The Royal Wolves

It’s The Only Way

* * Florence’s POV * *

“Excuse me?” The giant of a man says as his eyes bore through me.

“I have a message for you, from the Moon Goddess and Balador,” I tell him, my heart rate has spiked dramatically and I can feel my breath catch.

“So you said. Do you care to elaborate?” He asks in a condescending tone.

“I will, once we leave here,” I say firmly. I have to get him away from my pack, the Werebears and too strong for us and I can’t bear witness to more death.

“No deal. Stand down, child,” he commands and steps towards Darran.

“Then you shall never know peace, you shall never have a home and you and your kin will disappear from this Earth,” I warn him. Giving him just enough detail to entice him to take the bait.

It works, his eyes leave Darran and look me up and down. “You’re either being very serious, or you are delusional. Very well. Let’s go,” he tells me. “AT EASE, BEARS. TIME TO GO HOME,” he calls aloud to the group of Werebears that are watching the scene before them, unsure of what is happening or why their plans have been halted.

Without second guessing myself and believing in the Moon Goddess, I walk towards the werebear King. “Florence, no,” Darran gasps as one of his broken joints reconnects.

“It’s the only way,” I tell him with a smile. “I’m Florence, let’s go,” I tell the werebear King and walk by him, choosing to ignore the deep rumbling chuckle that escapes him.

The Wearbear King and his pack close in around me to escort me to wherever it is they call home. Protectively, my hands cover my abdomen and again the Wearbear King chuckles. “What the f**k is your problem?” I snap at him.

“You can relax, wolf. There is nothing more sacred than a child in the womb, even if it will be born an enemy. Unless it was life or death, we would not harm you,” he says sincerely, and I believe him. I come to the conclusion that while I am pregnant, I am safe.

Choosing not to answer him, I simply nod and look at the ground, as I continue to walk across the pack land. The scent of burning buildings cannot be ignored and I look around at the destruction these few Werebears have caused. They are impossibly strong, and with just a few in numbers, they have destroyed an entire pack. Pretty soon, the only light that will be seen is the burning embers as the flames die down.

‘Florence, I’m coming,’ Darran’s voice calls out in my mind, startling me so much that I miss a step and scramble to remain on my feet.

‘Darran, please don’t. They will destroy you,’ I beg of him.

‘I can’t let you be taken,’ his wolf whines as he mentally voices his words.

‘Darran. I know what I am doing. Stand down, please. I beg of you.’

The faintest sound of rustling leaves can be heard, just a second before his mind links me, ‘Flo, duck.’ I barely hit the ground when his wolf flies over my head after knocking down two Werebears. His large body slams into the Werebears in front of me, just as I manage to roll and narrowly avoid being squished.

“Nooooo!!” I scream as the werebear King shifts into his monstrous form. He’s easily twice as big as Darran’s wolf. Maybe even three times as big.

A low growl to my left has my attention and I realise Darran is snarling at the Werebears in human form, that are dragging me back and out of the way. My body doesn’t protest, as my mind is still processing the situation that Darran has put himself in.

The Kings bear, a deep brown with hints of copper in his fur is approaching Darran, a continuous snarl escaping his jaws. Darran’s hackles rise, and his muzzle curls back to expose his pearly white fangs. His ears pin forwards and his tail raises high, he begins to circle his opponent, just as his opponent circles and assesses him. There’s no way that Darran is winning this fight, but what can I do?

This werebear and Darran pace stiffly, tails lashing as they wait for the other to make their move. Darran keeps his weight evenly on all four paws, knowing that if he sets his weight wrong as he pounces, he could slip and provide the werebear King with a fatal opening for him to win the fight. The King appears amused, and plays the game.

The werebear King snaps his jaws in an attempt to startle Darran, but the growl in Darran’s chest keeps growing and he doesn’t blink. He doesn’t care that he is clearly physically disadvantaged, he’s not going to back down. Darran’s growl evolves and fluctuates and with a howl, he lunges.

Darran is fast, his wolf snaps, lunges, swerves and rolls, clawing at the werebear King’s flesh. The King grunts as Darran’s claws tear wounds into his flesh. By fighting close, Darran isn’t giving the King chance to use his superior size and strength. After several painful blows, the King snarls angrily, and rolls just as Darran is about to jump onto his back.

Darran is too slow, and the King rolls His immense body weight onto him, and then easily catches the back of his neck in his enormous jaws. Wrestling him to the ground and pinning him. He adds slight pressure to Darran’s neck, just enough to make him whimper.

Low growls emerge from all around, and a quick glance from Darran to my surroundings, shows the Werebears are closing ranks, they want to witness their King’s kill.

The King snarls, commanding the Darran to submit. Darran begins to thrash, not wanting to submit to a tyrant. Minute upon tense minute passes, and just when the King begins to lose patience and is prepared to kill to show he’s not to be messed with, Darran submits and his wolf gives way to his human other half and shifts back to human form.

“You have heart and skill. And for that, I will give you the opportunity to fight me, man to man. No shifting,” the King says, his respect for Darran’s combat skills evident.

Filled with horror, I watch them circle each other once again. A flurry of blows pass back and forth, and then a sickening crunch, the air is filled with an agonised grunt, as Darran’s left leg is bent at an in at angle. The King wastes no time and begins to rain blow after blow, after blow. The sound of more grunts and broken bones fills the air. And then, my body finally responds to my mind,

“Noooo!” I scream as I charge forwards and slam my body into the werebear King. “STOPPP’ I yell into his face.

“Step aside,” he warns me.

“No!” I stamp my foot and fold my arms to emphasise my point. “If you want to know the message from your God, then you will grant me this request and leave this wolf to heal. He is a good man and only attacked because of his duty to his pack, to me, and to this new life,” I tell him, rubbing my abdomen to reiterate the importance of the life growing inside of me.

“Very well. Heal well, wolf. No doubt we will meet on the field of battle again. Tell your pack that we do not harm pregnant women, unless provoked,” the King smirks and turns his back on Darran. “Let’s move,” he instructs his group.

‘I’m sorry, Flo. I had to try to save you. But I also had to try and stall in the hope that Stefan reached us,’ Darran says weakly. His voice is faint and I know he’s about to pass out.

‘I know and you did well. Please heal quickly and know that I will return as soon as I have made sure the message from the Gods is understood.’

‘Please,’ he begs weakly.

‘I’m sorry, Darran. It’s the only way,’ I kiss his forehead as he passes out and follow the Werebears through the forest. My direction unknown.