Born in Fire

Chapter Twenty-Six

*Kamala*

The first three rooms on the second floor were empty. I opened the door to the third room. It was dark inside. “Miley? Mom?” I whispered. The noise downstairs had grown faint as the fighting outside had grown more intense. A floorboard creaked inside the room. I froze, a figure took shape by the bed. Instinctively, I reached for the fire.

“Kal?” My mother appeared out of the darkness. I let go of the fire, rushing to her. 

“Mom. Are you okay? Where’s dad?” She frowned, her eyes sad, as she pointed to the bed. Blood soaked the bedding where my father laid. His chest lifted and fell in ragged breaths.

“Dad? Dad, can you hear me?” There was no answer.

“He comes and goes. I feel him slipping.” My mother sat on the bed, placing a hand on my father’s leg. I pulled the cover back, my breath catching in my throat. My father was cut from ribs to navel. Blood continued to ooze out of the wound. Someone, probably my mother, had tried to stop the bleeding by wrapping bed sheets around it. Disbelief and grief grabbed ahold of me at the same time. As a small pup I’d thought my father was the strongest wolf there was. As I grew, I resented him. I wanted to know why he hadn’t saved me from my tormentors. Hadn’t demanded they leave me alone. That resentment had been renewed when he confessed what I was. That he had drugged me, hoping the fire would just go away. But now, I just wanted him to survive. I would forgive him for everything if he would just live. The disbelief took hold, I refused to believe that he wouldn’t make it.

“We have to get you guys out of here. Dr. Barker can fix him. We just have to get him to Green Grove.” She opened her mouth to say something, but closed it. I sent a mind-link out. Jackson responded.

“Luna! Are you there?”

“I am. I need you on the second floor. My…” Tears stung my eyes. “My father is wounded. I want you to get him and my mother out of here. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Luna.” I cut the mind-link, looking at my mother.

“Jackson, from Green Grove is on his way. He’s going to get you guys out of here.”

“What about you?”

“I have to find Miley.” She remained quiet, silent tears rolling down her cheeks. She wrapped me in a hug.

“He was proud of you, Kalama. He knew you would be a great Luna. That you would do great things. I know he didn’t show it, but your father was proud of you.” I didn’t say anything, mostly because I was afraid too. I went back to the door, looking back at her.

“Jackson will protect you. Stay with him.” I left then, hoping Jackson would find them before someone from Black Creek.

I searched the last room coming up empty. A loud scream sounded, a child’s scream. “Miley!” I yelled, running back to the stairs. I jumped the last few steps in time to see Delilah run out the back door.

“Auntie Kal.” Miley cried out. Delilah ran towards the barracks. I followed right behind. She rounded a corner of the building, Miley screamed again. I rounded the same corner, stopping in my tracks. Delilah held Miley tight in one arm, the knife to her throat.

“One more step and I’ll cut her.” I growled, but didn’t move. I had to get Miley away from her. Howls from Green Grove sounded.

“You’re going to lose Delilah. Caspian is mine.” She growled.

“He’s mine, Bitch.” 

“Put the pup down and let's settle this once and for all.” Her eyes bore into mine, weighing her options. She growled again, dropping Miley. Before the pup could move, she kicked a foot out. Catching the girl in the back. I growled. Miley got to her feet, running to me. I bent down, wrapping her in a hug, hushing her. “Listen, Miley. Find your parents okay.” Tears streamed down her face. “It’s going to be okay. Go. Run.” I didn’t take my eyes off Delilah, as Miley took off. A smile slipped across Delilah’s lips.

“I’m gonna have fun with this.” I didn’t say anything as we began to circle.

*Caspian*

We were sorely outnumbered, but Green Grove fought with a vigor that I had never seen. They fought for the pack, for their Beta, for their Luna. Bay snapped at a dark gray wolf. The wolf yelped as Bay’s jaws clamped down on its hind leg. The wolf snapped back, lunging in close enough for Bay to sink his teeth into its throat. I’d lost track of John and Julie once wolves from Green Grove had spilled from the trees, Anges, Neal’s wolf, in the lead. Elliot had not been seen. Bay grabbed another wolf, this time by the back of the neck. Bones snapped as Bay twisted and dropped the now limp wolf. A scream sounded over the chaos. I looked up, towards an outbuilding. A small pup ran. “Miley.” Bay ran for her, determined to meet her before any other. 

“Alpha.” Her small arms went around Bay’s neck, her tears wetting his already bloody fur. Bay knelt, allowing the pup to climb onto his back. I mind-linked John and Julie.

“I have Miley. Getting her somewhere safe.” Relief rushed over the link. Bay ran through the fighting. Miley held on, her little fingers gripping Bay’s fur as tight as she could. We made it through the trees, the sounds of fighting death going distant. We came to a tree with a hollowed trunk. Bay let me come forward enough to speak. “Stay here little one. You’ll be safe here.” 

“You have to help Auntie Kal, Alpha.”

“I will, Little One. But first we make you safe.” She climbed into the tree, ducking down. I made sure she wasn’t visible before turning back. I just cleared the trees went the building Miley had been running from exploded into flames. Flames shot into the air, raining down balls of fire and smoldering wood. All went quiet as a figure stepped from the flames. My breath caught in my chest. Kalama stepped from the building, her entire form encased in flames. She dragged a kicking form. Delilah, kicked and cursed. Kalama seemed unfazed as she picked the fighting wolf up, throwing her. She landed with a bone crunching thumb. Dazed and winded, Delilah didn’t stand a chance. Kalama walked up to. She raised a hand, pleading.

“Please, Luna. Spare me. I was wrong. Elliot, he tricked me. Please, he…”

“NO!” Kalama’s Luna voice erupted from the flames that coated her body. “ You have come for what is mine over and over again. I will not give you a third chance.” Kalama lifted a hand. Hot fire shot out towards Delilah. They claimed her clothes, eating through to her skin. Her screams didn’t last long, dying into a pile of ashes.