Chapter 71

Chapter 71
Tristan pov

I hear the fighting miles before I can see the Enemy, but I can’t see Talia anywhere. Where is she? Is she alive? I want to shout for her, but I don’t want to distract her if she is fighting.

“Goddess.” I pray, “please keep her alive until I can reach her.”

Talia wasn’t in the pack house, she wasn’t asleep. That only means one thing, she is searching for her sister, and the last I heard, Zade had taken Aria into the woods to play.

I just hope Alpha winters hasn’t found either of them.

I spot the Alpha as we reach a small clearing between thick trees, and I see many wolves surrounding Talia and Silas, and from the strong smell of blood, they’re holding their ground.

But for how much longer? Two wolves on their own cannot face an army and win.

“Take down the enemy, protect your Luna.” I order my men, and they rush into action, heading straight for the fighting.

But I don’t go and fight, instead, I head straight for the enemy Alpha, Talia’s father.

“What do you think you are doing invading my land?” I ask him, my voice like ice.

He spins towards me, his eyes dark and menacing. “You are harbouring runaways; it is my job to bring them home.”

“They are home.” I say, my voice calmer than my racing heart. “And they’re going nowhere with you. You don’t deserve to be in the presence of either of them.”

He scoffs loudly, clicking his fingers to get the attention of other wolves, his men. “Take this man down.” He orders them.

No one moves, they all watch me with weary eyes, not sure what to do. But we all know that they must obey their alpha. A warrior must always obey their superior.

“Do You have your underlings do all the fighting for you?” I taunt, my voice thick with amusement. “I take it you aren’t much of a fighter, such a shame.”

Alpha winter’s face grows darker under the afternoon sun. “You wouldn’t last seven seconds against me, young wolf.”

“Are you certain about that? Because from where I’m stood, you seem afraid.” I say, smirking at him.

Before either of us can say another word, I hear a howl of pain, not from Silas, not from the enemy wolves, a feminine sound. It was Talia, she was hurt.

I turn away from the Alpha and rush straight into the middle of the fighting, shifting as I ran. I didn’t care that I was putting myself in a compromising position, all I cared about was getting to Talia before it was too late.

I hear her again, and panic consumed me completely, I need to get to her quickly. I spot Silas who is struggling to get by the men who surround him, but I don’t care. He can easily handle himself. It’s my mate I’m worried about. She needs help.

I jump into the middle of the fight, tearing out the throat of a completely oblivious wolf, and throwing his body into the crowd, causing some of them to move. It wasn’t much, but it gave me a chance to get through quickly, and that is exactly what I wanted.

Talia was laid on her back, blood covering her left leg, it was badly mangled, really badly mangled. She wouldn’t be able to get back up and fight, that was clear to see. But it was also obvious that the enemy didn’t want to kill her, they were ordered to take her alive. I don’t know which is worse.

I cannot let them take her, if they do, I may never see her again.

I run forward, shoving wolves out of my way and I jump at the last second, positioning myself over Talia’s limp form, protecting her with my own body.

I hear a laugh, and I freeze. It was Alpha winters, he had followed me into the fight.

“You challenge another Alpha and then you run away? Now who is the coward amongst us?” He taunts me, his eyes bright with cruelty.

I don’t react; I don’t move. I am not afraid of him, or his men.

“Hurry forward, take down as many as you can, the Luna is hurt.” I tell my men through mind-link, urging them to hurry.

I know that they are doing their best, but I need them to do better, so much better. I need them to get to me and Talia quickly. She needs help. Emergency help.

She’s going to bleed out.

Silas makes it into the clearing, naked and covered in blood, none of it his own.

“If you want to fight someone Alpha winters, you can fight me.” He says, smirking cruelly. “I’ve been wanting to test you on the battlefield for a while now, anyone who harms young children deserves the slowest of deaths.

I know Talia is watching everything, she’s woken up, but she doesn’t move, she doesn’t react to anything that is being said. She just watches, listens and waits. Smart woman.

“I don’t have to fight you; I have nothing to prove.” Alpha winters growls, looking around at his own men. “Kill them all, including my traitor of a daughter.”

Several men step forward, but Silas is ready for them, he lunges in his human form, snapping one wolves neck with his bare hands.

He’s a different kind of monster, I’m just glad he’s on our side. Goddess knows what I would do if I had to face him alone.

I can take down Alpha winters, I’m confident about that, but Silas? I’m not so sure I’d be able to hold my ground.

“Get him!” Winters roars, his voice shrill with clear panic.

He didn’t come here expecting to lose, he came here expecting to take back what was his, only, the girls aren’t his anymore. They’ve found a new family, one who will protect them.

I shift back into my human form, kneeling beside Talia and checking her pulse, it was there, faint but she was alive. she turns to look at me, her eyes soft but wide with fear.

“Don’t let him take me.” She whispered, “even if you have to kill me, just don’t let him take me back there.”

“I promise you won’t be taken.” I whisper back, taking her hand. “Just hold on for me, help is coming.”

Help wasn’t coming, but I wasn’t going to tell her that.

I need to keep her hope alive, but first, I need to stop the bleeding.

Then I need to kill her father, if Silas doesn’t beat me to it.