Chapter 37
Blackwell gave a start when he saw the size of Marius’ lion and quickly shifted to join him. They ran along the main road until they reached the edge of the pack lands.
Blackwell nudged Marius towards the trees.
Marius shook his head and stood in the middle of the road, watching, waiting.
He felt the Alpha walk over and stand beside him.
They didn’t have to wait long before they heard cars in the distance. They got closer and stopped about three hundred yards from the pack borders.
They watched men getting out of the cars, shifting into their wolves and start running towards them.
Marius let out a loud roar. He watched some of the wolves’ steps falter and ran full tilt towards them.
He ran straight through the lead wolves and attacked the wolves behind. He killed two before either wolf could register what was happening.
He spun on his paws and jumped on the back of another, ripping his throat out quickly and efficiently.
He looked up and saw Blackwell attacking another; the Alpha wasn’t playing around.
Marius heard fighting from further down the road.
He brought his focus back to the wolves near him, just as a wolf jumped on his back from behind.
Thanks to his full mane, the wolf couldn’t get near his throat.
Marius jumped up on his hind legs and then fell backwards, bringing his full weight down on the wolf.
The wolf howled in pain.
Marius quickly jumped up, turned and roared in the wolf’s face before slashing his throat almost all the way through. Blood splattered over his fur and mane.
He turned his back on the wolf and ran after those that were running towards the pack grounds.
As Marius ran, he saw a meaner-looking version of Blake throwing fireballs in all directions. Some hit houses, causing fires, and others singed wolves. Marius roared loudly, and Barnabus turned to look at him, a smile on his face.
“A lion can’t defeat me,” he scoffed.
“He doesn’t need to,” a voice said from behind before a sword was thrust into his chest, the point sticking out of his chest.
Barnabus screamed in anger, pain and despair and vanished, taking his pack with him.
Marius shifted back and looked at his gargoyle teammate. “Nice move.”
Mika smiled. “Thanks. Hopefully he’ll die now.”
“We can hope. I’m gonna go dress and then help with the fires.” He shifted back and ran to his clothes.
It was a few hours later. The fires were now out, and the injured wolves had shifted and were healing.
Marius looked at Alpha Blackwell. “Is there anything else we can do? If not, we’ll be off.”
“No, thank you all for your help today,” the Alpha said and looked around. “I hate to think what would have happened if you and your team hadn’t come to help. Please let the Alpha King know that if I can do anything, just ask.”
“I will. Stay safe,” Marius said, looking at Austin, who nodded and took them home.
They arrived back on the pack grounds.
“Thanks everyone. I’m going to update Shiloh if you all want to go and de-stress; please do.”
With muttered byes, his team walked away, and Marius went in search of his commander.
Barnabus and his pack appeared just outside the pack house. All the wolves were supporting injuries. Barnabus called for someone to attend him and staggered inside, not even looking at the injured wolves.
He leant against the hall wall, clutching his chest. He gave a hollow laugh. Glad not for the first time that his heart was on the opposite side.
He used the wall to help him to the closest chair and fell into it, waiting for someone to come and patch him up.
Shiloh was talking to Blake, Baylan, Tudor, Alex and a few others, laughing and joking.
“The team has been gone for hours do you think we should send more help I hope they are all alright.”
Alex slipped his arm around Tudor, and he stopped talking.
“Marius texted me earlier. They’re all fine and stayed to help the pack,” Shiloh replied.
“We’re all back now,” Marius said, walking over and joining them.
“You’re safe,” Tudor said happily, pulling Marius into a hug.
Marius hugged him back. “Welcome back. Did you have a good rest?”
Tudor pulled back. “I did thank you but I missed a lot everyone has brought me up to speed how did you get on did you kill Barnabus?”
Alex slid his arm back around Tudor’s waist. “Breathe, my darling.”
“Mika stabbed him through the heart. He screamed and vanished along with his wolves. Well, the ones we didn’t kill anyway,” Marius explained.
“Not all demons have their hearts in the same place we do,” Hades said.
“Well, that’s disturbing,” Blake said.
“If Mika didn’t pierce his heart, he certainly caused a significant injury, and before he was stabbed, I smelt the pain on him,” Marius said.
“Maletayah injured him when they fought outside of Tartarus. We have his shaman, so he has to heal slowly,” Frederick put in.
“Let’s hope luck is on our side and he dies of his injuries but that’s mean isn’t it but he really isn’t a very nice demon and has caused so many problems and killed so many people that it would be better if he did die don’t you think?”
Alex patted his side.
“Yes Tudor,” Blake said. “It would be really good if he died, and hopefully sooner rather than later.”