Chapter 411

I heard Vince call out behind us, but I pushed Megan to run fast. I felt the first trap try to pull strength from us, and I realized I hadn’t carved the rune onto Megan yet.

Fuck. I pushed forward, shoving my wolves back. The instincts were telling us to run, to flee, but I needed to get the rune onto her skin, or else we wouldn’t make it very far.

“Amy, we have to run!” Nix screamed from behind me, but I still forced Megan’s body to freeze. I stretched out our leg and used a claw to cut into the skin. I could hear the footsteps coming behind me. “Amy! There is more than Vince chasing after us. We have to go.” She tried to push, but I held her back.

“Trust me, we need this or else we are cooked.” I looked behind us as Vince pushed through the last trees, blocking our view. His face broke into a smile, but then he faltered as he saw what I was doing.

“Hey, what are you doing?” Vince stepped closer and the smell of blood hit his nostrils. His eyes snapped to my leg. “If you wanted to die, you could have just allowed us to drain you instead of killing my guard and then coming out here to do this to yourself.”

I barked out a laugh. I was almost done, but I needed to stall. “You think I would give you the chance?” He reeled back like I slapped him. I sliced again and stepped closer.

“Stop that.” He growled as he watched my blood trail into the earth.

“Why, if I’m going to give my life’s blood away, I’d rather give it to the earth. You don’t fucking deserve a fucking drop of it.” I snarled and Vince’s eyes tightened.

“Who are you?” He stepped closer than Rick, and Brandon stepped out of the forest.

I chuckled. “You think the three of you are going to be enough?”

The men stumbled at that comment. Brandon was the first to recover, and he laughed. “Do you really think you can take any of us down?”

It was my turn to laugh as I cut into my leg again. One more line and I was golden. “I could take you down in less than a minute, pup. You aren’t even strong enough to cause me to slow down.”

Brandon lunged, but Vince caught him. I watched as his eyes rushed over me, calculating. Brandon screamed and tried to lunge again, but still Vince held him back. “Calm yourself.”

Brandon stopped pulling and turned on his dad. “Do you really think she could beat me?” I laughed at the absurdity of the situation. “Shut the fuck up!” He screamed as he wheeled on me.

“Oh, is the pup upset because daddy dearest doesn’t think he can beat little old me?” I watched his face transform from angry to pure hatred and rage. I laughed as Vince held him back. “Too bad. I would have enjoyed watching the life drain from your eyes, Brandon.”

They all froze when I said his name. But then Brandon shook. “You can’t trick us. You heard them say my name the other day in the clearing.”

I just smiled as I sliced the last line into the rune. I felt the drain stop and sighed. I stood up on my paws and grinned. “Well, it’s been really fun, guys. But I think it’s time I took my leave.”

Rick walked closer and I could see the slight panic in his eyes. “I don’t think so, girl.” He tried to shut down the emotion, but he was having a harder time today.

I let my tongue wag as I smiled. “But I do.” I turned to look at Vince and Brandon. “Until we meet again.” I winked and then I turned and sprinted full force towards the field where we were going to hold our mating ceremony again. At least I knew my way out of the pack through the streets. The woods were full of traps anyway, and who knew what else was waiting for me?

I allowed Nix to take over, and I stepped back, pulling magic to us and pushing it into Megan’s feet. Nix wanted to howl. The feeling of the wind in our fur once again was a gift from the goddess, but she held back.

We were moving quickly. I heard Rick behind me, but then I heard him stumble. “What the fuck?” Rick called back to Vince. “Something is wrong.”

Vince made it to his side as he hit the ground. “What’s wrong?”

Rick shook in his exertion. “I feel drained.” He looked up at Vince. “I don’t know what’s wrong.”

I laughed as I slid to a stop a block away. Far enough for a head start, but close enough they could still hear my voice. “Your witch isn’t the only one with tricks.” Then I turned and ran.