The Attack

Did you guess it right?

You did.

Of course, he didn’t tell me anything. Just as he opened his mouth to speak, the forest exploded in motion. Figures emerged from the shadows – wolves wearing strange masks that covered their faces. Had they been trailing us this entire time, waiting for the right moment?

Craig pushed me behind him, and the members who look relaxed few minutes ago were all at alert. Even Ava who looked so sweet and innocent now wore a strange look that made her totally opposite of the way she was.

The mask men were mostly in front, leaving the back open, but they were armed with weapons, each one held with deadly familiarity. They looked like they knew exactly what they were doing.

I, on the other hand, had no idea how to fight, let alone use a weapon. My wolf wasn’t out yet. All my live I had been treated like a delicate princess, and even when I had begged my parents to let me learn few defense skills, they had claimed I wouldn’t need it as they would be there to protect – or my future mate would be.

Here, in this forest filled with danger, that protection felt like a distant dream. I couldn’t even defend myself. The other women, though, seemed to know exactly what they were doing, and I clenched my fists, desperate not to feel useless.

One of the mask men stepped forward, “You know - we don’t have to make this bloody if you just hand him over to us. We will leave you just alone. As you can see, you are outnumbered and can’t win over us.”

Greg chuckled, a dark sound that sent a chill up my spine. There was nothing funny about the situation we were in, but his confidence was unnerving, but he stepped forward without a hint of hesitation. “How about you leave before we cut you down?”

The leader exchanged looks with his men before they burst into mocking laughter. In an instant, their expressions hardened, and they wielded their weapon, ready to strike.

I didn’t expect it but Craig made sure I was always behind him as he used his claw as his only weapon. I couldn’t see much of him as I was behind, but I saw the victims who fell down. I looked around to see Ava jumping as she held a small knife and attacked a man that looked twice her size.

From the look of it, she didn’t seem bothered by the size as if she had fought numerous people of same size. She effortlessly moved around the guy slicing him bit by bit. The big guy was barely able to make a mark on her - she was so flexible.

I wished I wasn’t at the point of death and could easily appreciate her skills, but I was also on the lookout for any intruder that wanted to pull me out of Craig’s back. I might not be a great fighter, but I won’t go down without a fight.

Chaos erupted around us – screams, growls, bodies hitting the ground. The sound of struggle filled the air, and I couldn’t help but think these fallen men would likely become food for any predator that happened upon this scene.

Though the fight stretched on, the leader of the masked men eventually called for retreat. Despite outnumbering us, their skills clearly fall short. “We’ll be back,” he spat, signaling his men to fall back.

Greg charged after them, but Craig called him back. “Let them go.”

Greg frowned, obviously displeased with that command, “But we can just finish them off at once now.”

Craig glanced around at the injured members of his pack, “I know, but if we don’t tend to them, we could lose more.”

Grey looked displeased at the thoughts of letting them go, but he had to obey his alpha. He turned back and stalked into the clearing. I watched him move away from others. My eyes slowly moved away from him towards other members of the pack, a few of them had sustained injury and those who hadn’t were trying to do whatever they could to help them.

Now that the danger was gone, Craig was no longer protecting me. He crouched towards the level of one of his injured pack mate. After staring at the injury, he tore part of his cloth to dress it up. I stared at him in surprise. He hadn’t thought of it before rendering his help to his member. I swallowed.

I also wanted to be of help. They had protected me when fighting. I also wanted to do something in return, but there was nothing I could do. Slowly, my eyes returned to Craig, especially his hand.

Maybe. Just maybe, there was something I could do.

Slowly, I moved beside him, crouching down next to the injured wolf who was biting his lip to hold back the pain.

“I need to talk to you,” I said softly.

For a moment, his hand paused on the injured wolf. “How about you see me later? I’m busy here trying to save a life.”

I shook my head, “I know and that’s what I need to talk about.”

He sighed, “And this thing can’t wait.” He sounded like a man used to dealing with petty issues like this.

I looked around to see the others in pains, “It can’t.”

“Fine.”

He pulled himself to his full height while I mirrored his action. He patted the wolf shoulder in assurance and some we were standing in a distance away from them.

“I want to help heal the injured.” I said, my voice steady. Even though, my heart beat wasn’t.

He frowned, a flicker of confusion crossing his face, then realization dawn “Are you serious?”

I nodded, “You protected m from those men. I want to do something I can in return and since I have the healing power… I think I can help.”

He looked at me, as if trying to decide whether to argue, “You don’t have to do this.”

“But I want to.”I insisted.

He pinched the bridge of his nose, finally nodding. “Fine. If you’re sure start now – before someone bleeds out.”

A thrill of determination surged through me as I crouched back down, extending my hands to the injured pack member Craig had been helping. I didn’t know exactly how my power worked, but I let my hand drift over his wound, hoping for something, anything. A warmth pulsed through my gingers, like energy seeping out of me and into him, and I watched I awe as his wounds slowly knitted back together until there was no sign of injury.

I stared at his head, still finding it hard to believe I had such a rare power, but before I could bask in my victory, Craig had already pulled me over to the next injures member.

Just like that, I handled every injured member while the rest stared at me in awe – everyone, that is, expect for the cold-eyed woman who shot me a frosty glare. I sent her a warm smile in return, only to be met with another icy stare.

“That was amazing.” Ava nudged me on my shoulder with a smile on her face. Gone was the fierce look she had when fighting, and now she was back looking sweet and innocent.

I shook my head, smiling back at her, “You were the amazing one. Who taught you to fight like that?”

She stared at me like I had asked a strange question.

“Craig. He said I needed it to protect myself and he’s right. The world is an unfair place to live in.”

I knew that feeling, but my thoughts had moved towards something else, “It look like you guys were prepared for that attack. Do you have any idea who those people are?”

She shrugged, “I have no idea, but they were probably sent to kill Craig by our uncle.”