The Phantom Wolf

Chapter 71 (The Chase)

*3rd Person POV*

Darting through the forest, the silver wolf carrying the vampire reached incredible speeds. To a human, they would have just been a blur of colours going by. But to a shifter, their movements were on full display, and they could be seen clearly.

It wasn't too long before Pearl got intercepted by Sam's pack. The shifters surrounded the hybrid and her imprint, blocking their route.

With her speed and strength, Pearl plowed into one of the wolves, knocking them to the ground (the wolf who was standing directly in front of her, blocking her path). Successfully breaking through their formation, Pearl's wolf ran off hoping to gain some distance while they recovered. However, the pack was not fazed and they immediately began to peruse the girls.

Managing to catch up a little, Jared was able to get on Pearl's right side, and make a grab for the bear that Pearl was carrying. Successfully sinking his teeth into the carcass he pulled it towards him.

Pearl made the split second decision to let go of her prey. The sudden release of the dead bear, caused Jared to loose his footing and fall over the dead body, sending him tumbling to the ground. Which created a bit of distance between the Uley pack members and the hybrid.

Pearl pushes herself to go even faster. Pumping blood to her legs at a rapid rate. Her muscles ache from the pressure and Pearl starts to pant, trying to get more oxygen into her body and catch her breath.

The hybrid and her wolf pursuers weave in and out of trees, jump on top of rocks and leap over streams. Both teams desperately try to go faster to complete their goal.

Bree clings to Pearl's back while keeping a tight hold on her dead deers. If they loose the two deer, this would have all been for nothing. Turning to look behind them, Bree spots a grey wolf closing in on them from the left. She frantically shouts to Pearl.

"On your left!"

Hearing her imprint's cry, Pearl jumps to the right. Narrowly avoiding Paul's outstretched claws. Looking back, Pearl notes how close Sam's pack is, with Paul being the closest. She starts to get a little nervous. They'd be running through the clearing soon. A make or break situation. If she falters, she won't be able to make up the ground without a fight. The pack is just too close to them.

Sensing Pearl's nerves, Bree turns her head again and looks at the pack that's pursuing them.

Paul takes a chance and jumps at Pearl's tail, attempting to bite into it in order to slow her down.

Seeing this, Bree immediately raises her hand and throws him away with her gift. Pushing him into a tree with a lot of force. This caused a dark brown wolf to move up and take the lead in the pursuit.

Paul's wolf was heavy. Bree had never lifted something as large, and as heavy, as Paul before. She could feel her energy drain away from her. She was not powerful enough to do it again. Trying not to dwell on it, Bree turned back to face the front. Re-applying her tight hold on the deers as she did so. Bree noted the upcoming clearing and gulped, coming to the same realisation that her mate had.

Being the first to reach the open land, Pearl jumped down the ledge and angled her body as best she could so that she could run extremely straight, which would allow her to build up speed. Bree leaned forwards on Pearl's back, trying to create less wind resistance. Like how riders do when they want to help their horses gain speed in a race.

Only moments later, did the Uley pack breach the clearing. They did the same thing with their bodies, which gave them the exact same benefits.

With Pearl being the only one of the wolves to be carrying another, it quickly became clear to everyone, that the Uley pack, was gaining ground.

Seeing the situation, Pearl realised that a fight was inevitable. Laying her ears flat against her head, she signalled Bree to make a run for it with the food.

Bree pet Pearl on the head sadly, then grabbed the deers, one under each arm and launched herself from Pearl's back. Entering the tree line, Bree sped away.

As soon as Pearl felt Bree leave her back, she turned on her paws and tackled the wolf that was directly behind her. Sinking her teeth into their neck, she threw them to the ground a fair distance away from her.

The sudden change from flight to fight disrupted the Uley pack's rhythm. Which allowed Bree a small opening to run ahead without pursuers. The break was short lived however, as the pack was able to recover quickly.

Embry and Quil broke away from the group in pursuit of the fleeing vampire. Which left Sam, Jared and Paul to face the snarling hybrid.