Chapter 8
Anders couldn’t move. Every breath he took sent a shockwave of pain throughout his body. His father had disappeared from the fighting, he had noticed, but that didn’t give him any degree of happiness. His father still lived, and his father was even stronger than he had been the first time they had battled. Another time when his father had bested him, and on that occasion, Anders hadn’t already been half-broken from numerous battles.
He’s always had the upper hand on me. He always will. And my death, that will be his too.
He almost wanted to die. The pain, the agony, it was too much to bear.
A shadow crossed his vision, and he could hardly lift his head to see who had come to finish him off.
Was it…
Misti?
Her upper lip had been curled back into a snarl, but now she was tilting her head, staring at him as if puzzled. You’re dying.
Maybe. Now that she was here, he could pass on more peacefully. His life had changed the moment he met her, and if he could go back, he wouldn’t change a thing.
Actually, he might have tried to have her a few more times, and he definitely would have told her how he felt about her, so yes, he did have some regrets.
She snuggled beside him.
His nostrils quivered at the scent of blood. You’re hurt yourself.
I’ll be fine. Just need a… moment to rest.
Rest equals death right now.
They were howling softly to each other, their words barely audible among the death shrills and howls and whimpers all around them, the slashing of claws and fangs. This battle was vicious. This battle was an all-out war.
If this doesn’t stop, everyone or just about everyone will be dead.
Misti laid her head down on her paws. Maybe that’s for the best.
Anders had been shivering. With Misti beside him, he was stealing his warmth, and he felt marginally better. He forced himself to stand. It’s me Father wants. If I surrender, maybe he will call back his wolves, and you all will be safe.
Don’t be ridiculous. Her howls were getting louder, but none of the battles wolves paid them any attention in their secluded spot. My father won’t?—
It would be his chance to turn against the Shadowed Stars. Why would he bother to continue to fight the Wild Shades when he could go after and maybe even eliminate his most hated enemy?
Your father will kill you.
He nuzzled her neck. I’ll be able to protect you finally.
Her wolf eyes pierced through him, cutting away at his pain, searing a hole into him. She had to be able to see his soul, to see his heart, to know the love he bore for her. There was no need to say the words.
After a long moment, she looked away and pawed at the dirt and grass. There’s no guarantee he’ll stop.
But there’s a chance, and I’m willing to try.
You can barely walk. You’ll never make it through all of the wolves to find your father. Stop being ridiculous?—
Your life isn’t ridiculous. Your husband might not have cared about his people, but we dragged the Wild Shades into this carnage. They deserve to have a real chance to return home. I might be able to provide that for them. I’m willing to try. He moved to step away from their safe haven.
Misti limped faster than him and blocked him. Don’t do this.
Why not? he howled simply. Give me one reason why I shouldn’t.
I…
You don’t have one. And that’s fine. He tried to tell himself that even if she had declared her undying love for him that he wouldn’t have caved, but he knew he would have. When it came to her, he was weak.
But she did not love him. How could she when she thought he had killed her husband out of jealousy? He opened his mouth to howl out the truth about Talon but refrained. Why sully the man? He was dead. He couldn’t hurt his people, or Misti, any longer, and that was all that mattered. He had tried to tell Misti the truth already, and she hadn’t been willing to listen. Now, there wasn’t time for him to waste on rehashing the details.
You will survive this. Just promise me that when you are claimed that you find a werewolf who is worthy of you, and you claim him back too. Promise me you’ll have cubs and you’ll run wild, not just at night but during the day too. The sun on your back… He broke off his howl. He’d never see another moonrise. He’d never run with her as a wolf again. Hell, he wouldn’t even be able to run up to his father. No more kisses, no more love, just death, its harsh embrace, chilling him for all time.
Anders—
Promise me.
Anders, don’t?—
Promise me. Anders snapped his fangs near her nose. But he couldn’t be angry with her, not for long, and he licked her nose. Please promise me.
The sight before him was a beautiful, bent but not broken wolf. The spectacle of a tear trickling down her blood-streaked fur was almost more than he could take.
Don’t make me beg.
I promise.
That was all he needed to hear. Anders forced himself around her and out of their small sanctuary. He would avoid the fighting as best he could. Find some high ground and locate his father.
And then he would die for Misti. He would die so that she and the others might live.
If it turned out to be for naught, at least he had tried. He had made a lot of mistakes in his life, but this would not be one of them.
With a low howl, he started to track down his father. It was time to end this.