25. Twenty-Four

Twenty-Four

Sloane

I sprinted through the woods. My heart hammered in my chest. My lungs burned. I didn't care. Nothing could stop me now.

I led the charge through the trees. Wildlife scrambled out of my way. Brush whipped against my skin, stinging and biting into my flesh, but I pushed myself faster. We needed to release the prisoners before Alpha Dane realized we'd led him a few miles in the wrong direction.

Lincoln and a few others were right on my tail. Their footfalls pounded the grounded in time with the rapid racing of my pulse.

The crackle of gunfire ceased a moment ago. I said a silent prayer for Sheriff Adam, hoping he hightailed it out of here and didn't stick around. He was handy with a gun, but I wasn't sure how many men Alpha Dane might send after him.

If anything happened to him, it would be on me. Guilt clawed at my belly. I shook the thought away. He'd asked to help, and he'd known the risks.

I needed to focus on the fight to come. One wrong move and not only could it cost me my life, but everyone else's. I huffed and narrowed my eyes.

Howls and screams echoed through the trees. I glanced over my shoulder. Brandon gave me a thumbs up before darting his gaze back to the phone in his other hand.

The sprinklers were running, spraying any unfortunate wolf with wolfsbane tainted water. I almost felt bad for them. It had to burn like hell. But it was a necessary evil.

Our plan had worked at least so far. Now we just need things to keep going our way.

I lifted my arm and held up my fist up for everyone to see. I slowed my pace to a walk before stopping altogether in front of a fallen tree. I scanned the trees and bushes, cocking my head to the side, listening and watching. There was no movement. The woods ahead were eerily silent. Between the gunfire and us trampling through them, the wildlife had all run off. And it was too silent for any enforcers to be hiding, either.

I squatted behind the brush. We had about a quarter mile until we reached the pack house.

I waited for the rest of the pack to fall in. They crouched around me, watching, waiting for me to give my next instructions.

The nausea was back. It swirled in my stomach like soured milk. They were all willing to follow me into battle, knowing this could be their last few minutes. For some of them, it would be. There was no turning back now. I could only hope that our losses would not be significant.

I glanced at all of them. They'd already split themselves into their respective groups. Bless them for making this easier on me.

I licked my too dry lips. "Once we continue on, we will be in full battle mode. We are seeing this through until Alpha Dane and his men either surrender or perish." I kept my voice to a whisper. "Alpha Dane is our main target. Remember, he has forced most of these men to call him alpha. There is no telling what will happen once his hold is released."

It would be too easy to think they would give up, but a girl could hope.

The pack nodded, murmuring as they watched me.

I shared a look with Lincoln before turning back to the pack. "If anyone gets a shot at Alpha Dane, take it. The sooner we end this, the less lives we lose."

Brandon cleared his throat. He clutched his computer to his chest with one arm and held his phone in the other. He met my gaze. "The sprinkler systems are off now. We're good to go when you are."

I sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly, but it did nothing to slow the frantic racing of my heart. "Good work, Brandon." I turned back to the pack, scanning each of their faces again. "You know the plan. Stick to the pavement once we get closer. There shouldn't be any wet spots there." I shifted my position, my knees getting sore from squatting. "Any questions?"

Silence. Everyone watched me, waiting.

"Good." I stood up slowly, pivoting on my heel and glancing back at the trail ahead.

I blinked, narrowing my eyes as I outlined my path. The stark white and brick exterior of the main house stood out in the distance. It seemed like it had been years since I fled through these woods, when it had really only been weeks. I'd come here a prisoner and was returning to liberate those who hadn't been lucky enough to escape with me.

I was bringing them home today. I blew out a breath.

A light drizzle misted the air, bringing me clarity even as it chilled me to the bone. It was time.

I held my fist up, opened my hand and flicked my wrist, giving the signal for us to move again.

I hopped over the log and charged forward. The hairs on the back of my neck prickled. Gooseflesh pimpled my skin. We were almost there.

I forgot to breathe for a second. My chest constricted, my heart pounding so hard it might explode. I rounded the corner to the main lawn, half expecting the pack to be there waiting or us.

There wasn't anyone.

The front door stood ajar. Wet foot prints led a path away from the house toward where Sheriff Adam had been shooting. I swallowed hard and suppressed the urge to jump up and down. Our plan was working.

I glanced over my shoulder and gave Brandon one last look. He offered me a smile and a nod before his group jogged up the stairs and disappeared inside the house.

Be safe, Brandon.

I picked up my pace again, eyeing the creepy fountain with the fighting wolves. The water spewed up from the fountain in the middle. It was a mirror image of what was about to happen, except the alpha wolf going in for the kill was going to be me, not Alpha Dane.

I gritted my teeth and pumped my arms and legs faster. The gravel drive crunched beneath my sneakers as I raced across it, making a beeline for the prisoner compounds.

It had been too much to hope that our plan would go off without a hitch. We had hoped that the prisoners would break free of their compounds. That hadn't happened. A small group was supposed to release the prisoners and take care of the guards so the rest of us could box the pack in away from the main house. But that wasn't going to work.

The guard count had more than doubled. There was no way ten men could take on thirty, especially with half of them being wolves. We needed the prisoners freed. Our only saving grace was the guards hadn't seen us yet. They were too busy containing the men and women, beating against the doors in desperation to be released.

Indecision rolled through me. Did I continue on? Or did we stop to help?

There wasn't a choice. We needed the prisoners on our side. We were already outnumbered even with them. I couldn't risk my pack. With any luck, we could still free them and block in Alpha Dane's men.

The guards were standing in front of the windows and the door at the ready. They still hadn't noticed us. I flicked my wrist to the left and right, indicating the compounds, praying everyone got the message.

I charged toward the building to my left. One of the wolves snapped their head up, their attention shifting to me. The moment his gaze landed on me he howled, alerting everyone else.

The wolf charged, running straight at me. I didn't falter. Instead, picking up my pace as I ran straight at him.

I flexed my hands, triggering a partial shift. I ducked to the right at the last second, reaching my arm out and swiping it across the wolf's side. A flurry of fur came off, but I didn't think I'd actually done any damage except maybe scaring him.

Crap.

I didn't stop my momentum and kept sprinting for the compound. There were enough people behind me they would catch the wolf at least I hoped.

The next one that came at me was a burly man that had at least a foot on me and enough muscles that if he caught me, he could snap me in half. I shuddered.

Don't let him touch you, Sloane.

The jackass looked at me like I was weak, his eyes lighting up and he slid his hands together expectantly as he stalked forward. He thought I was an easy target. I'd show him. I'd been training nonstop, and I had something he didn't. A heart. Determination. The list went on.

I didn't have my mates to help me this time. I wasn't going to fail.

I screamed as I threw myself at him.

He caught me midair or tried to. My momentum was too much. I drove my claws into his shoulder as he toppled backwards with me on top. He landed with a thunk. I didn't let up. I swiped my claws down his body, drawing blood.

His eyes widened. He gasped. I doubled my fist, giving him an uppercut hard enough to send his head snapping back.

Someone hit me from behind, wrapping their arms around my waist, lifting me up and throwing me to the ground.

I rolled across the gravel; the rocks digging into my flesh, cutting me. I landed on my back as my attacker launched themselves at me again. He landed in a squat as he straddled me. He jerked me up and then threw me back to the ground hard enough that my head bounced.

Stars burst across my vision. I coughed, wheezing, trying to fill my lungs.

He balled one fist and curled his other hand around my sweater collar. I couldn't let him keep the upper hand. I had to keep fighting.

My mind scrambled, muscle memory kicked in. I tucked one foot back, hooking it with his as I lifted my hips. I grabbed his arm and rolled with everything I had until I was looming over him. He caught my pawed hand as I tried to slice him with my nails. I yanked my hand back, but his grip was iron clad.

I snarled and balled my other hand and punched straight down into his face. The bones crunched beneath my knuckles. Blood squirted from his nose.

Howls erupted and in my peripheral vision the door to the prisoner quarters on the other side of the drive flew off its hinges. Men came darting out one after another and more than I could count.

One group was free. Three more to go.

I smashed my hand into the guy's face again, knocking him unconscious. I shot to my feet and ran for the other door of the compound closest to me. I twisted the knob. Locked. I rammed it with my shoulder. The door rattled, but refused to budge.

Leo hollered my name as he came charging forward. "I got it. Alpha step aside, please."

I scrambled out of his way. He raced for the door and didn't stop. He hit it with a thud and a crunch. The door toppled in and Leo with it. They both landed on the floor inside the compound.

A woman helped him to his feet.

He motioned to the door. "Alpha Sloane is here to rescue us. Come on, we have to fight."

I scanned the growing crowd. All the prisoner quarters were liberated. First mission accomplished. My heart swelled. This was going to work.

I whistled, hoping to get everyone's attention. "Those of you who can fight I need you to help me. We're making a stand and taking down Alpha Dane. If you can't fight, please don't feel obligated."

I put a hand on my chest as the crowd quieted and all eyes turned to me. I pointed in the direction we'd come from. "We didn't run into people on our way up here. If you need to go, we have a small group that can help take you to our evacuation point."

I patted my chest. "Anyone capable of fighting, I ask that you help us now so we can eliminate Alpha Dane and his men once and for all."

I didn't wait for anyone to respond before taking off at breakneck speed again. We had to keep Alpha Dane's men away from our evac point and the main house. Footsteps pounded on the ground behind me. I sucked in a deep breath. I didn't know how many men we had fighting with us now, but this was it. These past few months have been leading up to this moment.

In the distance was Pack Wolf Blood. They had a mixture of men and wolves racing straight for us. And in the lead was Alpha Dane.