Chapter 7
Misti had never seen such a large werewolf before. There was no doubt he was alpha. Anders’s father. No wonder he wanted her to stay out of the battle.
But how could she possibly allow that to happen? Anders had been fighting battles for hours now, days now, while his father appeared to be in prime condition. He’d slaughter Anders like nothing in no time.
But more werewolves were coming around, and she twisted around to face them. Her back was bleeding yet, and all she wanted to do was sleep. I’d never wake up.
Fortunately, the nearest wolves were just encircling her, Anders, and his father. She was not close enough to affect the two warriors as they circled each other, watching, waiting.
When the alpha had his back to her, she started toward him. If she could jump high enough onto his back, or even just onto his hind to provide a distraction for Anders…
One step was all she took before her tail was pounded on. She looked behind her to see four wolves advancing toward her. All Shadowed Stars. All of the surrounding wolves were probably Shadowed Stars, wanting to witness the battle between their alpha and their former heir.
If her father wished to do the same with her…
She should be the one to fight him. If Anders, by some miracle, was able to best his father, and if she could do likewise with her father, the battle at least would be over.
But the chances of either of them surviving or winning that fight was next to impossible. Maybe if Anders wasn’t already nursing wounds, but even at her fighting best, she would be bested by her father seven times out of ten. Her only chance would be to use her speed, to have him wear himself out before even attempting to go in for the kill.
I won’t interfere, she howled to the werewolves.
They still surrounded her and brought her back to the circle around the two fighters. One stood in front of her. At least that wolf was shorter than her so she could see everything.
The alpha snapped at Anders, moving far faster than a wolf of his size should be able to. Anders jumped out of the way and backpedaled.
He’s going to have to be patient.
The wolves around her began to howl, cheering on their alpha, calling out derogatory names toward Anders. As much as she was still furious with him for killing Talon—even if her husband had done something that deserved death, which she wasn’t sure if she believed, Anders shouldn’t have taken it upon himself to kill him without talking to her and Kastner first—she didn’t want to witness his slaughter.
His father was pressing the assault, nipping and slashing, forcing Anders to retreat all the more. Anders was trying to circle as he backpedaled, but he soon backed right into the surrounding wolves. They swatted at him, giving him new cuts before he could free himself.
Dirty, vicious, fiends. How she hated all Shadowed Stars.
The fight continued, much the same, with the alpha having the lead, the only one to land blows, and if Anders should go too near the outer wolves, they would take their shots at him.
When that happened here, with Anders backing into the wolf in front of her, Misti couldn’t abide that the scent of Anders’s blood was assaulting her nose. She snapped at the wolf to her right and jumped on top of the wolf in front of her as that wolf’s fangs connected with Anders’s tail.
The howls became deafening. Wolves from every direction descended on her and Anders. So many fangs and claws. She attacked blindly, slashing and biting. Blood and fur filled her mouth. Still, she fought on, struggling to breathe, struggling to slash one more time, to bite one more time, to fight for another second. Every swipe of her arm at a foe was met with resistance as others swiped back.
A curtain of red covered some of her vision. She was bleeding from above one of her eyes. Through the curtain, she was barely able to see Anders fighting for his life too. At least there was one wolf she didn’t see—his father’s.
A blow to the back of her head had her tumbling down to the ground, dirt and bloodied grass on her tongue. She spat them out. I have to stand. If they trample me, I’m dead.
Her legs pushed against the ground, but she hadn’t the strength to stand completely. Her legs buckled the first two times she tried to stand. On the third, a wolf’s head plowed into her midsection. She slammed to the ground again, lying on her side. Her neck was exposed. Her paw went to her throat to protect herself, which meant there wasn’t a chance of her standing.
The wolf that headbutted her stood over her. Before it could attack her, a Red Nightwalker sneaked up on him and engaged him in battle.
Misti forced herself to stand. It took her a minute to be able to, but once she was up, she could move again. Instead of fighting, she tried to wiggle around the battles, and soon spied a form near the bushes, low and trying to hide.
Now that was the right idea.
Too bad there weren’t any other bushes nearby for her to claim.
She limped her way over to the bushes. The wolf was obviously injured, maybe even dying. If she could kill him or her, she’d be able to use the body to hide herself.
The wolf was none other than Anders. From the way he didn’t even stir at her approach and the sight of his bruised and broken body, she could easily kill him and implement her plan.
Misti stalked toward him, feeling almost like her old, hunter self.
But could she really kill him in what might prove to be a vain attempt to save herself?