The wolf pounces back, snarling and snapping at my ankles as I dodge every blow. My agility and speed are quicker than I am used to as I lash out and slash at his side. He growls in anger at every missed strike and takes a step back to collect my thoughts. The surprise of this wolf’s eyes has thrown me completely off in a panic.
There can’t be two Ultimas. They can’t exist at the same time. It’s never been heard of before. A warm sensation floods through my mind as knowledge of the ultima and what it means somehow fit their way into my mind like puzzle pieces I never knew were missing. Somehow I have answers to all the questions I have ever had about Ultima’s and what they are, what they do.
I look at the wolf in front of me with clearer eyes and I understand exactly what is happening. Only one of us can be allowed to live. This fight isn’t about my pack or hatred. This fight is about determining who gets to live the rest of their life.
*Maggie* Billy roars in pain to my right as he tries to get to Andrew, who has disappeared beneath several feral wolves. I have been trying to shake this mangy asshole who just refuses to die for far too long. My pack is losing steam and here I am, playing tag with this guy. Axel is raging at the bond in my mind, trying to break through my mental blockade that I didn’t know I could have. -Maggie would you fucking answer Axel! I’m tired of him in my mind!- Billy says through the mind link. Hesitantly, I lower my mental barriers and lunge for the wolf’s throat, a surge so great it runs through me that the moment my teeth sink into his neck, an audible crack rings through the forest and the wolf goes down. I speed over to Andrew, tearing through the unsuspecting wolves. The remaining one stops its assault and turns its murderous gaze to me. -Axel- I call out. His silence puts fear in my heart. The only thing providing me so
I can feel Axel picking apart my mind, his ultima morphing and melding to my own, and suddenly a tickling sensation rolls through me. My body involuntarily shivers at the feeling, unsure if it’s one we like or dislike. It rolls through again and again like the waves lapping at the shoreline. A hand holds onto my arms until suddenly my body goes rigid and my eyes snap to Ali. She stares at me in awe, and slowly she releases her hold on me. I take a step back, no longer acting on my accord. My wolf is in control of my human form, responding to her mate and ultima with no actual interaction other than the feeling of knowing exactly what he wants us to do. I step out into the small opening as if compelled and move to Axel’s side. The other Ultima falters in his step and ceases fighting with Axel long enough to look me over, trying to figure out if I'm a threat or just a distraction. When his eyes meet mine, they widen, and he glances over at
My hand collides roughly with the wolf’s chest and I instinctively cover my face, hoping to protect myself if he gets to me. It slumps on top of me with a small whine as its last breath hisses from its chest. Warm liquid trickles its way from my hand to my forearm and I open my eyes, blinking rapidly, trying to comprehend what happened. The wolf lies dead on top of me, so I struggle my way out from under it. I look at the fat, short stick in my hand that is covered in blood. Its blunt edge shouldn’t have been sharp enough to break the skin of a werewolf. My arm tingles, pulling my attention to it. I watch in awe as my muscles that were just swelling dwindle and go back to normal. -Did it work?- Axel asks. His voice is strained, and he howls loudly through the woods in pain. His cry for help is all I need to hear to jump into action. I sprint ten feet back to the small clearing. My heart falls at my feet when Matthew lifts Axel up by his
*Axel* I look down at the woman in my arms, and I nearly fall over with relief. She is awake; Maggie is alive, and these amazing tingles are just as strong as they have always been. She weighs a ton and I remember that I have pressed all of my strength to her to heal her and bring her back. The ultima’s strength combined with the mate bond is more than enough. It would seem to bring someone back from the dead. A new handy trick I didn’t know existed. This new trick baffles even the ultima in me. “What do you mean a lot?” Maggie asks. She eases her head to the side, wincing in pain but still doing her best to survey the surrounding area. “Matthew is…” “Dead?” she asks me hopefully, her eyes begging for confirmation. “Yes.” “How?” she asks, spotting the bloody mass of flesh ten feet away. “I lost control,” I say, hanging my head in shame. I have fought and bitten my fair share of people and wo
*Maggie* My body feels back to normal aside from the wound on my neck that doesn’t want to completely heal. I poke at it in the mirror, marveling at how far it had already come in healing and my hand gets slapped away by Jasper, who tsks me. Mustering up the meanest scowl I can, I toss it his way, only to receive a snort and a smirk as he turns away from me. “Do we have any idea who we have lost yet?” I ask, my voice dropping. Jasper freezes. I watch him in the mirror as his shoulders heave up in a deep sigh before sticking his hands in his pocket. “We have lost quite a few.” He mutters, “As far as I know, no one from our small rescue group but…” “But what?” “No one can reach Bea or Abigail.” I whip around to look at him and find his back is still facing me. I stand and move toward him when Billy’s voice echoes through the shitty rundown mansion we are in. His voice though far sounds frantic and
*Axel*Dr. Sari steps out of the room across from where we are waiting and freezes. After glancing down the empty hallway, she clears her throat, causing Billy to jump up and anxiously wring his hands out. Billy has always been a worrywart. He does an excellent job hiding it behind his grumpy exterior, but the moment you break through those grumbles and scowls, he is gentle and truly caring.“Billy,” Dr. Sari starts. Her hesitation as she speaks has my hair standing on edge, waiting for the final blow.“Is she…” Billy gulps deeply and Maggie steps up to him, grabbing hold of his hand and giving it a good squeeze. Ordinarily, I would be jealous but since the bond Maggie and I have is so different from a normal mate bond, I can feel her emotions. She loves Billy. I can feel it, like the warmth a sip of hot tea brings on a chilly day. But her love isn’t ordinary. It doesn’t burn hot with passio
*Maggie*The clattering of pots and pans is our first indication that the kitchen is within reach. After our first detour to a side room, and initially getting lost, it only took us an agonizing ten minutes to find. Jacob seems to have found it at the same time we did as he limps down the hallway towards us.“Did you get it looked at?” Axel asks him.“Of course. It’s nothing serious anymore.” Jacob assures us with the wave of his hand.My mouth falls open when we step foot into the kitchen. The sweet baking biscuits and bacon wrap around us, warming our senses and pulling forth some rather intense growling from all of our stomachs. My hand flies to my belly, trying to quiet the waking beast that has decided that it needs sustenance now, or else it will eat itself.An older woman looks up and offers a smile as sweet as fresh cinnamon rolls on a Sunday morning. She wipes her hands on her apro
The coppery smell of blood floods my senses the moment we walk in. Liam freezes behind me as our presence goes completely ignored by Dr. Sari and Billy. Billy works diligently with a small squeeze bottle spraying the back of Beatrice’s head, soaking the once clumpy red hairs in a sudsy liquid solution. The solution the sprays on clear drips down from the side of the table in little pink splatters of water onto the musty white carpet, rendering the area around Billy’s feet completely pink and wet.“How is it going?” I ask anyone who will answer.“All the wolfsbane flowers have been removed,” Billy grumbles.“But, the oils from the crushed petals seem to form pustules when it comes into contact with the skin,”“Like poison ivy to humans?” I ask.“Exactly like that,” Dr. Sari says. She grabs a paper towel and walks to the bathroom, flushing it down the toile