Chapter 28

Dad gives the all-clear, and we sneak out of the bushes toward the tunnel. He looks around us as we slip inside. The tunnel is just the way it was before, dark and silent. Dad and I are trotting at a comfortable pace, not wanting to get caught and not wanting to take too long. After about twenty minutes of darkness, I know the opening is near, if there is an opening. At this point, it’s more than likely.

The smell of the air in the cave shifts, and Dad stops to look at me. Smoke. I nod, letting him know I smell it also. We rush through the tunnel as fast as we can. We stop short at the edge of the cave to see paradise set ablaze. The trees are burning, all of them. Every single leaf, every tree, even the shrubs that nestled the trees are burning. My jaw quivers, and tears fill my eyes. I cover my mouth at the devastation. We’re too late. Oh, goddess. I look from left to right—it’s all destroyed, and there is no stopping it. Daddy pulls me to his side in an attempt to give me some comfort. The cracking and popping of the flames is deafening.

I look up to my dad’s face, but his eyes are locked in to something to our right. I squint through the smoke, trying to figure out what the future is. Dad growls, and I know. It’s Alpha Greg hiding behind some rocks.

Daddy steps forward “You fucking coward!” he calls out.

Alpha Greg sneers as he spots us. “The traitor returns. And his tramp daughter.” He laughs with no remorse for what he’s done.

Dad growls and rushes Alpha Greg, shifting in midair. Alpha Greg accepts the challenge and rushes forward, shifting as well. They clash with snarls as they both try to get the upper hand. My dad is large, but Alpha Greg is stronger. I chew on my lip as they tear into each other. Dad takes a bite out of Alpha Greg’s right haunch, but Alpha Greg spins on him, catching him off guard and catching the back of his neck in his teeth.

“Daddy!” I scream. Alpha Greg’s wolf looks at me with a grin, my dad still clenched in his jaws. He watches me as he releases Dad’s neck, then bats at him, swiping claws across his face. Dad goes in for another attack, but Alpha Greg sees it coming and knocks Dad onto his back. Dad recovers quickly, but not quick enough. Alpha Greg gets a grip on my dad’s throat. He turns them, so I have a clear view.

Alpha Greg is toying with not only my dad, but me as well. He releases Dad again. It’s bad enough he knows he has the advantage, now he has to humiliate him too? Alpha Greg bats at my Dad then rips chunks from his flesh. Dad can’t defend himself against Alpha Greg, and worse, he can’t win against him. I watch in horror as my dad becomes weaker with every passing second.

I’m helpless as I watch Alpha Greg continue to slash, claw, and bite at my dad, but my dad never stops fighting. He’s not a quitter. He never stops struggling. He never stops fighting. He even lands a few blows. I lift my chin, proud of my dad. Although I know it’s not much longer before I lose him to this maniac, I’m proud of my dad. Tears leak freely from my face as Alpha Greg forces my dad on his back. I brace myself as I know the killing blow is coming.

Our attention snaps toward the burning forest as a large gray and white wolf snarls and barrels toward my dad and Alpha Greg. Alpha Greg drops my dad to focus on the wolf as it rams into him. I rush to my dad. He’s too weak to move. “Daddy. Please don’t leave me. Please stay strong.” His wolf rests his head on my lap. I stroke his blood-soaked fur and watch as Ashton’s wolf lays in to Alpha Greg’s.

It’s Alpha Greg’s turn to be toyed with as Ashton tears small chunks of flesh from his now weakening wolf. Ashton swipes at his side, he claws his face, he snaps bones with his powerful jaws. Dad whimpers, and I look down at him. He’s watching the fight with just as much interest. “Daddy?”

Dad shifts on my lap. “Princess. He needs to answer to the packs. They need to know.”

I give Dad a nod and get to my feet as Ashton gets Alpha Greg on his back and goes for the throat. “Stop! Ashton.” His wolf looks at me, still holding Alpha Greg’s throat. I take a few steps forward then kneel so I’m looking straight into Ashton’s emerald eyes. “He needs to answer to the packs for what he’s done.”

Ashton shifts and gets a grip on Alpha Greg’s throat. “Shift now, or I break your fucking neck.” Alpha Greg shifts. Ashton huffs. “Too bad you’re a coward. I was looking forward to tearing your head off.” Alpha Greg glares at Ashton. “This is for Gypsy.” Ashton punches him in the side of the face. Alpha Greg falls back unconscious.

Ashton looks up at me. His eyes blaze as he studies my face. I reach my hand out to help him to his feet. Ashton takes my hand, and my heart does somersaults in my chest. He gets to his full height and pulls me to his chest. His arms wrap around me, and he kisses the top of my head. I inhale his wonderful scent then look up in his eyes. His hand caresses my cheek. His lips fall to mine, and I kiss him back with every ounce of love I have for him. He wipes away my fallen tears. “Don’t cry, princess.”

I sniffle. “I thought I’d never see you again. I thought I lost you forever.”

He shakes his head. “You’ll never lose me again.” I kiss him again.

“Princess,” my dad says. I step away from Ashton and help my dad slowly get to his feet. “We need to tie him up before he wakes. I nod and look over at Ashton. He gives me a nod and looks around to the cottage that is still burning. He finds a piece of torn cloth, probably from Alpha Greg’s clothes. He hog-ties him then drags him into our cave.

I help my dad into the cave and lay him out on an outcropping. Dad closes his eyes and rests. Ashton looks over my dad’s wounds. “He’s already healing. Gypsy, he should be fine in a few weeks.”

I let out a breath. “How are you? How did you get here?”

Ashton pulls me into his arms. “I’m better now. I’ve been locked in a cell this whole time. When the fires started my father had everyone evacuate. I heard you scream.”

I relax into his chest, and we watch as the fire begins to die down on this side of the river. “Ashton. Your home. It’s destroyed.”

His arms grip tighter around me. He doesn’t say anything, but I can feel the loss and defeat as we watch the rest of the woods burn.