The Four Protectors

Twenty One

3rd Person POV

The fight became a one-sided battle after they arrived. Catherine dispatched two wolves with little to no effort, white fur staining red. Two wolves had stepped out of the tree line behind her, followed by Azriel.

Cassius recognized his brother's black colored wolf that was almost identical to his own.

Raphael joined his side and the two fought like they'd been trained to when they were younger. Desmond was still painfully still but Cassius had to believe he was alive as he kept wolves away from him. Azriel and, who Cassius could only assume was Laura, formed an interesting team with Azriel knocking out wolves for brief periods of time followed by Laura moving in for the kill.

The angry howls were soon replaced by occasional whimpers.

Cassius shifted back and pulled on the pair of shorts he'd ditched earlier in the building before rushing to Desmond's side. Azriel was already there, working his magic. One of the wolves had taken out a massive chunk of flesh near Desmond's stomach but it was nothing Azriel couldn't fix.

Cassius jerked in surprise when he felt soft fur grace his leg.

He turned to find Catherine, still in her snow-leopard form. Raphael jogged over then and tossed her his shirt. Cassius didn't know what propelled him to do it but he threw the shirt back to Raphael before handing her his t-shirt.

She shifted back and barely had anytime to slide the shirt over her body before he'd lifted her into his arms.

"I knew you'd be okay," Cassius muttered.

"I had my doubts," Catherine replied.

Catherine drew back but still kept her hands wrapped around his neck. Cassius couldn't bring himself to tear away from her either. He'd been relieved when Theo had said that she'd escaped but the tension hadn't completely left his body until he had her safe in his arms.

"You're okay right? You're really okay," he asked cautiously.

Catherine turned her gaze away from him, like she was hiding something, and Cassius felt panic once again.

"What is it," he pressed.

Her voice was barely more than a whisper when she spoke.

"I'm infected too, with the chemicals. Theo thinks I have a month, well now less than a month before I have to start actively resisting the urge to kill everyone," Catherine said.

A stray tear escaped her and that's when he realized how hard she was trying to stay strong for them. His hands were gentle as he tilted her chin up to meet her eyes. She looked so young, so vulnerable as she looked up at him with a trembling half-smile.

He hated the fact that she was trying so hard to keep it together just so the rest of them wouldn't fall apart.

"You don't have to be so strong around me okay. We'll figure this out. I promise," Cassius vowed.

"Just, promise me that if it comes down to it, you won't let me hurt anyone," she asked softly.

He wanted to hurt someone just hearing those words.

"It's not going to come down to that. I'm not going to let than happen," Cassius argued.

Her hands came up to cup his face, grazing the two-day-old stubble. Her fingers gently wiped away the tears that had escaped his eyes. Her voice was firm when she spoke again.