THE SCENT OF TREASON

Wrath of the Alpha

The impact of the two massive beasts shook the very walls of the ravine. Mud and stones rained down into the freezing stream as Kaelen slammed Silas into the rocky earth. A horrific sound of snapping bone echoed through the dark woods, followed immediately by a high pitched yowl of agony from the silver wolf.

I pressed my back against the cold stone wall of the ravine, clutching the small paring knife to my chest. My body shivered violently from the icy water, but my eyes were locked on the brutal struggle before me.

Silas was a formidable warrior, but he was no match for the Alpha King. The silver poisoning from the dagger I had driven into his shoulder had already slowed his movements, leaving him weak and clumsy. Kaelen was a storm of pure destruction. His massive black jaws clamped down on the neck of Silas, shaking the heavy wolf like a rag doll.

The crimson eyes of Silas flared with terror as the golden eyes of Kaelen burned with absolute, murderous fury. Kaelen threw Silas against the rocky bank of the stream, pinning him down with one massive, clawed paw pressed against his throat.

Silas whimpered, a sound of complete submission bubbling up from his chest. The defiance that had fueled his attack in my bedroom was entirely gone, replaced by the primal realization that he was face to face with his death.

Kaelen let out a low, vibrating growl that seemed to rattle the very bones in my body. He did not deliver the killing blow immediately. Instead, his golden eyes flicked down to where I lay shivering in the shallow water.

The moment his gaze met mine, the savage fury in his eyes softened, replaced by a sudden, intense panic.

With a final, powerful swipe of his paw, Kaelen threw Silas across the rocks, leaving the scarred wolf broken and bleeding, unable to move. Kaelen did not spare him another glance. He turned and stepped into the freezing water, his massive form shifting back into his human shape before he even reached me.

The transition was a blur of shadows and shifting bones. Within seconds, the colossal black wolf was replaced by the towering, bare chested figure of Kaelen. His chest heaved with exertion, and the golden glow in his eyes slowly receded to his normal, dark gaze.

He dropped to his knees in the freezing stream, his large hands immediately wrapping around my arms to pull me up from the water.

You are freezing, Kaelen said, his voice raw and thick with emotion.

I could not speak. My teeth chattered so hard my jaw ached, and the sheer relief of his presence threatened to overwhelm me. I dropped the small knife into the stream, my numb fingers losing all strength.

Kaelen pulled me against his warm chest, wrapping his powerful arms around my shivering frame. The phantom heat I had felt earlier returned tenfold, burning away the icy chill of the water. He buried his face in my hair, his chest rising and falling in rapid, shallow breaths.

I smelled the blood on you, he whispered, his grip tightening as if he feared I would disappear if he let go. I felt your terror through the bond. I turned the convoy around.

He had abandoned his war path for me. The realization sent a shockwave through my chest. The Alpha King had left his warriors and turned back to his estate because he felt my fear.

Silas said you would not kill your army for a human, I managed to whisper, my voice barely audible over the rushing water.

Kaelen pulled back slightly, his dark eyes searching my face. He gently brushed a wet strand of hair from my cheek, his fingers lingering on the bruising skin of my throat where Silas had held me. The sight of the bruise made his jaw clench, a dangerous, dark light returning to his eyes.

Silas was wrong, Kaelen said, his voice dropping to a lethal, quiet promise. I would burn the entire world to ash before I let anyone touch you.

He stood up, effortlessly lifting me into his arms. I clung to his neck, my head resting against his warm shoulder as he carried me out of the freezing ravine, leaving the broken body of Silas behind in the dark.