Multiple Steps Ahead
\[Denali’s POV\]
Pain shoots through me, threatening to make me collapse. With it is the coppery taste of blood in my mouth and an intense ringing in my ears, but even then, I still hold on.
I can’t collapse yet. I think, keeping my gaze fixed on the boy holding Serenity. I can’t give in, not yet.
“Drop her,” I repeat, letting more of my power explode from me. “NOW!”
For a moment, the boy hesitates, and I know that he is fighting my command with all that he has, but when he finally drops Serenity and turns on Ellie, I know that he isn’t able to do so.
“Mom!” Serenity gasps, scrambling up. “You can’t…”
She doesn’t finish her words as her eyes widen, and then her hands come up to her throat like she is trying to remove something.
“Cute trick.” Ellie giggles as Forrest collapses against the ground. “But, it won’t work here.”
“Mom,” Serenity whispers, her face turning red. “You’ve got to go.”
“Not without you,” I tell her. “Even if I die here, I will save you.”
“How cute,” Ellie laughs. “I almost feel bad that I’m going to have to bring an end to someone so self-sacrificing.”
“You can try.”
I knew that when she looked at me, she saw a she-wolf with little to no power, but that didn’t mean a damn thing. I wouldn’t give in so easily, and I would use whatever means necessary to protect my daughter.
Feeling my adrenaline begin to kick up, I peek toward Serenity and find that even though she is still fighting with whatever is holding her, she looks like she can breathe. I was certain that there was a reason for that, but what could it be?
Her blood.
The realization hits me, and I know right then and there that I don’t have to worry. This was all an act to get me to attack, not an attempt at Serenity’s life.
Forgive me. I think, knowing that for now I needed to focus on fighting Ellie. I promise I will save you.
Slowly, I look around, taking in the grounds around me, and then I spot a few wolves just in the distance.
You. I think, knowing what my next move was. You’re going to help me.
Keeping my expression neutral, I let out a howl, and when the eyes of the wolves come to rest on me, I take in a deep breath.
“HELP ME!” I yell, feeling my power explode from me. “KILL THIS WOMAN!”
Instantly, the wolves move, rushing toward us while I move toward Ellie. I knew that I needed to keep her distracted so that she couldn’t knock out my puppets like she did Forrest, but before I can even touch her, I feel my body slam into a wall.
Hissing in shock, I lift my gaze to hers and find that she is watching on in amusement, and when she begins to fade, I know that she has decided that I’m not even worth fighting.
“I’m bored,” she sighs, holding out a hand so Serenity’s body slams into her. “And I’ve gotten what I wanted anyway.”
“NO!” I scream, watching as they both fade away. “SERENITY! NO! DON’T YOU DARE!”
But it’s already too late. The invisible wall in front of me is disappearing, and I’m falling forward in the place that Ellie and Serenity once were.
“SERENITY!”
Pain shoots through me as I realize that I failed in protecting my own child, but I don’t have long to dwell on it before the door to the barracks opens and Elise stumbles out.
“What happened?” She gasps, her eyes looking around wildly. “Where is…”
“Gone,” I sob, slamming my fists against the ground. “Ellie took her.”
“Then we have to get her back.”
Elise’s exclamation is filled with determination, but I know in her state that she won’t be able to do anything.
“Rushing off would be a death sentence.” I whisper, though everything in me screams to go along with what she said. “We have to have a plan. We don’t even know where she was taken.”
“I might,” Elise counters. “I saw it, the place that they are hiding. I’m certain someone around here would recognize it, right?”
“Possibly.”
I was sure that Uncle Jose or one of his packmates would certainly recognize it if it was in their territory, but if it wasn’t, what then? We would be left waiting for Ellie to make her appearance again, and there was no guarantee that Serenity would be with her.
“Maverick,” I whisper.
If anyone was able to track down Serenity, it would certainly be him, right? Given their connection, I was sure that he could find her anywhere, but then what?
Even if we did find her, we didn’t know what danger was lying in wait. I was certain that Ellie wouldn’t leave herself vulnerable after going through such great lengths to get ahold of Serenity.
“Right,” I sigh, realizing that sitting here agonizing over this wouldn’t do us any good. “We should head back to the packhouse.”
“But…” Elise begins but stops as the sound of an explosion reaches us, followed by a shock wave that sends us both crashing backwards into the barracks.
Gasping, I feel pain shoot through me over the impact, but I don’t let it stop me from scrambling to my feet so I can look in the direction of the packhouse to find that it is up in flames.
“NO!” I scream, limping toward it while Elise follows. “What the hell is happening?”
“There was an attack within.” Elise responds, stopping me in my tracks. “That was why Serenity and I were out here. She was trying to get me somewhere safe.”
Nodding, I watch as wolves rush out of the burning building. So, they managed to get people within New Moon’s packhouse. It looked like they were quite a few steps ahead of us this whole time.
“Dammit,” I growl, continuing to move toward the building. “We have to help them.”
I don’t waste any time moving forward as the wolves continue to move out, but before I can reach them, a large black wolf with glowing golden eyes stops in front of me. I immediately recognize him, and though I feel relief over the fact he is safe and out of there, I still can’t stop my panic.
“Uncle Jose,” I manage as he starts to shift in front of me. “Where’s Maverick?”