Chapter 61 Sixty-One
Danica didn't bother to look behind her to see if Monica or Rebecca were chasing; from the sounds of feet hitting the ground, it was clear they were and that they were catching up on her quickly.
Making a sudden turn, Danica began to weave in and out of the trees, trying to throw the two women off. She couldn't allow herself to be caught, because if she was, chances were she would be killed, and then Mason would never know of the double agent that was roaming within his pack.
With this thought, Danica increased her speed, making a detour deeper into the woods on one side before curving back around and bolting to the other, hoping that Monica or Rebecca hadn't seen the move she made.
Panting, she stopped and attempted to mindlink with Mason, praying that she wasn't too far. When she felt a slight tug at her consciousness and then Mason's warmth, she knew that she had succeeded.
'Baby, I'm so sorry." Mason began hurriedly, only for Danica to cut him off.
'I need help.' She yelped as she began to run once more.
'What's wrong?' Mason asked, immediately on alert.
'Being chased.' Danica panted as she began to see the training grounds just beyond the treeline.
'BY WHO?' Mason's voice grew deep, and the power that came with it was impressive.
'Mon...' Danica began only to stop as a sharp pain ripped through her right hind leg.
Looking back, she found a large gray wolf biting down and pulling her, causing her to stop running.
'HURRY!' Danica hissed before breaking the mindlink and turning on Monica.
Growling, Danica lunged forward, snapping at Monica's nape as she continued to hang onto Danica's leg.
Blood was freely flowing from it and staining the rain-soaked ground below, allowing it to flow freely along the grass where Monica's teeth had pierced the skin.
'Release me.' Danica snarled, mind-linking with Monica. 'Mason is already alerted and on his way.'
'Good for him.' Monica mocked her, giggling. 'Too bad you won't be alive when he arrives.'
Letting go of Danica's back leg, Monica jumped on her paws, her nails extended, ready to rip into Danica's back. Dodging Danica, she slid against the ground, quickly righting herself in time to dodge another attack by Monica.
One thing Danica would give the she-wolf was that she was quick and efficient. In her wolf state, Danica was struggling since she was trained in human form. She could only continue to move out of the way of each and every one of Monica's attacks and right herself before the next came.
As she began to run out of energy, Danica could only hope that Mason would find out where she was soon and come to her rescue.
'What a pathetic Luna you are.' Monica cackled as she managed to catch Danica off guard.
Letting out an agonized howl, Danica couldn't stop Monica as she sunk her teeth into her nape, latching down as hard as she could.
'Gotcha.' Monica proudly gloated as she gave a yank, ripping Danica's skin.
Stepping back, Monica tossed the skin she had removed aside and watched as blood began to flow down Danica's fur and onto the ground around her.
A satisfied look played in the she-wolf's eyes as Danica staggered backwards, already beginning to feel dizzy from the sudden blood loss. Monica had made sure to deal enough damage that Danica couldn't heal fast enough and instead would freely begin to bleed out.
'As fun as this has been, it is about time I finish you.' Monica cooed as her lips curled into a smile as she lunged towards Danica.
Trying to keep herself upright, Danica prepared for Monica's final blow. Just as a blur of gold passed, catching Monica mid-lunge and pinning her to the ground, a russet wolf and a tan wolf followed closely behind, ready to help.
Grabbing hold of Monica by her nape, the golden wolf heaved, throwing her aside as the other two wolves easily overpowered her, pinning her to the ground as she snarled and snapped.
Losing interest in Monica, the golden wolf turned to face Danica as her vision began to grow blurry from the blood loss.
Letting out a relieved sigh, Danica collapsed to the ground just as Mason ran up to her in a panic as she fought to remain alert.
'Baby, hold on.' Mason's voice echoed in her mind as black spots began to dance in front of her eyes. 'Please don't do this to me; keep your eyes open.'
'Mason....' Danica said weakly, trying to calm him. 'It's okay.... this isn't....'
More dizziness overtook her as she felt herself beginning to shift back into her human form. Completely exhausted from her injuries, she wasn't able to remain as a wolf. With each snap and contortion, Danica could feel the pain from her injuries intensifying until shivers of agony began to wrack her body.
Eyes wide Mason began to shift from wolf to human as well. It was only after he was finished that he quickly picked Danica up, pressing a hand against the openly bleeding wound on her neck, and began to run back towards the pack grounds.
"Hang in there." Mason pleaded as he kicked open the door to the old hospital, which had once again become a military hospital for the time being. "Dr. Williams will fix you right up, I swear."
"Thank you, Mason," Danica murmured as she continued to fight to stay conscious.
"For what?" Mason asked, ignoring the wide-eyed looks he and Danica were receiving from nurses and doctors due to their completely naked forms.
"For showing up in time." Danica responded, trying to force a smile. "If you didn't, I'd probably be dead."
"Don't talk like that." Mason snapped as he rounded a corner, spotting Dr. Williams. "Doctor, help her!" He bellowed, rushing past the man and grabbing his arm before dragging him into a vacant room.
"What happened here?" Dr. Williams asked as he took in Danica's bloodied and bruised form.
"She was attacked by a traitor." Mason growled.
"Why isn't she healing?" Dr. Williams demanded as he grabbed some guaze and pressed it against the wound on Danica's neck that was still hanging open and not healing. "Shouldn't she be able to heal quickly?"
"I DON'T KNOW!" Mason yelled in frustration. "ISN'T IT YOUR JOB AS A DOCTOR TO FIX PATIENTS?"
"Alpha, I will do my best, but she has lost an extensive amount of blood." Dr. Williams snapped back as he applied more pressure to Danica's wound. "I need to staunch the bleeding from this wound and suture her, but using any type of anithesia wouldn't be the best of choices right now."
"What do you mean?" Mason demanded, coming up beside Dr. Williams and fixing his gaze on Danica. "Why is she so pale?"
"I just told you she has lost too much blood." Dr. Williams huffed as his aggravation became known.
"Why wouldn't you be able to use anithesia?" Mason asked as he glared at the doctor.
"She is too weak for it." Dr. Williams tried to calmly explain.
"But then you'll hurt her!" Mason continued to argue.
"Do it without." Danica whispered, drawing both men's attention to her. "Do what you have to; don't worry about my comfort."
"Baby, you can't be serious!" Mason said, his eyes widening in horror.
Danica managed a small smile. "I'll be okay, Mason; this is a matter of life and death, right?"
Mason looked as if he wanted to argue but thought better of it; instead, he turned his gaze to Dr. Williams once more.
"Get it done, doctor." He conceded before going around and grabbing Danica's hand for emotional support.
"Are you sure?" Dr. Williams asked Danica.
"Do it." Danica responded, closing her eyes and preparing to endure being stitched up while being able to feel entirely.