Chapter Fifty-Seven

I was able to tackle the wolf that dove for the pup, and I made quick work of it. I whirled on the family, and they cried as I walked closer and sniffed around them to make sure no one was hurt. “You’re okay. Head to the closest building and lock yourself in a room.”

The mom and kid continued to cry, but the father nodded. “Thank you…Alpha…” He trailed off, and I realized these people were too scared to scent me.

“I’m Nix, Amy’s wolf.” I licked my muzzle to clean off any blood so as not to scare the kid, but she threw herself at me.

“Amy?”

“Yes. You’re safe now, Sophie. Now, do as you’re told and go. Stay safe.” The mom and dad grabbed the pup from my leg and then hustled into whoever’s house they were cornered at. I heard a few doors slam and a lock turn before I ran off towards another howl.

I made my way through the pack, one call for help after another. Sometimes I made it in time; other times, someone else had already beaten me to it. I was about to run to the next howl, but it was cut off, and a scream ripped through the air. The scream was so rare, I whipped around and headed straight there. It was a call that was more insistent, more panicked, and when I rounded the corner, I realized why, and my stomach dropped.

Two parents, a couple I didn’t recognize, so they had to be new, lay bloody in front of their two kids. A boy about the age of seven was waving a stick to fight off three rogues, while the four-year-old little girl screamed for help. She clutched at her fallen parents and was rocking her mother. I prayed to the moon goddess that they were just unconscious and not dead, but by the growing puddle of blood underneath the family, I doubted my prayers would be answered.

I dove for the first rogue before they realized I was even there. I had its neck in my jaws before they could fight back, and I dropped the body to my feet as the other two turned to face me.

One dove for my neck, but I was able to dodge around it. I turned my head to snap at the rogue in front of me while the second one jumped onto my back, biting into my shoulder. I yipped from the pain but knocked the wolf loose. I whirled and snapped at the two, who danced backward.

They were obviously a team, which was weird because rogues were usually lone wolves. Never one to group up, they usually attacked one at a time. If another was close, they might use an attack as a diversion to attack themselves, but they never worked together. But these two were working in tandem. When one attacked, the other would wait for an opening and jump in. They protected each other. If I was close to killing one of them, the other would risk themselves to save the other.

I was fed up with the back and forth between the two. The two wolves lay dead or dying below our feet, and there were two pups crying for their parents, terrified that they were next.

Dad! I need you.

Where are you, pup? What’s wrong? I sent a jumble of images through the mind-link, hoping he could make sense of them, and then I shut it down. Don’t do anything stupid.

I love you, Dad.

Amy, Nix, no!

But I shut down the link, and I refocused on the two rogues in front of me, and I made my decision. I heard a terrified howl rend through the air from my father. I knew he was heading my way, but it was going to be too late.

I dove for the first wolf. We fought while the second one waited on the sidelines, but this time it wasn’t going to matter. I dug my claws into the first wolf, and it screeched. I bit into its shoulder as I felt the second wolf attack my side. The three of us wrestled on the ground until the first wolf was on top of me, with the second off to the side. I heard the kids cry out, terrified, and I dug my back paws into the belly of the first wolf.

It tried to jump off me, but I wouldn’t let go of its shoulder. The second wolf dove for my neck, but before it could bite down hard enough, the first wolf was dead. I kicked the body off me and shook the second wolf off my neck, tearing it more. I staggered to my feet, and I planted myself in between the second wolf and the pups behind me. I let out a vicious growl as I felt my feet start to fail me while my blood poured from my neck.