The Pack Girl's Retribution (Sequel to The Pack's Girl)

Unlikely Allies

"Thank you, Draven." I stepped out onto the dirt and limped toward them. "Thanks to all of you for coming."

"We look out for our own." Draven crossed his arms over his chest to give me an unreadable look.

Saying I'm part of their pack.

There was something touching in hearing that after feeling like an outsider for so long.

As we stood there nodding to each other lights bloomed in the trees around us and people cupping bits of moonlight in their palms began easing from the dark shadows of the trees.

"Everyone that tried to escape was brought down." A large man with long hair announced.

I gave him a quizzical look before realizing he was talking to someone behind me.

Killian.

"Mages..."

"Mages."

"The Guild!" Members of the Asara Pack were whispering.

There was growling and Draven was turning to eye them all closing in.

"What is this, Vanna Rae?" He demanded. Looking fiercely betrayed.

Lyra Lani pushed her back to his. Turning with him.

Determined to watch his back.

Draven gave a snarling roar and the wolves dipped onto all fours, immediately becoming furred beasts, rushing towards the mages at the treeline.

"No." I heard a voice behind me. Then two short whistles.

Aviari

In moments every bit of light lent by the moon and the flares gripped by the mages were blocked out as dark shadows rained down from the trees. Pouring into the encampment and creating a swirling barrier between mages and wolves.

The wolves were forced to back up. Pinned in, they began a formation that branched along each other's backs to make sure no one was left uncovered.

"They do know they're drastically outnumbered, right?" Aviari murmured.

Killian scoffed. "They were outnumbered when they got here. Seems they're still standing...Perhaps we're the ones that are outnumbered..."

Aviari gave a grudging tilt of his head.

"Whoa! Whoa..." Killian announced. Stepping from the hut.

"Let's get you some light brother." Aviari's hands sparked to life, and he tossed up a ball of fire that grew as it rose. Once above the canopy of trees it billowed out like a great cloud. Dropping orange and yellow light down over all of us. So, we could see each other. Which seemed to greatly calm some nerves. Easing the mounting tension in the clearing.

With the light cast around us it was clear what had showered from the trees. The red Sentinels still swarmed between mages and wolves. Flying in circles around them. So dense they were nearly a red blanket. Their wings blew leaves over the ground and causing swirling from the branches of trees nearby.

The flock of them is huge. I had never realized there were so many.

This was far more than the boys had used to send messages between them when we were children.

I gave Aviari a stunned look.

He grinned broadly and gave me a wink. "I'll help him out a bit."

"No one is attacking you brother." Killian walked to them unafraid. Reaching the wolves who instinctively parted for him to allow him access to the Alpha.