27. Rule #27 Murphy Is A Bitch

Rule #27: Murphy Is A Bitch

Zoe

A t one point, Daniel spotted a deer and sprinted after it. Off the hiking trail. I cursed under my breath. I wasn't in the mood for Bambi murder tonight and I had little hope that the animal could outrun a full-grown werewolf. But it was a lesson in not underestimating the underdog, because Bambi was agile as fuck, bobbing and weaving through the underbrush and looming trees and somehow managed to evade his clutches.

We ran after Daniel, and everything was going really well. We might actually make it through the night unscathed. Which was probably the exact wrong thing to think. Murphy was a son of a bitch. The trees gave way to a clearing at the top of the cliffs and Daniel stopped. Finally. Even with the speed spell my thighs were on fire. I bent over, hands dropping to my knees as I took in big gulps of air.

"That's beautiful," Rory said. She stood gazing over the bluffs. The bright full moon hung high in the sky now, its reflection rippling on the surface of the dark ocean below. Daniel sat on his haunches next to her and I pulled my phone out of my running belt, snapping a picture of them before returning it and going to stand on Daniel's other side. He let out a soft whine, butting his head at my waist and I scratched the top of his head. He might look like a big brute, but he was such a marshmallow. It was a warm and quiet night. The only sound coming from the waves crashing against the cliffs.

The peace didn't last very long when a low growl came from behind us, raising the hairs on the back of my neck. Rory and I spun around and Daniel was on immediate alert too. We turned around to face four werewolves as they loped into the clearing. They weren't as big as Daniel. I guess being werewolf royalty counted for size.

I raised my hands in front of me and muttered, " Glacio." The wolves froze in place but it didn't stop their growls growing in frustration.

"Run," I whispered. And we did. I knew Daniel would follow, so I went first, and he soon overtook me. He somehow found his way back to the hiking trail and Rory brought up the rear. That spell wouldn't hold them forever, but long enough for us to get a decent head start.

Too soon, and far too close for my liking, howling filled the air. I couldn't make out exactly where they were coming from but I spotted a blur of black fur off to my right. I pumped my legs faster, hoping in vain to broaden the gap. A flash of gray fur caught my attention to the left.

Fuck. They were surrounding us. We were being herded. I pulled a knife from my bandolier, glancing to the side, infused it with a bit of magic and let it fly. It would find its target.

A pained whimper sounded from my left but I didn't look back to see where my knife landed. I was just happy that it did.

One down.

Three more to escape.

Daniel lunged to the right, tackling the black wolf. They went down in a ball of flying fur and snapping jaws.

Another wolf tried to join the fray, and if I wasn't so terrified, I would have laughed, because the next thing I knew, Rory had jumped onto its back like it was a pony. The tawny brown wolf, crouched low, snarling as it tried to shake her off. But she had an arm slung around its thick neck and she squeezed till it collapsed.

My relief was short-lived when the wind was knocked out of me and I fell face down into the damp dirt. A massive wolf held me down and Rory's scream pierced through the air. I couldn't move, but I reached out with my hand, conjuring a fireball and throwing my arm back. I couldn't see where I was aiming, but a pained whimper and the smell of singed fur reached me. The weight that had been crushing me thankfully scrambled off.

Somewhere behind me I could hear Daniel fighting with the black wolf, but I couldn't take my eyes off of the one in front of me. Smaller than the others with a dazzling pure white coat. A female, I realized. She let out a snarl before launching at me. I unsheathed two more daggers from my bandolier, and side stepped before she crashed into me again. I slashed and made contact with one of her haunches. She whined but didn't stop, rushing for me again. This time I wasn't fast enough as her jaw locked onto my thigh. I screamed as hot pain lanced through my leg. On instinct I brought both my daggers down, sinking them into her front haunches. It did the job. She let go, and rolled to her side, panting and whimpering in pain.

"Daniel!" Rory screamed. Cold fear flooded my veins as I spun around to see that somehow the black wolf had got its jaws around Daniel's throat.

I didn't hesitate.

I drew the gun.

And fired.