\[William’s POV\]
I wince as Rosco’s words slam into me.
Don’t let me down.
Why was it that no matter where I was or who I was with, I always held to a higher standard? Even back in Crystal Fang, my father and even Uncle Hamilton would tell me the exact same thing. Since I was young, that was all I ever heard until the day that was exactly what I did.
I understood that I was of alpha blood, but Rosco was older than me, and as such, he was the one who was ultimately meant to be the next alpha. And no matter how hard I tried to keep up with him, they always compared me.
“I won’t.” I hiss. “I swore to help protect your pack, and I intend to do that.”
“Look alive, everyone!” Elise calls, drawing everyone’s attention. “The nue is making its move!”
As she speaks, the cloud begins to twist and contort until it takes shape into a terrifying creature with the face of a monkey and the body of a lion. Its tail, which remains raised in the air behind it, is a serpent with venom dripping from its fangs.
“Fuck,” one of the guards beside me growls. “What the fuck is it?”
“Didn’t I already say?” Elise huffs, shooting him a look. “Are you deaf, or do you just not listen? What we have here is a nue.”
Letting a slow smile spread across her face, she climbs onto the roof's ledge and stares down. Her strong desire to fight is almost visible as it radiates around her, but before she can leap forward to satiate it, I reach out and grab her.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I demand as she looks at me in confusion. “Do you have a death wish?”
“A death wish?” She repeats, eyeing me like I’m stupid. “Do you really think jumping about four stories will kill me? We managed to survive three; another is nothing.”
Opening my mouth, I prepare to argue with her, but stop as a howl erupts from Rosco, who still stands beside me.
“PREPARE THE CANNONS!” He orders, raising a hand. “THE BEAST IS ON THE GROUND!”
As he speaks, the guards manning the cannons begin to move, lighting torches and waiting for Rosco to give the order.
When he lowers his hand, they light the cannons and then block their ears before deafening roars erupt around us. And as they erupt, the roof shakes, sending both me and Elise crashing to the ground.
“You should have braced yourself, idiot.” Elise grumbles, attempting to break free of my hold. “Don’t you know that cannons release a lot of force?”
As she speaks, she gets to her fruit and frushes toward the roof's ledge once more. When she jumps onto it. Getting up, I go to join her and take in the wall of fire that lines the grounds. The nue is nowhere to be found, and I can’t help but hope that the cannons managed to do the job. However, before we can claim victory, another piercing shriek fills the air, and the beast appears.
“Since your plan to shred it to pieces didn’t work.” Elise announces, looking to where Rosco stands with a look of disbelief on his face. “The only thing that we can use now is brute force.”
Letting out a howl of excitement, she leaps forward, and as I watch on, she shifts into her wolf right before she hits the ground. She doesn’t stop for even a second, moving straight for the nue like a force to be reckoned with.
“DON’T JUST SIT AND WATCH!” I roar at those who surround me, watching Elise rush into battle. “WE NEED TO GO DOWN AND HELP HER!”
“Those manning the cannons stay.” Rosco counters, causing a wave of disbelief to rush through me. “Those who aren’t, get down to the ground NOW!”
Nodding, I leap while I feel Rue pulling at me so he can take the lead, and when I let him, I shift before my paws are hitting the ground and I’m rushing forward.
From above, I can hear howls from the others coming to join me, but my only focus is getting to Elise.
When I reach, I find that she is squaring off with the nue as both look for an opening to attack. When Elise moves forward, the creature's snake-like tail attacks, but before it can reach, Elise is jumping and grabbing its neck between her teeth. Landing on the nue’s back, she gives a tug until she is dislodging the tail entirely. Throwing it aside, she turns and prepares to attack, only to be bucked off and left crashing into the round.
Elise! I hiss inwardly, knowing damn well she can’t hear me. You better be safe!
Fixing my gaze on the nue, I begin to move, but before I can reach it, the creature begins to glow.
‘What the hell is that?’ Rue growls as I attempt to attack, only to be avoided. ‘Is it planning on blinding us?’
‘I don’t know.’ I admit getting a bad feeling. ‘Whatever it is, we need to stop it before it succeeds.’
Moving forward again, I make to move, but stop as Elise appears again, leaping onto the nue and digging her claws into its skin. A wail of anger escapes the creature as it begins to thrash, but she holds on tightly.
Deciding this was the opening I needed, I prepare to move but stop as Rosco and his men rush past me. They move in to attack, taking the creature from all sides as it glows brighter and brighter.
When it becomes almost impossible to continue to watch it, Elise shifts back to her human form.
“GET BACK!” She screams as the nue’s body begins to shake. “IT’S GOING TO EXPLODE!”
At her words, those still attacking the beast begin to retreat, but it’s too late for some, as the nue’s body does just as Elise said it would. It’s almost as if the creature consumed a bomb that sent waves of force and debris crashing into us, sending us crashing backwards.
“DON’T BREATH IN THE SMOKE!” Elise continues over the noise that is taking place. “HOLD YOUR BREATH AND GET THE HELL AWAY!”
As she speaks, she rushes forward, grabbing whoever is closest and tugging them along with her as her cheeks puff out in a desperate attempt to not breathe. Realizing that she wouldn’t be able to get away fast enough due to the weight of those she was attempting to save, I rush forward and grab one by the nape with my teeth.
Together, we begin to move, making as much distance between us and the nue as possible until finally we are far enough away to avoid breathing in the smoke that it left behind.
Gasping, I collapse against the ground while I watch the smoke from the nue slowly rise into the air and drift away with the breeze.
“Fuck,” Elise huffs, taking a seat beside me. “What the hell were those bastards planning?”
Letting out a sigh, she presses her body against mine so I can feel for the first time just how cold she is. Shifting myself, I twist my body around her until she is protected from the eyes of other men and safe from the autumn breeze.
“Thanks.” She murmurs, snuggling into me. “But your annoying cousin should be coming to find us soon. After all, I’ve got some explaining to do.”