Chapter 19 – Blood at Dawn

The sky was a gray and it looked like it was going to rain. The air was thick. It felt like nobody was breathing. We walked out of the pack house. I could feel my heart beating fast. I could feel it in my teeth and my fingers. Damon was walking next to me. He would touch my back every now and then like he needed to remind himself that I was still there.

The pack was already waiting for us in the courtyard. They were all scared and determined. The warriors were wearing leather and chainmail the omegas had kitchen knives and sticks and the elders were holding their walking sticks like they were ready to fight. Everyone looked at us as we approached. Some of them looked hopeful some looked terrified and a few still looked angry at me.

Marcus was standing near the front. His jaw was locked tight. He did not say anything. His stare was like a punch in the gut.

Damon stopped at the top of the steps. I stayed next to him. He said "They are coming, not a few scouts this time but an army. They want Isla they want the White Wolf. They will burn everything to get her."

The pack started to murmur. Someone cursed under their breath. A kid in the back started crying. Was quickly quieted by someone else.

Damon did not try to make it sound better. He just said "We fight or we die. This is our home and our pack. I will not let them take it from us."

He looked at me. His eyes were dark and stormy but I could see something steady in them something that said he has got my back.

I took a breath. Stepped forward. My hands were sweaty. My wolf was pacing inside me ready to fight.

I said "I did not ask for this. I did not ask to be the White Wolf. I did not ask for the bond. I did not ask to be treated like dirt for ten years. I am here now. I am going to protect this land these walls and all of you even the ones who did not like me."

I looked out at all the faces. I saw Lilas eyes Rafes determined nod, Marcuss glare.

I said "I am not here to destroy anything. I am here to protect it. If they come for us I will. I will not stop until they are all gone or I am."

A soft glow started under my skin enough to remind them who I was.

The silence that followed was really long.

Then Rafe dropped to one knee. Said "For the White Wolf."

A few people followed, not everyone, but enough that something in the air changed. It was not trust yet. It was a start.

Damons hand found mine again. He squeezed it. He said "No hiding."

The pack echoed it back quiet at first louder like they were trying to convince themselves much as us.

The horns sounded from the watchtower three blasts and one long note that cut through the morning.

They were here.

The pack started to move warriors grabbed their weapons omegas rushed to safety. Shouts filled the air.

Damon and I ran to the northern ridge, where we could see them coming.

My wolf was begging to be let out. I held her back not yet.

From the ridge I could see hundreds of figures moving through the trees, cloaks billowing, weapons glinting in the light.

In the center was a figure on a horse his face visible, pale skin, cold eyes and the same burned mark on his armor that was on the dead scouts.

He raised his hand. The army stopped at the edge of the clearing.

He called out "White Wolf come out. We have waited enough. Your parents thought they could hide you. They were wrong. Your power belongs to us now.. We will spare the pack.. We will burn it to ash."

Damons hand tightened on mine until it hurt.

I stepped forward. Shouted back "You already tried to take me. You failed. You will fail again."

The man on the horse smiled, cold and empty like he already knew how this would end.

He said "Watch them die for you."

He raised his hand again. The army surged forward with a roar.

The battle started, ugly, no lines or glorious charges just bodies crashing together arrows whistling through the air the clash of steel and screams.

Damon shifted first, fast and brutal fur exploding over his body massive wolf form with eyes glowing gold.

He threw his head back. Howled. The pack answered with their cries.

I shifted after him bones cracked light exploded outward fur, power rushing through me like fire in my veins.

The pain was there sharp and bright. This time I rode it of fighting it.

We ran down the ridge into the chaos.

The fighting was brutal, no glory, just blood and dirt and screams.

I saw Marcus take down two enemies with one swing of his axe. I saw Lila stab a man in the leg with a kitchen knife. I saw a fall. I saw one of our warriors get dragged down under three attackers.

Damon was a blur of fury beside me tearing through anyone who got too close.

They kept coming, wave after wave.

One big guy with a face broke through the line. Charged straight at me. He carried a silver blade that reeked of poison.

I met him head-on my claws raked across his chest. He swung, the blade caught my side burning pain like fire pouring into my veins.

I. Sank my teeth into his shoulder. Bone crunched he screamed.

I did not let go until he stopped moving.

The poison burned hot. My wolf pushed it back healing even as I fought.

Damon was suddenly there blood on his muzzle eyes wild with worry. He nudged my shoulder with his nose checking if I was okay.

I nudged back hard I am okay keep going.

We fought side by side time stopped making sense minutes bled into hours bodies piled up on both sides. Our pack. Bled the enemy kept pushing.

I saw Rafe go down clawed badly across the chest. I saw another fall. The tall man on the horse stayed back watching with that smile like this was all entertainment.

Rage boiled up inside me hot and bright. The white light around me flared brighter. The bond with Damon surged, his strength pouring into me mine flowing back to him.

We were feeding each other through it.

I broke away from the fight ran toward the leader.

Damon howled behind me followed.

Arrows flew past my ears. One of them scratched my side. It hurt like crazy. I did not stop running.

The tall man finally decided to move. He jumped off his horse pulled out a curved sword that had some kind of dark magic on it.

"You should have stayed hidden wolf " he said, his voice full of sarcasm.

I turned back into a human while I was still running. I was naked covered in blood and dirt. There was still a glow under my skin. My claws were still out. My eyes were burning with a light.

"You should have left us alone " I said, angry.

He attacked me with his sword. It was so fast the sword made a sound as it cut through the air. I barely dodged it felt the wind from it on my cheek.

I swung my claws at him caught his arm. It was blood.

He laughed. "You are strong, but not strong enough " he said.

He attacked me again.

Damon, my friend jumped into him from the side. He was a wolf and his teeth sank deep into the mans shoulder.

The tall man screamed in pain. He swung his sword wildly. It cut Damon across the side.

There was blood everywhere.

Damon yelped in pain. He did not let go.

I screamed too.

A white light exploded out of me. It was not something I could control it just happened. It was like a wave that slammed into the man and sent him flying into a tree. The dark magic on his sword disappeared.

I ran to Damon.

He was on the ground bleeding a lot from the cut on his side. He was breathing hard.

"No " I said, kneeling down beside him. I put my hands on his wound trying to stop the blood. "Do not die on me not today."

Damons wolf form started to fade. He turned back into a human. He was naked, pale and covered in blood.

He looked at me his eyes weak but still fierce.

"Finish this " he whispered. "Do not let them catch you."

I had tears in my eyes. "Shut up you are not going to die " I said.

I could feel our bond it was like our pain and fear were all mixed up together.

The White Wolf inside me started to rise. This time it was not for fighting. It was for healing.

I pressed my hands harder on Damons wound and a soft white light started to flow out of me. It was like sunlight. It went into his body.

The bleeding started to slow down. The cut began to heal.

Damon gasped, his eyes wide, with surprise.

"Isla " he said, my name.

"Stay with me " I begged, my voice shaking. "I need you."

He reached up. Touched my face with a bloody hand.

"I am here " he whispered. "I am not going anywhere."

The tall man was getting up even though he was shaking and bleeding.

I stood up and the white light was still shining around me it was brighter than ever.

I shouted "You want the White Wolf?" my voice was loud enough for everyone to hear. "Get the White Wolf" I said.

The other enemies turned towards me.

I let the White Wolfs power loose.

The white light exploded like a star and wave after wave of it hit our enemies. Some of them flew backward. Some screamed as the light burned away the magic in their veins.

The tall man raised his sword his eyes were full of hate.

I turned into the White Wolf I was a wolf I was big and glowing white and the White Wolfs power was shining like moonlight.

I charged at the man.

He swung his sword.

I dodged it.

My jaws closed around his throat.

Then there was silence.

He fell to the ground.

The battlefield was quiet.

The other enemies ran away they disappeared into the trees like shadows in the sun.

Our pack cheered they were. Cheering and crying we were all exhausted.

I turned back into a human I was naked and covered in blood and dirt. I was shaking hard.

Damon was already standing he was still dealing with his wound he was pale and weak.

He caught me as my legs gave out.

We held each other we were standing there in the middle of all the blood and bodies.

The war was not over not yet this was the beginning.

We were still standing, together the White Wolf and Damon.

The White Wolf had made her choice she had chosen to fight for love for home and, for Damon.