Feral Bonds

Chapter 60

As Natania headed straight for Alistair, Bran charged for Rigaldo. Someone had to distract the alpha until Natania could finish him, or else they would be shredded apart like paper. Rigaldo curled his lip as Bran approached.

"The traitor returns," Rigaldo hissed. "Finally learned your lesson? Come to beg for forgiveness?"

"Not from you," Bran grunted, swiping for his eyes. The only one he wanted forgiveness from was Nat, for standing by Rigaldo's side for so long. And for hunting her down, and dragging her back to him.

Rigaldo scoffed and swatted him away with a powerful blow to his head. Bran blinked rapidly as stars shot through his vision. He gritted his teeth and stumbled back to his paws.

"You have to know the only way she's walking out of here alive is with me," Rigaldo purred. "Go kill that witch, and I will let you both live."

Rigaldo's will pressed down on Bran, threatening to make his legs collapse. Bran shook his head and drew upon Natania's faith in him. "I. Am. Not. Your. Pawn," he snarled, each word was an effort as his vision blurred and spun. The pack's magic shielded him only a little from Rigaldo's Charisma.

"Leave him alone!" Red speckled fur flew at Rigaldo, landing on his back. Brady dug his teeth into Rigaldo's pelt and held on with all his strength as Rigaldo roared and bucked. The hold on Bran's mind snapped and he leaped into the fray, managing to drag his claws down Rigaldo's flank.

Rigaldo snarled and reached around, grasping Brady's leg in his teeth, and threw him into Bran.

"Shit," Brady spat as they slid across the forest floor, their limbs tangling together.

"Don't throw away your life." Bran's heart froze with terror at the familiar voice and he shot a panicked filled glance at Meriam, who appeared beside them from nowhere, shedding her own magic. She pulled them free of each other, careful not to pierce their skin with her teeth.

"I could say the same to you," Bran growled, scrambling to his feet and moving protectively between her and Rigaldo.

Meriam hissed at him and moved to stand by his side. "I will not hide behind you."

Rigaldo laughed as he walked towards them. "Your alpha sent her weakest for me to play with while she, what? Hides behind her vampire master?"

"While she takes half your army," Meriam snarled as pawsteps thudded around them. The half bloods were fleeing the field in droves.

Rigaldo's eyes widened momentarily in surprise before he schooled his features back into amused disinterest. "Well, I'll be damned. She actually killed Alistair." He leaned down into a lazy stretch. "Guess she'll be even more fun to break the second time."

Bran snarled and snapped his teeth, then froze as Lily dropped down in front of them. "Nope," Lily said, "you three get out of here."

"We can take him," Brady snapped, then rolled his eyes when he realized the vampire wouldn't understand him.

"Shoo." Lily waved her hands at them.

Bran snarled, then jerked his head. "Let's go. If Alistair is dead, then Nat will come for him."

"But-"

"Listen to the future seer," Meriam growled. They shot glances at each other and fled, disappearing in opposite directions.

"Oh no, Honey," Lily purred, blocking Rigaldo's path as he crouched to lunge after them. "My Wolfie will take care of you. Don't worry." Lily made a face at the ground. "I guess I should have let the cougar bite him first. Oh well."

Rigaldo pounced at her and she sidestepped him easily. "Oh please. You're outmatched, wolf." He snarled and snapped at her, and she popped up behind him. "Boo," she whispered, and he whipped around with a snarl. She laughed as he attempted to lunge at her, again and again. Lily just kept teleporting behind him. She wished she hadn't promised her wolf that she wouldn't kill him. It would have been fun to rip him apart, but, like Vincent, she tried to keep her word.