His Delicate Love

4

The storm had raged for two days, the rain heavier than anyone could remember. The Blackridge Clan had been ordered to stay indoors, knowing full well that even their werewolf strength was no match for the wrath of nature when it howled like this. The winds howled, trees bent under the force, and the rain fell in thick sheets, turning the earth to mud. But even the fiercest storm couldn't stop what was coming.

It was mid-day, though the skies were dark as night from the storm clouds. Annie sat with the others in the cabin, her body tensed as the storm rattled the wooden walls. Her mind was still swirling with the conversations she had overheard, the talk of rogue wolves and rival clans. But nothing had prepared her for what came next.

A sharp, blaring sound filled the air—the bullhorn, a signal of danger that cut through the wind and rain. For a heartbeat, everything inside the cabin froze. The omegas glanced at one another, their wide eyes filled with confusion and fear. The sound was unmistakable: an attack.

"Lone wolves!" one of the omegas shouted, peeking through the window. Panic rippled through the cabin like wildfire, and chaos erupted. Some scrambled to gather their things, while others rushed to the door, unsure of what to do next.

Annie stood frozen for a moment, her heart pounding, but then she felt Ms. Ginny's hand grab hers, pulling her out of her daze. "It must be a surprise attack!" Ms. Ginny said, her voice urgent but steady. She quickly grabbed a small backpack, shoving Annie's few belongings into it with swift hands. The older woman's movements were practiced, almost as if she had expected this day to come.

"We must go, Annie!" Ms. Ginny's grip tightened as she handed Annie the pack. Her voice was firm, but there was fear in her eyes. "There's too many of them—we won't survive here."

Outside, the sounds of battle had already begun. Growls and howls filled the air, mixing with the roar of the storm. Through the cracks in the cabin door, Annie could hear the warriors of Blackridge rushing to meet the threat. The clash of teeth and claws was deafening as the lone wolves attacked with terrifying speed and ferocity, their leader's growl cutting through the chaos like a blade.

"Leave no one alive!" the rogue alpha snarled, his voice carrying through the storm.

Alpha Cade was already on the front lines, fighting alongside his warriors. His silver eyes gleamed in the storm, his growls deep and furious as he tore through the enemy. The Blackridge warriors fought valiantly, but the lone wolves were many, their numbers seemingly endless as they charged through the rain, their eyes glowing with primal hunger.

Inside the cabin, Annie's heart raced as Ms. Ginny pulled her toward the back door, away from the fighting. "We have to go now!" Ms. Ginny urged, her voice shaking. Outside, the storm was unforgiving, the wind nearly knocking them over as they stumbled out into the rain.

The Luna, along with others from the clan, had already fled toward Lucas's territory, retreating as the battle raged. But there was no time for Annie and Ms. Ginny to follow—they had to escape the immediate danger. With their pack on the line, there was no guarantee who would survive.

Annie held tightly to Ms. Ginny's hand as they fled through the trees, their feet sinking into the mud with every step. Behind them, the sounds of the battle grew fainter, but the growls of the lone wolves still echoed in the distance. Annie's chest heaved, her breath coming in quick, terrified gasps as they ran.

The storm continued to rage around them, and with every step, Annie felt the weight of the pack's danger pressing down on her. Would the warriors be able to hold off the lone wolves? Would Alpha Cade's pride cost them their home?

As they fled deeper into the forest, Annie looked back, the fires from the Blackridge manor flickering faintly through the rain. The fate of her pack hung in the balance, and she could only hope they would make it through the night.

The rain lashed down, soaking Annie to the bone as she and Ms. Ginny ran through the thick, muddy forest. Their breath came in ragged gasps, each step more difficult than the last. The ground was slick beneath their feet, making it harder to keep moving, but the thought of the chaos behind them—the battle, the lone wolves tearing through their home—kept Annie's legs pumping. Every second counted.

But then she heard it. The unmistakable sound of low, guttural growls. Her heart nearly stopped as she glanced over her shoulder. Two lone wolves, their eyes glowing with feral intensity, were closing in on them, their massive forms slicing through the rain and trees with terrifying speed.

Ms. Ginny slowed down, her grip on Annie's hand loosening. "No... no!" Annie whispered, dread filling her chest as she realized what Ms. Ginny intended. She turned toward the older woman, panic flashing in her eyes.

Ms. Ginny met her gaze, a bittersweet smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "I will hold them off, love," she said softly, her voice carrying the weight of her decision. "Just keep running, okay?"

Annie shook her head frantically, her heart pounding louder than the rain. "No, I can't—"

"Run, Annie. Please." Ms. Ginny's voice trembled slightly, but there was no hesitation in her eyes, only fierce determination. "Run to Windhallow. They will take care of you."

Tears blurred Annie's vision as she tried to protest again, but Ms. Ginny's hands were already leaving hers. The older woman's smile was soft, full of love and resolve. Before Annie could say another word, Ms. Ginny's form rippled and shifted, her bones cracking as she transformed into her wolf. Her fur was a beautiful, weathered gray, and despite her age, her wolf still carried the strength of a warrior.

Annie's chest tightened painfully as she watched Ms. Ginny stand her ground, growling low at the approaching lone wolves. "Go!" Ms. Ginny's wolf form snarled one last command, baring her teeth, before charging toward the attackers.

Tears streaming down her face, Annie turned and forced her legs to move, her heart breaking with every step. She didn't want to leave Ms. Ginny behind, didn't want to abandon her to the fate that awaited. But she had to survive. Ms. Ginny's sacrifice would mean nothing if she didn't.

"I can't stop," she whispered to herself, choking on her tears. "I must keep going. For Ginny."

The forest blurred around her as she ran, her legs burning with the effort. She was tired, her body weaker than that of the warriors or the higher-ranked wolves. As an omega, she wasn't built for long sprints or fights, but she pushed herself harder than she ever had before. Every inch of her body screamed in protest, but she couldn't afford to stop. Not now. Not with the memory of Ms. Ginny's last smile etched into her mind.

The wind whipped at her face, the rain stinging her skin, but none of it mattered. Her lungs burned, her muscles ached, but she kept running. Through the thick trees, through the endless mud, toward the only place she could think of: Windhallow.

The thought of safety, of reaching the allied clan's borders, was the only thing keeping her upright. The distant howls and growls echoed behind her, reminding her of what was at stake. She didn't know if Ms. Ginny would survive—deep down, she feared the worst—but she couldn't let her sacrifice be in vain.

Annie's vision swam with exhaustion, her legs growing heavier with each passing second. She stumbled but caught herself, panting as her breaths came in ragged gasps.

"I must keep going," she repeated to herself, her voice barely a whisper now. "For Ginny."

With her heart hammering in her chest, she ran into the unknown, hoping that somewhere, just beyond the trees, Windhallow's sanctuary awaited.