Chapter 68
Catching Us Off Guard
JESSICA
Six Years Ago
Ienjoy my time with the twins, Sodie, Skunk, and Emily.
I laugh as Emily and Jeremy make fun of each other over something that happened earlier today.
I need this because, despite Shadow being held captive, Owen’s mother dying, everything I learned about Mimi, and Marty leaving, I need a moment to just breathe.
An eerie howl echoes in the night, stopping us mid-laughter. The twins’ foreheads wrinkle in confusion. I close my eyes and push out my senses. I weed through the inner thoughts I recognize.
My eyes snap open, and I quickly jump to my feet. I send out a warning through my mind link. They’re here!
We run toward the building. Without warning, the twins abruptly stop in their tracks. I crash into Justin’s back. Skunk grabs my shoulders, steadying me. Why did they stop running?
Low growls of warning penetrate the still air. Stepping to the side, I see a group of men pointing guns at us. Wolves bare their teeth on either side of the men.
We have no weapons to fight with, and I can’t shift.
We don’t need weapons. Remember? We have magic, Chris says through our mind link.
Some of them are heading into the building! Get ready! Elias shouts in our heads.
Sodie pushes me farther behind him. Jeremy does the same to Emily. Justin fills in the space between them, creating more of a barrier between me and the men. Skunk is… no longer next to us. But I still feel a hand on my shoulder. Is he invisible?
As the men and wolves close in on us, we stand our ground.
“Where do you keep your prisoners?” One of the men points a gun at us with a sneer on his face.
“Prisoners? We don’t have any prisoners,” Jeremy answers in a low tone that reminds me of our father.
The man doesn't like that answer. He clicks the safety off. “Let me be more specific, then. We’re looking for one of ours. You may know him as Boris.”
Every fiber of my being freezes. Emily stiffens and pushes Justin to the side. I can’t tell what she’s thinking. Who the hell taught her how to use a mind barrier?
What the hell are you doing? They have guns! Emily, get back! Sodie shouts through our mind link.
“Hello, boys. I think I can help you with that,” she says in a flirty tone. “But first, I need you to pay special attention to me and do everything I say.”
I peek between Justin and Sodie’s arms. A ring of white energy settles on the four men wielding guns. The wolves growl and take a threatening step toward Emily.
“Emily says don’t move a muscle,” They freeze in place. “Drop your guns.” I hear the thud of the guns dropping to the ground.
A tug on my arm pulls me away from the group, but I dig my heels into the dirt. “I can’t leave them,” I hiss at Skunk, who continues to drag me away. I glance over my shoulder to see Jeremy and Justin lunge forward, picking up rocks from the ground and throwing them at the men.
The rocks explode in the men’s faces, and they fall to the ground, parts of their heads missing. Sodie grabs a man by the head and twists his neck at an odd angle. A sickening crack penetrates the air. Another man’s head explodes.
Emily stands before the wolves. A high-pitched yelp emanates around them as they paw at their snouts. A wolf rushes straight for Emily. Without a single thought, I send a bolt of lightning right through the wolf. He drops to the ground with a thud. I inhale a shaky breath.
Skunk doesn’t stop pulling me toward the building. We descend into a run. Sodie and Emily catch up, pushing me from behind. Jeremy and Justin shift and fight the remaining three wolves.
More men surround the building’s entrance. Wolves gallop toward us. Sodie guides me in a different direction. Chris, Elias, and Ean issues orders, all through our mind link.
Stay out of the building. Keep Jessica safe, Ean commands.
We’re right behind you. Keep going, Justin says.
“No!” I dig my heels in the ground, forcing Sodie to stop. Emily slams into me. “We can’t leave them!”
“There are more of them inside than us standing out here! They have guns. We’re not taking any risks with your life,” Sodie demands.
“There are more of those assholes surrounding the building than following us,” I counter.
Emily looks at me and nods. She transitions into a beautiful black wolf and runs toward the oncoming wolves. Justin and Jeremy swear as they redirect their course, following Emily. Sodie shakes his head.
I focus on the wolves running toward us. Emily jumps in front of them. Growls and snarls fill the air as she pounces. The twins jump into the fray.
Get the girl! one of them shouts.
Which one? There're two of them! another one snarls.
I raise my arms and throw lightning at the wolves.
“Go. I’m still here,” Skunk hisses.
Sodie grumbles under his breath and runs toward the fighting wolves, transitioning midair.
I continue to use lightning magic to fight off the wolves.
I hear a couple of yelps in the air as I catch sight of Emily ripping the throat out from one of the wolves.
Sodie, Justin, and Jeremy all follow suit.
When the wolves are dead, we all run back toward the building.
Get the girl with the storm magic! That’s the one our leader wants.
The rest of you, cover the grounds and search for prisoners.
Byron wants his son back. When everyone in the building is dead, head for the manor and eliminate the Alpha King and the Luna Queen.
If anyone gets in the way, kill them. Only the girl is to remain alive.
My heart races. I check in with everyone, but there is too much action, too much noise.
Chris shouts, Watch your back.
Elias warns, Behind you.
I can’t see very well in the dark, but I sense more men and wolves heading for us. I keep aiming my magic.
The clashing and growling of wolves get closer. Gunshots fill the night air. Panic rises in my chest and up my throat.
You can do this, Jessica!
I don’t know who says it. It’s becoming too much. Gunfire and a spray of something wet hits my face. A sharp pain seizes my arm. Skunk’s body hits the ground. A man runs at me with a gun. I strike him down with lightning. I strike a wolf racing toward me and another.
Scanning the area for any more oncoming threats and finding none, I look down at Skunk, lying prone on his back.
A bloodstain on his shirt expands, the edges blurring as it seeps into the fabric.
I can’t tell where it comes from. I bend down, placing my hand over Skunk’s chest, and groping for a wound, I put pressure over it to stop the bleeding. He closes his eyes.
Fear and panic grip my heart, and I release a sheer scream. The atmosphere around me stirs. Wind lifts me in the air. I release a torrent of wind, rain, and lightning. Rage fills me to the core, rain pelting down harder.
I search for the enemy with my mind, lightning striking them as I find them. It’s not enough to quench the anger stirring in my veins. The wind surrounding me roars in my ears and beats against my skin.
The temperature turns frigid, as raindrops turn to ice. I unleash a snowstorm.