Chapter 16 - Fisher

I pad through the forest, the soft earth cushioning my paws with each silent step. The moonlight filters through the canopy above, casting dappled shadows on the ground. My mind swirls with a cocktail of emotions, each one vying for dominance. The trip was utterly pointless, a wild goose chase that led me nowhere. I didn”t learn anything of significance, and it made no sense for Ram to send me on such a foolish errand. All I accomplished was putting even more distance between Liz and me.

As I continue my journey, a familiar scent catches my attention, pulling me out of my reverie. It”s the same place where they held that damned auction. My ears prick up, and I approach cautiously, my wolf senses on high alert. The entrance to the underground lair has been boarded up, but the memories flood back, unwelcome and vivid. The way they paraded Liz and the others, treating them like objects to be sold. The rage I feel is as fresh as the day it happened, but it”s mingled now with regret and a deep-seated yearning for Liz.

I shake my head, trying to dispel the haunting memories. Liz. Just the thought of her sends a pang of guilt and longing through me. Running away was stupid, a knee-jerk reaction to the overwhelming emotions that threatened to consume me. But the idea of facing her now, of having that dreaded conversation, terrifies me. I can already hear her rejecting me, telling me to keep my distance, to never touch her again.

The weight of my actions settles on my shoulders, heavy and suffocating. Liz deserves better than this, a man who runs from his feelings and responsibilities. But how do I even begin to explain? How can I make her understand the turmoil that has been tearing me apart?

A soft growl escapes my throat, frustration and self-reproach mingling in the sound. I need to sort myself out, to confront my demons and lay them to rest once and for all. But first, I need to find Liz. I need to see her, to look into her eyes and gauge her reaction, no matter how much it scares me.

Taking a deep breath, I turn away from the boarded-up entrance and continue on my way home. With each step, I steel myself for the difficult conversation that lies ahead, knowing I can”t avoid it any longer. The thought of her waiting for me, of the potential for reconciliation, gives me a sliver of hope. She is worth the risk. Worth any pain or discomfort I might suffer.

Just as I pick up my pace, eager to get home and see my wife again, a prickling sensation creeps up my spine. My wolf”s instincts scream at me, a warning that something”s amiss. Before I can react, a metallic snap echoes through the quiet night, and I feel a searing pain clamp down on my paw.

“Dammit!”I mentally yelp, my eyes widening in shock and disbelief. I”m caught in a trap, the cold steel jaws biting into my flesh. With a growl of determination, I focus on the trap, using my strength to pry it open just enough to free my paw. Once liberated, I take a moment to catch my breath, but the relief is short-lived.

No sooner have I begun to move again than another trap springs, this time clamping down on my hind leg. I let out a yip of frustration and pain as the metal digs into my skin, pinning me in place. With a combination of brute force and sheer willpower, I manage to break free once more, but the treacherous scent in the air is now unmistakable.

The traders.

My senses are on high alert now, every nerve tingling with the urgency of the situation.

As I cautiously make my way through the woods, trying to evade any more traps, two figures step out from the shadows, blocking my path. My eyes narrow as I take in their forms—shifters, just like me, their eyes glinting with malice in the moonlight.

But that doesn”t make sense. Shifters would never trap and sell their own kind. Their inherent drive to protect one another wouldn”t allow it. They have an odd code of honor when it comes to protecting our race. At least, not most of them. But these shifters are clearly not my people.

The first shifter, a massive one with sleek black fur, steps closer, baring his teeth, the threat clear on his face. I crouch, preparing to attack if needed, but there”s a part of me that already knows it”s inevitable. I”m going to have to kill my way out of here.

”Well, well, what do we have here?”the second shifter sneers, a cruel grin spreading across his raggedy brown face. ”Looks like we”ve caught ourselves a stray.”

The other one chuckles darkly, circling around me with predatory grace. ”A stray with a scent that”s all too familiar. Isn”t he one of Ram”s lackeys?”

I growl, my fur bristling as I prepare to defend myself. ”You don”t want to do this,” I warn, my telepathic voice low and menacing. ”Let me go, and there won”t be any trouble.”

They laugh, a sound that sends a shiver down my spine for entirely different reasons than before. ”Oh, we want trouble,” the first one taunts. ”And you”re just the kind of entertainment we”ve been looking for.” He looks to his partner with an unspoken question, which is immediately answered with a nod. A signal to attack, but I”m not about to give them the honor of taking the first bite.

With a fierce snarl building in the back of my throat, I launch myself at the two shifter traders. My fangs gleam in the moonlight, bared in a menacing display, and my claws extend to their full length, ready for combat.

The first trader, a burly shifter with a scar running across his snout, lunges at me with surprising speed. I dodge to the side just in time, feeling the whoosh of his claws as they narrowly miss my flank. Before he can recover, I counter with a swift swipe of my paw, aiming for his face. He yelps as my claws make contact, leaving a gash across his cheek.

At the same moment, the second trader, leaner but no less dangerous, tries to flank me. I pivot on my hind legs, meeting his attack with a powerful kick. My claws rake across his chest, tearing through fur and flesh. He snarls in pain, momentarily thrown off-balance.

But they”re quick to regroup, their eyes narrowing with renewed aggression. They circle me, growling lowly, their movements coordinated as they try to corner me. The scar-faced trader feints to the left, trying to draw my attention, while his companion lunges from the right, aiming for my vulnerable hindquarters.

Anticipating their tactics, I leap high into the air, narrowly evading the flank attack. As I descend, I twist my body, aiming a double-pawed strike at Scarface. My claws sink into his shoulders, and he howls in agony, momentarily staggering back.

Seizing the advantage, I whirl around to face the leaner trader, still recovering from my previous kick. Before he has time to react, I pounce on him, using my momentum to pin him to the ground. A sharp sting comes from behind, and it”s too late to stop the first trader now. He digs his fangs into my shoulder, biting deep into flesh, and I can feel warm blood running down my fur.

I rear up on my hind legs, striking him hard across his snout with a powerful punch of my forelegs. His teeth loosen, allowing me to yank myself free. With my shoulder throbbing in agony, I stagger to the sidelines, assessing the situation.

With a guttural roar, I charge, my body a blur of motion as I unleash a relentless barrage of attacks. I slash, I bite, I dodge—every move calculated and precise. Despite their numbers and initial advantage, I refuse to let up, drawing upon every ounce of strength, speed, and skill I possess to keep them at bay.

Our battle rages on, a deadly dance of snarls, snaps, and slashes echoing through the forest, each of us fighting with a ferocity fueled by primal instincts and the will to survive. The ground beneath us is torn up, the foliage shredded, and the air is filled with the sounds of our savage confrontation.

Time seems to blur, the fight stretching on for what feels like an eternity. But eventually, little by little, I start to gain the upper hand. My movements become more fluid, my attacks more precise, while fatigue starts to slow the reactions of the two shifters.

Finally, seizing a critical opening, I deliver a powerful swipe to Scarface, sending him crashing into his companion. They tumble to the ground, disoriented and wounded, giving me the opportunity I need to finish this once and for all. Without hesitation, I leap into action, ready to make my final strike.

I home in on the black wolf first, latching onto his throat and ripping the flesh from his trachea. Blood spurts from his artery, filling my mouth with the sweet taste of victory. The brown wolf doesn”t have a chance to stand before I”m on top of him, my claws sinking into his neck. He gurgles, sputtering as he thrashes beneath me. I take my time, enjoying the sound of his death rattle before letting go.

I lurch forward, the weight of the battle settling on me like a ton of bricks. My body is a patchwork of injuries, each one throbbing with a fiery intensity. The metallic taste of blood lingers in my mouth, and my fur is matted with a combination of sweat, blood, and dirt. But despite the pain coursing through me, my primary goal remains unchanged: to get home.

As I hobble through the forest, my senses sharpen, each one hyper-aware of my surroundings. My vision blurs intermittently, making it difficult to focus on my path. In the midst of this haze, I catch a glimpse of a familiar figure among the trees. Liz? My heart stutters in my chest. Is she a mere mirage conjured by my battered mind, or is she genuinely here, wandering through the woods at this ungodly hour?

The sight of her both confuses and worries me. Why would she be out here, away from the safety of town? Before I can call out to her, my vision dims, shadows creeping into the edges of my sight. Blackness swallows me whole, and the world fades away.

***

When I come to, the throbbing pain is still there but dulled, as if I”m viewing it through a thick fog. My eyes flutter open to find myself in my own home, lying on the couch. My body is wrapped in bandages, and the scent of antiseptic fills the air. David sits across from me, a serious expression etched on his face.

”You”re awake,” he says, his voice devoid of its usual cheer.

I nod weakly, attempting to sit up but wincing as pain shoots through my limbs. ”What happened? How did I get here?”

David sighs, running a hand through his hair. ”Liz found you unconscious near the edge of the woods. She brought you back here. You were in bad shape, man. Those traders really did a number on you.”

His words surprise me, and my mind races. ”How long have I been out?” I ask.

He glances at his watch. ”A few hours, maybe?”

My gaze falls to the floor, avoiding David”s concerned expression. ”Is Liz okay?”

”She”s fine. You don”t need to worry about her.” He pauses before adding, ”Ram, however, is another story. As soon as you”re able, he wants you to meet him. He said it”s urgent.”

I close my eyes, readying myself for what”s about to come. Ram is going to want answers. He’ll want to know why I didn”t tell him about the shifter hunters or how I met Liz. How much does he know? Did she call him after bringing me back here?

”Tell him I”m on my way,” I rasp, forcing my body off the couch and onto unsteady legs.

David jumps to his feet. ”You can”t go yet!” he protests. ”You need more time to recover.”

”I don”t have a choice,” I say through gritted teeth, struggling to keep myself upright. ”There”s been a development, and I can”t keep putting it off. Those hunters? They”re shifters, David.”

David”s eyes widen as he takes in what I”ve said. ”Shit.”

“I know,” I say. “Ram might be pissed about some of this shit I kept from him, but my pride is the least of my concerns. We have much bigger problems to deal with.”