CHAPTER EIGHTY EIGHT - ROSALIE

CHAPTER EIGHTY EIGHT - ROSALIE
I follow her out, my head down just as she instructed, but my eyes are still darting around because I’m half expecting someone to come at me. To tell me this was all some sick game.

But no one does. 

We make it the whole way along the passageway and out, without coming across anyone.

As the cool air hits my face, I let out a tiny gasp of relief. All the air around me has been so stagnant that this feels like heaven in comparison.

“Come on.” Marissa says taking my hand. “We have to walk miles from here still.”

“Is that right?” Someone snarls.

I turn just as Marissa does. There’s a dozen Wolves here. All behind us. All more than aware of who we are.

“Stand down.” Marissa says, drawing herself up to full height. 

Most of them growl at that, but she doesn’t back down.

“I am your Luna. You will obey me.” She states.

“No, they won’t.” Knox says, stepping out from between them and my body feels like it’s been doused in ice. 

He glances at me, his eyes narrowing, before his attention turns back to his mate.

“Get back inside.” He snarls at her. 

“No.” Marissa says back.

I’m staring between them, unsure what to do because if this turns into a fight there’s no way Marissa can beat him.

Knox tilts his head, and somehow, instinctively, I already know what he’s going to do. I scream, running at Marissa, my body colliding with hers as I push her out of the way.

Knox pulls the trigger but it’s too late to hit us and we fall into a heap as the sound echoes around the space.

The other Wolves snarl, closing in on us. It feels like it’s over. That this whole escape attempt is done before we even got close to it.

But then a lower snarl echoes. It’s not anywhere near us, but I know that sound.

I turn looking around and my eyes fall on the pure black Wolf stalking towards us with so many Wolves behind him. 

“Aeron.” I cry.

He looks at me for a moment and it feels like everything is reflected in those eyes. And then he’s running, pouncing, attacking the Wolves of the Crimson Shadow Pack that are already moving to defend their pitiful excuse for an Alpha.

Marissa looks up, staring at Knox.

“You wanted to kill me?” She says getting to her feet. “To kill your mate?”

Knox spits. “Now I have the Sullivan girl, I have no need for you.”

“Is that right?” She says and within seconds she’s transforming, turning into a pale grey Wolf, and attacking Knox head on. 

He falls back, his gun going off again but again, he misses. And then he’s transforming too. Into a red tinged Wolf that’s so much bigger than Marissa’s. As they start ripping at each other something grabs me, hauling me up by my neck and I cry out, trying to get free. 

It’s a Wolf. It’s holding me by my clothes. Carrying me out of the way and I calm as soon as I realise what direction I’m being taken in. I’m put carefully onto down and I turn, staring up into what I know are Dylan’s Wolf’s eyes.

I hug him so tightly. “Dylan.” I whisper and I swear I hear him growl back.

The Wolves around us are still fighting but he’s brought me far enough away to be safe. I turn watching as more Wolves pour out of the Packhouse but they seem reluctant. As if they want to see how this plays out before they commit themselves.

Aeron is attacking one Wolf and then another. He’s relentless. He’s ferocious. If he wasn’t my Mate, he’d be terrifying in this moment, but I feel a swell of pride that he is mine. That I belong to him.

I hear a yelp. My head turns and I see Marissa going down. Knox’s Wolf is over the top of hers. It looks like he’s about to kill her. I rush forward but Dylan’s Wolf growls, yanking me back. 

In flash Marissa’s Wolf lunges forward and a gurgled cry comes out. Knox slumps. His mass of body falls on top of hers and she pushes him off, rolling out from under him and revealing the huge wound at his throat. In an instant she’s back to human form. But Knox remains as he is. Still a Wolf. She lets out a wail. It makes my hair stand on end. It makes my eyes stream with tears. I don’t understand what is happening, but I can’t take my eyes off of her. She’s heaving, crying, screaming over his body.

“It’s a terrible thing to lose your mate.” Aeron says softly. “And for her to be the one to have done it.”

I nod ,wiping my face before I register it. That he’s here. Beside me.

“Aeron.” I gasp, throwing myself into his arms and he holds me so tightly. “Is it over? Please tell me it’s over.”

“It’s over, Rosalie.” He says.

I don’t move. I stay where I am, safe for a few moments as the world around us seems to adjust.

No one seems to be fighting anymore. I think the death of Knox has stopped it. 

Aeron puts me down and starts checking me over, his fingers registering the bruises, no doubt registering every injury I have. His nose wrinkles and I know he can smell it, Knox’s stench on skin. 

“I’m okay.” I whisper and he gives me a look like he doesn’t quite believe it. “Aeron.” I say. “I’m pregnant.”

He frowns and for a second I think we both know what he’s thinking. What he fears. “It’s yours. They’re yours.”

He shakes his head, muttering under his breath and holds me to him tighter. “Rosalie.” He says in such a way my tears start again. “We need to tell Cain.”

“Where is he?” I ask.

“He’s in the Infirmary. He was just waking up when we left.”

“Waking up?” I repeat.

“He was badly hurt. His Wolf has been healing him.”

“But he’s okay? He’s going to be okay?” I check.

He smiles cupping me face. “Yes. He’s going to be fine.”

“Can we go? Can we leave this place?” I ask.

Aeron looks around, his eyes finding Alpha Juan’s, who inclines his head for a moment. 

“Yes.” Aeron says back to me. “Let’s go.” He scoops me up and I don’t look back as he carries me to where Carli is waiting to transport us back.