Biting, ripping mercilessly were the thoughts that crossed Nebraska's mind. Avenge the death of her family, and the wolves she had loved. Hatred consumed her and burned through every pore of her body, taking her breath away. There was nothing else.
The wolf in front of her was shaking, bigger than she remembered, more aggressive than in her memories but that didn't make her tremble. She moved slowly toward him, the fur on her back bristling and her nose pointed at his neck. She was quick she could finish him off.
Liam then lunged at her. Nebraska dodged his body by moving to the right, still feeling the force against which the snow struck. This was abnormal. The wolf's face turned back in his direction and it lunged straight for one of its paws. Nebraska jumped on him and he flew away to a specific point.
Revenge was delicious, but not when there are other priorities. She regretted it, but she had two problems. The former, no matter how capable she was, she was really weak and she knew he couldn't stop him, plus Liam's strength felt extremely intense. Second, she had two wolves waiting for her. Every second that she spent here, was time that was subtracted from the lives of both. So with all the pain in her soul and regaining control over herself, she went to Rudoc's body and searched his belt for the small bag, where she was sure, was the antidote.
She grabbed it between his teeth and yanked it up with her as a searing pain traveled from her back to every part of her body and she felt lifted and thrown ten feet from where she was. When she fell, the blood was gushing from its snout and nose. It stained the fur of his body and did not stop. The pain was searing and paralyzing near her spine.
Out of the corner of her eye she could see Liam staring at her like a predator. He had attacked her so fast that she hadn't noticed. She tried to get up but it seems a daunting task. She didn't know how he did it but now there were toxins within her system that were beginning to destroy her skin and muscles.
What the hell had Liam become? She shuddered at the idea.
The wolf came closer, when suddenly; he stopped and let out a howl that made her ears ache. Its front legs buckled and it began to shake. The muscles under his skin moved strangely, growing, shrinking, looking like a bizarre image. Nebraska sat up slowly despite the pain, she couldn't stay there.
She thought about attacking him now that he seemed defenseless but his gaze only dared her to come closer, and she knew that if she let her instincts carry her, she would end up under that body that was beginning to grow in ridiculous measures. So she ran past her, grabbed one of the few intact bones of what was left of her daughter as well, and kept running without looking back. She was afraid that if she did, she might find Liam on her.
She ran, ran wild, letting her paws carry her away. She thought she wouldn't make it; the pain in her back was like acid burning her body. Behind her, a trail of blood followed her. Her lungs clenched but she didn't stop. They had commented that they were on the grounds of Layan's pack, she did not know those lands but someone must be nearby, like a sentry. Someone should detect her and thus warn that it was happening.
But the idea was fading when there was only snow everywhere and it began to fall from the sky again. Her sense of smell was impaired and it made it impossible for her to try to find where any source of life might be. She couldn't howl, she couldn't give Liam her location and everything would go to hell.
She moaned in frustration, she wanted the bag in her mouth to reach its destination quickly, but as things were turning it seemed that luck was not on her side. She advanced just over two kilometers when she saw a shadow in the distance and stopped on alert, although this required a large part of her energy. The figure seemed to detect her as well and ran towards her.
Nebraska took a few steps back so that the smell of that wolf reached her nostrils and she could relax. He wasn't an enemy, he was just Layan's beta. With difficulty she sat up and waited. She was swaying a little unsteady, now that relief was present.
Kei stopped and wagged her tail slightly. Nebraska wanted to smile but it seemed impossible, the toxins in her body were seeping deep inside and soon they would be in important organs, it seemed almost funny that she was poisoned when she was saving others from poisoning too, although in her case it was different. Liam's toxins were due to the change in his body. She had no idea what the hell was happening to her but what she was clear about was that within her there was no cure.
To stop its advance, she only did what was most recommended, she began to transform, that way it would lose at least a high percentage of effectiveness. The transformation was hell and made her lose all the strength she had left.
-Take this to Siran- she gasped, lifting the bag in her small trembling hand in front of the beta's nose -He will know what to do with this, tell him, also, that the person responsible for everything is Liam-
The wolf hesitated and also transformed, grabbing her shoulders before she collapsed.
-I can't leave you here-
Nebraska couldn't tell the true state of Hades as this was supposed to be secret in the pack but she had no choice if she wanted to put him on alert. She had no choice but to believe in him.
-The life of my alpha and my son is in danger- she raised her head looking into his eyes- It depends on this that they continue living, we cannot waste time. Please take this to them quickly-
Kei hesitated at her words.
-You will die if I leave you,- he frowned when he saw her condition, especially that immense wound on her back that threatened to worsen.
Nebraska smiled slightly.
-The life of my alpha is more important, many wolves depend on him- she staggered forward, everything around her was spinning - I know he will hate me for doing this, my children are already upset, but at least they will be safe, and that is what matters to me. Please take it to him- she pushed the bag against the wolf's chest again.
He swallowed and nodded reluctantly.
He knew Layan would kill him for this. Layan's residence was a bit far away, the other sentries are scattered and if the situation was so serious it would take a long time to take her and then go to the Hades pack. Yes, Layan would kill him for this for sure, but seeing the determination in the wolf's eyes he couldn't refuse.
-Wait here, they will come quickly to look for you-
He transformed into a wolf and let out a loud howl that echoed through the trees. Nebraska feared that Liam might hear it too, but she no longer cared. A few seconds later she found herself alone, naked and begging in the snow again. She lowered her head and looked at her daughter's bone and a tear fell down her cheek. She felt so helpless. She hated her omega nature, it usually made her physically weaker and that marked her.
She flexed her back a little and had to close her eyes. The skin tugged painfully. With shaking hands she carved a hole in the ground. At least she should bury that remnant of her daughter. Having betrayed the pack, by law, she could not perish on the pack grounds and he did not want to force Hades to go against everyone for a selfish request. She couldn't help a sob as she began to cover it with snow again. It felt like a piece of her was being buried there.
She had never been in good terms with Catalina, but she was still his daughter, the one she had carried for several months in her stomach. She felt the snow as she finished closing the makeshift grave, the tears frozen on her cheeks.
-Rest easy now,- she said and shortly after fell on the exhausted snow.
Her eyes were closing.
In a way she felt relief. She hadn't been able to carry out her revenge, but at least Rudoc was dead, her daughter had her rest and the medicine to save her husband and son was on the way. You couldn't always get everything in life, but at least she was happy with it.
She only regretted not being able to see her husband's face once more.