Chapter 23 – The Second Wave

The attack happened sooner than we thought it would.

We thought we had two days before it came. The scouts told us that. Two days they said.. They were wrong.

It was the middle of the night when the horns started blowing. It was not the three short blasts to warn us. This was one blast that sounded like someone was screaming for help. I woke up with a start in Damons arms. My heart was beating hard it felt like it would break my ribs. Damon was already up getting his weapons in the dark.

"They are here " he said, his voice. Serious. "Get up now."

I did not need to be told. My hands were shaking as I put on some clothes. Pants, one of Damons shirts that still smelled like him and my boots. My wolf was awake inside me growling and pushing against my skin. She wanted to come out.

We ran.

The corridors were chaotic. People were shouting, getting their weapons trying to get the children to safety. Lila ran past us with a girl in her arms. Her eyes were big with fear. Rafe was already in the hall shouting even though he was hurt.

"The wall " he yelled. "They are attacking the wall. Everyone who can fight come with me."

Damon took my hand. Pulled me to the armory. We did not waste time talking. There was no time. He gave me a dagger and a shorter blade. For a moment our eyes met. Fierce, scared and full of things we had not said.

"Stay close to me " he said.

"Always " I said.

We went out into the night.

The northern wall was on fire.

Flames were climbing up the parts as dark figures swarmed over it. This was not a small group of fighters. This was an attack. There were hundreds of them more. They were warriors with glowing marks on their armor moving too fast. In the middle of it all I saw her. A woman with silver hair and eyes that glowed purple in the firelight. She raised her hand and dark magic hit our defenders like a wave.

Marcus was already fighting, swinging his axe and taking down enemies. Rafe fought beside him his blade flashing.. They were being pushed back.

Damon changed first. His body turned into a wolf as he jumped forward with a loud howl. I followed him.

The change was easier this time. Still hurt. My body turned into a wolf. I felt powerful. I landed on four legs beside Damon shining bright in the dark.

The enemy saw me away.

The haired woman smiled. She looked cold and hungry like she had been waiting for me.

"There you are " she called, her voice carrying over the noise. "The White Wolf. Come to me child. Your power was never meant for them."

I. Charged at her.

The battle was crazy. It was like nothing I had ever seen. People were fighting, screaming and dying. I fought beside Damon like we were one creature. He took the hits using his size and strength to break through their lines. I used my speed and light to confuse them before attacking with claws and teeth.

I caught glimpses of the others through the chaos. Lila was fighting with daggers moving like a shadow. Rafe was hurt,. Still fighting. Marcus was like a machine, covered in blood roaring with every swing of his axe.

Then the haired woman raised her hands.

Darkness exploded outward hitting our people like a wave. I felt it too. A cold feeling trying to take the light out of me.

I pushed back hard.

White light burst from me shoving the darkness away. Damon howled beside me drawing strength from our bond. We stood together light and shadow fighting between us.

The woman laughed, loud and cruel. "You are little wolf " she said. ". You are young. You do not know what you have inside you."

She moved her wrist.

Pain exploded in my head. I saw memories that were not mine. Fire, screaming, my parents voices as they bound my wolf to save me. The images hit me hard. I stumbled.

Damon was there instantly. His black wolf pressed tight against my side giving me his strength. The pain eased enough for me to clear my head.

I was not going to let her into my head.

I was not going to let her win.

The fight got worse after that. I took hits. I gave back worse. Damon fought like a demon beside me protecting me tearing apart anyone who tried to get between us. Our bond was open. His rage, my determination, our love and fear all mixed together.

At one point I saw Marcus go down hard a blade in his shoulder. I did not think. I just ran to him. My light flared bright as I tore the attacker off him. Marcus looked up at me eyes with shock and respect.

"Why?" he asked, blood on his lips.

"Because you are pack " I growled. "Now get up."

He did, slowly and painfully.. He got up.

The haired woman never stopped watching me. Her smile never faded.

"You still think you can save them?" she called across the battlefield. "How many more have to die before you understand? Your power was meant to end the world not protect it."

I changed back to form just long enough to shout back at her.

"Then maybe the old world deserves to burn " I yelled. ". Not like this. Not by you."

I changed again. Charged her directly.

She met me with magic crackling around her hands. The impact was brutal. Light slammed against shadow. The ground shook beneath us. People on both sides were thrown backward.

For a terrifying seconds it was just her and me.

Her blade slashed across my chest. I felt the burning cut, blood running down my fur.. I did not stop. I slammed into her with everything I had. Claws, teeth and pure white power. She screamed as the light burned her.

Then she laughed, even as she bled.

"You are too late White Wolf " she whispered, her voice in my mind. "The seed is already planted."

She threw something at me. A black orb that exploded into shadows. I tried to burn it with my light but it sank into my chest like smoke, cold and wrong.

Pain unlike anything I had ever felt ripped through me. It felt like my bones were breaking from the inside.

I collapsed.

Damons howl cut through the night like a thing as he fought to reach me tearing through bodies, with fury.

The last thing I saw before the darkness took me was his wolf form leaping over fallen enemies eyes glowing with terror and rage.

Then nothing.

Just pain.

Silence.