Chapter 8: The Wolf Ambush
The evening atmosphere was heavy with tension, the pungent aroma of blood and adrenaline mingling in the breeze. My legs shook under me, and my breath came in uneven pants, but I wouldn’t allow myself to exhibit vulnerability. Not in his presence. Not in Jared's presence. As soon as the wolf with dark fur sprang at Jared, the clearing was thrown into turmoil. Howls and growls echoed through the air as wolves collided with bone-shattering intensity. The unknown figure moved like a phantom, his shimmering eyes gleaming with a lethal sparkle as he eliminated Jared’s men individually. The pace of his strikes was frightening—methodical, effective, merciless.
I ought to have taken advantage of the diversion to escape. However, I paused.
Jared's amber gaze fixed on me, fury igniting within. His wolf shape was streamlined and strong, the hue of glowing coals, and he approached me with gradual, intentional strides. Despite the stranger wreaking havoc among his warriors, Jared’s attention remained on me. He wasn't going to allow me to leave that easily.
"Do you believe this alters anything?" he growled, his voice hoarse with rage. "Do you believe a rogue can rescue you from me?"
I urged my body to move, taking a step back, attempting to create space between us. I was aware of Jared's strength. I realized I had no opportunity to win against him.
Yet then—a noise.
The crack of a twig behind me.
I hardly had a moment to respond before something crashed into my side, knocking me down onto the ground. Pain surged through my ribs as I turned, struggling to breathe. Another wolf.
No—two wolves.
Lila's followers.
Their growls were saturated with a thirst for blood, their teeth shining in the moonlight. One of them, a grey wolf bearing a scar across its snout, approached me with a menacing smile. My heart raced as I hurriedly moved back, my mind shouting at me to rise, to battle, but my body felt heavy from fatigue.
"She belongs to me," Jared snarled, baring his teeth at the grey wolf.
"Alpha issued commands," the wolf scoffed, its tone filled with venom. "She attempted to exit the group." "That’s a sentence to die."
Jared emitted a rage-filled growl but paused. His arrogance was his downfall. He didn’t want anyone else claiming what he thought was his.
I seized that moment to act.
Clenching my teeth in agony, I turned onto my stomach and sprang off the ground, racing into the woods before any of them could respond. Go, Claire. Simply flee.
The woods faded around me as I manoeuvred through the trees, my heartbeat a frantic rhythm in my ears. My breaths were uneven, my sides hurt, and my legs felt heavy, yet I continued anyway. I was unable to.
A howl pierced the night sky behind me.
I was being chased by them.
I compelled my legs to speed up, disregarding the searing ache in my muscles. I didn't have any plans or a goal—only the will to survive.
Yet then—a disturbance.
The injured wolf sprang from the shadows, charging at me with all its might. Pain erupted throughout my body. I struck the ground fiercely, a piercing scream escaping my lips as my shoulder crashed into a rough stone. My eyesight became hazy for a moment, yet I couldn't allow myself to lose concentration.
The wolf lunged at me in a flash, its teeth exposed, warm breath enveloping my face. It was going to take my life.
I responded based on instinct.
Using every bit of strength I had remaining, I contorted my body, driving my knee forcefully into the wolf’s belly. It emitted a loud yelp, the brief agony providing me the chance I required. I pushed it away from me and turned over, grabbing a fractured branch from the ground.
The wolf bounced back quickly, pouncing at me once more, but this time—I was prepared.
Letting out a fierce yell, I thrust the pointed tip of the branch directly into its throat.
A muffled growl erupted from the wolf’s jaws as it staggered backwards, blood pouring from the injury. It fell, its body convulsing before becoming motionless.
One completed.
However, I lacked the time to rejoice.
Another wolf lunged at me, sending me stumbling back before I had a chance to respond. Its teeth pierced my arm, tearing through skin and flesh. I yelled, agony spreading like flames throughout my body. Blistering, intolerable.
I attempted to force its jaws apart, but it was too powerful. This was the moment.
Next—a flash of dark fur.
The burden of the wolf was abruptly pulled from me, a distressed cry echoing in the dark. The unknown person.
His silver eyes shone like liquid metal as he tore the second wolf to shreds.
Jared’s blazing shout resonated across the clearing. I shifted my gaze, my sight becoming hazy, and noticed him positioned at the tree line, his body shaking with barely contained fury. He realized he had lost too many fighters to continue battling.
"This isn't finished," he snarled.
In an instant, he spun around and disappeared into the forest.
The unknown person paused briefly, his chest heaving up and down with deep breaths. Then, gradually, he pivoted to look at me.
My vision was growing darker. The pain in my arm was unbearable, blood soaking through my torn clothes. My body swayed, exhaustion finally winning the battle against my will to stand.
The last thing I saw before the world went black—
Was him.
His silver eyes.
His unreadable expression.
And then—darkness.