Chase the Moon (On Hold)

Eight

Streaks of brown and black flooded my vision as wolves swarmed around me. I found myself quite disoriented.

Even as rogues came hurtling at me, with their jaws opened and claws outstretched, I refused to shift. I wouldn't give them the satisfaction. Instead, I kept my arms up and focused on deflecting each animal before they could knock me off my feet.

I kicked one wolf in the face as it tried to run at me from the ground. It yelped and backed away, melting back in with the others. I growled as my eyes darted back and forth, waiting for the next attacker.

It came from behind. A set of claws dug into my shoulder blades and a rogue landed on me, pushing me off balance and sending me face first to the ground. I hit hard and the extra weight of the wolf was enough to knock the air from my lungs. I gasped and spluttered as precious oxygen returned to my lungs, and I fought to get the animal off of me.

I growled in pain as its teeth sank into my shoulder. With a newly found motivation, I spun around and flung the beast off of me and into the trunk of a nearby tree.

I ignored the blood gushing out of the wound as I kicked out at another that was trying to keep me down.

I snarled and quickly scrambled to my feet. Changing things up, I decided to lunge for one of them. I landed on his back and quickly wrapped my legs around his neck. He was trying to buck me off, but I only squeezed tighter and choked him more.

It wasn't long before another one plowed into me from the side. I rolled across the ground and landed in a crouched position as I faced my new attacker. We circled each other slowly, baring our teeth and mirroring the other's movements.

I was about to lunge again when I heard Jesse's yelp.

"Mark," he croaked and I turned my head to see Donavon holding him up by his throat.

That's all the distraction the other wolf needed to tackle me. I landed on the ground with a heavy thud. Above me, a bit of saliva trickled down from a snarling snout. I tried not to breathe, as it's breath was so putrid.

Hands grabbed my arms and the wolf hopped off me as I was hauled to my feet.

"Leave him alone, Donavon," I snarled as I glared at the man. "This is between you and me."

Donavon smirked and turned his head toward me. "Oh, but where's the fun in that?"

My eyes glinted gold for a second, but I quickly blinked and fought my own wolf back down. He was getting far too close to the surface.

'Where the hell are you guys?' I asked through the mind link.

'I've sent a few your way, but we can't afford many more. They've attacked the southern border as well.'

I hardened my gaze and returned my attention to Donavon. He smirked knowingly as he tightened his grip on Jesse, making him cry out a little, "Have you figured it out yet?"

"Call them off," I growled out as threateningly as I could. I knew I was terribly out numbered, but there were people dying right now.

"Call who off?" Donavon pleaded false innocence with a smug look on his face.

"You know exactly who," I snarled as I struggled in the grip of the several rogues that held me.

Donovan's face hardened as he took on a more serious tone, "I'm not calling anyone off until I get what I came here for."

I clenched my jaw and considered my options carefully. After a few moments, I realized there was only one option.

"I'll come with you," I spoke clearly and carefully, "If you stop this right now. Call off the others, and leave my pack alone."

Donavon grinned broadly and dropped Jesse. The boy fell to his knees, coughing, and clutching his throat.

The rogue Alpha took slow, deliberate steps towards me, seeming to consider my offer as he studied my face.

Once he stopped in front of me, I saw his eyes glaze over as he linked the rest of his followers.

"Very well," he spoke clearly, "It is done."

I seemed to relax a little knowing that the threat to the pack had been lessened, but his next words had me bristling with rage.

"Bring the pup," he turned his head to address the others. "He can be used as leverage."

"No!" I spat out and tried to lunge at the Alpha. "You bastard!"

The arms around me were successful in holding me at bay, though I would've ripped them off and left them in my wake if I was able.

I wanted this man dead, and I was seething with anger while he laughed at me.

It took everything in me to keep my wolf in its cage. It wanted control. And that's just what Donovan wanted to give it.

I didn't get to witness much more before something hard hit my head. All I remembered was an instant pain and an empty darkness swallowing my senses.