Chapter 13: Sofia's POV
831 Words
I stroked her hair softly as I held her against me until I finally felt sleep threatening to overtake me. I shook my head lightly, trying to fight it off, trying to stay awake to watch her. I couldn’t avoid it forever, though, and eventually felt it drag me into its clutches.
I jerk awake in my tent, feeling less well-rested than I have in weeks. The tug on my heart, on my very being, is weaker today. She’s in pain. I need to reach her today. I stand and grab my gear, strapping it on as I walk. Sam is outside the tent, waiting for me. I know he didn’t want to wake me. He knows I haven’t been sleeping well. I smile weakly at him as a shy woman pokes her head out from his side. Kyra, his mate. He had found her when he went to the city to finish his contract.
I smile at her gently and she smiles back sheepishly, hiding against him. Kyra is a wolf too, but she is very much the opposite of an Alpha, and knows when one is near. She’s been hesitant around me ever since she came to us. After everything that happened, I decided to name Kyra as the new healer. She deserves it, after revealing Jenny’s little secret. May she burn in the bottom of the nine hells, the traitor.
A sharp pain in my heart tells me Alexis is awake, and in even more pain than before. I grunt with the fresh pain, a hand on my chest. “I’m coming, my love…” I think, knowing the pack will hear, but hoping she will too. I don’t hear a response from anyone, and feel tears spring to my eyes.
I look to Sam, my eyes searching his for some kind of answer.
Thankfully, the small smile on his face tells me he has good news.
“We found a hidden entrance last night. We can get into the castle, undetected, through there. The monster’s minions won’t see us coming until it’s too late” he tells me.
I smile wide and nod. “What are we waiting for? Let’s go!”
I don’t waste another minute, immediately shifting into my wolf, who I can feel growing impatient after having been separated from Alexis for so long. I fight back a howl as I lunge for the castle, letting Sam and Kyra overtake me to lead the way. I hear the sound of bones cracking as the rest of the pack shifts, twenty-something wolves taking off after us.
Sam leads the pack to a hidden tunnel around the back end of the castle, one that stinks of death. I wrinkle my nose but don’t hesitate as I plunge into the tunnel, my night vision kicking in after a few bounds. I signal the others to slow down as I drop to a walk. We don’t know how far this tunnel goes, and I won’t risk losing a packmate over getting too careless.
After just a few minutes of walking, I can see a light up ahead. I drop into a crouch and feel the others behind me do the same.
Watch yourselves. It’s a master, we don’t want to lose someone to this bastard. No one be a hero today, understand? I think, projecting my message through the pack link. I feel each person acknowledge the command.
Without another word, I rush forward, a loud snarl ringing through the castle and burst into the light, looking around wildly. I quickly take in the scene, my eyes wide.
Alexis is on the ground, clearly in pain, clutching her side. Her eyes are closed tightly, but I can see she is still breathing. She’s alive, though I’m sure she doesn’t want to be. A pale figure stands over her, turning slowly to face us.
“Ah, Sofia. I was wondering when you would show up. A little late, I think, don’t you? Your precious mate here is in so much pain” he hisses, his voice sounding like nails on a chalkboard. I snarl and lunge forward, knocking him away from Alexis and drop into a defensive stance over her. A dozen more of the pale creatures suddenly appear, surrounding us, but I pay them little attention as I kneel down, gently licking her face.
Wake up, my love. We have to get you out of here. I can feel my wolf growing uneasy, impatient to get her out of harm’s way.
A howl drags my attention away from her as Sam, in his massive wolf form, lunges forward, snarling viciously. I watch in horror as he heads straight for the master.
- Writer
