A Wolf's Pride (58 page)

Perhaps it was
because her thoughts were so chaotic that it took her a few moments
to notice a peculiar sound making its way to her ears. The sound of
knocking was distinctly out of place on a battlefield. She opened
her eyes, violet orbs widening to almost inhuman levels at the
sight that awaited her. Sitting on what looked like an enormously
overgrown tree branch, Alex and Erica knocked furiously against the
glass, trying to get her attention.
Well
they’ve certainly got it now!
Her mind
whipped. Despite her acknowledgement of their presence it took her
another moment to realise that they wanted to come inside. She
rushed into action, unhinging the window latch and pulling it open
to its widest. The branch wound its way into the room, bringing
Alex and Erica indoors even as Chloe stepped back to avoid any
contact with the strange appendage.

“
Jesus Chloe,”
Alex scolded lightly. “I’m freezing. It’s cold out there you know
and just because Erica and all the other wolves are lucky enough
not to feel it doesn’t mean that I’m not susceptible to
frostbite.”

Erica smiled,
jumping off the tree branch and onto the floor as Alex shooed it
back outside. “I know that you’re human Chloe and your senses
aren’t as sharp as mine but we were right in front of you. Are you
okay?”

“
Yes. No,” she
stuttered confused. She shook her head before staring expectantly
at the two women before her. “I mean, what are you guys doing
here?”

Erica frowned
confused by Chloe’s words. “I would have thought that was
obvious.”

“
Well for those
of us who are a bit slow would you mind explaining?”

“
We came to get
you,” Alex supplied, moving closer to Chloe and Erica now that the
thick tree branch was safely outdoors.

“
Why?”

“
Because you’re
family silly,” Erica snorted. “That and I get to kick some major
hunter butt. I can’t believe that Tobias and Sebastian thought they
could get away with just leaving us behind. I can take care of
myself.”

“
We
can take care of
ourselves
,” Alex corrected
automatically. “I’m perfectly capable of protecting
myself.”

Erica rolled
her eyes. “Yes, but you’re too soft hearted to go for the killing
blow. You need animal instincts like mine. Maybe after a few
hundred years you’ll improve.”

Remembering
Tobias’ warning that she should stay out of harm’s way and the
predatory look in his stormy eyes when she had first met Alex and
Erica a thought came to Chloe’s mind. “Do Tobias or Sebastian know
that you’re here?” Her voice was low, a whisper, as though by even
asking the question she was asking for trouble.

A loud bellow
erupted from beyond the window, followed by an equally loud second
wolf howling.

“
I guess they
do now,” the pair chuckled in unison.

“
This is
serious!” Chloe shrieked, infuriated with their relaxed
attitudes.

Their
expressions sobered instantly. “We know that Chloe, that’s why
we’re here to help. Don’t worry, we’ll take care of everything.”
Alex’s voice was calm, reassuring but Chloe’s expression tightened
in concern.

“
How can I not
worry? They’re going to kill each other,” Chloe sobbed. “And what’s
worse is that I have no idea who I want to win.”

“
I would have
thought that was obvious,” Erica supplied instantly. “You should
always back your mate, especially now. Those guys down there are
hunters. They live solely to make sure that we don’t.”

“
They also
happen to be my family.”

“
It must be
hard for you.” Chloe nodded in agreement but Erica's expression had
turned cold. “It might be a hard choice for you but to me the
answer’s blindingly simple. They should have known better that to
try and make predators into prey. It’s time I showed them why you
should never underestimate a wolf and why you shouldn’t even
contemplate hurting one, let alone actually going out and harming a
member of its pack.” Her eyes were now completely amber, fangs
making an occasional appearance as she spoke.

Chloe gasped,
shocked by the vehemence in Erica's words. “You can’t
Erica.”

Her eyes
narrowed in response. “And why exactly is that?”

“
You can’t want
to kill people Erica.”

“
I’m just
returning the favour. They tried to kill me once, tortured me and
are now threatening and hurting members of my family. Sebastian's
brother? Do you know how broken he would be if something happened
to that idiot? No. I’ve got some hunters to take down. Turnabout’s
a bitch, just like me.” The change was already washing over her as
she turned to Alex, blue eyes meeting green. “Stay safe Alex,
Tobias might try to actually kill me if something happened to you
and you’ve got those beautiful kids to think of now.”

Alex smiled
weakly as Erica the wolf appeared. “I’ll stay as safe as I can and
if you meet Tobias, remember, it was all my idea.” The wolf nodded
before bounding from the room, vanishing in an instant.

“
No!” Chloe
howled, running after her. Alex placed a restraining hand on her
arm, keeping her in place. “What are you doing?” she screamed,
struggling against her grip.

“
Don’t
Chloe.”

“
She’s going to
kill people Alex, we can’t just wave her off fondly into the sunset
as though nothing’s happening.”

Alex sighed.
“After all that she went through she deserves to let off a little
anger. There’s nothing you can do to stop her and I think you’d
only get hurt if you tried.”

“
We can’t just
let them go.”

“
Well unless
you have any other ideas then we’re just going to have to let
them.”

Chloe visibly
sagged at Alex’s words. “Isn’t there anything we can do? I mean, I
know we’re human but there’s got to be something. If I could just
talk to my family, maybe I could get them to stop.”

The words ran
round in Alex’s mind and a plan formed. “Do you think it’s
possible?”

“
To
what?”

“
To convince
them to stop? If you can do it then I’ll take you to
them.”

“
We’re in the
middle of a war zone Alex.”

“
I’ll get you
there.” Her words brokered no compromise.

“
Even if I
managed to get them to stop firing, the wolves out there came here
for blood. They won’t stop.”

“
I’m their
Queen, my mate, their King is out there. I’ll make them stop. Don’t
worry about them, just answer me, can you make them stop
shooting?”

“
I can
try.”

“
Then we’ll
head out.” She walked over to the window, glancing outside. “By the
looks of it things aren’t going their way. If we don’t move now,
they’ll be overpowered in a few minutes. Tobias really thought this
out. When he goes on the offensive he really goes all out.” She
purred the words as though imagining a far more enticing situation
than the one unravelling beneath their feet. “But Chloe, if you
can’t get your family to stop then I side with the wolves, I’ll
hurt your family if I have to.”

Her spine
stiffened as she nodded in agreement to Alex’s statement, her
shoulders jutted back and just like that, Chloe was ready for
battle. “I’m ready Alex. How are we going to get down there without
getting ourselves killed along the way?”

“
Firstly,
you’re practically immortal now Chloe. The only way you could die
is if Ryan did and he’s a tough one. Secondly, we’re going out the
same way I came in, through the window and right into the thick of
things. Come here, we have to be quick if we’re going to make a
difference.”

Chloe rushed
to Alex’s side, watching as her eyes slid shut in concentration. A
few seconds passed before another leafy appendage, far larger than
its normal size wound it’s way through the empty pane. “Hold on,”
Alex warned before the branch wrapped itself around her midsection,
lifting her easily from the ground. She bit back a yelp as they
moved through the air, her feet suspended with no support in place.
Her eyes widened as what looked like a green bubble began to form
around them on their descent to earth. She turned to Alex, a silent
question in her eyes. Judging from the smile on Alex’s face this
was meant to happen. Her heart calmed and they continued their
journey to the ground, landing lightly.

The sounds of
combat were even more intense close up. Bullets flew all around
them but they ricocheted harmlessly off their green cocoon and
Chloe finally understood the purpose behind it. Whilst they were
inside they would be safe from harm.
Maybe
we can do this.
She yelled, the loud sounds
around them making it a necessity if she wanted to be heard. “What
now Alex?”

“
Your family
should be right in front of us.”

“
How do you
know that?” Chloe interrupted. “You’ve never seen them before and
we look nothing alike.”

“
If I remember
correctly Ryan once said that they were the commanders and judging
from what I saw when I looked out of the window, the ones in front
of us are giving orders. That and the fact that the wolves are
trying to surround those guys gives them away. They’re gunning for
your family in particular and they smell like you.”

“
Oh, okay,” she
responded inanely, uncertain of how she could respond to such
logical reasoning.

“
As I was
saying, your family should be directly in front of us. In a minute
I’m going to drop these walls and you’re going to run straight for
them. Don’t look back, don’t look left or right just run.” Alex
paused, her eyes sliding shut for a moment. “And you’re going to
have to make the run alone.”

“
What?” Chloe
demanded flabbergasted. “I thought you were coming with
me.”

“
I can’t. There
are wolves surrounding us now, probably at Tobias’ order. If I try
to leave they’ll stop us.”

“
How do you
know that?”

“
I can feel
them on the grass, the earth speaks to me. I know where everyone is
around here so don’t worry I’ll protect you but I’m going to have
to do it at a distance. I have faith in you Chloe. You’re Ryan’s
mate and to claim that title you have to be made of tough stuff.
You’re going to be fine. If you really don’t think you’re up to it
then I’ll take us both back to higher ground and I can fight from
there. It’s probably what Tobias and Ryan would want. The safer
they think we are, the happier they are.”

Ryan.
His name slid through her mind giving Chloe
another burst of strength. She wasn’t doing this for herself, she
was doing it for him, for their future. “I’m ready.” Her voice was
steady now, calm even.

There was a
look of stalwart determination on Chloe’s face and Alex knew better
than to question such resolve. She took a deep breath, closed her
eyes and let the familiar whispers overwhelm her senses imbuing her
with their power. “Now!” she screamed.

The green
walls dropped down and Chloe took off running. Adrenaline rushed
through her body giving her unprecedented speed and awareness. From
the corner of her eyes, she could make out flickering images of
green and she smiled, realising just what Alex had planned to do.
With every step that she took, thick vines erupted from the earth
on either side of her, creating a protected path for her to travel
along. Gun shots flew by her harmlessly, the vines on either side
of her moving to intercept any bullets that may have ventured into
her path. Her already racing pulse quickened when she saw a man
directly in her path, his hands raised to shoot. She needn’t have
worried. The ground before her began to heave and buckle creating
what looked like waves in front of her. The man stumbled, falling
harmlessly out of her way. She continued running, breaths leaving
her body in wild bursts. Another man appeared in the way and again
the ground bucked and heaved trying to move him. This man was a
little more sure footed and managed to stand his ground despite the
mini earthquake happening beneath his feet. His eyes met hers for a
fleeting second before he was lifted unceremoniously from the
ground and thrown into the distance by the vines surrounding her.
She could just about make out her destination, her family coming
closer with each second that passed.

The splash of
blonde hair shone like a beacon against the dark night sky
instantly attracting Harry’s attention. His eyes widened at the
sight of Chloe running desperately towards them bullets flying all
around her. The image of his only daughter lying bleeding against
the cold ground, turning the grass red with her blood, crashed
through his mind and he turned, eyeing the men under his command
with wild eyes. “Stop!” he bellowed, his loud voice carrying even
over the sound of guns and animal howls of triumph. “I said
STOP!!”

The silence
that followed Harry’s harshly delivered command was almost
deafening, the sound of gunfire dying in an instant, men rushing to
follow their commander’s orders. As Chloe bridged the short
distance between herself and her family, her previously sure steps
began to falter. Her father’s expression was murderous, her
brothers’ equally so.