Ashley's POVA scream clawed itself up my throat the second David staggered back, his blood spurting from the gas across his neck. "David!!" I choked out, reaching for him. But Zara was already moving, a blur of silver and rage. She lunged without warning, with eyes glowing, feral and unblinking. The shadowy figure seemed to be preparing for another strike on David.But slash! went the sound of Zara's claws at it ripped through the assassin's neck. It formed a swift, savage arc. I gasped as I saw the figure's head detached cleanly, watching as it soared a few feet before landing with a grotesque thud on the ground. It rolled backwards, with eyes wide open in a surprise that was frozen, and stopping by a shattered bottle of whiskey. Blood sprayed in Zara's face, coating the door behind like some grotesque mural. But Zara didn't flinch, more like she had done this dozens of times before. David stumbled forward, with one of his hands gripping his neck in an attempt to stem the flow
Ashley's POV"Ashley!!" came the scream from David as he turned swiftly towards me. The sound around me became muffled, more like I was submerged underwater. The scream faded, the gunfire dulling to a distant thrum. I watched as Zara's outstretched hand seemed to still in mid-air, with her expression twisted in a scream that no longer had a voice. Even David who had just turned to me froze, his hand halfway up and reaching out. But it was stuck in place like a paused frame in a film. And in that frozen second, his eyes met mine. It said much more than it had ever done in time past---don't die, don't get killed.Survive you bloody Ashley!! Before I could even process enough thoughts, I moved, no, I was pulled by a force I could recognize anytime. My wolf!! It dragged my body. It was in total control of all I did, more like it knew that I needed to survive this. I couldn't die this way. No, not by assassins in the least. My arms stretched toward the blinking metal death that rest
Ashley's POV Every sound in the bar halted. The music screeched to a stop. "You think this is funny?" David snarled at Zara, his chest rising and falling and his claws gleaming under the low lights. "David," I called lightly, grabbing his hand. The heat of his fury seemed to pulse through his skin, his claws twitching. But I didn't pull away. I tightened my grip instead, steady like reining in a wild storm. "Just let me finish..." Zara chipped in. "Oh damn it," David snapped immediately. "I'm done here." With this he made to get up, but my grip on his hand lightened. "Listen to her David," I muttered. "Just do." His jaw flexed. The rage in him didn't seem to fade, but it settled a bit--like a beast pacing behind it's cage bars but not breaking them. He lowered his claws with a low, gutteral growl and say back in his seat, his glare never leaving Zara. She shot her eyes and opened them again just as the music began to play again and the bartender returned to wiping a glass be
Ashley's POV Every sound in the bar halted. The music screeched to a stop. "You think this is funny?" David snarled at Zara, his chest rising and falling and his claws gleaming under the low lights. "David," I called lightly, grabbing his hand. The heat of his fury seemed to pulse through his skin, his claws twitching. But I didn't pull away. I tightened my grip instead, steady like reining in a wild storm. "Just let me finish..." Zara chipped in. "Oh damn it," David snapped immediately. "I'm done here." With this he made to get up, but my grip on his hand lightened. "Listen to her David," I muttered. "Just do." His jaw flexed. The rage in him didn't seem to fade, but it settled a bit--like a beast pacing behind it's cage bars but not breaking them. He lowered his claws with a low, gutteral growl and say back in his seat, his glare never leaving Zara. She shot her eyes and opened them again just as the music began to play again and the bartender returned to wiping a glass be
Ashley's POV"Actually..." Zara continued, brushing off a strand of hair behind her ear. "I don't know where exactly in Los Angeles they are." I blinked, not knowing what exactly to make out of it. "What.... what do you mean? "Zara glanced at the rearview mirror, her eyes meeting mine there. "Your human boyfriend John was smart, really smart. After Jayden took you, he disappeared completely. Hid their identities and disappeared without a trace. I burned through every lead I could dig up but nothing. If I hadn't caught window of them leaving New York about a year ago... I wouldn't have known that they still existed after you left." As she said this she shook her head, her voice growing heavy. "All I could say is that they were last spotted on their way to Los Angeles. Don't know if they stayed. Hell, for all I know they could be in South Africa right now.... "David suddenly turned the steering wheel sharply, the tires skidding slightly before he hit the breaks. The car jerked to
Ashley's POVI shut my eyes. It was the only thing I could do as the barrel of the gun stared at me, dead and unmoving, like an unblinking eye. My breath hitched, my heart pounding like a wild drum against my ribcage. David panted beside me, still on his knees and his blood seeping between his fingers. Could this be the end? My kids, Jayden, the pack. All my plans--vanishing as the bullet gets released. Of course not. It couldn't have ended this way. There was a sudden crack in the air, then a blur. It was so fast my eyes couldn't catch it."Zara!!" I gasped. It had to be her. My eyes snapped open and I saw her. Already in motion. Claws had shot out from her hands, longer than I had ever seen and her eyes glowing with a fierce hue. With speed of a lightening bold, she launched forward and tore into the first werewolf before he could even blink his eyes. His gun proved to be useless as her claws slashed across his chest, sending him flying into the others. They responded, roari