Chapter 16
Istared at Siobhan as chaos erupted around us.
“You aren’t in any danger, I promise.” It was a lie I knew she didn’t believe. We ran across the lounge, past the half-eaten cake. The knife was lying right there and I grabbed it.
“Just making sure I stay out of danger,” I said as Siobhan gave me a suspicious look. I rolled my eyes at her. “I’m not going to kill you, Siobhan.”
She looked like she wanted to argue but she didn’t have time. Snarls outside grew to a deafening pitch and suddenly…they hit. The sound was incredible as war erupted outside.
Siobhan grabbed my arm, dragging me again.
“Upstairs. Get to the Alpha’s room, you need to—” Her words were cut off as a wolf tumbled through the window with an almighty crash.
I stared, open mouthed as shifted teens attacked the enemy wolf, tearing it to pieces.
Blood splattered, turning their home-sweet-home into an abattoir.
Suddenly, the room was swarmed. One wolf after another piled in through the open window, all with one goal in mind. To kill me. My blood turned to ice as enemy wolves turned in my direction and bared their teeth. I could really die tonight.
We ran, wolves hot on our heels. We made it to the top floor but they were gaining fast. Too fast.
Suddenly, Siobhan snatched the knife out of my hand and spun, grabbing one wolf mid-air as it launched at us.
She sliced its throat, blood spraying the walls, then dropped it, limp and lifeless on the ground.
Another was coming and we had no time to stop.
She turned, bloody and glorious, and threw the knife to me.
“Get inside.” She shoved me towards Kole’s bedroom as the enemy wolf advanced slowly. I didn’t want to leave her to face that thing alone, but she left me no choice. The last thing I saw was her shifting to a magnificent black wolf before I slammed the door shut on the vicious fight.
I should be out there too. It felt wrong to be running away to hide. So wrong I almost forgot I was supposed to be trying to escape, that this was just what I needed to get away. Hope bloomed, excitement high in my chest. This was really happening.
This was hell on earth but it was also perfect.
Screams echoed throughout the house. I backed away from the door, the snarls vicious right outside. I couldn’t tell Siobhan’s from her opponent’s and could only hope she was okay. I shook the thought away. She wasn’t my responsibility.
My only responsibility was getting myself out of here.
First things first, I had to make sure no Gulf wolves got in…
and no Maclay wolves either. With huge effort I tried to push Kole’s giant oak bed up against the door.
I grunted, gritting my teeth together as I shoved with all my might.
My whole life I’d been unusually strong and I made a mental plea for that strength to hold out now.
Finally, the bed screeched across the floor and I managed to wedge it at an angle between the door and the entrance to the closet.
I had no doubt a wolf would be able to get through eventually, but it would slow them down.
My plan had been half-formed in my mind already, percolating for the last few days, but now I had to figure out the rest on the fly.
I headed for the closet and grabbed my backpack where it had been stashed since Kole had first given it to me.
I’d never figured out where they were keeping my camera, laptop, or my passport but it didn’t matter.
My camera was the most precious thing I owned.
Leaving it behind hurt, but I had no choice.
I stashed the knife in the bag and quickly changed into my hiking gear and boots. Boots wouldn’t be great for running in, but they were better than heels. I was pulling the shoe laces tight when I heard a banging on the bedroom door.
“Luna?”
Relief flooded me at the familiar voice. “Siobhan? I’ve barricaded the door.”
“You need to—” Her words were cut off by a heavy grunt, and this time I recognised the moan of pain as hers. I listened to her fight as I swung my bag over one shoulder. I didn’t want her dead but I didn’t want her in my way either.
Forcing her out of my mind, I pulled one of the pins out of my hair and set about chewing the plastic off the ends until all that remained was the metal inside.
I inserted it into the lock, holding my breath and hoping against all hope that this worked.
This would all be easier with the light on but I couldn’t risk being seen.
I pressed my ear to the lock, doing my best to drown out the sound of the deafening battle surrounding me. My heart raced as I waited for that click that meant freedom. I’d done this before but success was hit and miss.
Outside, I could see fighting. One wolf on another I was unable to distinguish the Maclays from the Gulfs.
For a moment I worried about Kara, about Dinah.
The Gulfs weren’t just here for me, they were after any Maclay they could get their hands on.
My chest ached, my skin singing, and I wondered about Kole.
About his wolf. Was he still in control or had he given into his beast entirely now?
The thought of him laying on the ground, throat torn out, flashed through my mind and I hated the pain it brought with it.
Kole Maclay was my enemy. Any weakness I might feel was the bond at work, nothing more.
All those thoughts disappeared when I heard that glorious sound. The window clicked open and I froze. Once I opened this window, there was no turning back. No mistaking what I was doing if I was caught.
I took a deep breath. I could do this.
I didn’t know exactly where I was going.
The road to the show house was not an option, it was the first place Kole would look.
I needed to find another road. I needed to find people.
Judging by the map in Kole’s office, the nearest road was miles away south, the opposite of where I needed to be. South was further into Yellowstone.
I looked out and dropped my backpack into the bushes below.
I could see a pair of wolves fighting some twenty feet away, but one fell, broken and bleeding, and the survivor ran off, searching for its next fight.
I heard a scream behind the door, Siobhan’s scream.
She was hurt. She needed me. But I had to go.
Forcing myself to ignore the cries of women I was supposed to be responsible for, I climbed on the window ledge. I turned and lowered myself, gripping tight to the ledge. This wasn’t smart. In fact, this was downright stupid. But I had no choice. I just had to hope the bushes would cushion my fall.
I took a breath and let go, free falling for two seconds before landing in the bushes, scraped and sore, but miraculously unharmed. My feet hit the ground, and just like that, my heart started to race. There was no turning back now. I swung my pack onto my back and made for the tree line.
I weaved my way around the pack house, checking the clearing.
Despite the noise of wolves fighting, so far, my path was open.
I moved quickly, heading for the trees, and breathed a sigh of relief when I made it.
I glanced around me, checking for any sign I’d been caught.
It was all quiet. I’d done it. With that, I took off, running as fast as I could.
A great roar pierced the air.
Kole.
I didn’t know how, but I felt it in my bones that it was him. Was he hurt? Victorious? I didn’t know. I had to keep moving.
There were growls and snarls all around me, and howls in the distance. I ran, silent and quick, but it was foolish to think my luck wouldn’t run out. I skidded to a halt as a wolf filled my path. It was taller than me by more than a foot and, judging by the snarling, this was a Gulf wolf.
It advanced, slow, its canines razor sharp, when suddenly it paused, dark eyes narrowed on me.
I couldn’t run. I couldn’t fight. It lifted its nose, scenting me. What was it waiting for? All questions fell away when I heard a snarling behind me. I turned. A second wolf was there, bigger and tan, like Kole. His snout curled at the Gulf wolf.
A Maclay wolf.
I threw myself out of the way, landing in the dirt as they rushed each other. The fight was quick, over in second as the tan wolf tore out the throat of the other.
I stared at the dead wolf, then up at the still breathing one, the one that was about to drag me back to the pack house. I fought back bitter tears. I’d been caught. I was so fucking close to freedom. There was no way this Maclay wolf was letting me go.
Green eyes fixed on me and I watched in awe as the wolf morphed back into skin.
Kallum’s naked body shone in the moonlight.
It was a full moon. I’d forgotten about that.
Suddenly, the Gulf attack made sense. Kole ordering that the party be held tonight made sense.
He knew the Gulfs wouldn’t miss the chance to attack on the full moon when their strength was higher.
Kallum glanced at my pack, my boots. There was no mistaking what I was doing.
“Go north.”
What? I stared at him in shock.
“Go north. You’ll find a road that isn’t on our maps. It’s barely used but you might get lucky and be able to flag down a ride.” His chest heaved with exertion from the fight.
“Why are you helping me?” Was this a trick? He stooped, pulling me to my feet. “Kole will?—”
“Don’t worry about Kole.” His hands rested on my arms and I felt the familiar warm tingle spread through me, just like with Dinah, except this was different. It wasn’t friendship, it was…kinship. “Just go, Iona.”
For the first time, I wavered. My leaving was Kallum’s death sentence. Kallum wouldn’t be able to lie about helping me. Wolves could smell lies. I shouldn’t care but I did. A shiver ran up my spine as another snarl echoed behind him and another followed it. Two wolves approached, definitely Gulfs.
Kallum’s hands fell away and he looked back at me, resignation on his face. “Go.”
I hesitated. I couldn’t say why, except that I didn’t want anything bad to happen to him. “They’ll kill you.”
His lips curved in a sad smile. He knew. Worse than that, he was ready.
Their snarls grew louder as they spread out to attack from either side.
“Run, Iona.”
With that, he spun, launching to the left.
Shifting mid-air, he collided with a Gulf wolf, wrapping his teeth around its throat.
He was magnificent. For a moment I forgot I was supposed to be running.
I stood there, staring in awe. But a snarl to my right alerted me that my danger was not even close to over.
The wolf advanced, but before I could move, Kallum threw the wolf he was fighting at my aggressor.
They tumbled into the trees and Kallum ran after them out of sight.
Ripping flesh and howls pierced the air, though who owned those howls I didn’t know.
Those wolves were giant, vicious, and Kallum had a death wish.
An ache bloomed in my chest. Whether I was caught again or not, I knew I wouldn’t be seeing him again.
Gritting my teeth against the tears, I turned, heading north. I wouldn’t let Kallum’s sacrifice be for nothing.
I ran until the sounds of battle faded and the darkness swallowed me.