Chapter 22 - Fisher

As soon as we found the compound, Ram headed back to the truck to wait for the others. David and I were supposed to wait outside and keep an eye out, but as soon as we hear the explosions, that plan goes right out the window.

”Looks like we”re going in hot,” David growls, turning toward the complex.

I nod, my muscles tensing, ready to spring into action. ”Stay close,” I bark, my voice tinged with urgency.

We tear through the trees, quickly covering the distance between us and the gates. My mind races as I prepare for what might happen, what we”re risking by barging in here on our own. But it doesn”t matter how far I can run or how deep my lungs take me. Liz is still in there somewhere, maybe already caught. I won”t stop until I know she”s safe.

The guards who were posted out front have abandoned their posts, making for easy entry. David and I move in sync as we rush to the entrance, using the smoke to our advantage. There are people yelling and screaming, everyone running around, trying to figure out what happened as the auctioneer barks orders that no one seems to be paying any attention to. The place has been completely turned upside down, with pieces of wood scattered everywhere. It smells of gunpowder and blood, mixed with a sickly sweet odor from the smoke.

I scan the crowd as we head inside, my eyes widening when they land on Liz locked in a desperate struggle with a man. His hands are wrapped around her throat, and he”s choking the life out of her. My heart drops into my stomach, my protective instincts kicking in. Without hesitating, I burst forward, tackling the guy off Liz. He lands flat on his back with me on top, my fists flying toward his face.

Blood pours from his nose and mouth, and a moment later, he stops moving entirely. I get up, pulling Liz with me. ”Are you all right?” I ask her breathlessly.

She nods, her body shaking slightly. There are bruises on her neck, and she seems unsteady but otherwise unharmed. Her eyes are wide as saucers as she turns to face me. ”Fisher...”

Her voice trails off, and my line of sight moves from her to in front of us, where three wolves stand growling at us. They look enraged, but when their gazes move to the lifeless body behind us, their eyes go cold. I push Liz behind me, shielding her.

The growls around us intensify as more shifters emerge from the smoke and surround David and me. Their eyes flash with anger and determination, and I realize we”re outnumbered. Still, I square my shoulders, ready to defend Liz and myself with everything I”ve got.

”David!” I shout over the cacophony of snarls. ”We need to hold them off. Liz, get out of here!”

But Liz doesn”t move. Instead of retreating, she hesitates for a split second, her eyes filled with a determination that matches my own. Then she darts back toward the chaos, disappearing into the maze of buildings and smoke.

Cursing under my breath, I turn my attention back to the advancing shifters. They”re closing in, their fangs bared and claws extended, ready to tear into us. David and I lock eyes for a brief moment, then turn to face our enemies.

”Ready?” he grunts, his body poised for battle.

”Always,” I reply, and with that, we shift, our forms morphing into large, powerful wolves. My senses heighten, the world around me coming alive in a whirl of scents and sounds. My muscles tense as we prepare to defend ourselves side-by-side, as we”ve done countless times as packmates.

I focus on the enemies in front of me, my senses sharpening as the world slows down around me. The first shifter lunges, a snarl ripping from his throat, his fangs gleaming in the smoke-filled air. I twist my body, dodging his attack, and counter with a swift snap of my jaws at his hind leg. A yelp escapes him as my teeth find their mark, but he recovers quickly, whirling around to face me again.

In the periphery of my vision, another shifter approaches, trying to flank me. I growl, a deep, guttural sound that reverberates through the chaos. I can”t let them surround me; I need to keep them in front where I can see them. With a powerful leap, I launch myself at the new threat, claws extended. We collide mid-air, tumbling in a whirlwind of fur and snarls, each trying to gain the upper hand.

Meanwhile, David is locked in his own battle. He”s holding his own against two shifters who have cornered him, keeping them off-guard with swipes of his claws and biting snaps of his jaw. They circle him like sharks stalking their prey, staying just out of range while they look for an opening.

One wolf darts forward, snapping at David”s hind leg. He jumps out of the way, then counters with a blow from his massive jaws. There”s a thud as teeth sink into flesh, drawing blood. The other wolf lashes out, fangs scraping against David’s thick fur, but David twists out of reach and kicks him hard with both hind legs. The force sends the second wolf stumbling back, his mouth slick with blood.

A low growl escapes me as I fight off the first shifter. We trade blows for several moments until he makes the mistake of getting too close. In one swift movement, I clamp my jaws around his throat, taking him down hard and fast. He struggles, but there”s no escape now that he”s lost all strength.

I drop him to the ground and move on to another attacker, a burly wolf with brown fur and fierce blue eyes. His nostrils flare as we stare each other down, our eyes locked in a challenge. He lunges at me with his claws extended, swiping at me before I can dodge the attack. I manage to evade him, but not before he grazes my side, drawing blood.

Gritting my teeth against the pain, I launch myself at the wolf, pushing him backward. As we struggle, clawing at each other and gnashing our teeth, I see David fighting three shifters. They seem to be overpowering him. One is nipping at his hind legs while another latches onto his shoulder. A snarl escapes me as I realize they”re going for his vitals. If they get a hold of any vital organs, we could lose this battle.

My wolf roars within me as I snap at the blue-eyed wolf, trying to distract him from my packmate. The distraction gives me enough time to flip him on his back. He struggles under me, trying to free himself, but it”s no use. I bite his neck hard, causing him to yelp with pain. But even that isn”t enough to bring him down. Growling, he flips me over, slamming me hard against the ground.

We continue struggling as more wolves join the fray, growling and snarling as they move to surround us. My mind goes blank as I focus on keeping my enemy at bay, my vision tunneling into nothing but him and my own need for vengeance. Blood is pouring from his wounds, staining his fur a bright crimson color, but still, he keeps coming for me.

Despite our ferocity and skill, more shifters join the fray, drawn to the commotion like moths to a flame. Their numbers swell, creating a relentless tide of fur and fangs. We”re outnumbered; every time we fend one off, two more take their place.

I feel a sharp pain slice across my flank, followed by a warm rush of blood. Another shifter has managed to land a hit, reminding me that I”m not invincible. My focus zeroes in on the immediate threats, trying to anticipate their attacks.

But as the minutes drag on, my strength starts to wane. My muscles ache, my breath comes in ragged gasps, and still, the onslaught continues. The realization sinks in: we can”t keep this up much longer. We”re outnumbered, outmatched, and running out of options.

”Fall back!” David”s voice cuts through the noise, filled with urgency and a hint of desperation. ”We can”t win this!”

But the enemy isn”t going to give us the opportunity to retreat. Instead, four wolves advance, and I back-pedal until my rear end hits the wall. I”m cornered, trapped with no way out.

But just as the situation starts to feel truly hopeless, another explosion rips through the compound. The ground trembles beneath us, and the roar of the blast echoes through the chaos, drowning out even the fiercest snarls and yelps.

Dazed, I shake my head and shout, ”David, go! Get out of here!”

He hesitates for a moment before turning and sprinting off into the trees, away from the shifters. I make a move for the door, but my path is blocked by two large wolves. They close in on me, snarling viciously as they start snapping at my furry hind legs.

David spins around, but there”s no way he can get to me. He can”t get caught, or we”re both going to die here, along with all our packmates and family. My chest tightens with panic as I realize this might be it, that this could very well be my last moments on earth. And if that”s so, then I intend on going down fighting.

I charge forward, using my massive form to shove the wolves back. One of them tries to circle around me, but I keep my attention trained on him, keeping an eye on his movements, trying to predict his next move. The other wolf snaps at my hind leg, and I kick back, sending him sprawling across the ground. His front legs hit the wall, and he scrambles back up, shaking his head.

But before I have a chance to deal with the second attacker, the first one charges toward me again. It”s like some kind of sick game where they keep coming back for more and more punishment. But now, I don”t feel like letting them win. If I want to survive this fight, I need to unleash everything I have—my strength, my speed, even the wild rage boiling in my veins.

I drop to the ground, flattening myself against it as the wolf lunges at me.