Chapter 23

CHAPTER 23

R owan

The wolves moved in like shadows, their bodies low to the ground, eyes flashing in the darkness as they crept into the compound. We stayed low, keeping still as each of us watched and waited with bated breath. I could feel Kendra’s tension beside me, the readiness in her, and I gave her a brief, reassuring nod. My heart pounded, and I knew every second that passed would bring them closer, deep enough into the compound that they wouldn’t escape.

Sorin was crouched beside me, her eyes narrowed, the barrel of her rifle pointed at the wolves as they advanced. Her jaw was tight, her focus absolute. I could see her knuckles whiten around her weapon, but her breathing was steady, controlled. She was waiting, counting, letting them get close enough so we could maximize every shot.

“Wait,” she whispered firmly.

The wolves slinked closer, their hackles raised, yellow eyes gleaming with hunger. Each one moved with deadly silence, muscles taut and ready to spring. I knew what we were up against; they were faster, stronger than most humans could comprehend, but they could be killed.

It would just take enough firepower.

Another moment passed. My fingers itched to pull the trigger, but I held steady, waiting on Sorin’s command.

“Now.”

With one smooth motion, she raised a flare gun and fired. The bright red flare shot up into the sky, casting an eerie glow over the compound as it arced high above us, signaling the Resistance forces hidden throughout the town. For a split second, the wolves hesitated, their eyes flicking toward the sudden light—and then the roar of gunfire erupted around us.

Bullets rained down on the wolves from every direction, the sharp crack of rifles splitting the night. Sorin’s soldiers, hidden on rooftops and behind abandoned vehicles, opened fire, their shots precise and unyielding. The wolves were fast, dodging and weaving, but they weren’t invincible. It took several shots to bring each one down—more than any human could survive—but as the Resistance soldiers closed in, the wolves’ movements grew frantic, their snarls filling the air.

Sorin kept her rifle trained on them, firing shot after shot, her jaw clenched as she funneled them toward the courthouse, forcing them into a kill zone. I raised my own weapon, feeling the kick of the recoil as I fired at the nearest wolf, catching it in the shoulder. It let out a yelp, stumbling as the bullets tore through its flesh, but it kept moving, dragging itself forward with a relentless fury.

“Keep them moving! Drive them back!” Sorin shouted over the gunfire, her voice carrying above the chaos. She fired again, hitting a wolf square in the chest, and it dropped to the ground with a snarl, struggling to get back up.

Kendra was beside me, her stance steady as she fired, her face set in determination. Her shots were quick, controlled, each one finding its mark as she kept the wolves from advancing any further. She’d taken to the battle instinctively, her movements sharp, precise. I felt a surge of pride watching her, even as the chaos raged around us.

Silas was farther up, his rifle leveled as he took down wolf after wolf, his expression calm, almost cold. He moved with practiced ease, his focus absolute as he fired shot after shot, barely flinching as the wolves snarled and snapped, closing in on him. He caught my eye briefly, giving a small nod before reloading his rifle, shifting his stance as he funneled more of the wolves toward the courthouse steps.

All according to plan.

The wolves were relentless, but so were we. They were outnumbered, outgunned, and the Resistance fighters had closed in around them, tightening the circle, forcing them deeper into the heart of the compound. The wolves snarled, baring their teeth as they lunged forward, desperation in their movements now as they realized they’d walked into a trap.

“Push them forward!” Sorin shouted again, her voice sharp and clear as she fired off another round, hitting a wolf squarely in the side. It let out a howl, stumbling as the bullets tore through it, but it didn’t stop. It took three more shots before it finally collapsed, its body twitching as the last remnants of life faded.

The courtyard was a storm of gunfire, blood, and snarls, the wolves closing in but struggling against the Resistance’s unyielding firepower. One of them broke through, charging toward Kendra, its jaws snapping, eyes locked onto her with a murderous gleam.

“Kendra!” I shouted, firing at the wolf, but it barely flinched, its focus on her unwavering.

Without hesitation, Kendra raised her weapon, firing at point-blank range. The wolf took several bullets to the chest, its body jerking with each impact, but it kept coming, relentless even in the face of death. She fired again and again, her jaw set, her determination absolute. Finally, with one last shot, it collapsed at her feet, its body going still.

She glanced at me, breathing hard, and I saw the fierce resolve in her eyes. There was no fear, no hesitation. She was as much a part of this fight as any of us.

The wolves continued to advance, but the Resistance’s forces had driven them to the steps of the courthouse, the building looming over them, a symbol of the last stronghold standing. We’d forced them into a corner, but the battle wasn’t over yet.

In the distance, more shadows moved, and the night came alive with the sound of approaching footsteps.

Reinforcements had arrived and it was time for the fight to truly begin.

I let the shift roll over me, my skin stretching and tearing as bones cracked, my muscles rearranging, fur bristling along my back as I transformed. The pain was swift, familiar, and then I was on all fours, my senses exploding, the sounds and smells of the battlefield sharpened to razor clarity. My claws dug into the earth, every instinct ready for the fight.

I glanced over to see Silas, too, had shifted. His coat was a deep, smoky gray, his eyes hard and unforgiving as he lowered himself, every inch of him tense with restrained violence. Kendra’s black fur gleamed in the moonlight, her green eyes blazing with resolve. The three of us stood shoulder to shoulder, our bodies coiled and ready.

From the corner of my eye, I caught Sorin’s stunned expression, her gun lowering slightly as she took in the sight of Silas in wolf form.

“You’re a—” Her voice trailed off, her gaze flicking between us, a mix of disbelief and something dangerously close to betrayal. “Silas, you’re a wolf?”

Silas met her gaze, but there was no malice in his eyes. He let out a low growl, one that resonated with assurance. And then, without a word, he let out a powerful howl that echoed across the compound.

From the shadows, more figures emerged—Silas’s men, shifting as they stepped into the open, their forms morphing into wolves, one by one. Sorin’s mouth tightened, her fingers hovering over her weapon, but she didn’t raise it. She watched, tense and uncertain, as Silas’s wolves joined the Resistance line, forming a new front against the oncoming pack.

The wolves on the other side hesitated, just briefly, before charging again, their snouts wrinkling in a mix of fury and surprise.

Silas lunged forward first, his powerful form launching into the heart of the advancing pack, claws and teeth flashing as he ripped into the first wolf that crossed his path. Blood sprayed across the ground as he tore into its throat, his movements precise, deadly. Another wolf lunged at him, but he dodged, his body twisting as he sank his teeth into its flank, bringing it down in a flurry of fur and blood.

I sprang forward, crashing into a wolf that was circling Kendra, my claws digging into its side as I sank my teeth into its shoulder. It twisted, snarling, snapping at me with its powerful jaws, but I held firm, using my weight to force it down. I could feel its hot breath on my fur, its body thrashing beneath me, but I didn’t let go. I bit down harder, feeling the crunch of bone beneath my teeth until its struggles finally stopped.

To my left, Kendra was a blur of black fur, her movements graceful but fierce as she fought off two wolves at once. She leaped, dodging one’s attack, and slashed at the other with her claws, her teeth snapping inches from its throat. She was relentless, every movement a calculated strike. The wolf on her left lunged, and she pivoted, sinking her teeth into its leg, and throwing it off balance before going for its neck.

A deafening howl erupted from across the compound, and I looked up to see one of Silas’s wolves—a massive dark brown male—charging into the fray, his jaws snapping around the throat of a wolf that had been closing in on Sorin. He didn’t hesitate for even a second, dragging it to the ground, his claws tearing into its side as he finished it off.

Sorin’s gunfire cracked through the air, picking off stragglers as Silas’s wolves and the Resistance fighters herded them closer to the courthouse, cutting off every possible escape route.

I snarled, baring my teeth as I lunged at a wolf that tried to break through the line. It met my attack head-on, its yellow eyes blazing with defiance as we clashed. I felt the impact reverberate through my body, claws slashing, teeth snapping, each of us fighting for dominance. But I was stronger, faster. I ducked beneath its swipe, sinking my teeth into its shoulder and throwing it to the ground. I didn’t give it a chance to get back up.

Around me, the battlefield was a storm of blood and snarls, the scent of iron thick in the air. Silas was fighting with brutal efficiency, his teeth flashing as he brought down another wolf, his gray fur streaked with blood, but his movements unyielding. Kendra fought beside him, her black coat gleaming, her eyes focused as she fought with the precision of someone who had been born for this.

The remaining wolves, desperate and panicked, surged forward, only to be met with a wall of resistance. Sorin’s rifle cracked again, cutting down a wolf that tried to break through the line. Her face was set in fierce determination, any doubt about Silas’s allegiance gone as she fought beside us, her gunfire precise and lethal.

I tore into another wolf, my claws raking across its side, feeling the warmth of its blood as it fell beneath me. We were winning. The wolves were faltering, their numbers dwindling as we pushed them back, step by step, forcing them closer to the courthouse.

And then, as if sensing their imminent defeat, a howl rang out from behind them—a deeper, more powerful sound that cut through the night like a blade.

A shadow emerged from the darkness, massive and towering over the other wolves, its eyes burning with an unnatural intensity.

The howl echoed through the compound, chilling and resonant, commanding every wolf in earshot. It had a power behind it that was unmistakable—an alpha’s call, one that froze the others in place, pulling them back from the fight. The wolves regrouped, their eyes flicking to the massive figure that strode forward, emerging from the shadows.

The new wolf was enormous, its coat dark as coal, the muscles rippling beneath its fur with every step. Its eyes, a searing amber, locked onto us with an intensity that sent a prickle down my spine. It was clear from the way the other wolves obeyed that this was no ordinary wolf; this was a leader, a ruthless alpha who wouldn’t leave until every last one of us was dead.

Beside me, Kendra’s body went rigid, her own eyes narrowing with recognition. She shifted closer, her fur brushing against mine, a silent promise that whatever came next, we’d face it together.

The alpha let out a low growl, and the other wolves around him sprang into action, lunging forward with renewed ferocity. Sorin and the Resistance opened fire again, their shots precise, but the wolves were faster now, more coordinated. They tore through the line, closing in on us with brutal efficiency.

I locked eyes with Kendra, a silent understanding passing between us. We couldn’t let this alpha regroup his pack or rally them further. He had to go down.

With a nod, we broke into a run, charging straight toward him, our bodies low to the ground, muscles coiled and ready. The alpha’s gaze snapped to us, his lips peeling back in a snarl, his massive form bracing as we closed the distance.

Kendra reached him first, leaping at his side with the grace of a shadow. She aimed for his neck, her jaws snapping, but the alpha twisted, dodging her strike. He was fast, unnaturally so, and his claws raked across her shoulder as she landed, sending her skidding across the ground.

A snarl ripped from my throat as I lunged at him, my claws slashing through the air. I caught him across the chest, but he barely flinched, his focus shifting to me, his eyes cold and calculating. He lowered himself, his gaze locked onto mine as he prowled in a slow circle, his posture challenging, daring me to strike again.

I didn’t give him the satisfaction of waiting.

With a surge of power, I leapt at him, aiming for his exposed flank. My teeth sank into his shoulder, tearing through flesh, and he let out a furious roar, his body twisting as he threw me off. I landed hard, rolling to my feet just in time to see Kendra darting forward again, her movements sharp and relentless. She was a streak of black as she went for his hind leg, her jaws clamping down with brutal force.

The alpha’s snarl turned into a growl of pain, but he didn’t back down. He reared back, his massive paw striking Kendra in the side, throwing her off balance. She staggered, but before he could go in for the kill, I was on him, crashing into his side with all the force I could muster.

We collided, teeth snapping, claws raking, every ounce of strength and fury pouring into the fight. He was powerful, his blows landing with enough force to bruise, to tear, but I wasn’t going to let him win. Not here, not while Kendra was in the line of fire.

Kendra regained her footing, her gaze fierce, and together we moved in sync, circling him, taking turns lunging in, striking, then retreating. His movements grew sluggish, the blows we landed starting to take their toll, but he fought on, his snarl growing more desperate, more savage.

He surged toward me, his claws ripping into my side. A fierce tearing pain made my vision go white. His claws sank deep, cutting through fur and flesh like blades. I staggered, my breath catching, but I held my ground, refusing to back down. The blood was hot as it soaked my coat, matting the fur along my ribs, and each breath burned as if fire was spreading through my veins.

The alpha took advantage of my momentary weakness, lunging forward with a snarl, his teeth snapping inches from my throat. I managed to twist away, but the pain intensified, sharp and brutal, nearly blinding me. For a heartbeat, the world spun, the sounds of the battle muffled by the pounding in my ears.

Kendra darted forward, low to the ground, slipping beneath his guard, her jaws closing around his throat in a vise grip. He let out a strangled roar, thrashing beneath her hold, but she held firm, her body taut with determination.

I surged forward, sinking my teeth into his side, adding my weight to hers as we dragged him down. His struggles weakened, his growls fading to whimpers as we held him there, pinning him, refusing to let him escape.

With one last shudder, his body went still, his eyes losing their fire as the life drained from him. Kendra released him, stepping back, her chest heaving, her gaze hard as she looked down at the fallen alpha.

That should have been the end of it.

The wolves, leaderless and scattered, hesitated only a moment before surging forward again, pressing onward like animals possessed.

The Resistance forces, caught off guard by the sudden, frantic surge, reloaded and fired, but the wolves were already closing in. They darted forward in a wave, pushing toward the courthouse steps, reckless now, driven by rage and desperation rather than order. The building’s dark windows loomed like empty eyes over the scene, and every human still standing tensed, readying for a fight that wouldn’t end easily.

Beside me, Sorin’s hand moved to her belt, her fingers finding a small black device she’d shown me earlier, something she’d kept reserved as a last line of defense. Her eyes were narrowed, and her lips were set in a grim line as she watched the wolves funnel into the courthouse, single-minded in their rage. She met my gaze briefly, a flicker of iron-hard resolve in her eyes.

Then she pressed the button.

The explosion shook the ground with a force that reverberated in my bones, a shockwave that spread out in every direction, and in an instant, the night was torn apart by fire and heat. The windows of the courthouse shattered, flames erupting from the building’s doors and blasting out through the roof. The wolves inside had no time to react, their snarls drowned out by the roar of fire and crumbling stone.

I shielded Kendra, my shoulder burning with pain as debris rained down around us, the bright light of the flames casting shadows across the compound. The explosion echoed through the night, the smell of charred earth and smoke thick in the air. We watched as the fire engulfed the building, its shining tendrils reaching high into the sky, illuminating the faces of those around us—faces etched with a mixture of relief and grim understanding.

The few remaining wolves outside the courthouse staggered, their eyes wide with terror as they backed away from the inferno, their retreating forms disappearing into the shadows. The Resistance soldiers held their ground, weapons still at the ready, but there was no need. Whoever remained fled, their howls fading as they vanished into the darkness.

The battle was over. We had won.

But as I looked out over the broken compound, seeing the fallen bodies and the smoldering remains of the courthouse, I knew this victory was only a temporary reprieve. The wolves would regroup, rebuild, come back with greater force. The Resistance had won this battle, but as I looked to Kendra, Silas, Sorin, and those who stood beside us, I knew with grim certainty that the war was just beginning.