The Secret Pull

Chapter 21 - Ambushed

After my head hit the door I was disoriented. My head was throbbing. I could feel Paul tugging at my seatbelt and cupping my wobbly face in his hands. I could see his lips moving but the sound was distorted. I let out a feeble "I'm ok I'm ok" as the ringing in my ears grew quiet. I could finally understand what he was asking. "Wha...what happened?" I croaked. Through the windshield, I could see we were in the middle of the road facing the opposite direction.

"We were hit by a werewolf in the back. We are under attack."

Paul said it so plainly that my terror didn't immediately develop. With a second glance, I could see five large werewolves several yards away walking slowly toward the vehicle. Four of the wolves were dirty with patches of hair missing. They were snarling, baring discolored teeth. In the center was the largest wolf. This one was pristine with shiny blonde hair with bright blue eyes that glowed in the early evening darkness. Its tongue was lazily hanging from its mouth and it looked like an evil smile. Paul responded with a deep and menacing growl from the middle of his chest. His eyes had changed completely and he looked terrifyingly feral. I was feeling claustrophobic being in the truck with him as he seemed to be growing in size.

He was pulling off his shirt as realization hit me. "No, don't!" I pleaded. I leaned into him and my hands gripped his forearms tightly. "Please don't fight them!"

He turned to me and his eyes seemed to have softened, but only a little. His rage was still there. I could feel it. "Alphas don't run!" he said matter of factly. I was going to object but he simply stared back at me with a seriousness that urged me to listen carefully. "My Luna and I...don't...back...down," his eyes blazing and locked into mine. "We fight, they die," he grabbed my hand and squeezed, as I nodded. I understood perfectly what he was telling me. We are a team, and we're going to fight these wolves, together, Paul and I.

He was going to protect me but he wasn't trying to "save" me. He wanted...no expected...me to fight alongside him. He believed that I was strong enough to help him. He saw me as powerful and as dangerous as those wolves coming towards us. It filled me with pride and confidence that washed away my fear. His focus was now on the encroaching wolves, his glowing green eyes full of menace and his lips were curled in a snarl. The anger radiated off of him in a heat that I could physically feel. I could sense his determination to kill them. I didn't have to look at him. His desire for blood flowed over and through me. His aggression poured into me. I knew I would do whatever I could to protect us both. I looked down at my lap. My once trembling hands were now in tight fists as I willed myself to beat back my anxiety. I know that Paul, as well as those other wolves, would be able to smell my fear. I reminded myself that Paul believed in me.

I won't let him down.

I hopped out of the disabled truck in time to watch Paul shift into his wolf. Watching his muscles expand as dark fur materialized from his body was fascinating and terrifying. His jaw stretched and elongated as he leaped into the air. His full transformation, becoming more beast than man, was complete by the time he landed on the ground. I was in awe of his new form. The only other time I was this close to his wolf, he was laying down on the road and injured. Now, standing behind him, upright, this large and powerful beast, I felt completely protected. It gave me comfort.

Immediately the wolves began to charge, and my mind focused on the oncoming fight. I had to think quickly because Paul had taken off in a charge against them. I glanced up at the woods around us. With a quick nod, I compelled one of the largest trees alongside the road to collapse in front of their path. Two of the closest wolves were unable to dodge its impact and were crushed underneath it. The other two wolves that followed easily scaled the fallen tree and continued towards us. Paul's wolf seized the leg of one wolf in his massive jaw and flung its body towards the one closest to me. I screamed as both wolves were launched into the ditch alongside the roadway. All I saw was a blur of black fur as Paul's wolf rushed past me to the area where they fell. I could see Paul's wolf fighting against the two others as they snapped at his face and neck. Amidst the snarls and growls, I could see the jaws of Paul's wolf clamp down on one of them. He snapped its neck with a sickening crunch. He turned his wrath toward the other wolf being held down underneath his paws.