Across Enemy Lines

Chapter 9

The smell of bacon and sausage pulled us down stairs to join the rest of the pack for breakfast.

"Dr.Wood! Oh my God! You're pregnant?" Ramone ran up to me with her arms out. I instinctively hid behind Jared.

"What are you doin'?"

"Oh! Hi Ramona! How are you?" I didn't think the news would have spread so quickly but I should have known my mother wouldn't be able to contain herself.

"You're pregnant? And so fast!" Ramona looked at me as though she were expecting to see my stomach bulging.

"Werewolf pregnancies are different from human pregnancies Ramona, dear." My mother came out of the kitchen with a mega watt smile carrying a tray of pancakes.

"Oh. How are they different?" Ramona asked taking the tray from my mother.

"Well, you can get a positive test in a matter of days after the egg is fertiized and they only last about four months. Joey! You stop pickin' at that bacon! We ain't even blessed it yet!" Momma said as she smacked Joey's hand, making him wince. Ramona just giggled.

"Momma, where's Daddy at?" I looked around the table but my father was no where to be seen.

"Oh he's around somewhere. Probably mopin'. Don't mind him . Now,Joey, bless the food so we can eat. Your sister needs to feed my grand baby." We all took our seats.

"Dear Goddess, thank you so much for all you've given us. Thank you so much for bringin' me my sweet Ramona. She's perfect in every way." I rolled my eyes.

"And thank you Goddess, for bringing my sister home and givin' her Jared. I know he will cherish her and if he don't I'll whoop his ass."

"Joey!"

"And thank you Goddess, for my sweet little nephew or niece. Children truly are a blessin' and we are so fortunate for this little miracle growin' inside-" a loud boom interrupted Joey and shook the pack house. A loud roar came from outside. There was an eerie chime that sounded out through out the pack land indicating that we were being attacked. Everyone's head shot up and panic began to take over the great hall.

Momma stood on the table and put her fingers in her mouth and let out a loud whistle,silencing the energized crowd.

"Alright everybody settle down! Henry, Frank go see what's the matter. Joey, get all the women, children and elderly to the panic room. MOVE!" Everyone began moving to their designated places in a synchronized pattern. Warriors began to line the walls awaiting instruction. Joey led the women, children and elders down to the panic room that was hidden behind the pantry. The great hall was in chaos. No one seemed to know what was going on yet the house continued to shake and the sound of wolves fighting was heard coming from outside.

"Momma, where's Daddy at?" I yelled over the sound of chairs being pushed and people running around.

"He's outside. They's been a rogue attack!" Jared held me tight against him.

"Momma, every one's in the panic room. What do you want us to do?" Joey suddenly appeared at our side.

"Joey, you and Jared need to get them warriors outside to help your Daddy." Joey nodded.

"Come on, man. We gotta get out there!" Jared looked down at me. I could feel his hesitation through the bond. He didn't want to leave me.

"Go! Now! I'll be fine, just go!" He kissed me softly and bolted out the back door with Joey on his heels.

"Momma, where did they come from?"

"I don't know Chloe lynn. Come on. Let's go upstairs to my room. We can look off the balcony and see what's goin' on!" Momma grabbed my hand and we raced up the stairs to her room. Momma swung open the doors to the balcony. What we saw was pure c*****e. There were body parts thrown across the front lawn. The stench of dead flesh saturated the air. Jared's light brown wolf was fighting three rogues by the tree line. One pounced on his back ripping a chunk of flesh and fur out of his shoulder. He quickly rolled around on the ground knocking him off before grabbing his leg and swinging him into a tree. The rogues head made a sickening crack before the rogue fell, lying motionless on the ground. Jared didn't so much as blink as he moved onto the next.

Joey was in the middle of the yard fighting off two mud colored rogues. One nipped at his flank but Joey spun around grapping the rogues throat and ripping it out in the process. I scanned the area for my father. When I found him, he was being cornered by six large wolves over by the corner of the yard.

"Joey! Get to daddy!" I screamed through the mind-link. I saw Joey's wolf turn and take off toward the my father only to be rammed into by a rogue, sending him flying across the yard. I looked to Jared but he wasn't fairing much better with four new rogues circling him. My heart began to race as I watched one of the large rogues lunge at my father's throat. My father reared back causing the rogue to bite his chest instead. I could hear my mother's ear piercing shriek as my father fell to the ground. A loud whine came from my father and my blood began to rage.

I jumped from the balcony shifting in mid air.

"Chloe Lynn, come back!" I ignored my mother's pleas as I headed straight for my father. A rogue came barrelling behind me but I continue sprinting across the yard. I leaped over two of the rogues that were stand in front of father and landed next to him. He was pouring blood from his chest.

"Chloe Lynn get out of here! You gotta protect the baby!" He screamed through the mind-link.

"No." I turned around and bared my teeth at the six rogues. I stepped in front of my father and growled menacingly. One tried to jump over me to get to my father but I reared back on my hind legs and grabbed him in mid air and ripped his throat out. The warm taste of copper filling my mouth. Another tried to lunge at me but I grabbed him by his neck, throwing him into a tree with a loud snap which ended his life quickly. The biggest one paced back and forth in front of us. I pounced on his back taking several chunks of flesh and fur out before he threw me off. I got back up and bared my teeth at him. He lurched at my throat but I dodged him. The thing about big wolves is they usually aren't very fast. The moment I dodge his attack I doubled back and clamped down tightly on his testicles and pulled, tearing them off. The rogue let out a horrible scream type sound before falling to the ground and shifting. In his place was a rather large man with reddish brown hair. I stood over him as he cried out in pain. I shifted back into my human form, staring coldly at the rogue. I reached down and plunged my hand into his chest and removed his heart. I stood naked in front of all the rogues with their comrads heart in my hand, covered head to toe in the blood of the dead rogues at my feet. I crushed the heart and let it fall to the ground. The wolves in the yard stilled.

"COME ON! COME ON!" I walked toward them and they began growling lowly and backing up. "YOU WANT TO FIGHT SOMEONE, THEN COME ON! FIGHT ME!" I screamed at them.

"If you're not going to do anything then get the f**k off my land now or I will end each and everyone of you…" I said quietly.

One by one the rogues turned and walked off and disappeared into the woods. I turned around finding my father had shifted and lay bleeding on the ground, not moving.

"Joey!" I shrieked across the yard. In seconds he was at my side.

"Get him to the surgery theater now! Where's Maggie?"

"I done linked her and told her to meet us there." He tried to pick my father up off the ground but he was too big to move.

"What in the f**k are y'all doing standing there? Get over here and help him!" I ordered. Three men came and helped Joey carry my father to the pack hospital. I looked around and saw dozens of injured wolves lying on the ground.

"Maribel?" I linked.

"Y-Yes, Miss Chloe?" Maribel's voice shook.

"Get me a set of clothes, a hair tie and a med bag." I said, cutting the link. I looked out at all the injured wolves.

"Listen carefully. If you are standing, start helping the wounded to the back of the house. We need to wash everyone off so we can properly assess any wounds. If you have superficial cuts and bruising, after everyone has been moved and cared for, go upstairs and take a shower. Your wounds will heal quickly. If you have something more serious, come see me at the front of the house by the water hose. Right now, we need to help one another. Let's move." I turned around and started walking toward the spigot at the back of the house.