Lunar Eclipse

32 - Crushed

Thirty minutes later, we are in position. Four SUV's block the road and it'll be impossible for the hostile trucks to pass unless they want to drive straight into a ravine. Close to thirty wolves lie in wait with my brother Zyron and his fighters just a few minutes out. No way in hell will those trucks make it through my barricade.

An unfamiliar unrest still settles in my bones. What if they kill Raelyn before we can get to her? Or worse. She could be dead already and they are only transporting her corpse to put it on display for the other Maine packs. A sudden thirst for revenge releases adrenaline into my blood stream. We should've started to advance down the Eastern seaboard this past summer instead of focusing on the Western territories. Cedar might've been young, but he was ready. Another mistake I'll need to rectify.

Oncoming headlights cut through the shadows of the night. The trucks' engines hum evenly as they sway down the unpaved lane. Those fuckers aren't suspecting a thing. Like bees attracted to honey, we are drawing them straight into our trap. By the time their lights catch the SUVs, it's too late to whip the trucks around.

I step into the path of the headlights with my fist raised toward the sky. "Surrender and you'll get to live."

They cut the engines. Night engulfs me; the howling wind is the only sound. Blades of moonlight slice through a few broken clouds, but it's too dark to see with skins. Shifting, my wolf's eyes immediately adjust. Snapping and cracking of bones from my fighters shatter around me.

The driver's side of one of the trucks opens. A dark figure jumps out. I take in the scent of the Alpha born. His tall stance can't hide the fear emitting from his pores.

"Stand back or we'll kill the female." The words tremble with terror. But there's more.

Guilt.

Remorse.

Even a hint of worry.

He cares for Raelyn more than a wolf should care for his brother's mate.

Another male gets out of the second truck. Even though he smells strong, like a future Beta should, he's young—still a pup like Dante and his brother. Another clever move by the Scopan Lake Alpha. If they are caught, he can simply deny that he had any knowledge of their plan and blame it on the recklessness of the youth. Such unsanctioned behavior would not rise to a level constituting a declaration of war. It's spineless but brilliant.

My brother Zyron steps next to me, still in his skins. A whiff of smoke sticks to him; he must still be inhaling those damn cigarettes. "Give it up, guys. You are surrounded. This does not have to end in a bloodbath."

In response, the Alpha born and his friend shift. With a roar, the latter jumps into the bed of the truck. More wolves spill from the passenger cabins and from the back. As they take position next to the Alpha born, their sharp fangs glisten in the moonlight.

My howl gives the signal to attack. With a few long jumps, I reach the enemy. I go for the Alpha born while Nicollo leaps after the future Beta who's still on the back of the truck. My ears pick up a distressed groan and I take in the scent of deadly panic. A plastic bag is rolled off the truck. It jerks and twitches; someone is trying to break free.

Raelyn!

She's suffocating right under my nose.

The teeth of the Alpha born tear into my flank. I shake off the pain and ram my snout into his side. He's tossed off balance. As Raelyn struggles with death, my focus only diverts to the plastic bag for a breath, but it's enough for the bastard to come at me again. His teeth scrape the sensitive area around my left eye. Fed up with him, I grab him by the scruff of the neck. Jaw locked, I shake him and toss him against a nearby tree. He yelps, his body going still.