The Four Protectors

Seven

3rd Person POV

Cassius shifted into his wolf, landing on the first of the guards with a howl that reverberated through the hallways. The girl created havoc on his left flank, hands and legs a blur of movement while the boy to his right had adopted a more defensive approach. It didn't take a genius to figure out he was the weaker link.

The guards seemed to multiply, and finally Theo went down with a scream.

His sister echoed his scream. Her temporary distraction was all these guards needed to take her down to and Cassius crouched defensively before them. He realized his odds weren't too great as he stared at what was left before him.

Five trained guards in their wolf forms.

The wolves took a menacing step forward. The red lights combined with their almost eerie synchronization had Cassius' fur standing up on end. He knew he wasn't getting out of this one.

Still, he took one brave, foolish step forward letting a low growl slip out of him.

Then he pounced.

The black wolf he'd pounced on went down easily. Cassius aimed his maw straight at the wolf's throat and clamped down hard. The neck snapped and the wolf went limp below him.

Almost as if from a distance, he felt a canine's teeth sink into his hind leg.

He let out a howl as he kicked the mutt off. Turning around, he was about to finish him off when another wolf landed on him, rolling him away. As he staggered to his feet, he noticed that another three wolves had joined the fight.

Cassius was already limping.

He evaded the pounce of the first wolf but he wasn't so lucky with the second. His legs splayed out under him as the wolf bit down hard on his wounded hind leg. A sickening snap echoed through the air followed by a long pain filled howl that ripped out of his throat.

There was no way he could win this fight now.

The weight of the wolf's body crushing him seemed to become twice as heavy before it was abruptly thrown off him.

Cassius tilted his head up with effort, as pain seemed to burn through every cell of his body. A snow-white leopard stood before him with mournful, golden eyes. It let out a soft whine as it leaned forward to nudge his face gently.

Catherine.

He almost cried as he felt a comforting heat wrap around his leg to fix his broken bones. He tilted his head to look over at his broken leg. Azriel, pale and unsteady, was propped up against a wall with eyes intensely focused on Cassius' leg.

As the snapped bone was put back together, Cassius saw the color rapidly drain from Azriel's face.

Cassius spun around quickly, sliding forward and catching Azriel's unconscious body with his head. He whined in worry as Catherine shifted back and rushed to right Azriel's falling body. Cassius shifted back, quickly pulling on his pants as he looked at Azriel with increasing alarm.

The warlock had never seemed more delicate than in that moment with darkened shadows under his eyes and skin that put a vampire's natural pallor to shame.

"What happened to him," Cassius asked.

"There's not time to explain but he'll be fine. He has to be. Wait who are those two," Catherine asked.

Theo and Annabelle were up and glancing between all three of them with complete confusion. They looked shaken up. Theo leaned on his sister for support, but otherwise Cassius couldn't see any major injuries. Cassius took Azriel from Catherine's hold and gently slung the man over his shoulder.