Chapter 0173
+25 BONUS
My eyes followed the girl as she walked bare feet past the hackberry trees, then into the street. I didn’t know when I turned around and started to follow her.
I should wake her up. But how? I was in my wolf form. Shifting meant I would be stark naked.
What would she think of that once she came awake?
Like last night, she was headed straight for the woods. I knew this because we had now emerged at Sara’s former street.
Only now did it occur to me that Nick might be right. This illness of hers was definitely
related to the moon and her wolf side.
I glanced up at the sky as if calling on the Fate to intervene. The moon was still ninety–nine percent full and would begin to wane two nights from now.
The girl crossed the street and continued towards the aspen tree, which marked the entrance to the forest. As I made to cross too, my senses picked up something distinct.
Another werewolf.
I could tell that he was merely passing by because he hadn’t noticed us yet.
Our kinds were not scarce in Orphic Valley, though the werewolves here were mostly omegas and half–bloods. Even if these ones came out to play, they preferred not to go too far inside the forest. It was the smart thing if they wished to avoid other troublesome high–rank wolves.
I suspected that our passerby had to be one of the two. That meant he wouldn’t try to bother the girl. I walked quietly behind her past the first few trees.
It took another few moments for the passerby to sense our presence. He stopped and peered at the female. I spared him a single glance and caught a deep frown that made his fangs visible. He was half–blood alright.
Why wasn’t he trying to avoid running into me? Maybe he doesn’t yet sense my rank.
Wait a second. I know this wolf.
Rowan?
He recognized me and the girl at the same time as I did.
Baring his teeth, he rushed towards her, ready for a fight.
It was clear that he’d only just shifted. His glittering amber eyes scanned the trees and shrub.
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Chapter 0173
I thought he was searching for a weapon, but he rushed back and reached for a piece of fabric lying near a tree. Then he returned to his human form and swiftly pulled the shorts up his thighs.
“You stay the f*ck away from her.” He pointed a warning finger at me. Then, gripping her shoulders, he shook gently.
“Jane! Janet! Damn it,” he groaned.
“You forgot to lock the doors. Where the hell is your mom?”
He lifted her, bridal style, into his arms. The very picture caused a wave of unfamiliar heat to rise in my chest. Without meaning to, I bared my teeth and advanced.
He swiftly set the girl down on the cold, wet floor, and assumed a fighting stance.
My annoyance rose further as she shivered slightly from the cold.
How could he lay her down right there? On a wet floor in this cold night? I imagined feeding him the sand and grass on which he laid her.
He was still in the middle of shifting when I pounced, striking him on his chin with my paw and claws. He staggered backwards. Then righted himself and rushed forward to retaliate.
Blocking the blows he threw at my face, I tackled him to the ground. The girl moved where she laid. The cold was really starting to get to her now.
Growling in rage, I drove my claws into the sergeant’s rib. But it didn’t get as deep as I wanted. He stabbed at that hand with surprisingly thick claws, disrupting my attack.
The girl mumbled something in her sleep. I got distracted and the sergeant got free from below me.
His healing had barely kicked in when he came at me again. I caught and pinned him against a tree as he barked, snarled, growled, trying to get a hold of my flesh with his teeth.
The sound of hoovebeats stomping towards us distracted me again. I sent my senses ahead to identify the new arrivals.
They were two males. Not from around here and not one of us. The half–blood didn’t immediately sensed the strangers.
When I released him, he attempted another attack. I struck him in the jaw.
‘Stay down,‘ I warned through the open link. No doubt, the strangers heard me too.
‘Nick and Elise are the reason you get to keep breathing, you hear me!‘
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Chapter 0173
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As I spoke, he seemed to pick up their presence and stopped snarling.
At the same time, the two of us rushed to the half–blood she–wolf still sound asleep. The girl was visibly shivering now. When we reached where she laid, I pushed the sergeant away from her. He shifted into his human form, glaring at me as he warned through gritted teeth,
“Don’t you dare! If you touch her!”
As he spoke, he kept looking around for anything to cover himself with. He seemed truly worried about her.
Only then did it occured to me that he was in fact “protecting” her from me and other werewolves. Not because he considered her to be his female, but because of his sense of duty as a policeman.
My brain had barely worked out this sensible thought when the two strangers appeared.
They were not rogues, but I already knew that. In fact, one of them carried a faint alpha scent. He was as large as me and had smooth dark grey furs. Like Richards.
If they were Night Stormers, there was no doubt that he was Lazarus‘ direct blooded relative. Which meant he couldn’t leave here tonight. At least, not alive.
One of us will die here.
I braced myself for the fight. Rowan shifted again, ready to attack. Not me this time, but the strangers.
I guess the devil you know is a lesser enemy, I thought.
‘Get her home,‘ I barked the order at the sergeant.
Instead of moving, he seemed confused.
‘Did you hear me? I said get her out if here!‘
As I spoke, the one with the alpha scent shifted. His stance was that of someone who hadn’t come to fight as he said,
“He’s right. You need to get her out of here. She’s about to catch a bad cold.”
The stranger’s eyes narrowed at the sleeping female.
‘Who the fuck are you?‘ I demanded.
“I am Jet of the Golden Crescent,” he replied. “I come in peace. Forest Moon’s senior Luna Reign sent us. This is Clove. You must be the beta. Jacob Carlisle, is it?”
