Chasing A Runaway Mate

Chapter 14

Wren

With silent steps, Wren and his team crept along the inside of the boundary wall. They dodged many wolves trying to stop them, but their goal was to get to the pack-house and to Ivan as quickly as possible. The sooner Ivan was taken care of, the sooner this sordid affair would be over. As the distance between them and the rest of the Enforcers increased, the noise of battle became quieter. So far, they had luckily not come across any of the other pack members. No-one in Wren's team wanted to hurt these people.

"It's quiet," Sean said over his shoulder to Wren.

"I know. Too quiet."

"I don't like it, Commander," Callum added.

"If we're lucky, the rest of the pack is taking shelter somewhere. If not... Well, then I'm sure we will soon find out what snare Ivan has waiting for us. Stay alert."

The Cold Moon pack was one of the largest, but still Wren was surprised by how many buildings and houses lined the streets. It didn't look like a pack lived here. It looked more like a small town. All the buildings were sturdy and built using stone and brick. Thick wooden shutters covered the windows. Wolf-shifters could handle the cold, but even they needed to keep out the icy winds.

As they rounded a corner, all of them came to an abrupt stop.

"This wasn't in the intel, Commander," Gideon said.

Wren knew they were in the heart of the pack and that the pack-house was there, but none of them had expected the thick and high walls surrounding it. Standing in the shadow of a large house, Wren looked left and right to see if there were any guards nearby.

"What do you see?"

"Four guards up ahead. Looks like they are guarding a gate of some sort. There is no way we can scale this wall, lads. Looks like we'll have to get our hands dirty sooner than anticipated. Gideon, take position over there behind that tree and give us cover. When we've taken the guards out, follow us in."

The men listened attentively to their commander's instructions and nodded their acknowledgment.

With deadly silence, the guards fell one after the other as Wren and his team rushed forward. Through the gate, they saw no one. Snow covered what was clearly a very well cared for formal garden, but there was not a single person in sight. Wren knew they would have a better sense of what was ahead if they shifted, but for the time being, communication was more important.

"There is no point in staying here, speculating what that bastard has waiting for us. No matter what comes, we stand together."

"Yes, Commander!" the men said in unison.

After what felt like an age, they finally came to a side door leading into the palatial pack-house. They were close enough now that they could detect the smell of many wolves waiting for them. The door opened into a narrow and dark passage. This was dangerous and Wren knew they were tipping the scales in favor of Ivan by entering there. He hoped the Alpha wouldn't expect them to do something so foolish.

The men knew what to do and didn't need further instruction from Wren. At the end of the passage, they could see light coming from the room ahead. They stepped into the light and for a split second, their surprise could be seen.

Standing shoulder-to-shoulder, at least twenty wolves stood before Wren's team of six. They were outnumbered. By a lot. But it was not the first time the odds were not in their favor, and they would not back down from this fight. These men were trained to take out Alphas. They were the best of the best, an elite team, trained for situations like these.

Wren scanned their faces before he spotted Ivan. The Alpha was standing on what looked like a dais, his arms crossed and a cruel smile. He couldn't believe it. The fucker had throne. He really did believe he was king over all. Not for long.

Wren stood in the centre. As each of his men passed him to take up their positions on either side of him, they brushed shoulders with him. It was an old tradition, signaling they stood with him, and that he would not face this foe alone.

"You are foolish if you think you will leave here with your life, Commander." Ivan's voice boomed through the room.

Wren had no desire or need to respond to Ivan. He had to keep focused. There was no way the Alpha will talk his way out of this. They had their orders. Capture the Alpha. They all knew, however, that no Alpha would ever come quietly. They knew he would put up a fight. The Council therefore understood when the Alpha ordered to be captured didn't make it out alive.

The men spread out, silently divvying out the men standing before them. All of them were still in their human form, and Wren and his team would stay human as long as possible. If Ivan's men started shifting, however, they would be forced to shift as well, and they wouldn't be able to communicate. Ivan knew this.

One by one, Ivan's men shifted into their wolves. Wren didn't look at Ivan, but knew he would look smug.

"It's been an honor, lads. I'll see you on the other side," Wren said before shifting. The 'other side' referred to both the other side of the battle as well as whatever waited for them when they died.

The first few wolves fell quickly to the teeth and claws of Wren's team. They knew they needed to eliminate their opponents as quickly as possible if they were to make it through the horde of Ivan's Enforcers. They might have preternatural strength and endurance, but they couldn't afford to waste any energy. One after the other, Wren made a slow advance to where Ivan stood. He had taken a few hits but, luckily, his adrenalin was keeping the pain at bay. For now.

After ten minutes, only two wolves stood before Wren and his target. An exclamation of pain drew his attention to Sean on his right. That two seconds of distraction was all it took. The two wolves lunged at Wren. One latched onto the side of his neck and the other jumped onto his back. Wren buckled under the combined weight and teeth of the two wolves. He could feel his fur getting soaked in what he knew was his own blood. In the distance he could hear Ivan's cold laugh.

He was losing too much blood too quickly. Wren tried to focus on Katina's face as his vision blurred. He wanted her to be the last thing he thought of when he died. He knew his men would finish the mission. Wren's only care now was the sweet face of his silver-haired mate.

Blackness overtook him.