I backed off, but not far. My instincts still compelled me to submit to my father’s will, but my blood was singing, screaming that I should attack.
Ren was still behind my father, also keeping his distance as the two wolves circled each other, watching for any opening, waiting for any sign of weakness. Ren paced back and forth, as agitated as I was. I could only guess that my father had ordered him out of the fight as well.
Emile lunged, but my father dodged the attack. He wheeled around and struck Emile’s flank, tearing out another chunk of flesh. Emile howled in pain as blood spurted from his body. My father struck again, but this time Emile was ready for him, kicking his back legs high. He caught my father in the face. The blow sent my father crashing back. He landed with a loud crack half onto a table, his body folding around the wood. The table’s edge splintered with the force of the impact.
Dad! I screamed a warning.
My father shook his head in an attempt to clear his jarred senses as he scrambled to his feet. While he wasn’t out of the fight, the blow had dazed him.
Emile didn’t hesitate. He thundered toward my father, never slowing as he hit the other alpha. He used my father’s body to break through the already-stressed wood. The table split in two when Emile drove my father into the wall on the other side of the library.
They slammed into the bookshelves and were thrown apart. Emile landed on his feet, muscles quivering in anticipation of the next attack. My father was lying on the ground, his head hanging low.
That’s when I saw it: a sharp piece of wood had pierced deep into his back. The blunt end of the wooden spear protruded from his fur. He struggled to his feet, twisting his neck to grip the impaled wood in his jaws. But in doing so he exposed his throat to Emile.
Without hesitation the Bane alpha lunged at my father.
I was already running, hoping to block his attack, no longer caring whose fight this was supposed to be. Emile Laroche would not kill my father. I couldn’t watch that happen and do nothing.
But Ren was closer still. I was a few feet short of my father when Ren hit Emile in a flying leap, sending both of them tumbling away from me and my father. They scrambled to their feet, turning and lunging again. Within moments they were wrestling on the ground, tearing at each other without mercy.
Beside me, my father snarled. He’d pulled the huge splinter from his chest. Blood gushed from the wound and he faltered.
Take my blood. I turned my shoulder to his muzzle. Hurry!
He bit into my flesh as I wrenched my neck to see what was happening behind us.
Emile’s attention remained focused on Ren. The elder Bane’s muzzle was bloodied, but I didn’t know if it was only my father’s blood or if Emile had wounded Ren as well.
That’s enough, Calla. My father pushed me away gently. Thank you.
He turned his attention to Ren and I heard his command. Renier, do not attack Emile.
Ren didn’t move, didn’t even glance in my father’s direction. He was shouting, his mind open to us.
My whole life was a lie. Ren’s muscles were shaking with rage. My mother died because of you. I swear I will kill you.
Emile’s laugh sounded in my mind. Is that any way to speak to your dear old dad, boy? His thought finished with a menacing snarl.
You are not my father. Ren growled. My father died when you broke his neck.
One of the best days of my life. Emile crouched low. Just like today will be when I finish this.
Ren howled and lunged at Emile.
Renier, no! My father threw himself toward the other two wolves as Ren attacked. Stop!
I saw Ren’s mistake even as he made it. In his anger he’d jumped too high, giving Emile time to change position beneath him. Emile leapt, angling his body to meet Ren in the air.
Emile’s shout rang in my mind. I should have done this the day you were born. His jaws closed around Ren’s neck.
Ren! I screamed his name as they fell to the ground, their bodies locked together.
Emile gave a sudden jerk of his head. I thought I was splitting in two when a horrible crack stopped Ren’s steady growl.
When they hit the ground, my father slammed into Emile, shoving him away from Ren, who lay horribly still on the library floor. I howled, skidding to a stop beside him. Dropping my muzzle, I pressed my nose against him.
A squeal across the room tore my gaze off Ren.
Emile was on his back, pinned under my father. The Bane alpha writhed beneath my father’s weight, kicking and struggling. My father ignored Emile’s desperate attempts to free himself. His jaws were around Emile’s neck and they were slowly closing. Emile cried out, a half howl, half shriek that became a gurgle as my father crushed his throat.
Emile stopped struggling. My father lifted Emile’s limp body in his jaws and with one swing of his head tossed the Bane’s carcass aside.
My father came toward us, shifting forms as he walked.
Ren. Ren. I nipped his muzzle gently. Please get up. You have to get up.
I breathed into his charcoal gray fur. His scent was the same as always, sandalwood and fire wrapped in leather.
Ren. I whined, pawing at him. Answer me. I can heal you, but you need to wake up so I can give you blood.
Someone dropped to the ground next to me. Adne was on her knees, staring at me with wide, brimming eyes. Bryn was beside her, whining softly.
“Why?” Adne said. “Why did you have to leave too?” She began to reach for him, but I snarled, knocking her back. I didn’t want anyone else near him. They couldn’t help him. She stared at me, limbs trembling as the color drained from her face.
“Hey!” Connor was still standing over Logan, but he pointed the tip of his sword at me. “Back off, wolfie.”
Shay glanced from Connor to me. “Stay here.” He returned the Elemental Cross to its sheaths and then shifted forms.
Calla. He approached slowly, keeping his head low.
I bristled, a steady menacing growl rising from my throat. Stay away.
Let me help you. His voice was soothing and he dropped to his belly, still inching toward me. I only want to help.
I snarled again, showing him my fangs when he reached me. He lifted his muzzle and gently licked mine. It was soothing; his scent—fresh and hopeful, like rain that rinsed away the sludge of fear muddying my senses—reassured me. I stopped growling. He stood up, resting his muzzle against mine.
We can help him. But not like this.
He shifted to human form and I understood. Ren was a wolf; he couldn’t drink when he was unconscious. We’d need to bring him back, just like Gabriel had helped Nev breathe again. I shifted forms.
Ren was still behind my father, also keeping his distance as the two wolves circled each other, watching for any opening, waiting for any sign of weakness. Ren paced back and forth, as agitated as I was. I could only guess that my father had ordered him out of the fight as well.
Emile lunged, but my father dodged the attack. He wheeled around and struck Emile’s flank, tearing out another chunk of flesh. Emile howled in pain as blood spurted from his body. My father struck again, but this time Emile was ready for him, kicking his back legs high. He caught my father in the face. The blow sent my father crashing back. He landed with a loud crack half onto a table, his body folding around the wood. The table’s edge splintered with the force of the impact.
Dad! I screamed a warning.
My father shook his head in an attempt to clear his jarred senses as he scrambled to his feet. While he wasn’t out of the fight, the blow had dazed him.
Emile didn’t hesitate. He thundered toward my father, never slowing as he hit the other alpha. He used my father’s body to break through the already-stressed wood. The table split in two when Emile drove my father into the wall on the other side of the library.
They slammed into the bookshelves and were thrown apart. Emile landed on his feet, muscles quivering in anticipation of the next attack. My father was lying on the ground, his head hanging low.
That’s when I saw it: a sharp piece of wood had pierced deep into his back. The blunt end of the wooden spear protruded from his fur. He struggled to his feet, twisting his neck to grip the impaled wood in his jaws. But in doing so he exposed his throat to Emile.
Without hesitation the Bane alpha lunged at my father.
I was already running, hoping to block his attack, no longer caring whose fight this was supposed to be. Emile Laroche would not kill my father. I couldn’t watch that happen and do nothing.
But Ren was closer still. I was a few feet short of my father when Ren hit Emile in a flying leap, sending both of them tumbling away from me and my father. They scrambled to their feet, turning and lunging again. Within moments they were wrestling on the ground, tearing at each other without mercy.
Beside me, my father snarled. He’d pulled the huge splinter from his chest. Blood gushed from the wound and he faltered.
Take my blood. I turned my shoulder to his muzzle. Hurry!
He bit into my flesh as I wrenched my neck to see what was happening behind us.
Emile’s attention remained focused on Ren. The elder Bane’s muzzle was bloodied, but I didn’t know if it was only my father’s blood or if Emile had wounded Ren as well.
That’s enough, Calla. My father pushed me away gently. Thank you.
He turned his attention to Ren and I heard his command. Renier, do not attack Emile.
Ren didn’t move, didn’t even glance in my father’s direction. He was shouting, his mind open to us.
My whole life was a lie. Ren’s muscles were shaking with rage. My mother died because of you. I swear I will kill you.
Emile’s laugh sounded in my mind. Is that any way to speak to your dear old dad, boy? His thought finished with a menacing snarl.
You are not my father. Ren growled. My father died when you broke his neck.
One of the best days of my life. Emile crouched low. Just like today will be when I finish this.
Ren howled and lunged at Emile.
Renier, no! My father threw himself toward the other two wolves as Ren attacked. Stop!
I saw Ren’s mistake even as he made it. In his anger he’d jumped too high, giving Emile time to change position beneath him. Emile leapt, angling his body to meet Ren in the air.
Emile’s shout rang in my mind. I should have done this the day you were born. His jaws closed around Ren’s neck.
Ren! I screamed his name as they fell to the ground, their bodies locked together.
Emile gave a sudden jerk of his head. I thought I was splitting in two when a horrible crack stopped Ren’s steady growl.
When they hit the ground, my father slammed into Emile, shoving him away from Ren, who lay horribly still on the library floor. I howled, skidding to a stop beside him. Dropping my muzzle, I pressed my nose against him.
A squeal across the room tore my gaze off Ren.
Emile was on his back, pinned under my father. The Bane alpha writhed beneath my father’s weight, kicking and struggling. My father ignored Emile’s desperate attempts to free himself. His jaws were around Emile’s neck and they were slowly closing. Emile cried out, a half howl, half shriek that became a gurgle as my father crushed his throat.
Emile stopped struggling. My father lifted Emile’s limp body in his jaws and with one swing of his head tossed the Bane’s carcass aside.
My father came toward us, shifting forms as he walked.
Ren. Ren. I nipped his muzzle gently. Please get up. You have to get up.
I breathed into his charcoal gray fur. His scent was the same as always, sandalwood and fire wrapped in leather.
Ren. I whined, pawing at him. Answer me. I can heal you, but you need to wake up so I can give you blood.
Someone dropped to the ground next to me. Adne was on her knees, staring at me with wide, brimming eyes. Bryn was beside her, whining softly.
“Why?” Adne said. “Why did you have to leave too?” She began to reach for him, but I snarled, knocking her back. I didn’t want anyone else near him. They couldn’t help him. She stared at me, limbs trembling as the color drained from her face.
“Hey!” Connor was still standing over Logan, but he pointed the tip of his sword at me. “Back off, wolfie.”
Shay glanced from Connor to me. “Stay here.” He returned the Elemental Cross to its sheaths and then shifted forms.
Calla. He approached slowly, keeping his head low.
I bristled, a steady menacing growl rising from my throat. Stay away.
Let me help you. His voice was soothing and he dropped to his belly, still inching toward me. I only want to help.
I snarled again, showing him my fangs when he reached me. He lifted his muzzle and gently licked mine. It was soothing; his scent—fresh and hopeful, like rain that rinsed away the sludge of fear muddying my senses—reassured me. I stopped growling. He stood up, resting his muzzle against mine.
We can help him. But not like this.
He shifted to human form and I understood. Ren was a wolf; he couldn’t drink when he was unconscious. We’d need to bring him back, just like Gabriel had helped Nev breathe again. I shifted forms.
