Taming the Wolf Prince (Re-uploading Edited Chapters)

Chapter 26 Vengence

The forest panned like an erratic impressionist painting as Tamer bolted through it. He huddled Winter close to his chest -- if he could shift, he would be able to carry her on his back and run a lot faster, but that would mean putting her down, which he didn't currently trust her to do on her own due to Red's meddling with her soul. He glanced behind them. Red hadn't caught up yet. It appeared Xavier had held him back.

He eyed Winter nervously.

"Winter? Are you okay?" he asked her. It was hard to speak through the erratic pounding his lungs were taking. Tamer didn't think he'd run that fast in his life. He knew he had to get her away from him. Never had he felt he had to do something so important.

Winter's brow furrowed. The faint signal of her aura felt chaotic, like an unruly nest of waves. "Tamer... please don't let me go."

Tamer licked his lips. That prick, Red, he thought, nostrils flaring. Even now, she still didn't seem quite right. He needed to get him. It was his responsibility to keep Winter away from Red. He couldn't even bring himself to think what would happen if he got hold of her. Out of everything that happened, that terrified him more than anything else.

"That's okay," breathed back. He tried to keep his voice stable, but truthfully, he had no idea what would happen if Red caught up with them. "I can keep holding you until we can get away if that's what you want."

Winter managed to force a faint smile. Tamer needed that, although he didn't feel like he deserved it. He was reaching his limit. He needed some motivation to keep fighting. To protect her.

He tried examining Winter's aura to see what she was thinking, but found he couldn't get any distinct read on her. He wasn't sure if she was blocking him out because she was embarrassed or if Red had done something to her.

"I can't let Red get away after this, Winter," Tamer thought. "He's... a pure monster. I can't let him hurt more humans. But I need the right opportunity. He's far more powerful than I am. So I have to strike when he's weak. I'm going to let those wings of his eat him until he can't take it anymore, then I'm going to get him. We're stalling for now. I can't let him get an opportunity to come back and hurt you. Or anyone else for that matter."

"Tamer..." Winter's eyes sparkled with frustrated tears. "I'm so sorry. I wasn't able to resist him. I don't know why this is happening to me."

Tamer narrowed his eyes, trying not let his hatred for Red distract him from his goal. "Winter, we'll speak about it when we're safe. For now, I need you to focus. Just think about me and how much I love you. Think about how much I want to keep you safe. That's all I need you to do right now. I think that'll help you out a bit. Leave everything else to me."

Branches scraped over his face and arms as he whirred past. Because he had grown up outside of Lupine culture, he hadn't quite grasped how powerful man-eaters could be, and what exactly could be done with mate bonds. But, if there was any world that Red could do that to her, there had to be a world where he could help her. The question was how? Time was precious, but he had something he had to do. He may not have known how to protect Winter's soul, but Winter had seemed less entranced by Red when he held her. He wondered if this could be taken further. If this was perhaps the best way to help her.

Tamers's brow furrowed. His arms shook as he laid his lips upon her forehead. He kissed it while thinking about how he wanted to protect her with his whole soul. How he wanted to respect and love her with all his being. Red could never give her any of those things. He knew he had him beat in that regard.

Winter's eyes seemed a little less hazy. A warm white light engulfed her soul. "Tamer?'

Tamer opened his eyes and froze. He heard the sound of something slicing rapidly through the wind. The oncoming crackle of flames as well as the sound of liquid splattering against the floor. Tamer knew then to start running again. Run as far and fast as he could.