing the air. I paused right when the city lights hit th
“I gotcha now, Missy Robin!” Laughter played in the air around me, and I was stunned as my world came back into focus. A fog retreating when a scamper of footsteps broke through. “…What?” I gasped. The kick came for my mid-section and I barely managed to step out of the way in time. I was watching as Timmy charged at me with all his tiny might. I saw a flurry of red locks and a triumphant grin before I shot out my hand to catch his ankle. So frail in my hands, he was like a baby jumping on its momma. Full of effort with no dexterity. “Hey, what’a gives! I had you!” Timmy’s grin fell into a pout, and I shrugged. “No, you thought you had me.” My leg swept out to kick his out from under him and the boy fell with an overzealous oof. He lay on the ground, groaning about my ‘cheap’ tricks. He was defeated for the umpteenth time. “This…a’, isn’t fair!” He was huffing and puffing when I leaned down to pat his head. Honestly, at this point, I wasn’t even trying. My mind was scattered,
The tension in the clearing broke, and suddenly laughter seemed to rejoin the pack. It was odd, how easily Elijah drained the tense atmosphere, his bumbling even making the rouges slacken in their intensity. I noticed the fiery girl from before look at him, rolling her eyes before she smirked. After that, everything seemed to go off without a hitch. We gave them their housing, went over the rules, even though some were moved to separate settlements it ended as a standard procedure. It was like our village hadn't been torched, like packs weren't dying to protect the relics. For a moment, it felt...normal. Like my life had always been here. But I knew the minute the four of us were alone, that peace would shatter. If not by whatever they had to tell me, but by what I had to say. I watched impatiently as the crowd slowly dispersed, that weird fog churning in my chest again. It felt like a vice. Something I couldn't shake. What was it?Anxiety? Pain? Something else entirely…?"...Hm.
My breath hitched. And then my back hit the wall, tiptoeing breaths fanning over my body as I shuddered almost violently. I could barely see anything at all, my eyes sore as I tried to pinpoint my surroundings with fumbling accuracy. The wood beneath my fingers a stark jolt of pain as I gasped, the splinter causing blood to break the surface. The smell was metallic and rich. It permeated the air. But it did nothing to stop that daunting man's approach. His footsteps a thunder in my throat. I tried to step back, but it seemed I had forgotten about the wall behind me. I could only stare, my tongue dry. His eyes were like liquid honey, those long legs stepping forward with an authority that made the wolf within me cower. I hated the feeling; that dip of powerless fatigue that encroached unwanted amongst my bones. But more than that I hated... "What's wrong, little wolf? Did you lose your nerve?" The man before me scoffed, his deep voice a river that ran clear with his int
"Robin, holy shit, I fucked up!"The sound of my brother's voice jarred me awake. His annoying pants of anxiety causing my mood to plummet as I sat up in my bed with a yawn.The sun was barely peeking above the horizon as the covers slipped past my shoulders.I wasn't in the mood to deal with his crazy antics today, the goddess only knew that my mom should've swallowed. His insistent whining was enough to wake the dead as he all but stomped across my room."C'mon, stop ignoring me, Robin!! This is serious!"I doubted it. Popping my back with a stretch, I finally bothered to give my older brother a look. He looked horrible, like a squirrel who got caught in a trap. His blonde hair that was the same shade as mine was messy, covered with dirt and blood.It only took one sniff to smell the grime.Instantly, I couldn't help but frown."Listen, I have better things to do--like sleep--than to bother trying to bail you out this time. Whatever you did, that's on you! Now. Get. Out. My. Room."
My legs felt like they were suddenly made of molasses. I knew I was walking at a regular pace, but my surroundings felt surreal as my pack raced towards the sound of the alarm. I felt like my chest was heaving, but no one glanced at me in wonder--none the wiser to my struggle. A part of me, however small, hated Elijah for putting me in this situation. But as we came upon the domineering sight of our father standing tall beside the Alpha, I knew a much bigger part of me wanted to protect him. No matter how dumb he was, or what horrible mistake he had committed, I knew I'd have his back. I could only hope it wouldn't cost me. I took in a rather large gulp of air as we entered the crowd, and I could feel Elijah basically hovering into my back. It was ironic really, considering I was the younger one. But when the big oaf tried to mold into my side, I drew the line. A swift elbow to the ribs and a hiss later, and I cast a glance at him. "Get it together, dumbass." "Ow--ow, I'm tryin
"You have a lot of nerve threatening me, little wolf." I barely saw those golden eyes flicker before Rollin cut between us, his face drawn tight with remorse and what I could only assume was frustration. His slanted grey eyes pierced into me, and I faltered, despite my best intentions. "Stand down, Robin. This is not your fight, his sin cannot be undone, and you cannot save him. I order you to stand down, as your Alpha! You are still the Beta's daughter, there's no reason for you to die here too." I knew Rollin was only trying to be logical, and perhaps if the circumstances were different, I would have appreciated the value he put on my life. But right now? I couldn't care less. My brother's sobs were still so loud, and the way everyone shunned away from him twisted my heart into a solid block of ice. A pack that could kill one of their own so easily, well, it wasn't any pack of mine! We were so supposed to be family, yet somehow, the pack had lost its way. I wanted no part of it.