Chapter 149

Grayson’s POV

The crack of a gunshot ripped through the air, grazing my side. My wolf snarled in fury, his instincts surging. The pain fueled our circling of the clearing as the hunters tightened their formation around Ava's cage.

“Stay back!” one barked, his flashlight trembling. Fear radiated from him in waves.

My wolf ignored the order. I bared my teeth, a guttural growl rising as I crouched, ready to strike. The hunters hesitated, their confidence faltering.

“Is that thing even a normal wolf?” another muttered, doubt in his voice.

“It doesn’t matter!” the leader snapped. “Focus! Take it down before it gets closer.”

Another tranquilizer dart whizzed past, narrowly missing my neck. My wolf growled, surging forward despite the heaviness in my limbs. The tranquilizers were weakening me, but my determination to reach Ava burned hotter than the drug’s numbing effect.

Ava’s scent—sharp, coppery with blood—was everywhere. Her fur was matted, her breathing shallow. The sight ignited fresh anger. They had hurt her.

Another dart hit my side, embedding deep. I stumbled, but didn't fall, shaking it off with a snarl that made the nearest hunter flinch.

“Why isn’t it going down?!” one shouted, panic rising.

The leader cursed. “Use the nets! Take it alive if we can!”

Two hunters swiftly flung a thick, reinforced net. My wolf twisted mid-lunge, narrowly avoiding it. I snapped at the closest hunter, my jaws inches from his arm. He scrambled back, tripping over a branch. “Stay on it!” the leader barked. “We’re not losing this one!”

More hunters moved in, weapons raised, forming a wall between me and Ava. My wolf craved blood. He wanted to tear through them, to protect her. His rage boiled over. I lunged, claws slashing, but as I broke through the hunters, something heavy hit me from the side, sending me sprawling. I roared, seeing two hunters pinning me, their knees digging into my back.

A third dart struck my neck; this time, the drug hit harder. My vision blurred. My wolf fought against unconsciousness, his growls turning into guttural snarls.

The world was a haze of pain and rage, then I felt it—the connection with my wolf faltered, like a dying flame. For a moment, I froze.

Not now. Not like this.

Panic clawed at my chest. I tried to reach for him, but it was like grasping at smoke.

“If you’re about to leave me now, this is a fucking bad time,” I growled inwardly.

There was silence, then a faint, guttural growl. He was there, but barely. His presence flickered like a dying flame; I felt his fear mirroring my own.

“Hang on,” I hissed. “Hang on until they’re all dead. For Ava. You can’t leave now. Not now!”

Those words seemed to strike a nerve. The bond snapped back into place, forcefully, violently, like a slammed door. He was back, and that was all that mattered.

Rage surged; my wolf howled, the sound echoing in my mind and through the clearing. The hunters stumbled back, their bravado crumbling as I rose, towering over them.

“Take it down!” one shouted, his voice cracking with fear.

I moved faster than they could react. My claws raked across the nearest hunter's chest; blood sprayed as he fell. Another raised his rifle, but I was on him before he could fire, my teeth sinking into his shoulder, bone crunching.

“What the hell is this thing?!” someone screamed, but I didn't stop.

Another dart hit my back, barely piercing my hide. It didn't matter. My wolf pushed through the numbing effect, fueled by the need to protect Ava.

I turned on the next hunter; his trembling hands fumbled with a net. Before he could raise it, I tore through him, my claws slashing like paper through flesh. His scream was cut short by a wet gurgle.

“Why isn’t it going down?!” someone cried, desperation thick in his voice.

“It’s a demon!” another shouted.

I snarled, revealing bloodstained fangs. The scent of fear spurred me on as I took them down one by one. Their shouts became incoherent, their movements erratic with panic.

Another dart, then another, but it was useless. My wolf and I were one, an unstoppable force fueled by fury and bloodlust. I ripped through the last hunter, leaving only their leader.

He scrambled backward, tripping over roots and bodies as I stalked him. His flashlight shook, the beam dancing wildly.

“Stay back!” he stammered. “What… what sort of monster are you?”

I didn't answer. Words were meaningless. With a final snarl, I lunged, my teeth sinking into his neck. The coppery taste of blood flooded my mouth as his body went limp.

And then it happened.

The connection with my wolf snapped. One moment we were one, the next, he was gone, leaving me hollow. My body shifted involuntarily, bones cracking and reshaping as I collapsed in my human form. Pain exploded through me; I groaned as I hit the dirt, the cold seeping into my skin.

For a moment, I lay there, chest heaving as the adrenaline faded. My body ached, but the satisfaction of knowing they were all gone—the ones who had hurt Ava—was worth every ounce of pain.

I forced myself to my feet, glancing around the clearing. It was a mess: torn bodies, shattered weapons, trampled earth. Not a single hunter survived. The satisfaction was bittersweet; their clothing was in shreds. My wolf had been too ferocious.

Then I saw a bag near a fallen hunter, fabric spilling out. I sighed, wrinkling my nose at the cheap material as I knelt to inspect it. It wasn’t much, but it would do. I pulled out pants and a worn flannel shirt, pulling them on quickly before turning my attention to Ava.

She was still in the cage, motionless and quiet. Now that the chaos had settled, I finally saw her wolf properly.

Her fur was brilliant white, streaked with gold that shimmered faintly in the moonlight. She looked mythical, her beauty undeniable even in her battered state.

I knelt by the cage, fumbling with the lock until it gave way. The door creaked open, and I reached in, my fingers brushing against her fur. It was softer than I expected, silken and warm despite the blood.

“Ava,” I murmured, my voice raw and hoarse. “It’s over. You’re safe.”

She didn’t stir, her breathing shallow but steady. I ran my hand gently over her side, checking for injuries. The bond between us was quiet, her wolf as unresponsive as mine had been.

I reached for my wolf again, desperate for connection, but there was only emptiness—a void that felt familiar.

The absence burned. Without him, I couldn’t mind-link anyone from the estate to get us out. I’d have to wait until Ava woke up.

I leaned back, taking in her wolf again. Even now, she was beautiful. The sight stirred a fierce protective instinct within me.

“You’re not leaving me,” I said softly, brushing fur away from her face. “Not now. Not ever.”

The clearing was silent, save for the wind. Then I really looked around, a wave of confusion washing over me as I stepped back.

Where the hell were we?