Chapter 142
Marian found herself, and Dinka, on the ground, unable to move.
As Dinka’s eyes closed, Marian moved into Brock’s mind.
He had been bitten on the shoulder by the attacking wolf and had swiped at his attacker’s throat, cutting the Bloodrayne Guard deep.
Even distracted as Brock had been by the unexpected movements from Bloodrayne, he had been able to push Dinka out of the way of most of whatever had been thrown at her, while still dodging the direct attack.
Brock was taking her father’s blood after all, and after his injuries last time, just days ago, from her rabid wolf, he had taken a lot.
No one in the allied force was stronger than Brock.
The injured Bloodrayne wolf staggered back and fell to the ground. He shifted to human form, and his body curled into a near fetal position, spasming as the shifter drew his last breath.
Marian, through Brock’s eyes, stared.
Brock snarled at Tobias as his wolf bared its teeth, “What did you give your men?”
Brock had positioned himself in front of Dinka’s prone form.
“What did your Alpha give you?!” Tobias shot back as he lunged at Brock.
Tobias was in his human form.
His glorious human form.
Imposing, threatening, magnificent.
Brock’s wolf pushed the Alpha back, striking him in his large chest with his uninjured side, as he remained in place before the sleeping Dinka.
Tobias swung at Brock, ripping him on his side with extended claws.
Brock’s wound from the first attack was healing, but not as fast as it should.
Either by whatever magics the dead wolf had in its system or by whatever he had been hit with when pushing Dinka out of the way, something was slowing him down.
Now, the pack Alpha had done more damage.
The pain in his shoulder and the new one at his side were distracting him.
“What did you do?!” Brock snapped, his injured wolf swaying slightly as it shook its large head, trying to remain on its feet.
“Come close, let me whisper it in your ear,” Tobias growled mockingly through his wolf.
The pack Alpha had shifted again, so fast that anyone who blinked would have missed it.
Tobias’ wolf was a great black beast with a thick, dark brown line from its mouth to its underbelly.
Brock’s wolf, also large, thanks to the blood of Lightmoon’s former Alpha, but still smaller than Tobias’, snarled and lunged, moving the fight away from Marian.
Of all the wolves on Lightmoon’s side, only Dinka could match Tobias’ wolf in size.
Marian struggled to move.
Whatever had hit her had immobilized her wolf. She could not feel her sister, but she knew she was there since her wolf form was still holding, but she had lost consciousness – completely.
Marian was stuck. She was in two places at once.
This was not unusual for Marian. When she entered others’ minds, this was the same – her body, or in the present case, Dinka’s body, was like an anchor, a line ‘home’, while she simultaneously traveled outside herself.
Through Dinka’s body, she held her bearings, but could not hear or see as Dinka’s eyes had closed and her mind had shut down.
Through Brock, she could see, hear, taste, and everything else.
She was not in the link. The link was different.
This was her own gift.
She didn’t know the name or what to call it. But it was serving her well now.
If the link were a salad, her gift was a three-course meal with a live band playing any tune you requested as you ate your fill.
Marian kept watch on the fight.
Mute, immobile.
\==========
Moments later, the most beautiful sight Marian and many in the Bloodrayne pack hall who were NOT Bloodrayne wolves, had ever seen, appeared.
Two large wolves, clearly of Alpha level, one brown, one black, both with smooth, fully colored, shining fur, jumped over the five Bloodrayne wolves who were covering their Alpha’s back.
As they jumped, five more wolves joined behind them, forming a new line of shifters behind Alpha Tobias and his remaining Guards.
Bentax and Nikal each took a side, teeth bared, going for Tobias’ throat.
Marian’s heart soared, even as she felt herself slipping away.
She had been feeling weaker as the fight between Brock and Alpha Tobias continued. Every hit Brock received from the Bloodrayne Alpha shook Marian as well.
He is definitely using some kind of magic if his hits can reach me, a mere passenger in Brock’s mind.
Marian mused.
Now, as her father appeared, she tried to move to his mind, but found herself unable to leave Brock.
Should I go back to D.?
But what if I can’t move out later?
How can I protect the others?
She thought desperately.
Whatever had hit her had affected her strength.
Her ‘sight’ was getting foggy, and it was getting more difficult for her to concentrate on what she was seeing.
Am I dying?
If I die like this, will I be in Brock’s mind forever?
As soon as that thought formed, Marian moved back to Dinka.
A deep heaviness overcame her, and she saw black.
\==========
The sound of crackling fire and crows at a distance filled the air.
Marian jolted awake.
She was outside, in a wide, open space. It was still dark, but from the freshness, it was morning.
The scent of fire and blood filled her nose.
Marian sat up slowly.
A large, warm hand pressed on her shoulder, keeping her from rising.
Her eyes snapped to the offender, her brow furrowed, her lips twisted as she prepared choice words for whomever was touching her.
“Easy, Child,” Alpha Corien said gently, his green eyes soft as he gazed down at her.
“Dad! What happened?!” Marian exclaimed, forcing herself up as she grabbed her father by the upper arm for support.
Corien exhaled through his nose.
He reverse held her arm as he helped pull her up to a sitting position.
Alpha Corien was squatting beside his daughter.
“He got away. They had reinforcements,” Corien replied steadily, his eyes searching his daughter’s face.
“What?” Marian breathed, her face turning red as her mouth fell open.
“Don’t worry, it’s not over yet. We have his son,” Corien stated flatly, his eyes hardening.
Marian’s face relaxed as she narrowed her eyes, her lips pressing together.
Then, suddenly, her eyes widened. She grabbed her father’s arm again.
“Rey –”
“Easy, Marian. There are many eyes and ears here,” her father said in their mind space.
“The link! It wasn’t working properly before! Is it good now?” Marian replied in their link.
“Yes. Their Alpha was using a spell to stop communication,” Corien continued out loud in a calm tone.
“By himself?” Marian breathed.
“Yes,” Corien droned.
“While he was fighting us?” she asked, bewildered.
“Yes,” he replied flatly.
“Is he…that powerful?” Marian asked, shaking her head as she gazed off to the side.